She scowled up at him. “Look here, Mr. Piotr—”
“Romanovin.”
She paused, interested in spite of herself. “Mr. Piotr Romanovin, then.”
His grinned, his teeth white in his black beard. “Yes, I am Piotr Aleksander Romanovin of Oxenburg.”
Though she hardly knew him, his relaxed grin was reassuring. He looked like many things—handsome, exotic, overbearing, strong—but he would not harm her. Her instincts and common sense both agreed on that. “Why were you in this forest?”
“Ah, I brought my—how you say, babushka? Ah yes, grandmother. I brought her to see the house I have just purchased.”
She must be safe, then, Lily decided, for no man would invite his own grandmother to a ravishment.
The amazing green eyes now locked with hers. “You will meet my grandmother soon, but not today. I think you will like her.”
It sounded like an order.
She managed a faint smile. “I’m sure we’ll adore each other. But really, I doubt we’ll meet.”
“No? I think you are a guest of the Duchess of Roxburghe, no? These are her woods.”
“How do you know the duchess?”
He shrugged, his huge shoulder moving against her cheek. “Her grace knows my grandmother. They’ve known each other since they were schoolgirls, although I do not think they were fond of each other.”
“Ah. Yet they are fond enough now that the duchess invited your grandmother to visit?”
“Of course. A rivalry is no reason for rudeness. It is the way of the world to have rivals, no?”
“I suppose so. I just— Look, I really should wait here for the duchess’s men. Once the horse returns to the stables, they will come looking for me. And if they don’t find me, they’ll think something horrible has happened.”
“I will send my men to wait for the duchess’s servants, so no one will be left untended.”
“Your men?” She frowned. “You said that before. How many men do you have?”
His gaze slid away. “Enough.”
“Then you’re a military leader.” That explained his boldness and overassuredness.
“Yes.”
“What are you? A corporal? A sergeant?”
“I am in charge.” A faint note of surprise colored his voice, as if he were irritated that she should think anything else.
“You’re in charge of what? A squad? A battalion?”
“Of course not.” He looked a bit insulted. “I am in charge of it all.”
She blinked. “Of the entire military of Oxenburg?”
“I shall tell you, because the duchess will soon say it anyway. I am not a general. I am a prince, which is why the duchess has asked that my grandmother and I attend her events. I had not thought to accept her invitation, but now—” He grinned down at her, his teeth flashing. “Now, I think I will agree.”
“Wait. You’re a prince?”
He shrugged, his broad shoulders making his cape swing. “I am one of four.”
She couldn’t wrap her mind around the thought of a room full of men like the one before her now: huge, broad shouldered, bulging with muscles and lopsided smiles, their dark hair falling over their brows and into their green eyes . . . She couldn’t picture it. She fixed her gaze on his face. “If you’re a prince then you must be fabulously wealthy.”
He looked down at her. “Not every prince has money, Moya.”
“Some do.”
“And some do not. Sadly, I am the poorest of all my brothers.”
Her disappointment must have shown on her face, for he regarded her with a narrowed gaze. “You do not like this, Miss Lily Balfour?”
She sighed. “No, no I don’t.”
He paused and looked down, one brow arching. “Why not?”
“Sadly, some of us must marry for money.”
“I see.” He continued to carry her, his brow lowered. “And this is you, then? You must marry for money?”
“Yes.”
“But what if you fall in love?”
Lily didn’t know if it was the shock of her fall or the fact that she felt so safe in his arms, but she heard herself say with completely honesty, “I have to marry a wealthy man to aid my family’s situation, and you are the first man I thought was . . . interesting. So yes, I’m sorry to hear that you are not wealthy.” She detected the flash of disappointment in his gaze and said quickly, “I wouldn’t be looking for a wealthy husband, except that I must. Our house is entailed and my father hasn’t been very good about— Oh, it’s complicated. But I have no choice. I must marry for money.”
He seemed to consider this. After a moment, he nodded. “You need funds to save your family home. It is noble that you are willing to sacrifice yourself.”
“You think it will be a sacrifice? I was hoping that I might find someone I could care for, too.”
“You wish to fall in love with a rich man. Life is not always so accommodating.”
“Yes, but it’s possible. The duchess is helping me. She’s invited several gentlemen for me to meet—”
“All wealthy.”
“All wealthy gentlemen.” Lily turned her gaze to his and sighed. At one time, a wealthy gentleman had seemed enough. Now, she wished she could also ask for a not-wealthy prince. One like this one, who carried her so gently and whose eyes gleamed with humor beneath the fall of his black hair.
But it was not to be. All she had were these few moments. She sighed again and rested her head against his broad shoulder. This will have to be enough.
ALSO BY KAREN HAWKINS
THE DUCHESS DIARIES SERIES
How to Capture a Countess
THE HURST AMULET SERIES
One Night in Scotland
Scandal in Scotland
A Most Dangerous Profession
The Taming of a Scottish Princess
THE MACLEAN CURSE SERIES
How to Abduct a Highland Lord
To Scotland, With Love
To Catch a Highlander
Sleepless in Scotland
The Laird Who Loved Me
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Talk of the Town
Lois Lane Tells All
PREQUEL TO HURST AMULET AND MACLEAN CURSE SERIES
Much Ado About Marriage
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Karen Hawkins, Princess in Disguise
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