The Prince's Bride Read Free Page A

character of other men, particularly when it came to those men who showed any interest in the Shelton sisters, was scarcely accurate.
    “I don’t trust him either.” Thomas’s eyes narrowed. “All those flowers. A man who goes to such extremes is up to no good.”
    “Come now. You’ve been known to go to extremes on occasion.” Marianne paused thoughtfully. “However, I can certainly see your point.”
    “You can?” Suspicion sounded in his voice.
    “Most definitely.” A teasing spark showed in Marianne’s eye. “I know from personal experience that a man willing to go to such lengths is usually up to no good.”
    Thomas stared at Marianne for a moment, then a grin spread across his face. “That was entirely different, my love. My intentions have always been honorable.”
    Jocelyn coughed. Becky choked. Marianne laughed. It was amusing to hear Thomas’s declaration of his honorable intentions, given the merry chase Marianne had led him on before agreeing to marriage. A chase where farcical might well be a more appropriate term than honorable.
    Thomas cast the sisters a quelling glance. “Say what you will, you cannot deny my interest has always been in marriage.”
    He took Marianne’s hand and drew it to his lips. Only a fool would fail to see the love they shared. Jocelyn’s heart tightened at the sight and she pushed away the disturbing thought that the gleam in Alexei’s eye when he looked at her bore little resemblance to the look in Thomas’s. But love was not what she was seeking.
    Marianne turned her attention back to her younger sister. “Come now, Jocelyn. We are all dying to know. What did he say to you?”
    “Not a thing.” Jocelyn struggled to maintain her reserved composure. “Really.”
    “Do tell, Jocelyn,” Becky said impatiently. “Does he wish to marry you?”
    The grin Jocelyn could no longer contain broke on her face.
    Becky’s eyes widened. “He does, doesn’t he? Has he asked you yet?”
    “I’m the one he should ask,” Thomas said firmly. The sisters ignored him.
    “We cannot bear this another moment.” Marianne took Jocelyn’s hands. “Has he asked you to marry him?”
    “Not yet.” Jocelyn shook her head. “But he has indicated he will.” Tonight.
    “Are you certain?” Marianne’s voice was cautious. “Don’t princes tend to marry, well, princesses?”
    “I will be a princess when we marry.” Jocelyn couldn’t help sounding a bit smug. “And it’s precisely because he is a prince that he can marry whomever he chooses.”
    “How wonderful.” Excitement rang in Becky’s voice. “Do I get to be a princess too?”
    “No,” Thomas said wryly.
    Becky wrinkled her nose.
    “Is this truly what you want?” Marianne stared at her sister. “Do you love him then?”
    “It’s what I’ve always wanted,” Jocelyn said firmly, ignoring the second question. “And now I shall have it.”
    Marianne’s gaze searched her face. Her voice was soft. “And is it worth what you won’t have? What you might never have?”
    Without warning the years of their impoverished childhood flashed through her head. Of making do with little. Of overly mended clothes and frugal meals and leaking roofs. Of dreams of wealth and position and, yes, a prince. And any doubts in the back of her mind vanished.
    “It’s what I’ve always wanted,” she said again and favored her sister with a reassuring smile. “I shall be very happy.”
    “Then that’s all that matters.” Marianne returned her smile, squeezed her hands and released them.
    “I should think there are all kinds of plans to be made.” Becky chattered on and Jocelyn nodded at appropriate moments but her mind wandered.
    Alexei was not in her sight and the gathering had turned its collective attention elsewhere. Still, speculation hovered in the air. Jocelyn and the prince had already given gossips a great deal to fuel their talk. She was confident tomorrow the curious would have a royal announcement to discuss