To Charm a Prince(5)

The prince gave her a curious look. “I do not understand.”

“I lived in this house until I was seven years old,” she told him.

“Your parents sold the house to Emerson?” Rudolf asked.

“The villain stole it from my father,” Samantha said, a bitter edge to her voice. In the next instant, she realized she had said too much.

The prince had stopped walking and turned to stare at her. Surprise had etched itself across his features.

“I should not have said what I did.” Samantha touched his arm. “Please, do not repeat it to anyone.”

“I would never betray a trust,” the prince assured her. “Under the circumstances, I cannot understand your parents accepting Emerson’s invitation.’

“My parents are deceased,” Samantha told him. “The gentleman you saw is the Duke of Inverary, and the lady is my Aunt Roxie.”

“The Duke of Inverary?” the prince echoed, his dark eyes gleaming with interest “I must hear this story.”

“Another time, perhaps,” she said, glancing around. “I wouldn’t wish to be overheard.”

Prince Rudolf led her to the stairs instead of the refreshment room. “We will postpone our champagne to walk in the garden while you relate this story to me.”

Samantha halted at the top of the stairs. “Is that proper?”

“You are safe with me,” the prince assured her. “I would never compromise your reputation.”

Samantha relaxed but began to have doubts as they followed several couples downstairs and headed for a stroll in the garden. She felt certain her aunt would not approve, but when she looked at the prince, she was unable to turn back and let him go. If she was going to live a lonely, miserable existence, she might as well have one evening to remember.

Rudolf and Samantha stepped into a summer’s night created for romance. Fog clung to the ground like a lover, but the sky overhead was clear, a full moon shining down on them. Torches had been lit, providing light for the couples who strolled around the garden. Mingling flower fragrances wafted through the air.

Rudolf took her hand in his and led her across the garden toward a silver birch tree. “Tell me about the Duke of Inverary.”

Heedless of her gown, Samantha leaned back against the birch tree. The solidness of its trunk comforted her.

“His Grace, an old friend of my father’s, opened his home to us and insisted on sponsoring my sisters and me,” Samantha told him.

“How generous of him.”

“Your Highness, you have been waltzing with a pauper,” Samantha whispered, merriment shining from her blue eyes and a smile on her lips. “I have nothing to recommend me.”

The prince stepped closer and, with one finger lifted her chin. “You have a great deal to recommend you,” he said, his voice seductively low.

Samantha stared into his eyes, mesmerized by their dark intensity. His handsome face inched closer. The scent of sandalwood, so arrogantly masculine, assailed her senses and made thinking impossible. His face hovered above hers for one brief, tantalizing moment. And then their lips touched.

Samantha surrendered to this new sensation. Standing within the circle of his arms and pressing her lips to his felt as natural as breathing. And then it was over.

“You are as delicate as a Bulgarian rose and more mysterious than Asian jasmine,” Rudolf whispered, his lips hovering above hers.

Dazed by his kiss, Samantha stared at him through enormous blue eyes but remained silent. Rudolf traced a finger down her cheek. “Thank you for the gift of your first kiss.”

That jerked her into awareness. How did he know she’d never kissed a man? Was her inexperience so obvious?

“How did you know?” she managed to ask.

Prince Rudolf placed the palm of his hand against her cheek. “Your skin burns with embarrassment, surely a sign of a first kiss.”

Samantha smiled with relief. Apparently, she hadn’t done anything incorrectly. “Tell me something more about yourself,” she said, looking at him from beneath the thick fringe of her sooty lashes.

“What do you want to know?”

“Tell me about Russia.”

“My homeland is cold.”

“You told me your mother is English,” Samantha said. ‘What about the others in your family?”

“They are Russians.”

Samantha realized he was teasing her. She cast him an unconsciously flirtatious smile. “How do princes really pass their days?”

“We issue commands to inferiors,” Rudolf told her, a smile on his lips, “while we are wearing our crowns.”

“Wearing the crown is necessary to issue commands?” Samantha asked, tilting her head back to look into his dark eyes.