Princess Charming (35 page)

She was disgusted at herself for the very idea. How could she have sunk so low, behaving just like Priscilla, manipulating and conniving to ensnare a wealthy husband?

Except that she would not be pursuing Ash for security or material possessions, Maura declared silently. It would be purely for love.

The inescapable truth was, she desperately wanted to be with him, even if he didn’t love her … although she yearned for much more. She wanted to share his
life, his home, to bear his children, to own his heart as he did hers. She wanted the entire wonderful fairy-tale dream.

But if you truly want such things
, an insistent voice inside her prodded,
you will have to fight for them. You have never been a coward, but you are acting like one now. This is no way to prove yourself Ash’s match, languishing in the country in this pathetic manner, hiding yourself away, such a vast distance from him
.

“What do you think, my fine fellow?” Maura finally asked the stallion. “Should I return to London and pursue Ash? I would have an ally in Katharine. No doubt I could ask her for advice on winning his heart.”

Emperor gave her no answer, of course. Instead, he abruptly pulled away from her and spun around, then with a flash of his heels, took off running again.

Maura’s thoughts remained on her dilemma as she watched his exuberant play. Perhaps it was deplorable, but the overwhelming yearning inside her was growing stronger with each passing hour. She needed to return to London and tell Ash that she had changed her mind. She did
not
want to be honorable and release him from their betrothal. And if he had no desire to wed her, then she would settle for whatever he would give her. She was willing to humble herself and beg him to take her back, if need be—

“That stallion of yours is one magnificent animal,” Ash said in an admiring tone behind her. “I can see why Deering coveted him.”

At the sound of his dear voice, Maura’s heart lifted with joy, then promptly plunged back down again when she remembered she had no grounds to feel joy at
Ash’s presence. Turning slowly, she saw him standing on the other side of the gate, looking impossibly handsome in a blue coat and buff pantaloons.

Maura raised a hand to her breastbone to calm her clamoring heartbeat. She ought to be embarrassed that he had likely heard her plotting a campaign to capture him—and yet she was too glad simply to see him.

She drank in the sight of him, and realized he was watching her just as intently.

“Ash … what are you doing here?” she managed a breathless query.

“I could say I came to claim the yearling you promised me, but I would be lying.”

“Then why?”

“I brought you something.”

When Ash let himself in through the gate, she noticed he was carrying a gold brocade bag roughly the size of his hand. As soon as he reached her, he proffered the bag to her. “Here, open it.”

Maura loosened the drawstrings and peeked inside, only to find a horseshoe that was bent and twisted and beginning to rust.

She sent him a puzzled look. “You brought me an old horseshoe? Whatever for?”

He hesitated, seemingly oddly wary. “That is not just any old horseshoe, I’ll have you know. It is the one Emperor lost during the storm a fortnight ago. I returned to Fawley and spent a full day searching for the damned thing.”

“I don’t understand,” she said, still bewildered.

The look in Ash’s green eyes was compounded of wry amusement and something more unfathomable and
disturbing. “I wanted to remain in keeping with the tale of Cinderella, but I thought you would prefer a shoe for your horse more than a glass slipper for yourself.”

When his meaning finally dawned on her, Maura drew a sharp breath and was barely able to find her voice. “You are here … in the role of prince?”

“Yes, and I wish to make you a proper proposal of marriage.”

She stared at Ash, not daring to believe what she was hearing, since it was doubtless too good to be true. “You must be roasting me.”

This time the tender laughter and affection in his eyes was unmistakable. “Surely you know by now that I never jest about matrimony.”

Maura’s shock gave way to sudden hope, yet her tone held skepticism in addition to breathlessness. “You actually … 
want
to marry me?”

“That is what I said, isn’t it?”

“No, it is not. You said you intend to
propose
. There is an immense difference.”

“Very well, vixen … I very much want to marry you. The thought of spending the rest of my days without you is unbearable. I love you, Maura,” Ash added simply, gazing levelly at her.

“You
love
me?” she breathed, her astonishment not abating.

His eyes were stunningly bright as he took her in his arms and drew her close. “Of course I do. Why else would I have trekked halfway across England for you, hiding out in barns and braving storms and enduring an utter lack of creature comforts?”

She peered up at him. “At the time you said it was to ensure my safety.”

“That was only a small part of my motivation. The greater reason was that even then I was falling in love with you. Regrettably, I was very late recognizing my feelings, since I have never been in love until now.”

“You
love
me,” she repeated in wonder.

Ash smiled at her amazement. “I do, sweet Maura, quite madly. I couldn’t help myself. I was drawn in first by your courage and determination when you stole your horse back from under Deering’s nose. Then, that morning when you went up against his brutes and bashed one with his own cudgel in order to protect me, I was certain I loved you. How many other genteel young ladies would risk such danger to save my skin?”

Maura shook her head in awe.

“I can see you don’t believe me,” Ash observed with a rueful sigh. “But I will prove my love for you, I promise you. I know you don’t feel the same for me yet, but—”

“You know nothing of the kind, Ash,” Maura said swiftly. “Of
course
I love you. How could I not, after everything you did for me? After what you did for my father?”

Ash grimaced. “I don’t want your damned gratitude.”

“Well, you have it, for eternity. But gratitude is only a small part of why I love you so dearly. There are countless reasons, not the least of which is your vexing protectiveness of me.” Reaching up, Maura wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “But I want to make it clear, none of my reasons have to do with material things. I am not a fortune hunter like my stepmother. I love you solely for yourself, not your title and wealth or even your handsome appearance.”

His slow smile was pure magic, reflecting her own joy. Maura’s heart suddenly felt hugely full, brimming over with happiness.

Ash pressed a swift kiss to her lips, then drew back abruptly. “If you felt that way about me, why did you dissolve our betrothal?”

“To set you free. I was trying to be noble and not trap you in marriage.”

“I suppose your attempt to be selfless is admirable, but I want to be trapped, my lovely Maura. You are my perfect match, and I am never letting you go.”

Her brows narrowed. “You could have said something when I cried off instead of letting me think you didn’t want me at all.”

“You caught me off guard. And in fact, I was trying to be noble myself, letting you choose your own future. I didn’t want to impose my will on you.”

“That would be the
first
time you ever declined to impose your will on me,” she replied archly, although with a hint of humor. “I wish you had told me how you felt and saved me all these days of acute misery.”

“I should have done so,” Ash conceded. “Kate accused me of not knowing an inkling about romance—which is the prime reason I went in search of that blasted horseshoe. I thought the symbolism would be meaningful to you.”

“It is indeed,” Maura said softly. “But if you came here to propose marriage, you are exceedingly dilatory, my dear prince. What are you waiting for?”

Ash smiled again. “An excellent question.” His expression, although still warm, turned serious. “So my
beloved Miss Collyer … For the second time in a fortnight, will you do me the immense honor of accepting my hand in marriage?”

“
Gladly
, Ash. With all my heart.”

“The perfect answer,” he said with that same tender solemnity. “We should seal our bargain with a kiss.”

Eagerly Maura complied, raising her mouth to his. However, what began as a tender consummation of their renewed engagement quickly blossomed into something much more heated. Desire flared and smoldered between them. Maura felt a fierce, aching need for Ash rise within her.

When she sank into his kiss, he pulled her even closer, his mouth taking hers with hard, quick urgency. That wonderfully sensual mouth could drive a woman wild, and this time was no exception for Maura.

At her responsive moan of pleasure, Ash’s breath turned to a growl in his throat. His hands swept down her back to caress her buttocks, bringing their hips together so that she could feel his rigid hardness through their clothing. Clearly they both yearned to satisfy the relentless hunger shimmering between them. His touch felt rough and almost desperate, which only increased the ache inside her.

She had missed Ash so fiercely. Missed his protectiveness, his charm, his wry humor, his blunt honesty, his tender enchantment, his passionate lovemaking …

Their embrace might have progressed to an even more flammable pitch if not for the sound of galloping hoofbeats behind her. Startled from her daze, Maura broke off and glanced back in time see Emperor skid to a stop.

To her astonishment, the stallion tossed his head, snorting and pawing the earth as if in challenge to Ash.

Ash recognized the horse’s stance as well. “Easy there, fellow,” he said swiftly. “I will take good care of your mistress, I swear to you.”

“He isn’t dangerous,” Maura assured Ash.

“Not to
you
, certainly. I, on the other hand … Perhaps we should take this embrace elsewhere, away from his territory. He clearly is jealous of your affections.”

Slipping a possessive arm around her shoulders, Ash escorted her safely outside the gate.

“I am sorry,” Maura murmured. “Emp has never behaved so possessively before.”

Surprisingly, Ash chuckled. “Oh, I fully understand his feelings for you. And I might be angry at his interruption, except that I owe him a monumental debt of gratitude. He is the reason I found you.”

Guiding her a short distance away, behind a concealing hedge, Ash resumed his tender hold of Maura. “I suppose it’s just as well that he prevented us from going any further. I might have ravished you right there on the grass.”

Maura’s mouth curved as she gazed up at him. “I think ravishment implies lack of consent. I would have been entirely willing.”

“I am flattered, love. But now that we are officially betrothed, I should wait to have my wicked way with you until our wedding night, so as to avoid any further risk of scandal.”

Maura eyed Ash with real amusement. “What? I can scarcely believe what I am hearing. A scandalous Wilde
determined to avoid scandal? Will wonders never cease?”

“You have a tart tongue, did you know that?”

“I may have heard that sort of spurious accusation once or twice before.”

When Ash chuckled again, Maura recalled what he’d said earlier, before their passionate kiss that had kindled Emperor’s protective streak. “Do you truly think I am your perfect match?”

“Yes, indeed. You are every bit a rebel in your own way, just as fiery and passionate as all the other females in my clan. You are unquestionably worthy of becoming a Wilde.”

His teasing tone made her smile, and yet it meant a great deal to Maura, knowing she would be marrying into his enchanting, delightfully dear family.

“In fact,” Ash pointed out, “I tried to show you how I felt that last night before the duel. When I made love to you, I was laying claim to you.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Were you now?”

“Yes. I didn’t tell you, because I know how excessively proud you are.”

“I was willing to swallow my pride, Ash. In truth, not ten minutes ago I was contemplating how soon I could return to London. I even considered begging you to take me back.”

“I should have welcomed
that
remarkable event.”

“It is too late now,” Maura replied firmly. “I have already accepted your proposal. You will have to be content with my professions of love.”

“I imagine I could settle for professions, as long as they are ardent enough. Let me hear them again, Maura.”

“I love you dearly, Ash. Do you really love me?” she repeated, wanting the reassurance.

“Fiercely, vixen. My actions should have given me away from the very beginning of our adventure together. I was willing to become a notorious fugitive for your sake. But I would much rather stay here in England and marry you and sire your children.”

“I infinitely prefer that, Ash.” Maura’s heart warmed at the mention of children. “You saved me from a lonely life as a criminal. I realize that it entailed great sacrifice on your part, having to endure those dreadfully primitive conditions.”

“Well, if I were forced to, I would do it again. Pray let me know if you have any other crimes you want my help perpetrating, or any other stallions that need stealing. We could schedule our larceny for Tuesday or Wednesday next, between calling the banns for our wedding.”

Her eyes brightened. “Our wedding? When will that be?”

“Within the month, unless you prefer sooner. We could be wed by special license if you wish.”

“I would absolutely prefer sooner.” Her laughter faded a measure, since she wanted to accord this special moment the seriousness it deserved. “I want to marry you as soon as possible, Ash. To be your wife and your lover, to face life at your side.”

“I have wanted to be your lover since the moment I first kissed you,” Ash responded lightly, but then he, too, sobered as his arms tightened around her. “I love you, dearest Maura. I want you, I need you. I can think of no greater pleasure than holding you in my arms and loving you for the rest of our lives.”