Regency Society. Ann Lethbridge

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СКАЧАТЬ in his father’s place,’ Roxanne said. ‘This is England and he cannot take me as his wife against my will. Besides, I am already promised to another man. I am betrothed. I do not think Prince Ranjit would take the wife of another man.’

      ‘No, perhaps not, if you belong to another.’ Shulie’s face cleared and she handed Roxanne a spangled drape to wear over her head and shoulders. ‘If my lord wished you for his wife, I think I should not mind too much. You are lovely of nature as well as face; there are some who look for the honour who do not deserve it.’

      ‘Perhaps the prince will be satisfied to have just one wife.’

      Shulie shook her head sadly. ‘It is the custom for a man to take several wives. If I had given him a son, my place as his chief wife would be assured, but now he may put another in my place.’

      ‘You must make him understand it would hurt you. If he loves you, you will remain the first in his heart even if he takes other wives.’

      ‘Perhaps.’ Shulie beckoned her. ‘We should not keep my lord waiting, memsahib. I know he will want you, but if you belong to another perhaps he will not insist that you become his wife.’

      Roxanne’s heart raced as she followed Shulie out of the room and along the hall. There was no point in thinking of trying to escape. She had no idea of where she was being held and the prince’s men would be watchful. They had not gone to the trouble of kidnapping and then nursing her when she was in a fever simply to allow her to escape. The prince wanted something. Roxanne must pray that it was only the ruby he required from her. She knew that Shulie believed he wanted her for his second wife, but Roxanne had no intention of being taken off to India to live in a harem as one of the prince’s wives.

      ‘Nothing,’ the earl said and shook his head. ‘I cannot understand it, Luke. How could she have disappeared so completely? Had she been seen walking the roads we should have heard. She has not visited an inn or attempted to buy food at the markets or someone would have reported it to us for the reward money. I fear that she is either dead or kidnapped.’

      ‘From what I now know, I think she was taken by the servants of a wealthy Indian man,’ Luke said, his mouth pulled into a grim line. ‘I believe they want the ruby. It may have some religious significance, but that is merely a guess. Why they did not simply come and ask for the damned thing I do not know. I would willingly have given it.’

      ‘That gypsy fellow told you it is cursed,’ the earl said and his hand trembled. His eyes held an urgent appeal as he said, ‘You don’t think…she’s not dead, is she? Our girl’s not gone?’

      ‘No, Grandfather. I’m sure she is still alive. I would know if she were dead.’ Luke ran tormented fingers through his thick hair. He had dark shadows beneath his eyes and his face looked haggard from lack of sleep. ‘She can’t be dead. She must be a prisoner somewhere. I’m certain she would have written to you otherwise. It is too cruel to just disappear like this. I do not believe Roxanne is that careless of another’s feelings, especially someone she cares for. If she could have got word to us, she would by now.’

      ‘We must pray for her safe return,’ the earl said. ‘Have your agents heard nothing?’

      ‘I shall ride to the village and ask if there is a communication for me,’ Luke said. ‘Do not look so distressed, Grandfather. I shall find her. I swear to you that I will never rest. She shall be brought home…’ The words he added in his own mind were not meant for his grandfather’s ears.

      Even if she is dead I shall find her body and bring her home to us. His throat closed and the agony in his mind was fearful. Roxanne, my love, please be alive. Your death will kill him…and me.

      ‘Come, sit here near me,’ Prince Ranjit said and captured her hand, leading her to an elegant little sofa. He took the gilded chair just opposite and waited for her to sit before sitting himself. She recalled that his father the Maharajah Jankara had had impeccable manners and he, too, behaved as a gentleman should. ‘Please tell me what happened to you, Miss Pearson. My father has been trying to find you for many months. Your family had no knowledge of your whereabouts and believed you dead.’

      ‘Some years ago I found myself in danger and I ran away from my aunt’s home. I became very ill and was rescued by a wonderful lady; she cared for me and became like a mother to me. Her name was Sofia and she lived with a band of travelling players. She had been a lady and the mistress of aristocrats and princes and we travelled together until she died.’

      The prince nodded and Roxanne realised he already knew this part of her history. Somehow he or his agents had managed to trace her, not only to the camp, but also to the Hartingdon estate. He wanted to know the things his men had not already discovered about her life.

      ‘My father gave me a ruby to keep for him, your Highness,’ she said. ‘He said I must keep it with me always because it would make our fortune. He was returning to England to set up a home for us. However, my uncle and aunt coveted the jewel and they planned to sell me to a revolting man—a man who meant to use me in a way I cannot bring myself to mention. This was the reason I ran away.’ She paused, then, ‘Can you tell me where my father is living, please? Has he been looking for me?’

      ‘Forgive me, Rose Marie,’ the prince said and leaned forwards to touch her hand. ‘Your father believed you dead—a letter came from your uncle saying that you had run away and were believed to have died of a fever in the poorhouse. They said you had the ruby with you when you left—did you?’

      ‘Yes, I took the ruby when I fled—but my father?’ Roxanne’s throat tightened. ‘Please tell me, sir.’

      ‘Your father had planned to return to England and make a home for you. However, when he believed you dead, he decided to remain in India. He left my father’s employ and lived in solitude doing good works amongst the poor and sick. He died of a fever about eighteen months ago.’

      ‘My father is dead?’ A single tear trickled down Roxanne’s cheek. For years she had forgotten the tall handsome man she’d adored as a child, but the last few days had brought him back to her. It hurt to know that he had died not knowing that she was alive and well. ‘Then I shall never see him again.’

      ‘I am so sorry to be the bearer of this sad news,’ the prince said and touched her hand again. ‘When he knew he was ill, Sahib Pearson left you a letter and also a small inheritance, which I have placed in a bank in London for you. You see, in the last months before he died, he had begun to believe you were not dead, though his reasons for this belief are not clear. He sent the letter with another of explanation to my father and asked that you might be searched for. It was then that he told my father of the ruby he’d given you. It was only at that time that my father learned yours had possessed the eye for a time. My father sent his men to England to search for you, but it was many months before we traced you to the camp of the travelling players and by then you had disappeared once more.’

      ‘You did not begin your search until eighteen months ago?’

      The prince shook his head. ‘Until we had your father’s letter, the eye was thought lost and you were believed to have died.’

      ‘The eye? Was it stolen? Surely my father would not have stolen from yours?’

      ‘No, the ruby did not belong to us—it is the eye of the goddess Bersheira and it was stolen by thieves who raided the temple. My father believes that your father bought the eye in good faith. He did not know that it was stolen from the goddess, for he would never have bought it and given it to you. Until the eye is returned to its rightful place, СКАЧАТЬ