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"The horses must have returned and they’ve come to find us," he murmured

She nodded "They shall be quite relieved to knoe’ve sustained no injuries" She lifted an arer to take her leave of his company and reflect on her improper response to his advances--so that she did not repeat such a ain Because, truly, this needed to stop

"You are quite the surprise, Miss Hadley"

She turned to find hi to knowso able to predict so to know you in that I know you’re not someone who can be predicted"

With a cool voice she was ested, "It would behoove us not to waste too hness ?" She placed e it stand between theulf that forever separated the "Indeed so, Miss Hadley"

The grooms were upon them now And not a moment too soon as far as she was concerned

"We’re quite well," Prince Sevastian assured the concerned faces staring down at thehtto fret over Miss Hadley here is quite chilled, however Would one of you see her to the house at once? I’rooave up his mount for her

"That’s not necessary," she objected

Her argulanced at each of the grooer for his next co, she held her tongue Best to let people think she was the ets chilled and cannot walk out of doors Besides, she didn’t want the staff gossiping that she was soainst her with her father in tow

She narrowed her gaze at the prince standing so stalwart in theuntoward had occurred He didn’t spare her a glance even as she couldn’t stop devouring the sight of him Her cheeks blazed afire

Perhaps he only wished to be rid of her and that’s why he wished to send her ahead A groom assisted her as if she were soe Inat a ridiculously slodle, led by the groolance over her shoulder at the prince, speculating that his strides ht ahead, his eyes unreadable beneath his slash of dark brows Sucking in a deep breath, she faced forward again and plodded ahead, letting him fall behind as she waited for the house to appear

B y the ti to exorcise Miss Hadley fro to persuade himself that he merely craved a woman and not her specifically One of the corily should satisfy his needs

There was no gli foyer and his heart sank with a disappoint about her--a fire, a passion he had not seen since before the war She was no si, na&iue of life and, perhapsof all, she wasn’t jaded for it

His steps echoed a lonely sound across the aged rand staircase

It already see theer on his ht have convinced himself the entire encounter had not occurred Surely only in a dreaic and acted so rashly

What on earth e- for the purpose of land for one reason only and he needn’t waste his tiible female

And yet somehow, in the course of their brief acquaintance, she had transforer saw the unfortunate sun-browned, freckled feree No He saw a strong, enticing female ould do quite well in his bed Too bad she was not angling for the position of ht free hi his valet frohness? Back already?" The elderly man had been his father’s valet and closest friend His brother had inherited him first, then Sev next There was no question that he should find a younger, spry valet As long as Ilian illing, he would serve as valet to the Crown Prince of Maldania Tradition was not so Ilian

For soht of tradition only further drove hos for Miss Hadley happened to be She was an heiress hunting for a husband, and he best not dally with such a fe a bath for you" Ilian’s joints cracked as he passed Sev

He spared the man as like family to him a tender smile "Thank you, Ilian"

His valet nodded "Can’t have you looking mussed if we’re to woo the future queen"

Sev’s smile slipped further His ely eined her as his bride "No We can’t have that"

A short ti roo

His cousin entered the rooreeted hi Malcolenerous plate of food

Malcoled down his jacket as he seated hirown snug in the fortnight they’d spent together A definite paunch had grown there since Sev located him in his rented roos Sev had expected to find hi

When Grandfather banished his uncle twenty years ago for daring to ravish a visiting Italian dignitary’s daughter, Malcolland, despite Grandfather’s offer for them to reirl’s accusations and wouldn’t let her husband depart without her, so the entire faland When they left they were by noat the ga hells and then only inconvenienced his fa them to endure poverty without him

Sev felt only pity for Malcolenteel squalor, pride preventing the to Maldania