Part 30 (2/2)
Alexsey made his way to the nearest lamp, flooding the room with a brighter glow.
”Mama, no!” Sorcha hurried to her mother's side. ”Nothing happened, and you know it. You were the one who-”
”Quiet, child. Let Sir Henry handle this.”
Sorcha's chin rose. ”No, I won't let it be! You caused this. You-”
Tata tsked. ”Sir Henry, forgive the girl. She's obviously distraught.”
Alexsey narrowed his gaze on his grandmother. She didn't seem the least upset. In fact, he detected the faintest glimmer of a smile in her eyes.
”With good reason!” Sir Henry glared at Alexsey. ”Your Highness, you have much to answer for!”
”I did not attempt to seduce Miss Sorcha.”
”You were here, so was she, the lamp turned down, and nearly all of the candles were out. Who did that, if not you?” Sir Henry bl.u.s.tered. ”How dare you abuse my hospitality in such a way!”
”I did not know Miss Sorcha was in the library when I entered. Lady Malvinea did not mention that she'd left her daughter here.”
”He never touched me,” Sorcha added.
”Ha!” Tata Natasha said.
Alexsey caught the quick, meaningful glance she shared with Lady Malvinea. His gaze narrowed. ”Tata, you and Lady Malvinea have been plotting. But what? I wonder.”
Tata sniffed. ”Don't ask for help from me; this matter is in Sir Henry's hands.” She turned to him. ”Sir Henry, you know what you must do.”
Sir Henry's glower faded a bit. ”Aye?”
”Tell my grandson he must make a choice. He has to pick which he will marry.”
Sir Henry blinked. ”I do?”
”Of course. What else can you do?”
”I don't know. I suppose that answer serves as well as any other.” He turned to Lady Malvinea. ”Is that what you would have me do? If it were me, I'd rather toss the blackguard into gaol for the rest of his life.”
”You cannot,” Tata Natasha said serenely. ”He's a prince of Oxenburg.”
”I don't give a d.a.m.n if he's a prince of England,” Sir Henry huffed. ”As far as I'm concerned, that rakeh.e.l.l lost his immunity when he seduced two women under my roof.”
”My lord.” Lady Malvinea cleared her throat. ”Her Grace's idea has merit; let's allow His Highness the choice.”
Tata nodded. ”It is an easy choice. Bronwyn is not of a marriageable age. Sorcha is perfect. It is decided.” She inclined her head to Sir Henry. ”Marry them as soon as possible.”
”I'll fetch a vicar now and-”
”No.”
Everyone turned to see Lord Strathmoor standing in the open doorway, his face white.
Sir Henry frowned. ”This is none of your affair.”
”Like h.e.l.l.” Strath held out his hand to Sorcha.
With a m.u.f.fled sob she hurried to his side, slipping into the circle of his arm as if she belonged there. ”I'm so glad you came! Mama asked me to wait for her here-I didn't know she was tricking the prince into joining me here, or-”
Tata stomped her foot. ”Bozhy moj! Is everyone in this castle hiding their loves?”
Lady Malvinea's mouth hung open. ”Sorcha? What is this?”
Strathmoor pressed a kiss to Sorcha's cheek, then bowed to Lady Malvinea. ”Sorcha and I owe you an apology. I have come to you many times requesting your permission to court your daughter.”
”Too many times,” she said curtly. ”You have nothing to offer her.”
”I have love, my lady. And for us, it is enough.” He took Sorcha's hand and kissed it. ”We married two days ago.”
Silence met this.
Alexsey choked on a laugh. ”You lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
Strath sent him a pleased look. ”I wished to tell you, but you were in the middle of your own storm.”
”I am glad to see we're to be brothers, once I convince Bronwyn to have me, that is.”
”Pah!” Tata Natasha threw up her hands. ”This ruins everything.”
Lady Malvinea nodded, tears in her eyes. ”Our plan . . . all of our scheming . . .”
”Da,” Tata said with a regretful shrug. ”It was a beautiful idea, but it did not work so well, eh?”
”I don't understand.” Sir Henry rubbed his eyes as if he hoped to see through the confusion more clearly. ”Strath . . . married to Miss Sorcha? I thought you couldn't stand one another.”
”Trust me, there were times I positively hated her, and she me.” Strath sent an amused glance at his wife, who blushed. ”She said no many, many times.”
Sorcha smiled shyly. ”But he kept asking, each time in a better way.”
”Sorcha, how could you?” Lady Malvinea's face folded in tears. ”How could you not tell me? I'm your mother!”
”I wanted to, but every time I mentioned Strathmoor, you dismissed him and started talking about the prince.”
”But . . . he's only a viscount, and has so few prospects. How will you live?”
Sorcha slipped her arm through Strathmoor's. ”I love him, and we will make our own prospects.”
Lady Malvinea turned to Sir Henry. ”You must do something about this!”
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