Protection (2 page)

Lisa was a lady.

She had just finished scolding him for assuming that a person of common blood was
somehow less valuable or capable than one of the gentry or nobility, an almost heretical
opinion. A valid point, he supposed. But, in light of her undeniably gracious manner,
how he could have so readily accepted her story of being raised in a public inn beggared
belief. Nathaniel’s only excuse for such a deficit of insight was that his judgement
had been clouded by an excess of desire.

With his attention captured by the way the pearl necklace gleamed against Lisa’s creamy
skin above the neckline of her gown, he concluded nothing had changed. After releasing
a steadying breath, he met her gaze and took one of her hands in his.

“Lady Anneliese Barlow.” He swallowed around the lump in his throat. “My darling Lisa.
While I know I don’t deserve it, I promise to spend my life proving myself worthy
of you. Will you consent to marry me?”

“Yes, I will,” she said, her smile shy but unwavering.

Nathaniel could barely contain his joy. He wanted nothing more than to take her in
his arms and kiss her properly, but he dared not. When her lips parted with a gasp,
he realised he’d spoken the thought aloud.

“A proper kiss would be very nice, though this is not the time or place.”

Wincing at her gentle rebuke, her following words gave him hope he had not offended
her too
badly.

“As long as you promise to rectify the situation at the first available opportunity,
you’re forgiven.”

“I promise.”

The softness of her gaze reminded him of the way she looked lying replete in his arms,
and Nathaniel stifled a groan. Everything
reminded him of the intimacy they’d shared, and he foresaw a treacherous time ahead
while he learned to curb the desire he had previously expressed so freely.

“Do you think you would have still been interested in me if you’d known I was a member
of the gentry?” she asked, her expression turning thoughtful. “Or would you have considered
me beneath you, a country girl from a supposedly
inconsequential family?”

Nathaniel laughed aloud.

“Oh, sweetheart, wild horses couldn’t have dragged me away.” He glanced towards their
audience. “Although our meddling monarch just might try.”

“What do you suggest we do?” Lisa asked as he stood and helped her to her feet.

“Be very firm in our determination to negotiate the shortest betrothal possible,”
he said in a low voice while linking their arms. “I believe the King would rather
avoid a scandal, but I fear he will insist on a protracted engagement to attempt to
sway you to his will.”

“But I thought once a betrothal was announced, it couldn’t be broken?”

“Try telling
him
that.”

Facing their sovereign, Nathaniel straightened his shoulders and prepared to face
the next obstacle in their path.

Chapter 2

Machinations

Gripping Nathaniel’s arm tightly, Lisa considered a possible solution to their dilemma.
If the King thought they
had
to marry, his plans would be stymied, and the wedding could occur at their earliest
convenience—or so she hoped.

Looking up at the man she loved almost
beyond reason, she came to a decision. Two could play at this meddling game. After
everything she had endured, Lisa felt no qualms about manipulating things in her favour.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” She smiled her assurance. “I believe I have the perfect
solution.”

“A heretofore unknown relative to the crown will require a protracted engagement.
But only after
Lady Anneliese has been properly introduced to society, domestic and foreign, at a
series of formal events.”

Not wanting to distress her father, Lisa made sure he saw her wink before addressing
King William’s declaration. She feared the sovereign harboured the belief she could
be enticed away from Nathaniel’s side by one of the foreign aristocrats he proceeded
to speak of at length.

“The Crown Prince of Bavaria sounds delightful, Your Majesty.” She took the risk of
interrupting when it became apparent he intended to laud each prince’s or duke’s individual
merits in detail while Nathaniel fumed quietly at her side. “And I do appreciate your
desire for my introduction to society to be memorable. But I’m not sure delaying Lord
Marsden’s and my nuptials for any length of time is the wisest
course of action.”

She waved her free hand in the vicinity of her mid-region, and the King’s mouth formed
a moue. While pleased to see her insinuation having its desired effect, she hadn’t
taken into account Nathaniel’s reaction to their supposed news.

“Lisa?” he whispered hoarsely.

Looking up to see he had gone quite pale, she smiled sweetly, willing him to understand
her silent message. “Or we could wait, for a
long
time, while I am paraded before every eligible prince from here to the Baltic Sea
if you’d prefer.”

Nathaniel’s gaze dropped to her tightly corseted stomach before returning to her still-widened
eyes.

“Oh, no, waiting is not a good idea.”

Composing her features, she turned to find the King viewing them with suspicion.

“Sir George, it would appear your daughter believes young love is more powerful than
the wishes of the King of England, but she seems to be forgetting I was not born yesterday.
Are you
aware of this development, or has it come as big of a shock to you as it appears to
have to Lord Marsden?”

“I wasn’t aware Anneliese might be with child.” Her father smiled encouragingly at
Lisa before directing a fierce look Nathaniel’s way. “But it is not outside the realm
of possibility.”

“Not necessarily true, either.”

Lisa blushed at the knowledge the King had seen straight through her attempt at deception.

“Time will tell,” he continued. “But her revelation leaves me on the horns of a dilemma.
I could
still withhold my approval, but I’ve no desire to be churlish, nor do I need the scandal.”
He eyed Lisa and Nathaniel pointedly. “I had
hoped these young cousins of mine would assist me by strengthening two separate alliances
rather than forming one that is of no great benefit to the crown.”

Lisa’s hopes seesawed with the sovereign’s words, Nathaniel’s expression mirroring
her concerns.

“As much as I would like to be of service, Your Majesty,” she said, “I’ve no desire
to wed anyone but Lord Marsden.”

Surprising Lisa by placing an arm around her shoulder, Nathaniel drew her close to
his side. “And I have no intention of marrying anyone but Lady Anneliese.”

“Such stubbornness,” the King muttered. “I’m of a mind to refuse my permission just
to teach you both a lesson.”

To her relief, Lisa’s father spoke up on her behalf.

“I believe my daughter has learned enough painful lessons these past months.”

“Along with the art of manipulation.” The King frowned. “While I am unwilling to concede
defeat just yet, it would seem to avoid suffering your delightful daughter’s machinations,
I must offer a compromise. I will hold a ball a fortnight from today where I shall
introduce Anneliese to society. If, at such time, she is still of the opinion that
marriage to Lord Marsden is the
wisest
course of action, I will announce the young couple’s betrothal. Until then, I’d prefer
you kept the matter quiet.” Turning to Lisa, he added, “Circumstances may alter
,
in which case, I would ask you to reconsider both your duty to the crown and the magnitude
of what I’m offering you. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Lisa shot Nathaniel a worried glance. “Not at all, Your Majesty, but I do not believe
my opinion will change.”

“One never knows. Young love can be surprisingly fickle. The chance to become the
queen of one’s own country is not an opportunity many young ladies would forego.”

Lisa could imagine nothing worse, the thought of becoming Nathaniel’s marchioness
daunting enough.

“If you
insist
on marrying this impetuous young man, do make sure to name one of your sons after
me when you eventually have a child.” The King’s expression softened. “You shall find
I’m quite the doting relative.”

“It would be an honour.” Lisa curtsied.

Turning to Nathaniel, the sovereign added, “I would advise you to keep your wits about
you, Lord Marsden, as I believe marriage to Lady Anneliese will prove quite the challenge.
God help us all if she decides to team up with your father and starts demanding social
change. The two of them will have the Empire in an uproar in no time, as if I haven’t
got enough on my plate with these blasted reform laws.”

Under the circumstances, Lisa deemed it wise to refrain from admitting she was, indeed,
determined to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable girls and young women.
Discovering she was highly connected and independently wealthy would be of tremendous
assistance, though she suspected discretion might be in order.

After departing the King’s presence, the subdued party reunited with Rebecca, Nathaniel’s
sister, who had been sent to visit with the Queen.

“I’m sure all will be well,” Rebecca said, clutching Lisa’s arm. “You couldn’t possibly
come this far to be denied now.”

“Here’s hoping,” Lisa murmured, exchanging a worried glance with Nathaniel.

“Queen Adelaide wants to meet you,” Rebecca added. “She’ll be issuing you an invitation
to visit with her in the next few days.”

“How wonderful.” Lisa struggled to muster a smile as they settled in the carriage
for the journey from the palace to Stanton House. All she wanted was to savour her
reunion with Nathaniel, but Rebecca’s less than welcome announcement tempered her
joy. Queen Adelaide was a pious, dutiful woman, and Lisa feared the regal lady would
find much to condemn about her recent behaviour.

“It will be all right.” Nathaniel patted her hand where it rested on his arm. “You’re
sure to win her over just as you did the King.”

“Until I insinuated I might be with child.” Lisa looked to her father. “I’m sorry,
Papa.”

“There’s no need to apologise, my dear. I wanted to applaud your thinking. Who knows?
If Lord Marsden had been a little quicker on the uptake, your ruse might have been
more successful.”

Nathaniel ducked his chin, and it was Lisa’s turn to pat his arm in an attempt to
offer comfort.

“The King seems determined to have his way,” she said worriedly. “He can’t force
me to marry someone against my will, can he?”

“Of course not,” her father said. “You heard him say he wants to avoid a scandal.”

“Which he
might
think he can avoid by denying my petition, something that is within his power,” Nathaniel
said grimly.

Lisa’s hand tightened on his arm. “So what do we do?”

“We abide by the King’s wishes and keep quiet about our intentions while you take
the time to consider his offer.”

Lisa stared at him, appalled. “But I don’t want to marry some foreign prince.”

“Are you sure? King William offered to make you a duchess, and there’s every possibility
you could become a queen
one day. In either case, your social standing would be much higher than that of a
mere marchioness. The tables have turned, Lisa. You’ll be marrying beneath you if
we wed.”

Hurt that, after all they’d been through, Nathaniel could think she cared more about
status than him, Lisa almost missed the bleakness in his eyes.

“I am more than
happy with my choice.” Despite their audience, she allowed some of her feelings for
him to show, and he released the breath he was holding.

“But what will you do if the King doesn’t give his blessing?” Rebecca asked.

“Let’s not worry about that unless we must,” Lisa’s father answered. “For now, I need
to determine where Anneliese and I are going to reside whilst in London.”

“With us, of course,” Nathaniel and Rebecca replied in unison.

“You don’t think that would appear unseemly?” Lisa frowned. Staying with Nathaniel’s
family was her preference considering the opportunities it would present for them
to spend time together. But she was determined not to expose her father to further
gossip, something she probably should have considered before implying there was a
reason that would require a hasty marriage.