Regency Society. Ann Lethbridge

shone with the tears she was too proud to shed. ‘If he still wants me, I shall marry him.’

      ‘My grandson is a very mixed-up young man and a part of that is my fault,’ the earl said. ‘I resented him because of his father and I blamed John Clarendon for not loving my daughter.’ He sighed deeply. ‘I pushed them into the marriage and I almost did the same to you and Luke. Please forgive me and stay with me, Roxanne. You are as a granddaughter to me and I hope you will make this your home—whatever you and Luke decide.’

      ‘I shall be glad…’ Roxanne’s words trailed away as the door opened and Luke entered. The look on his face was so harsh that she caught her breath. ‘Has the prince gone?’

      ‘That damned fellow,’ Luke said in a haughty tone. ‘He had the effrontery to tell me that he would be happy to wed you if I no longer wished for the connection.’

      ‘I’m sorry he made you angry,’ Roxanne replied. ‘I believe he had some idea that because we had been childhood friends he would like to make me his second wife.’

      ‘Insufferable.’ Luke fumed, his eyes glinting with temper. ‘You may think yourself fortunate that you did not have the ruby with you, Roxanne. You might otherwise have been left in a ditch to die.’

      ‘Luke, that is despicable. You should not talk about him in such a disrespectful manner. I believe the prince honourable in his own way,’ she replied stiffly. ‘I know his father sent him to recover the ruby, but they gave me my father’s fortune even though they might have withheld it had they wished.’

      ‘Your father bought the ruby in good faith. It was yours by right, Roxanne, and worth twelve thousand pounds if a penny.’

      ‘I did not want it. Such a jewel could only bring ill fortune to anyone who kept it, knowing its history. The prince will return it to the goddess and perhaps his people will prosper again. They are a superstitious people and the curse may only be in their minds, but with the ruby back in place they may be happier.’

      Luke threw her a smouldering look. ‘I was merely thinking of your rights. Since you do not choose to take anything I gave you…’ He glanced at her left hand and saw that she was wearing her emerald ring. ‘You are wearing your ring, yet you left it behind—why the change?’

      ‘I did not wish the prince to think I had lied to him concerning my situation. I believe that he wished to marry me and I wanted to make it clear that I was not free without hurting his feelings.’

      Luke frowned. ‘I shall not keep you to your promise, Roxanne. I can see that you no longer need me. Marry your prince if that is your wish. I have no right to hold you here.’

      ‘Luke, how could you? You are too cruel.’

      ‘Luke, do not be a fool,’ the earl said. ‘Roxanne has just come back to us. You should not quarrel with her. Besides, she has decided to stay with me—whatever the pair of you decide between you, Roxanne’s home will be here with me.’

      ‘How very convenient for you both,’ Luke snapped and turned on his heel, striding from the room without another word.’

      Roxanne’s eyes filled with tears. ‘He is angry again. I did not mean to make him angry. What did I say?’

      ‘He is a pig-headed fool,’ the earl said, making a sound of exasperation. ‘I fear we are too much alike. It is his pride talking, Roxanne. He will apologise to you when he has cooled down and beg you to marry him.’

      Roxanne felt the prick of tears and blinked hard. ‘I fear Luke no longer wishes me to be his wife, Grandfather. He never did truly. The engagement was make believe—I would have been his wife only for as long as you lived. Then he would have asked for a separation.’

      ‘Stuff and nonsense. Luke is in love with you, girl. When you were lost he searched for you constantly. He was like a man possessed. He neither slept nor ate and I think, had you not returned, he would have gone mad with grief. Why should he react so strongly to a rival if he is not in love with you?’

      ‘You cannot mean it?’ Roxanne stared at him in disbelief. ‘He is so angry. Surely…was he really in distress because I was lost?’

      ‘I would never lie to you,’ the earl told her and smiled. ‘Go after him, girl. Sort it out between yourselves—but please do not run off again. My heart won’t stand it.’

      ‘I promise I shan’t leave you again, sir—though I think you a fraud. I am certain you will live many years yet.’

      The earl laughed. ‘You may be right, especially if I have good news.’

      Roxanne bent and kissed him and then went hurriedly from the room. Where would Luke be? She prayed that he had not gone off to London in a temper.

      His grandfather was right to call him a fool. Luke left the house with his pride in tatters and his temper still raging, but he had not gone farther than the rose garden when he realised that he was in the wrong. Why must he always quarrel with the woman he loved? The desolation that had come over him when his search for her had proved in vain was surely enough to tell him that his life would be empty without her. He should have taken her into his arms rather than raging at her, but the interview with Prince Ranjit had not improved his temper, and Roxanne’s defence of her old friends had made him snap at her once more.

      Yet his honour would not allow him to force her into a marriage that she might regret. The prince had made it clear that she would be honoured in his country and she had changed since meeting him. Had she rediscovered a lost love? Why did she have that new glow about her? She had always been vibrant and beautiful, but now there was something more—a certainty that had not been there before.

      He was a fool and he did not deserve her. No wonder she’d decided that she did not wish to marry him. Why should she? He’d asked her to enter a make-believe engagement, spoken of a convenient arrangement, seduced her and then lost his temper with her. No woman with any pride could accept such treatment. It was not surprising that she’d walked out on him. Now she was back and he had insulted her again. He was a damned fool and he was very much afraid that he’d lost her for ever.

      ‘Luke, please wait for me.’

      Turning, he saw Roxanne walking towards him and his heart took a flying leap. The gown she wore was simply cut, but she looked like a queen, regal and proud. In the sunshine her thick luxuriant hair was touched by fire and she was so beautiful that he felt weak with longing. If he lost her, he would have no reason to live.

      ‘Roxanne,’ he began hurriedly. ‘I know what I said was unforgivable. I had no right or justification for speaking to you so harshly. You have every right to do exactly as you wish.’

      ‘Yes, Luke, I do.’ Roxanne raised her head and met his eyes with a cool frank look. ‘I am very fond of Grandfather and I shall not leave him here alone again, though I believe his health is more stable than you may imagine. It is true that he has bouts of illness that could be his last, but he has a very strong will. For as long as he has something to live for he will fight to live.’

      ‘What are you saying?’ Luke’s gaze narrowed as he tried to gauge what was in her mind. ‘Are you suggesting that we should go ahead with our marriage to please him?’

      ‘Perhaps.’ She took a deep breath. ‘When I left this house that day I felt that your harsh behaviour towards me made a marriage between us untenable. However, after my distress eased, I came to realise that I did not wish to leave Grandfather—or you. I believe I should have returned to discuss the matter with you in a sensible manner had I not been kidnapped.’

      She seemed so calm, so in control that Luke hesitated, not knowing what to believe. ‘I am not certain what you mean,’ he said. ‘Are you intending to go on as before—or is this to be a genuine marriage?’

      ‘That is up to you,’ she replied. ‘My own preference is for a true marriage. I wish for children and—I am very fond of you, Luke. I like you when you are not in a temper and I believe we could go on very comfortably together.’