To Charm a Prince(104)

“I don’t think so,” Samantha told the blonde.

Rudolf retrieved the gun and leveled it on his brother. He glanced at his wife. “Are you injured?”

“No.” Samantha put the dagger back in its sheath.

“You clumsy idiot,” Olga snapped at her husband.

Vladimir slapped her hard, effectively silencing her. “I suppose you want this.” Vladimir offered the black velvet pouch to his brother.

“You keep it, “Rudolf said. “I have everything a man could want.”

The door opened unexpectedly, admitting lgor. The big Russian looked at the pistol in the prince’s hand. “I see that my services are not required.”

“My wife and I could have been killed if we waited for you to rescue us,” Rudolf told him. “Make certain my brother and his charming wife board a ship leaving England today.”

“I understand, Your Highness.”

Vladimir and Olga turned to leave.

“Ooops,” Samantha tripped into Vladimir as he passed her. He reached out to break her fall.

“I apologize, Your Highness,” Samantha said. “The babe makes me dizzy.”

Vladimir inclined his head. “I wish you well with your new baby.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Vladimir and Olga walked outside the cottage, but the big Russian paused to look at her. Igor let out a thunderous bellow of laughter and walked out of the cottage.

“I’m not certain I want to remain married to you,” Samantha said.

“Why?” he asked, a smile flirting with the corners of his lips.

“I always hoped for a boring husband,” she told him.

“Princess, I promise to bore you to tears,” Rudolf said, pulling her into his arms. “I will be the most boring husband who ever lived.” He planted a kiss on her lip. “May I have the Venus now?”

“Of course, darling.” Samantha handed him the black velvet pouch. “Aren’t you glad you married me?”

Rudolf lost his smile, his dark gaze becoming intense. “I meant what I said to my brother about having everything a man could want. I have waited for you forever.”

“I love you, too. Forever.”







Sark Island, November



Samantha set her teacup on the table and stared at her pregnancy-swollen belly. She glanced at her husband, who sat on the edge of her chair.

“You have never looked more beautiful,” Rudolf whispered.

Samantha glanced around the drawing room. Her whole family had come from London for the birth of her child. Only, her child wasn’t cooperating.

A whoop and a shriek of excitement caught her attention. Victoria and Rudolf’s brothers were engaged in a game of tag with the children. A rather wild game of tag.

Samantha crooked her finger at her husband, and he leaned close. “I think your brothers are taking advantage of my sister,” she whispered in his ear. “I just saw Stepan tag her breast, and a few minutes ago, Mikhail tagged her posterior.”

“I will speak to them about their behavior,” Rudolf said, nuzzling her neck.

“I don’t think that will do much good.”

“I pity Emerson,” Rudolf said. “Your sister is going to have him tied in knots.”

Samantha looked at her aunt, who sat holding Rudolf’s mother’s hand but was watching her sister’s outrageous game of tag with the princes and the children. Her aunt wore a worried expression.

Samantha crooked her finger at her husband again. When he leaned close, she whispered, “I don’t think my aunt has the constitution for another courtship.” That made him smile. “I also think my time has come.”

“What about time, sweet?” Rudolf asked.

Samantha closed her eyes as the beginnings of a contraction swept through her. The panic hit her as soon as the pain passed. She had experience with pain and knew what was coming. She wasn’t sure she could bear it.

“Samantha?”

She grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave me, please.”

The realization of what was happening slammed into the prince. He lifted her into his arms, calling over his shoulder, “Roxie, the baby is coming. Stepan, get the physician.”

Upstairs, Rudolf gingerly laid Samantha on the bed just as another contraction hit. She clung to his hand and panted.

“That’s a good girl,” Rudolf soothed her. “I won’t leave you. There’s nothing to fear.”

Aunt Roxie raced into the bedchamber, a nightgown in her hand. Angelica appeared with bed padding.

“Rudolf, lift her so we can put this on the bed,” Angelica said.

“We’ll need to change her into this,” Roxie said.

Rudolf undressed his wife gently and pulled the nightgown over her head. “I think we should walk around the room.”