The Prince's Bride by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

quite agree with Lord Beaumont’s assessment on that and Lord Helmsley’s as well. Any man, regardless of whether he is a prince or not, who seeks a private meeting with a young lady is not to be trusted.”
    “But obviously he did not wish to propose publicly.” For the first time, Jocelyn wondered if indeed she had been mistaken as to Alexei’s intentions. He hadn’t actually said the word marriage. Could she have been wrong? Her cheeks flamed at the realization that perhaps his desire was not for marriage at all.
    “This should be done as soon as possible,” Thomas said. “A special license can be arranged for in the morning.”
    “No!” Jocelyn’s gaze darted from one face to another. Marianne’s expression was sympathetic, Thomas’s was resigned, and Becky looked as if this was an exciting adventure and not the end of her sister’s life. Or at least the life she had planned.
    Beaumont didn’t say a word.
    Jocelyn stared at him. “You can’t possibly want this.”
    Beaumont considered her for a moment, then chose his words with care. “My wishes scarcely matter at this point. In many ways, as you have pointed out, I am indeed to blame for this situation. Therefore”—his gaze bored into hers—“it is my responsibility to correct it.”
    “Oh, that’s all any woman could ask for, isn’t it?” Jocelyn snapped. “To be married off to correct a mistake?”
    “It doesn’t seem quite fair,” Marianne murmured.
    Becky scoffed. “But much fairer than one of us being killed by accident.”
    Jocelyn swiveled toward her aunt. “Even if your suspicions about the prince are correct, and I don’t believe they are, I could still make a better match than”— Jocelyn waved at Beaumont—“than him!”
    “I too would prefer to be shot rather than wed, my lady, but that does not seem a viable option.” Beaumont’s voice was grim.
    “Jocelyn!” Aunt Louella said sharply. “Stop this at once.”
    “No, I won’t stop it.” Jocelyn knew how petty she sounded but she couldn’t help herself. All her hopes and dreams were crashing in around her, and she refused to let them die without a fight. “I’d planned to marry a prince. Or at the very least a marquess. And look at him. He’s not shabby but I daresay he doesn’t have a great deal of money. I have certainly never so much as heard of him and he’s only a mere viscount!”
    “I think he looks quite delicious,” Becky said with a grin. “I’d marry him.”
    “Thank you, my lady.” Beaumont smiled and directed a bow toward the younger girl.
    “Becky, do keep still. And Jocelyn.” Marianne sighed. “You’re being terribly rude.”
    “I’m not being rude, I’m being honest. You are all quite willing to marry me off to someone I barely know, and I need to make each and every one of you realize this is a horrible, horrible mistake.” She whirled toward Beaumont. “Do forgive me, my lord. I don’t wish to be impolite and I am grateful for your intervention earlier tonight, but aside from the arrogance of your manner and admittedly your friendship with Lord Helmsley and a few other odds and ends that have surfaced this evening, I know nothing whatsoever about you. So, in truth, this is not entirely personal.”
    “And for that I am most grateful.” Beaumont folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the mantel. “I can only wonder, now that you have denigrated my character and my title and my fortune, what’s next? Would you care to cast aspersions on my ancestry? Or would you rather wait until we are man and wife and you know of my many other flaws to continue your tirade?”
    Jocelyn grit her teeth and glared at him. “You are most annoying, my lord.”
    “And you are spoiled and at the moment at least, rather insufferable.” His gaze traveled over her in an assessing manner. “While you are not unpleasant to look at—”
    “Not unpleasant?” Jocelyn gasped. “I’ll have you know men have compared my hair to spun