Page 24 of The Duke's Carriage Window
As the Prince of Walves escorted her onto the dance floor, he pulled her close.
“Shall I make your Tiverton wickedly jealous, Miss Montague?”
“What?” Meredith gasped and then hastily apologized. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you mean, Sir.”
George chuckled. “Oh come now. The man’s mad for you. Never seen him like this before in all the years I’ve known him. He’s always been the best sort of man. Good-natured, polite, but right now he’s throwing daggers with his eyes at me. Which makes me wonder why. Just who are you to wield such power over a man like him?”
Meredith turned in the prince’s arms, her tongue tied. “I…”
“Come now. You must keep no secrets from me, Miss Montague. But I can assure you, whatever you tell me will remain a secret. Tiverton called you his ward. How did this come to pass?”
“His uncle Benjamin St. John raised me as his ward and recently died. It was his last request that the duke take me in and assist me in finding a suitable match. It is why he brought me here tonight.”
“You have my deepest condolences,” George said. “Pardon the bluntness of my question, but were you St. John’s by-blow?”
She winced at the crass phrasing. “Was I Mr. St. John’s child? No, Sir, although I dearly wish I was. My mother had me out of wedlock, and I barely remember my real father. He is dead, too. My mother was once beloved by Mr. St. John, and he agreed to take us both in and care for us. So you see, I am simply… no one.”
The prince’s eyes narrowed. “No one is no one, my dear. We put much stock on birth here, but it wounds me to hear you say that about yourself. You are a beautiful woman, and you seem kind and humble. Does that sound like no one? I dare say that many decent men would throw themselves at you for husbands, regardless of your past. Tell me who you desire, and I will aid you in your conquest of him, my dear.”
Meredith was stunned by the offer. “But why?”
“You feel doomed because of how you were born. I wish to assure you this is not the case. I know this because I am doomed because of how I was born. I have wealth and privilege, but you possess more freedom that I ever will. So I will use what power I have to aid you. Now, tell me, who do you desire?”
Meredith’s gaze strayed to Darius, who prowled at the edge of the dance floor like a wolf, his eyes locked on her.
“Ahh, so the desire flows both ways, does it?” George mused. “Tricky… but not impossible. If you want him, we must be clever about it.”
Meredith gasped at his words. “Sir, I cannot…”
The prince laughed. “My dear, do you, or do you not, want Tiverton for a husband?”
She did. Even though she and Darius were strangers in so many ways, she already felt safe with him. She felt such a strong desire for him too. She wished she could ignore it, but the truth was…she did want Darius for a husband. To belong to him, to call him hers in return, and be a part of his world, not because of wealth or status, but because she could be herself around him and his friends. That simple thing meant everything to her
“I see.” The prince’s voice softened even though she hadn’t answered him. “You’ve chosen wisely, Miss Montague. Tiverton isn’t simply noble of blood, but noble of heart. Damned rare to find these days in my court. However, the task ahead will not be easy. Tiverton has never courted anyone seriously, nor given any indication of a desire to wed. We must discern the reason for that. I give you leave to write to me at the palace, and I shall write to you in return. Between the two of us, we will find a way to trap this fellow for you.”
“Oh, but I don’t want to trap him.”
“Nonsense. Men are the only creatures who prosper in the captivity of a good marriage to someone they love. He will be quite content once the marriage license is signed and you are the willing captor of his heart.”
Meredith blushed at the prince’s words.
The waltz ended. George inclined his head at Meredith and she curtsied as the room applauded the end of the ball.
But Meredith couldn’t focus on that at the moment. Her mind was spinning. The Prince of Wales wanted to help her catch Darius as a husband!
6
A number of men swamped Meredith after the Prince of Wales escorted her off the dance floor. She was asked multiple times if she would be home for gentleman callers the next day. Flustered, she answered she would be, but she hoped that Darius would not be upset with her for saying that. She hadn’t had a chance to speak with him since George had waltzed with her, and she was still stunned that the prince had offered to help her catch Darius as a husband.
A voice cut through the din of gentleman, all trying to speak to her at once. “I say, let the lady breathe, gentlemen.”
At this new voice, several young men retreated away, allowing her to see who had spoken. A tall, dark blond man with startling gray eyes and a wicked smile parted the crowd without effort, his strides confident as he came towards her. He wore a red waistcoat that matched his daring attitude.
“That’s right, pups, off you go.” The man gave a shooing motion with one hand, chasing off the rest of the crowd that had threatened to overwhelm Meredith. When she and the man were alone, she realized she recognized him.
“I know you!” she exclaimed and then blushed at her girlish outburst.
He winked. “Felix Hawkins, the Marquess of Grey, at your service, Miss Montague.”
