The Prince and I (9 page)

“I can see why,” Will said, chewing slowly.

So could Murian. She’d never tasted anything so lovely. The delicate buttery almond flavor rolled over her tongue in a blissful manner.

Will took another bite. “I bet Lord Loudan and his like eat this way e’er day.”

“Of course they do,” Widow Reeves said.

Ian finished his pastry with a look of regret. “Widow Reeves, do ye think ye could make such a pastry as this? If ye had the ingredients?”

The conversation digressed into what Widow Reeves could and could not cook without a proper stove, which left Murian to reflect on this evening’s adventures. Though it had been a failure in finding Robert’s journal, it had been a success in proving she could gain access to Rowallen without the earl knowing. That was worth a lot, since they’d been afraid to search the castle after Will had been captured.

In a few weeks’ time, she would try it again.
A few weeks . . . I wonder how long the prince and his grandmother will stay at Rowallen? Not that long, surely.
Nay, it was best to face the fact that she’d never see the prince again. Which was quite fine with her, she told herself firmly. He disturbed her, made her feel . . . uneasy. And the last thing she needed was a distraction— especially one who could send her senses reeling and make her shiver from head to toe with a mere look.

She absently traced her finger around the rim of her cup as she decided to keep her attention where it belonged: away from the prince and on her duties here.
Which is how it should be,
she told herself firmly.

Aware her silence was causing Widow Reeves to send curious glances her way, Murian pushed the troublesome thoughts away, and joined in the conversation.

 Chapter 7 

The next morning, Max stood on the front portico of the castle and looked up at the sky. The thunder and clouds of the night before had blown away. Today the sun shone brightly, and though the breeze carried the scent of winter, the air seemed slightly warmer than the days before.

Tugging on his riding gloves, Orlov came outside. On seeing Max, the sergeant came to stand with him. “I have some information for you.”

Conscious of the footmen at each side of the door, Max led Orlov further out on the portico. “About Murian Muir?”

“
Da
. Pahlen found a groom who has lived in this area his whole life and discovered there’s a bit more to the story than Demidor’s chambermaid knew. Murian and Robert Muir were the last owners of this castle. Robert lost the castle and lands to Loudan in a card game. According to the earl, desperate to get them back, Robert offered to play another hand and was caught cheating. Loudan confronted him, and there was a duel.”

“Which the earl claimed to win.”

“So he says.”

Max raised his brows. “But this groom believe otherwise?”

“There are many rumors that perhaps there was no duel, just a pistol shot and a dead lord.”

“No witnesses, I take it.”

“Only friends of the earl. But it gets worse. Before Lord Robert was even cold, Loudan raced to Edinburgh to file his claim. While he was gone, he sent word to Robert’s widow that she and all the retainers were to be gone when he returned, or he would have them arrested.”

“Bloody hell.” No wonder there was so much fury in Murian’s eyes.

Orlov nodded. “According to this groom and everyone else we’ve talked to, Loudan is vile. There are other uncomplimentary stories, but none as blatantly evil.”

Max rubbed his jaw, thinking about the information Orlov had just shared. “So our thief broke into her own home last night. I wonder what she’s looking for?”

“I do not know, General. Do we look for the thieves today?”

“Aye, but . . . this time, let’s narrow our search a bit. We assumed Murian and her band would wish to be away from Rowallen in order to avoid the earl’s men. What if, instead, they are closer? I begin to sense a wiliness to our thief, and a brashness, as well.”

“That would make sense. That way they can keep an eye on the castle and who comes and goes.”

“Exactly. And it is the home they never wished to leave. Their pride may outpace their fear.”

Orlov nodded slowly. “We will comb the woods closer to the castle, then.”

“Good. Have the horses readied. And do not—”

“Ah, Your Highness.” The earl’s oily voice broke into their conversation. “There you are.”

Max and Orlov turned to find Loudan standing nearby.

Dressed in fine riding clothes, his boots as shiny as a mirror, the earl bowed to Max, ignoring Orlov completely. “Your Highness, I assume you received my message this morning?”

“Aye.”

The earl’s lips thinned. “I wondered, for there was no reply. And here you are, leaving yet again.”

Orlov spoke up. “We are hunting, as are other members of your party.”

Loudan didn’t even glance in Orlov’s direction. “Tell me, Your Highness, what do you hunt for, that you are gone every day, all day?”

Irritated that the man would ignore Orlov in such a way, Max crossed his arms and said shortly, “Wolves.”

The earl chuckled. “There are no wolves in this area. I fear you won’t catch anything.”

“Perhaps. And perhaps not.” Max turned to Orlov. “If you are bored, do not feel you must stay. I will join you soon.”

A flicker of scorn crossed Orlov’s face. He bowed to Max, and—ignoring the earl as the earl had ignored him—turned on his heel and left.

Max turned back to the earl. “My aides-de-camp are
men of honor, all of them sons of the great families of my country. They deserve at least a greeting.”

The earl’s gaze narrowed. “I would have offered one. Eventually.”

Max had to force himself to hold his temper.
I have reason to be here. I cannot forget that.
“You sent a missive this morning. Something about a constable?”

“I have been trying to convince Constable Ruddock to pursue this highwayman and his band more seriously.”

“And he will not?”

Loudan curled his lip. “He is incompetent, but he is still the constable. He has the authority to put out warrants for these miscreants, but he refuses. If you will tell him what you know, it will force him in that direction.”

“I assume Miss MacLeod will be coming as well, to tell her story?”

“No. She has romanticized the entire incident and would be a useless witness. She says the thieves never demanded her jewels, but merely asked her to donate to their cause.”

Max had been tugging on his glove, but at this, he looked up.
Donate? Bloody hell.
“They said the same to us.”
And I didn
’t catch it, either.
He had to laugh.

Loudan’s expression soured. “Did they? Even if—”

“Good morning!” Tata Natasha swept through the door, a black lace shawl over her shoulders. “I am surprised to see the two of you up so early.”

Max inclined his head. “Good morning, Tata Natasha. I was just about to explain to the earl that I cannot be of help to him.”

The earl mouth thinned. “Why not?”

“Because my testimony would be no different from Miss MacLeod’s.”

“You never said a thing about ‘donations’ until I told you what Miss MacLeod said.”

“Because I hadn’t thought about it, but it is exactly the wording they used.”

The earl could not have looked more furious.

Tata looked from one of them to the other. “Max, surely you can—”

“I cannot. He wishes me to convince the constable to pursue the highwayman who held us up, but—sadly—I just realized we were never robbed.”

“What?” Tata gaped.

Loudan’s jaw tightened. “You were, too, robbed.”

“Our coaches were stopped, yes. But the thieves—I hesitate to even call them that now, because, as Miss MacLeod so succinctly noted, they did not demand anything, but merely asked. That is not illegal.”

“But your coat was slashed,” the earl said.

“Only because I drew upon the leader. He retaliated, as well he should have.”

Loudan’s expression never changed, but Max could feel the ill will radiating from the man. “I cannot accept that. These thieves have been preying upon my guests for months. I
will
have them captured, and I require your testimony to do so.”

“Fine. I will testify.”

“Good. And let us have no more nonsense about ‘donations.’ ”

“My testimony will be the truth. I will tell the constable that they had no weapons trained upon us, and all they requested were donations to their cause.”

Loudan’s eyes blazed, but to Max’s surprise, the man didn’t say another word to him. Instead, the earl turned to Tata Natasha and said in a clipped, arrogant voice, “The constable will arrive within the hour. Bring your grandson to the study at eleven and make sure he knows what to say.”

He didn’t add an “or else,” but Max heard it as surely as if the man had shouted. Fury burned through Max. “Loudan, you will remember you speak to a grand duchess.”

“I know exactly whom I speak to.” The earl gave Tata Natasha a hard look and then turned on his heel and left.

Max reached for his sword and started after the earl.

Tata grabbed his sleeve. “
Nyet!
”

“No one speaks to the house of Romanovin in such a way.”

“Leave him! He—he is just abrupt. He means nothing.” Tata Natasha’s knuckles shone whitely where she held Max’s sleeve.

“Why do you protect him?” Max demanded. “What does he hold over your head?”

“Nothing! I—I . . .” She wet her lips, and concern, uncertainty, and worry all flickered over her face.

In that instant, he saw her face as it truly was: not that of his beloved if troublesome grandmother, but that of an old woman wracked with fear. He sighed and removed his hand from his hilt. “In all the years
I’ve known you, you’ve never allowed a
gadjo
to order you about like a servant. Whatever has happened, you must tell me.”

She hunched her shoulders and said in a sullen tone, “You won’t like it.”

“Probably not.”

She sighed, her shoulders dropping. “I suppose you are right. Very well. I will tell you. I brought you here because I have lost something.”

“Lost?”

“In a manner of speaking
.
And Loudan has it.”

“You lost this item . . . as in, you put it down and he found it and took it? Or you lost it in a game of chance?”

A dull color flooded her cheeks. “I held three queens.”

“
Ty shto shoytish!
”

“It was a sign. Or so I thought.”

“
Bozhy moj,
Tata!” Max turned from her and paced away and then back. “Why were you gambling with a man like that? One look and you can see he has no principles, no honor.”

“I know, I know,” she replied testily. “I was at a table; he joined after the game started. I did not choose to play with him, and I definitely did not choose to lose to him.”

“I must know what this object is that you have lost.”

“It doesn’t matter. I requested he return it. He is considering it.”

“At a cost, I presume.”

“Of course at a cost!”

“I fear he is toying with you. Men like that are more interested in power than in money.”

Her expression said she’d had the same thought.
“Max, can’t you fight him, or just let him know you will kill him outright? It would be quicker.”

“Tata, I cannot do that. If I were to threaten a nobleman, it could involve our country in many difficulties. Surely you know that.”

She sighed, her face etched deeply with worry. “Fine. Then that leaves us no options. Until he agrees to sell it back to me, our hands are tied and we must do whatever he suggests.”

“You are joking,
da
?”

“Would I joke about something like this?”

“You may do as you wish, but I will not capitulate.”
Not to a weaselly creature like Loudan.

“But—”

“You brought me here as a threat. I cannot be both a threat and compliant. If you wish me to convince him that I will not bargain with him for this thing you’ve lost, then I must let him know I do not play his games.”

“What will you do?”

“Ignore him, and pretend I do not care if he has this item or not. It will infuriate him. And angry men do not bargain well.”

“He will ask why you are not meeting the constable.”

“And you will tell him I was too busy hunting.”

Her lips twitched. “He will be angry.”

“I am counting on it.”

“Fine—irk the man. What am I to do in the meantime?”

“Stop acting as if you are desperate to have this item back. Pretend you are reconsidering whether you even want it.”

“I can do that. I have to admit, though, that I was at a loss as to how to proceed. He keeps raising the price and I . . .” She shook her head, shivering a little. In the sunlight she looked older than her years, the lines by her mouth deeper than usual.

“From now on, Tata, you will let me speak to Loudan about this object. Tell him I am in charge of the negotiations now.”

Relief brightened her face. “Very well.” Her gaze met his. “We must get it back, Max. We
must
.”

“We will. One way or another. But I must know what it is. I cannot bargain if I do not know what it is.”

She glanced back at the footmen. “I will tell you later. Now off with you; you have an earl to enrage, and some hunting to do.”

He bowed. “Good day, Tata.” He left the portico and walked to the stables. Sunshine traced the lush slopes and played upon the sparkling waters of a small loch that stretched before the castle.

Orlov stood near the stables with Demidor, Raeff, Pushkin, and Golovin, their horses saddled and ready. As Max approached, a groom brought out Max’s large black gelding.

Orlov left the others and came to meet him. “You escaped, I see.”

“Aye. By the bye, it appears our brigands are cleverer than we realized.”

“How so?”

“Last night, the lady who was robbed said she would not call it a robbery, as they never demanded anything—they politely requested donations.”