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When indicated, they all walked in formation through a grand hall between rows of courtiers.

If the waiting room was overwhelming, this room was staggering, breathtaking, and probably paralyzing if it weren’t for the duke beside her.

She squeezed his arm and prayed she didn’t make a cake of herself.

“Lady Zoe Elizabeth,” the major domo announced. “Earl and Countess of Satheath.”

Zoe curtsied deeply to the prince who was lounging in a seat at the top of the raised dais. The earl bowed, the countess curtsied. Everything was exactly as it ought to be.

“Miss Kynthea Petrelli.” Was there a sneer in his voice? Or did she imagine it? It didn’t matter. Kynthea dropped into a deep curtsey.

“Duke of Harle. Duchess of Harle.”

Ras had pulled her into a space beside Zoe. He and his mother took their place even with Zoe’s parents, behind Kynthea. And everyone remained in their lowered position while the general murmuring quieted. Silence reigned for a heartbeat, then two, then several more of rapidly-pounding panic.

What was happening?

Kynthea peaked as she saw Prinny rise out of his chair and step forward, a clear frown on his face. What was he doing? What had they done wrong?

“Get up, get up. Let me get a look at you.”

Everyone straightened and thank heaven for that. Kynthea’s knees had started to strain. She kept her gaze lowered, of course. One didn’t look boldly into a prince’s eyes. Except she had no choice when she abruptly felt his finger beneath her chin, tilting her head to look straight at him.

“Your Highness?” she gasped.

He frowned at her, looking her over left and right. Then he turned to Ras. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely, Your Highness.”

Prinny grunted, then turned to Zoe. “And what about you? Didn’t you want to be a duchess?”

“No, Your Majesty,” Zoe said with a grin. “I’ve got bigger plans than that.”

The prince recoiled. “Bigger plans than being a duchess! Do you look to wed a king somewhere?”

“Oh no!” Zoe said, her skin flushing pink. “I have wagered my dowry that I can make the duke’s stable into the finest one in England.”

Prinny tilted his head. “Wagered how?”

“Two mares,” Zoe said. “The most valuable part of my dowry. They will live under my care at the duke’s stable. With my training regimen and breeding plans, I will produce a horse that will win the derby in five years. I have sworn it.”

“You?” the prince gasped. “You’re naught but a girl.”

“But I’m a smart girl, Your Highness.”

The prince frowned. “And what about a husband? Wouldn’t he want these horses of yours?”

Zoe dimpled as she grinned. “I can wait five years to wed. And when I succeed, I get my pick of the duke’s stable to add to my dowry.”

The prince looked to Zoe’s father. “You have agreed to this?”

The earl nodded. “The girl’s got a knack for horses and a mind to make it stick. She’ll impress you, and the duke likes her chances.”

“Of course, he does,” the prince scoffed. “If she succeeds, he’ll have the finest stable in England. If she fails, he’ll have her breeding mares and five years of her work.”

Zoe lifted her chin. “I’ll be paid for my time, Your Highness. And my father will live with me. He loves the horses as much as I do, and the air will do him good.”

The prince looked at the duke. “So you’re betting on the father.”

“No, Your Highness. It is Lady Zoe who impressed me. And if she succeeds, it will be worth every penny.”

“Huh.” The prince’s grunt was appreciative. The man loved a good wager. “I believe I shall take that bet as well,” he said. He waved a finger at a footman. “In five years, Lady Zoe, I think you will fail. What shall be my forfeit then when you do?”

Zoe frowned, clearly insulted and tongue-tied. She didn’t have anything else to offer but the horses in her dowry. Thankfully, Ras was quick to help her out.

“You may have any one of my horses as recompense. But if she wins, then you must allow her to have her pick from your own stable.”

“My horses are a great deal better than hers.”

“No, they are not!” Zoe said. Then when the assembled courtiers gasped, she quickly added, “I mean, I respectfully disagree, Your Highness.”

“So do I,” drawled Ras.

The prince frowned. Zoe dropped her head in embarrassment, but Ras only flashed a cheeky grin. Clearly, he’d wagered with Prinny before. And in the end, the prince agreed.

“Record it!” he bellowed. Then he smiled at Zoe. “And so we shall see if a girl is worth her weight in horseflesh.”

“Much more, Your Highness,” Zoe said, her eyes flashing. “I am worth a great deal more.”

Far from being offended, the prince guffawed at her audacity. And now Kynthea knew what arrangement Ras had made with her young cousin. She only hoped the girl lived up to her bravado. Meanwhile, Ras whispered in her ear.

“We couldn’t tell anyone before it was done. The prince had to approve it.”

Ah, now she understood. Better to bring Prinny into the wager than have him find out after the fact and voice his displeasure at a girl running a stable. Though they could have told her. She wouldn’t have mentioned it to a soul.

“And what about you, Miss Petrelli?”

Kynthea jolted at the prince’s booming voice right in front of her. “Your Majesty?”

Ras stepped forward coming even with her before the prince. “She doesn’t know.”

“What?”

“She doesn’t know,” Ras repeated, his voice firm. Then he smiled at the prince. “I thought you might enjoy being a witness.”

The royal grinned even as he folded his arms. “Are you sure about this? Seems like the cheeky horse girl would make more sense.”

“My heart chose this, Your Highness, not my pocketbook.”

“That is obvious.” The prince stepped back, waving his arm in front of him. “Very well then. Go on.”

Kynthea was getting a little annoyed at all this attention when she had no idea what was going on. This was her life, damn it, and she didn’t like people knowing more about it than she did. Especially when one of those people was the Prince Regent.

“Your Grace,” she said softly to Ras. “This is unseemly and embarrassing. I cannot…” Her voice choked off when she watched Ras drop to one knee before her. She wanted to scream at him. What the hell was he doing? But no words came through her constricted throat.

“Miss Petrelli. Kynthea. You are everything I want in my life. You call me to account when I stray, you make me smile when we are together. You fill my loins with fire and my heart with joy. Say you will make me the happiest man on earth and be my bride.”

She stared at him in shock. He didn’t need to propose. She was his mistress! And he certainly didn’t need to do this in front of everyone! Not just his royal highness, but the entire royal court.

“You didn’t think I could see it, did you?” the duke continued.

She had no idea what he was talking about.

“What?” asked the prince.

“Her worth, Your Highness. She said she was just a Miss and that I couldn’t possibly want her. As if a title made one worthy. As if there weren’t a million young misses who are smart and capable beyond measure.” He winked at the prince. “The English raise fine daughters.”

“That we do,” agreed the prince.

“Kynthea,” Ras continued. “I see your strength, your goodness, and Your Grace. I love you.” He pulled out a ring from his pocket—a very large ring set with his family crest and designed to slide over a gloved hand. It was a signet ring, but one designed for his duchess. “Say you love me as well.”

Love him? She’d loved him from the moment he’d sat in her aunt’s drawing room defending her. She’d loved him even when she’d been angry at him. She loved him despite every whisper and rational thought that he couldn’t ever want her. “You know I do,” she said. “You know, I love you.”

Prinny chuckled. “Then say yes, girl. Let him off his knee.”

He wanted her to be his duchess? Not just his mistress, but his wife and companion for life? “Yes!” she cried. “Of course, yes!”

He grinned as he slid his signet over her gloved finger. And then he straightened up like a god before her, drawing her steadily into his arms. “I love you,” he murmured just before he kissed her. He claimed her mouth as a man did his bride’s, and she returned it a thousand fold.

He loved her! He wanted her as his wife! She could hardly believe it. And he had declared so in front of the most powerful people in England.

She clung to him then. She felt his arms surround her and was swept away by his kiss, filled with so many emotions that she could hardly breathe.

“I love you,” she said when he finally released her mouth.

“My love, I am never letting you go.”

She smiled. “Where would I go but back to you?”

*

They were married by royal command at St. James three very short weeks later. The day was fine, Zoe was radiant as maid of honor, and Kynthea was so in love that even the disaster created by best man Lord Nathaniel didn’t dim her happiness.

And what a glorious disaster it was.

Don’t miss The Truth Serum , coming soon, to find out what difficulties have befallen poor Nate and Lady Rebecca, the woman he’s alwaysadored.