Michelle Willingham - The Accidental Prince

In the coach, she’d been shocked by the way he’d closed in the space between them, sitting beside her. She’d barely heard a word he said. All of her attention was drawn to the fierce eyes staring at her as if she were a confection he wanted to feast upon.

If she’d been an ordinary woman, she might have welcomed the idea of a handsome prince wanting to court her. But the constant emotional and physical battering by her father had weakened her, until now, she couldn’t bear to have anyone close. Much less the prince.

A light knock sounded upon the door, interrupting her thoughts. ‘Who is it?’

‘It’s Karl.’

Why had he returned? She didn’t want to see him now, not when she was so tired. ‘What is it?’

‘Will you let me come in?’

No. Stay far away from me .

But she stood and crossed the room, resting her cheek against the door. ‘Why?’

‘You asked me for a ladies’ maid.’

Had he found someone? The thought of getting rid of these clothes, of being able to sleep, was so intoxicating, Serena pulled the door open.

But there was no maid standing there. She was about to shut the door again, when Karl stepped inside her chamber. ‘I misunderstood what you meant earlier, when you asked for a ladies’ maid. You can’t sleep, can you? Because there’s no one to help you undress.’

No. Not a chance . If he believed she would let him anywhere near her, he was sorely mistaken.

‘It’s only a few more hours until dawn. I’ll wait until we’ve found someone.’ She took a step backwards, which was a mistake. The fürst advanced toward her, and she searched for a way around him.

His hazel eyes were unreadable, his emotions masked. ‘What do you need help with?’

‘Go back to your own room. I don’t want you anywhere near me.’ The very thought of the prince unbuttoning her, of unlacing her corset, was an invitation to trouble. She’d rather go without sleep than risk him touching her.

‘So instead you’ll remain in discomfort for the next few hours because of your pride?’ He took her shoulders and softly guided her to stand by the fire. When she felt his hands moving down the buttons of her gown, she jerked away.

‘I said don’t!’ She covered herself with her arms, backing toward the door. ‘I don’t need your help now. I don’t want you here.’

His supercilious belief that he could take the liberty of undressing her was too much. Why would he think she would want that?

‘Get out,’ she whispered, not bothering to hide her tears.

The prince lifted his hands and backed away. When the door closed behind him, Serena lowered her head to her hands and wept.

A few doors away, Karl sat down upon the bed and removed his boots, trying to push back the fury that darkened his mood. He’d gone to her chamber, meaning only to help her with the buttons and laces, but she’d behaved as if he were about to ravish her. Good God, he’d only meant to help her.

A suspicion was starting to take root. She’d left the palace, supposedly for a brief holiday. And yet, she hadn’t taken a large enough retinue with her, nor had she received the king’s permission.

Whatever she was fleeing from meant more than her reputation. She’d agreed to leave behind her servants, her family and her home, ruining herself as a consequence.

Why? Her answer, that she’d wanted to live like an ordinary woman for a few days, seemed disproportionate to her actions. No, her behaviour spoke of a woman who had been hurt by someone.

Every time he’d come too close, Serena had tried to shield her body … like a woman who had experienced physical violence. But who on earth would dare to harm a woman of royal blood? Any guard would tear the man apart.

Likely, whoever had threatened the princess was still at the palace … someone who had utterly destroyed his bride’s confidence. He could barely touch her hand without her cowering. And he remembered the reddened skin around her throat, as if someone had tried to strangle her.

Fury blackened his mood at the thought of someone harming a woman. He stood and strode across the room, staring outside at the midnight sky. Nothing had gone at all as he’d expected. His bride-to-be had fled the palace because someone was hurting her. And though she was safe now, it would take a great deal of time to gain her trust. Time he didn’t have.

Karl pushed open the door and strode down the narrow corridor. The wooden floor was cold beneath his stocking feet, but he wanted to explore more of the house while he rearranged his plans.

Logic and reason had governed his actions in the past. He believed in ordered solutions to solve problems. And yet, he’d never met a woman who adhered to logic. They were changeable creatures whose moods altered as frequently as their gowns.

He spent the next hour going through the different rooms in the house, inspecting each of them, while he turned over the problem of Serena in his mind. Perhaps it was best to pretend as if they were on a holiday of sorts. If he provided her with a relaxing environment, one where she felt safe, she might soften toward the idea of marriage.

He wandered down a set of stairs and through the hallway until he stood in front of Serena’s door once again. Although he listened, there was only silence.

Karl wanted to say something to her, to somehow make her understand that he hadn’t intended to offend her. ‘Serena,’ he said quietly.

She didn’t answer.

He felt like an idiot talking to a closed door, but perhaps she was listening.

‘I apologise for my earlier actions,’ he said. ‘I meant only to help you.’

He waited to see if she would answer him, yet once again, there came no reply. Finally, he admitted, ‘I promise, I’ll find you a maid within a few hours.’

Still nothing. He turned around and walked back toward his own room. When he opened the door, he risked a glance back at hers.

Her door opened slightly, and he saw her watching him from behind it. She met his gaze for a brief moment, long enough to let him know that she’d heard him.

And when she closed the door again, he wondered what he could do to earn her trust.

Serena couldn’t remember a night worse than last night. Her neck and back were sore, and though her gown had eventually dried by the fire, she was ready to fall asleep standing up. But the fürst had promised her a maid this morning. If all went well, she might be in clean clothes within a few hours.

Clothes. Her eyes flew open and she let out a groan. She’d forgotten to look for a spare gown last night. It seemed doubtful that any would have been left behind.

And yet, what did that matter? It was ridiculous to fret over clothing when the larger question of her future loomed over her. She had to make decisions that would take her away from Vertraumen, away from the prince.

A knot of uneasiness clenched inside of her. Fürst Karl didn’t seem like the sort of man who had any intention of letting her go. He’d come all the way from Lohenberg to join her, and although he’d permitted her to leave the palace, it had been on his terms.

Would she now have to escape him, in addition to her father? Worries assaulted her mind as she fumbled with the buttons that the fürst had unfastened last night. Her hands struggled with the tiny holes, until at last she was forced to admit defeat.

A choked laugh caught in her throat. She couldn’t even dress herself. How did she ever expect to abdicate her throne and live apart from her family?

Serena walked over to the window, opening the rose curtains. It was early morning, and she stared out at the clouded island. The sea wasn’t visible from the house, but a low fog clung to the hills, obscuring everything.