Princess Charming by Nicole Jordan Read Free Book Online

Emperor was like her own child, as well as friend and pet.
    After Priscilla’s defection, Maura considered her horse and her steward her only close family, other than her dear friends Katharine and Skye, who had stood by her during those horrible, dark days of grief and scandal. If not for them, she would have had to fight the world alone for the past two years. She was immensely grateful, of course, but if Kate had some reckless matchmaking scheme in mind …
    Well, Maura thought as she was handed into the waiting carriage, she had no time for such foolish distractions.
    It might take an immense amount of willpower, but she intended to forget the stunning kiss Lord Beaufort had given her. She was determined not to be sidetracked by a seductive marquis or his well-meaning sister from her mission to rescue her precious stallion.

 
    To Ash’s surprise
, he did not have to search at any length for his sister. Katharine found him shortly after he returned to the ballroom.
    “I cannot believe you let Maura leave,” was her preemptive comment. “You should have stopped her.”
    Ash arched an eyebrow. Kate was taking
him
to task for her friend’s abrupt departure? “And just why should I have been responsible for stopping her?”
    “Because someone has to save her from that villain, Lord Deering, of course. At the very least you could have asked Maura to stand up with you for a set of dances, so everyone could see that she is under our family’s protection.”
    His response was interrupted when one of Katharine’s many beaus approached to claim her for the next set. Ash forestalled the gentleman with an upraised hand, then caught Kate’s arm and bent to murmur in her ear. “We have some serious issues to discuss when your ball is over, minx.”
    While her partner waited politely at a distance, sheglanced boldly up at Ash. “Indeed, we do, dearest brother. In fact, I mean to call a meeting of the entire family tonight.”
    The determined gleam in her green eyes sparked Ash’s suspicions even more than her announcement about an impromptu family gathering. “Why?”
    “Because we have a matter of great importance to consider—something that could affect all of us. We should meet in the library. I suspect Uncle Cornelius has already taken refuge there, given that I’ve seen nothing of him since the receiving line disbanded.”
    She started to break away, but Ash tightened his hold. “You fabricated your need for this ball, didn’t you, love?”
    “Only slightly,” Katharine admitted with no remorse whatsoever.
    Annoyance speared through him. Although he considered balls the most boring of entertainments, he had spared no expense for Katharine’s grand evening. He would do anything for his family. Yet he disliked being duped, even by his endearing spitfire of a sister.
    “Did you ever intend to search for a husband as you claimed?” Ash demanded.
    Katharine smiled sweetly. “Well, yes, some day I will. Just not at this precise moment. I am more concerned about rescuing Maura. She is far too proud to ask for help, and arranging a ball was the best I could do on short notice.”
    His audibly muttered oath held irritation but also a telltale hint of exasperated amusement.
    Surprisingly, though, Kate’s expression turned intent to the point of graveness. “You
must
help her, Ash.”
    He raised a hand. “Oh, no, sweetheart, you won’t fish me into your intrigues. I’ve done my duty by hosting your damned ball.”
    “But I need you.
Maura
needs you. You cannot say no until you hear me out.
Please
.…”
    Just then the music began anew, and Katharine turned away to join her partner while calling over her shoulder, “I will explain everything later in the library, Ash, I promise.”
    “Yes, you will, dear sister,” he said under his breath as his troublesome youngest sibling fled his proximity for the relative safety of the ballroom floor.
    Admittedly, Ash’s curiosity was piqued, however.
    At the