Princess Charming (36 page)

Entirely reassured, Maura smiled and raised her mouth to his for another intoxicating kiss. She loved Ash desperately, irrevocably, and she knew now in every part of her heart that he felt the same deep love for her.

Out of habit
, Ash leaned idly against a column in the Traherne ballroom, his pose reflecting the ennui of a jaded nobleman. Yet boredom was the farthest thing from his mind as he watched his bride of nine hours. This was his wedding day. He and Maura had been married that afternoon by special license, and afterward Skye and Quinn had hosted a lavish wedding feast and ball at their magnificent London mansion.

The celebrations were an immense success, judging by the laughter and gaiety of the company. Ash had spent all evening at Maura’s side, accepting continuous felicitations from friends and acquaintances, but just now she stood a short distance from him, conversing with her stepsisters while he marveled at his good fortune.

He had never thought he needed anyone, but he’d severely deluded himself. He needed Maura profoundly.
He knew without doubt that she was his soul mate, his heartbeat, his love.

Just then Uncle Cornelius rambled past Ash and paused upon spying him. Despite a distaste for grand society, Cornelius had put himself out to mingle with the glittering throng. Even more surprising, he had managed to stay awake long past his usual retirement hour since he wished to welcome into the family the first new Wilde bride in decades.

“I confess,” Cornelius observed thoughtfully to Ash, “I initially questioned Katharine’s postulation regarding legendary lovers, yet she was surprisingly sapient. You did well to wed Maura, my boy. Exceedingly well.”

“So I did, Uncle,” he agreed.

“Your parents would have been quite pleased and proud to see this day.”

Ash felt a momentary stab of loss at the mention of his late parents, even though his grief was tempered by the intervening years. Yet he knew Cornelius was right. Stephen and Melicent Wilde would have ardently approved of his choice, as would Quinn and Skye’s parents, Lionel and Angelique Wilde.

As his Uncle Cornelius wandered off again, Ash returned his attention to his new wife. Maura glowed with life and happiness. She was all woman—vibrant, dynamic, eternally intriguing. He would never tire of watching her.

Her stepsisters, too, seemed animated and almost pretty in their enjoyment of the ball. When their mother joined them, Maura’s glow only faltered a slight measure, evidence of her newly forged relationship with her
stepmother. A moment later Maura turned to glance around her, as if searching for him.

When she locked gazes with him, the glorious smile she gave him filled Ash with a deep, piercing joy. He wanted nothing more than to make Maura smile like that always, to protect her and make her happy.

As the conversation with her stepfamily continued, he felt a sharp impatience that they were keeping Maura from him. Finally, though, she broke away and returned to his side.

“What kept you so long?” he demanded as he straightened from his causal pose.

“Hannah and Lucy wished to express their appreciation to us once again. They are both being courted by eligible young gentlemen now, and apparently their beaux are impressed that I own a famous racehorse. But happily, the girls seem to be admired for their own sweet sakes, not solely for their connections and the generous dowries you bestowed upon them.” Maura’s hazel eyes were dancing with amusement as she gazed up at Ash. “Priscilla has high hopes of turning their new suitors into husbands before long, and she gives me partial credit. Is it not ironic that
I
am playing matchmaker?” Maura added with a disbelieving laugh.

“Ironic indeed,” Ash said dryly. Having no desire to dwell further on her young stepsisters’ amorous affairs, however, he took Maura’s elbow and guided her behind a decorative bank of potted palms.

“What are you about, Ash?” she asked with more curiosity than wariness.

“I am hiding you away from prying eyes so I can
steal a kiss from you. To be truthful, I should like to leave the ball altogether and take you home at once.”

Her resultant smile was as warm as a midsummer breeze. “I desperately crave a kiss, but it would be rude to leave the festivities so early when Skye and Quinn have gone to such trouble for us.”

“It is nearly midnight,” Ash pointed out. “And my cousins will understand that I want you all to myself tonight. As for the ball guests, I don’t give a farthing for their opinions.”

“You
will
have me all to yourself tonight, since Kate means to remain here to afford us privacy on our wedding night. We ought not leave for a while longer.”

“You are asking a great deal,” he grumbled.

“I know, but sadly, you must curb your lust a few hours more.”

In response, Ash slid a hand down the back of Maura’s elegant gown and drew her hips against his. Her eyes widened in a pretense of shock. “Ash, behave yourself! We cannot embrace in public, for pity’s sake.”

“Behave myself?” He raised a dubious eyebrow. “I can see you are already set on turning me into a henpecked husband, giving me orders about proper comportment.”

He saw the laughter building in her eyes. “You are hardly in danger of being henpecked,” Maura retorted. “It is all I can do to hold my own with you.”

“Actually, you do quite well at holding your own, my darling.” When her quelling look didn’t slacken,
though, Ash gave a theatrical sigh. “Very well, but the least you could do is give me a kiss to sustain me until we can finally take our leave.”

When he lowered his head, Maura complied eagerly as expected, her luscious lips softening and opening under his. Merely kissing her created sparks of passion between them, and Ash felt the heat start to smolder in his lower body.…

They were still kissing passionately when Skye found them behind the row of palms. “Why am I not surprised that you are already living up to the family legend, Ash?”

He might have ignored the cheerful question if Maura hadn’t broken off guiltily. Disappointed, Ash turned a baleful eye on his youngest cousin. “Can you not see we are occupied?”

Skye smiled sweetly. “I only wished to tell Maura how delighted we all are to have her join our family. I would have done so sooner, but I haven’t had a single moment alone with her since the ceremony.” Stepping closer, she took Maura’s hands. “I am overjoyed to have you as a sister in addition to a dear friend, Maura. And ecstatic for you as well. No one deserves happiness more than you.”

“Thank you,” she murmured with a heartfelt smile.

“I foresee a long and glorious union between you and Ash,” Skye predicted, “since we Wildes fall in love for life. Granted, we had begun to despair that Ash would never marry and fulfill our parents’ legacy, but now there is real hope for the rest of our generation.”

Katharine appeared just in time to overhear Skye’s last remark. “Yes, Ash,” Kate agreed in a provocative
tone. “It seems my legendary lovers theory is not so preposterous after all. I expect a suitable acknowledgment from you. I was right about Maura being your destiny, you must admit.”

His mouth curved. “Very well, I admit it.”

His sister’s response was a self-satisfied smile. “Allow me to say I told you so.”

“Smugness does not become you, sweet shrew.”

Kate laughed. “I think I should be permitted to crow a little. You fought me tooth and nail at first, but you have now proved the possibility that a legendary lover could exist for each of us cousins.”

Ash slid a friendly arm around Katharine’s shoulders. “I trust your time comes quickly, sister dear.”

“I sincerely hope so also.”

“You mistake my meaning, Kate,” he replied with an affectionate squeeze of her shoulders. “I want you to find your match soon, because now that Maura and I are married, I prefer to have the house to ourselves.”

Katharine feigned a wounded look. “Are you actually saying my presence is
unwanted
?”

“No, only that you need to increase the pace of your hunt.”

“I am trying, I assure. I promised I would search for my own true love next. But unfortunately, my romantic prospects seem dim at the moment, despite my best efforts.”

Ash wasn’t surprised, since he knew of few men who could handle a lively spitfire like Kate.

“Kate,” Skye interrupted. “I gather you have discovered no prospective match for me yet?”

“I am sorry, Skye, but not yet. To be frank, I think it will be easier to find mates for the men in our family.”

When Kate glanced behind her at the ballroom floor, Ash knew she was eyeing Jack and Quinn. Not only had they attended the ball and remained the entire time, they were dutifully conversing with dowagers and dancing with wallflowers in a show of family loyalty.

“She has a Greek myth in mind for Quinn,” Skye said mischievously.

“Oh, which one?” Maura asked Kate.

“I imagine his tale will be Pygmalion. But Jack should come next, since his time is growing short.”

When Maura looked intrigued, Kate explained. “I have found a possible Juliet to Jack’s Romeo, but there are serious impediments to the union—namely, the long-standing feud between our two families and even worse, the young lady’s imminent engagement to a duke. No doubt her parents will vociferously object to Jack’s courtship, although in his case, having royal blood could be his saving grace.”

“Royal blood?” Maura repeated. “Oh, yes, I remember Ash telling me that Jack’s father was a European prince.”

“Yes. Jack is a love child, but he could claim the throne if he really wished to—which he says he does not. Either way, he must act soon or he will miss his chance entirely. Skye, you are closest to Jack. You will have to persuade him to at least meet his Juliet.”

“Certainly I will do my utmost,” Skye replied earnestly.
“However, you may have an even more difficult challenge than his, since Aunt Bella asked you to find someone for her good friend, Lord Hawkhurst. You remember, Maura, he is the earl who breeds horses on the Isle of Cyrene? Hawkhurst is a widower,” she explained, “who lost his wife and young child here in England years ago. Aunt Bella believes he needs a new wife in order to be happy.”

Kate’s green eyes grew serious. “Hawkhurst is most assuredly on my list. I might even turn my hand to Uncle Cornelius.”

Maura appeared skeptical. “I thought Lord Cornelius was a scholarly bachelor who rarely leaves his library.”

“True. He is not a typical Wilde with a bent for passion and scandal, but he does have a romantic past of his own. Like Jack’s mother, Uncle Cornelius never married because he was thwarted in love. But he is a dear soul, and I want a happy ending for him.”

Kate’s expression remained thoughtful as she eyed Maura. “Now that you have benefited from my theory, Maura, I think you should assist me in my future matchmaking endeavors.”

Hesitating to reply, Maura cast an entreating glance at Ash, who came to her rescue by gently prodding his sister and cousin. “Kate, I expect you to suspend your scheming for this one evening at least. Why don’t you and Skye return to our ball guests so I can be alone with my new wife?”

His blunt hint jolted Katharine out of her ruminations. “Oh, of course.” With a rueful smile, she kissed Maura’s cheek and stepped back while Skye did the
same. Then linking arms, the two cousins disappeared behind the row of palms.

When they were gone, Maura shook her head in amusement. “I cannot believe she wants me to aid her. The role of matchmaker is as alien to me as that of Cinderella … although at the moment, I do feel like a fairy-tale princess. This gown is worthy of royalty.” She glanced down at her short-sleeved gown of creamy, gold-embroidered lace. “But even though my metamorphosis into princess is progressing, I may never become accustomed to being addressed as Lady Beaufort.”

Maura surprised Ash then by reaching down to grasp both his hands in her own. “I never expected to become your marchioness, Ash, but there is nothing I want more.” Her gaze growing tender, she brought their entwined hands inward to frame her face while gazing up at him.

Love. Her eyes were full of it. Ash stilled, transfixed by that magical look. Her next words enchanted him even further.

“I cannot imagine living without you, Ash,” Maura declared solemnly. “I would never want to. You make me feel treasured, cherished, loved.”

“That is exactly how you should feel,” he said simply, “since I treasure, cherish, and love you.”

At his heartfelt affirmation, a hint of a smile returned to her lips. “How soon can we leave the ball and go home, dear husband?”

“You want to go home now? I thought you were concerned about appearing rude.”

“I changed my mind. I don’t want to waste another
moment before fulfilling the Wilde family legacy. We should probably wait until the stroke of midnight to honor the spirit of our lovers’ tale, but after that …”

Having similar thoughts, Ash smiled in approval and captured Maura’s lovely mouth again.

Read on for a look at Book Two in
Nicole Jordan’s exciting
Legendary Lovers series,