Perilous Princess: A Sexy Historical Romance Read online

  Rupert’s jaw sagged, before he caught it up again and slammed his fist against the table. “That is a lie!” he roared.

  “It is not,” Anna replied evenly. “Esmeralda, the madam of the whorehouse that you paid to lie for you followed you once. She saw exactly what you were doing there. She saw you and Lady Cynthia in the bedroom.”

  Rupert’s eyes bulged. “How dare you speak of such things….”

  “You were lovers,” Anna said flatly and he spluttered in shock and dismay at her speaking the word aloud.

  Rupert stared at the worn and scratched table top, his fingers curling and uncurling. Then he jerked his head up to look at her with an expression that once would have dismayed her with its fury. “You have become a filthy-mouthed, dirty-minded woman.”

  “I speak only facts,” Anna replied lightly. “Calling me names won’t change them. All that remains, uncle, is to call upon Lady Grey and her husband and ask the lady to confirm you were there.”

  “You cannot!” Rupert cried, half-rising to his feet.

  Rhys reached over the table, slapped his hands on her uncle’s shoulders and shoved him back on the chair. Hard. “Stay seated, or I will have to force you to remain in the chair,” his said, his voice low. “Given what you just called my wife, I would welcome the smallest excuse for violence.”

  Rupert looked up at him. For a moment, Anna thought he might even be foolish enough to disparage Rhys himself, but finally he nodded, his gaze skittering away from Rhys’ steady glare.

  Rhys let him go. “This matter can be handled discreetly, but it will be established that you did not murder your brother. It is entirely up to you how public the affair becomes.”

  Rupert’s hand shook as he used it to brush his hair out of his eyes. He took a moment to compose himself while Anna held her breath, waiting for him to agree that he was innocent.

  He sat up straight in the chair and looked Rhys in the eye. “I was suffering from a fit of madness. I killed my brother.”

  Anna let out her breath in rush. “Why are you insisting upon this fallacy?” she demanded. “We all know you did not do it. If you do hold to this fairytale, then Rhys will have no choice but to bring the police into it. They will question Lady Grey and she will be shamed in front of her husband, who may repudiate her for the world to see her ways.”

  Rupert kept his gaze upon Rhys. “I was mad. In my madness I killed the Prince.”

  “You will ruin her life!” Anna cried. “You bedded her. Do you have no feelings for her at all?”

  Rhys lifted his hand. “Wait,” he said softly. He was staring at Rupert, a furrow between his brows. “I think we might have got this wrong, Anna. We thought he was confessing to save the lady embarrassment. But he really does not care if she is shamed or not.”

  Rupert drew in a deep breath and let it out. He said nothing.

  “Then why does he keep saying he killed my father?” She leaned over the table so that she was bare inches away from her uncle. “Why?”

  The sound of the lock turning in the door was loud in that stone room and they all looked toward the door. Anna heard Rhys mutter a soft oath of frustration and she agreed. They had been driving Rupert toward speaking the truth. This would set their progress back.

  Anna expected one of the guards to step through. Johnston, or perhaps even the warden himself, as the sun had risen while they were in the room and daylight shone through the barred window.

  But the man who did walk in was a stranger to her. He was wearing one of the police uniforms, although his was clean and neat. The brass badges at his neck and sleeve glowed with polish, as did the buttons. He was a clean-shaven man, which was unusual these days.

  Rhys turned to him. “Superintendent Jenkins, this is a surprise.”

  “Is it?” Jenkins asked. “We have a member of the royal family in our institution. You did not think I would give such a matter my personal attention?”

  Rhys waved his hand toward Rupert. “Perhaps you could help the Duke see the benefit of speaking the truth.”

  Anna glanced at her uncle. He was staring resolutely ahead, as if he were deaf to the conversation. He was intent only upon his own thoughts and concerns. That, she realized, was how her uncle had always been. He kept to himself. If he ever counseled her father, it had been behind closed doors.

  Jenkins cleared his throat. “It is fortunate to find you here, Davies. I sent two men around to your abode before I left Scotland Yard to come here. They were to bring you to the station.”

  “Oh?” Rhys spoke the word with mild curiosity, but Anna’s heart bounded. Why was the Superintendent looking for Rhys?

  Jenkins played with his cap, folding the edge over and running his fingers along it. He glanced around the room and his gaze settled on Anna. “You would be Her Highness Princess Annalies, correct?”

  “Princess Annalies Mrs. Davies,” she corrected.

  He nodded his head, acknowledging his error. Then he looked at Rupert. “Your Grace, you’d be the Princess’ uncle, is that correct?”

  “Quite correct,” Rupert said dryly. “Might we know what this is about, Superintendent Jenkins?”

  “It’s a delicate matter. Bad news, I’m afraid,” Jenkins said. “I’m not sure who is the ranking dignitary here to give the news to, especially as you’re under arrest, Your Grace.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Anna assured him. “We would rather have the news quickly than correctly.” Her heart was hurting now, so hard did it thud inside her chest. She couldn’t imagine what Jenkins might have to say.

  Jenkins crimped his cap between his fingers firmly as if he had reached a decision. “I’ve just come from Bethlem Hospital.”

  Her mother. Anna gasped and moved to Rhys’ side. She knew. She knew already.

  Rupert’s lips parted and he gripped the edge of the table.

  “I’m sorry, Your Highness, Your Grace. Princess Cathrine died about two hours ago.”

  Anna moaned and pressed her face against Rhys’ shoulder, a heavy, invisible weight settling on her.

  Rupert groaned, making her turn to look over Rhys’ arm that he had wrapped around her. Her uncle was bent over, his head in his hands, his fingers gripping tightly to his skull, so tightly the knuckles were white. “No….” His voice was muffled not just by his hands, but by deep grief. It was almost despair. “No, no, no.” He began to rock backward and forward. It was agonizing to watch and Anna turned her face back against Rhys’ shoulder once more. She had never been so glad that he was a part of her life than at this moment.

  “That’s not all of it, is it?” Rhys asked and his own voice was heavy with emotion.

  “No, Mr. Davies, ‘tisn’t the end quite.”

  Anna made herself look at him.

  Jenkins fumbled inside his coat. “The Princess’ ending…” He cleared his throat. “She took her own life.”

  Rupert gave a muffled cry.

  “She left a note, didn’t she?” Rhys said.

  “It would be natural. Most suicides like to explain themselves. Begging your pardon, Your Highness.”

  Anna shook her head and held out her hand. “You have the note?”

  Jenkins handed it over and Anna unfolded it and read it aloud. “I killed Leopold. I’m sorry. My daughter will know why.”

  The silence that gripped the room was broken only by Rupert’s soft sounds of grief.

  Rhys sat on the chair opposite the Duke. “Your Grace,” he said, his voice gentle. “You knew all along that Cathrine had killed her husband. You confessed to protect the Princess, didn’t you?”

  Rupert scrubbed at his face with his hands, then lowered them slowly and looked at Rhys with a sad, helpless expression. “I failed.” His tone was that of a broken man. “I failed…” he repeated, as if he was tasting the unpleasant truth all over again. “She is dead anyway.”

  Anna’s sadness rose. It hurt to see her uncle like this. He had been a vital, energetic man and despite his fits of madness and remoteness ha
d always treated her kindly when forced to deal with her directly.

  “Your Highness,” Jenkins said with a respectful tone. “Can you explain what your mother meant by your understanding why she did it?”

  Anna drew in a calming breath. “I can, Superintendent, but I will not. It would be an embarrassment to the Queen if the reason were public knowledge.”

  Jenkins turned his cap in his hands, thinking it through. “Very well,” he said. “Can you tell me if, given what you know, your mother’s actions make sense?”

  “Sense?” Rhys shook his head.

  “I am trying to close down a delicate case, Mr. Davies,” Jenkins said shortly. “It would make me happier if the Princess could at least assure me that at the bottom of this, there is a reason for it all.”

  “I can assure you of that,” Rhys said firmly. “That is, if you will take the word of a commoner for it.”

  Jenkins considered him for a moment. “You’re anything but a commoner, Mr. Davies. The work I’ve seen you do tells me that much. Very well. I will consider the matter closed. Your Grace, you are free to leave as soon as you feel up to it. I’ll let the warden know as I leave.” He gave Anna a short nod. “My regrets, Your Highness, that I was the bearer of bad news.”

  “It was better to have the news quickly,” Anna assured him. “Thank you, Superintendent Jenkins.”

  The door closed with a solid metallic thud, but there was no sound of the lock turning this time.

  Anna moved around the table and held out the piece of paper that had been her mother’s last words. “Here, Uncle. You should have it.”

  He took the sheet of paper with trembling hands and looked up at her. Then his gaze skittered away, as if he was embarrassed.

  “You loved my mother very much, didn’t you?” Anna asked softly.

  “Yes, he did,” Rhys said from behind her. “Only love has the power to make a man give up his life for another.”

  Rupert looked at him. Then he gave a small nod. “As you say.” His voice was hoarse. He got to his feet and straightened his shirt cuffs. His eyes were red-rimmed and he looked quite desperate, with neither coat nor cravat, nor hat to hide his dishevelment.

  Unexpectedly, he held out his hand toward Rhys. “Mr. Davies. I appreciate the work you did to help me, even though I most definitely did not want the help at the time. I will remember your efforts on my behalf.”

  Rhys hesitated, then took his hand. “Thank you. But you should know that it was Anna who did all the work. She uncovered your true movements that night.”

  Her uncle looked at her sharply.

  “I thought I was helping,” Anna explained.

  “Where are you going?” Rhys asked Rupert.

  “To see Cathrine.” He gave a grimace. “One last time.” He headed for the door, but stopped and looked back at Anna. “I wish you well in your new life, Annalies. I think you might do very well in it, for it is as unconventional as you.” He gave her a strained, small smile. “I’m sure the attorneys will be in touch. There is a rather large inheritance to sort out.” Then he knocked on the door, which opened immediately.

  Anna barely waited for the door to close before throwing her arms around Rhys and pressing herself against him.

  His arms were firm and warm around her. He kissed her forehead, then her lips. Then he stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry about your mother, Anna. I didn’t for a moment think it might have been her. She was so prostrate they hospitalized her…but she was the only other person in the house, once your uncle left. Even the valet had the evening off. It makes a horrible sort of sense.”

  “It does,” Anna said with a sigh. “It explains so much, knowing how my uncle really felt about her. Why he lived in the palace ever since I can remember. Why he never married. I thought it was because he didn’t want to pass the madness on to his children, but that wasn’t it at all. He wanted to be close to my mother.”

  “Having her take to her bed when you arrived in England must have stressed both him and your father. You said the mad fits were closer together, once you got here.”

  She nodded. “I think that my mother knew that staying in her room would make it worse for me. Perhaps that is why she killed him.”

  Rhys shook his head and smiled. “She didn’t act until after you had left the house. She was reacting because your father had driven you away. Your mother, out of everyone in your life, was the one person who probably understood exactly why you married me.”

  Anna’s heart gave another little start and she swallowed. “Why did my uncle shake your hand, Rhys? After that day in the park, when they called you such vile things and accused you of marrying me for the money, it was a shock to see him offer his hand. He never does that for anyone.”

  Rhys gave her a small smile. Suddenly his face and his expression were light, almost carefree. “Because he finally understood that wasn’t the reason I married you at all.”

  Her breath came more quickly. Anna pressed her hand against his chest. “You married me to keep me safe.”

  “Yes, that was the reason I gave everyone, including you. I didn’t even know myself that I loved you. Not until today, when I recognized the grief in your uncle.”

  “You…love me?” This time, her heart actually halted. The world seemed to dip and sway around her.

  Rhys’ arms tightened around her, keeping her on her feet. Keeping her safe. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I know that wasn’t part of the arrangement.”

  Anna laughed and wound her arms around his neck. Happiness bubbled through her. “Then we’ve both broken the contract. Oh dear.”

  Rhys caught his breath. Then he kissed her, his tongue thrusting deep into her mouth, stroking her flesh and her soul.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Grosvenor Square, London. A Year Later.

  The heat of a perfect spring day was being replaced by soft evening light and a gentle breeze when the first of the carriages began to arrive in front of the large townhouse, and the front door bell began to chime.

  “Rhys! Hurry!” Anna called up the stairs. “They’re coming!” She nodded to Bridges, their butler, who wore a new outfit with one of the high collars that he was immensely proud of. His shoulders were even more square and stiff as he walked to the front door to answer the summons.

  Rhys hurried down the winding curve of the stairs.

  “Where have you been?” Anna cried.

  He gave her a kiss on the cheek, smiling. “Seeing our son safely to sleep,” he told her. “I’m here now.” He kept hold of her hand.

  “Anna!” Elisa called and Natasha smiled and waved as the two ladies hurried across the foyer. Close behind them came Seth and Vaughn, both of them wearing smiles.

  Elisa was the first to reach Anna and she took her hand, her face alight with a glowing smile. “Why Anna, you look positively radiant!”

  “And absolutely beautiful,” Seth said, coming up behind Elisa. He raised a brow. “Can I give the new mother a kiss on the cheek in congratulations?”

  “Oh, yes please!” Anna said, delighted. Seth leaned down to touch her cheek.

  “Listen to her!” Vaughn said, his voice merry, as he stood behind everyone, tall and composed.

  “And look at her,” Elisa said just as warmly. “I barely recognize the retiring little Princess that first landed in England.”

  Rhys slid his arm around Anna’s waist and she smiled up at him. She remembered the woman who had hidden in a closet, with her knees to her chest, quivering in fear. Oh, how her life had changed! “If I am different—”

  “Far, far different,” Natasha interposed.

  “—then it is a good difference and it is all thanks to Rhys.”

  He kissed her, right there in front of their friends. “I did nothing but fall in love with you,” he murmured against her cheek. “The real you.”

  There were more guests arriving, their voices lifting in greeting as they saw the small group of friends gathered in the entrance to the grand drawing roo
m. It was going to be a busy night, for every single one of the three hundred invitations Anna had sent out had been accepted, so Anna said quickly to Rhys, in a voice designed only for him to hear, “You set the real me free.”

  His eyes were filled with the heated warmth she knew so well, that she knew would end with them in each other’s arms later that night, when they could both be themselves with no one watching.

  But for now she held out her hand to their friends. “Come. Come inside with us. It is time to celebrate.”

  And so they did.

  More Historical Romance

  by Tracy Cooper-Posey

  Perilous Princess is the last book in the Scandalous Sirens series.

  If you enjoy historical romance, you might like Heart of Vengeance.

  A woman in search of revenge…. An honorable man with a dark past.

  It is 1197, and King Richard, known as the “Lionhearted,” is fighting France while Prince John hatches his own plans back home.

  To find her father’s killer, Helena of York must pose as a Norman in the great halls of Richard’s England. Her only desire is to kill the man who destroyed her father and her future. Should she be unmasked, her life will be forfeit.

  Stephen, Count of Dinan, once Richard’s friend and trusted knight, is outcast for reasons shrouded in mystery. Known as the “Black Baron,” he is friendless in a glittering world he despises. His only goal is to restore his honor and once again serve his king.

  Stephen’s suspicions draw him into Helena’s web of deceit, and the two outsiders find themselves tangled in a conspiracy that threatens the throne of England itself, while their embattled hearts grapple with a far greater challenge.

  This book is part of the historical romance series, Jewels of Tomorrow.

  Diana by the Moon

  Heart of Vengeance

  …and more to come!

  Romantic Times Finalist, Best Medieval Historical Romance