Page 6 of Charmless

“I was not one of those ladies,” I assured him. “I did not attend the ball with any thought of winning you.”

“I realize that.” Florian’s bitter expression softened into a smile. “And that is why youhavewon.”

He prepared to drop to one knee before me. I grabbed hold of his arm to prevent him.

“Oh, please do not do that.”

“Do you not wish that I should kneel before you as I pour out my heart and beg for your hand in marriage?”

“No, please. No pouring or begging. I am sorry, Your Highness, but I cannot possibly marry you.”

My refusal came out blunter than I had intended. I heard a whimper of protest from Em. The prince stared at me as though I had lost my mind.

“Why not?” he demanded. “Never tell me that someone else has already claimed you.”

“No, my daughter is quite unattached,” Em said. I scowled at her, and she scowled right back, but with a hint of pleading in her eyes.

“I am relieved to hear that,” Florian said. “I would hate to have to fight for you, Ella, but I would. I would duel any man in the kingdom to win you.”

A bolt of alarm shot through me. I was terrified what the prince might do if he ever discovered there was another man that I vastly preferred to him, the royally appointed commander of the Midtown garrison, Horatio Crushington.

“There will be no fighting,” I said firmly, concealing my fear. “I am no prize to be won, any more than you are.”

“Of course not.” The prince soothed me. “But if your hand has not been bestowed elsewhere, I cannot understand why you will not consider me as a bridegroom.” He shook back his hairand chuckled. “I do not believe that I am repulsive and I am the heir to the throne. I could fulfill your every desire.”

“Except for the most important one— love.”

“But I have already told you how much I adore you.”

“But I do not love you. I am sensible of the honor you give me and I have no wish to cause you pain. But I do not even really know you.”

What I did know of Florian left me with no desire to further the acquaintance, but I hid that thought behind a rueful smile as I said, “I am truly sorry, Your Highness.”

As it slowly dawned upon the prince that I was sincere in my refusal, something ugly flashed in Florian’s eyes. His glare was so black, I retreated a step.

Suddenly his face cleared.

“Ah, I see what it is.” He grinned. “You wish to be pursued. I really like that in a girl.”

“No! I don’t wish that at all. I hate being pursed. Even when I was a child, I never liked to play hide and tag.”

Florian laughed and playfully pinched my chin. “Nonsense, you need not be ashamed to admit it. I know right well all of you ladies enjoy being chased by an ardent suitor.”

A disquieting gleam came into his eye. “I promise you, my dear Ella, I shall pursue you as no woman has ever been pursued before.”

Promise? Why did that sound more like a threat? I tried to protest, but the prince waved all my objections aside.

“Alas, my beloved, other pressing business calls me from your side. But I shall return forthwith to commence my wooing and you shall have all my devotion you could desire.”

What I desired was to smash a vase over his thick head, anything to force him to listen to me. But Florian was already striding from the room. He headed toward the front door, Em trailing after him.

I could hear my stepmother telling the prince how shy and modest I was. When I was not so overwhelmed by the honor of His Highness’s proposal, Em insisted that she was sure I would accept him.

Groaning, I hobbled over to the settee and removed my dancing slipper.

“Treacherous shoe!” I muttered. Flinging it against the wall, I flopped back against the cushions.

A choked off laugh startled me into sitting upright as the majordomo crept forward to retrieve the pillow. The colorless little man blended so well into the woodwork. One tended to forget he was there.