His eyes ran over her, seeing her as pale and tired, a shadow of the girl he adored, and his heart caught with pain. ‘I am sorry to have caused you so much trouble. Grandfather says that you have been searching for me. Had I been able I would have let you know where I was. It was not possible.’ Her eyes conveyed a message that silenced him.
Luke inclined his head, standing back to allow her to enter the parlour before him. He followed and took up a position between the prince and the door, standing rather than sitting, his manner one of belligerence that seemed to say he was prepared to throw the intruder out if he attempted to take Roxanne with him.
‘Perhaps someone would explain,’ he said in a carefully controlled tone, his hands clenched at his sides. ‘You seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth, Roxanne.’
‘Yes, I think the prince wanted to keep our whereabouts a secret until he was certain that his uncle’s men were all taken and rendered harmless. It was Prince Sangyo that attacked our bailiff and his men that tried to abduct me. I was fortunate that Prince Ranjit was able to rescue me, otherwise I fear I might have died.’
Luke’s brow lowered. He glared at the prince, but resisted the impulse to throw himself on the man and strangle him. How dare he sit there looking so pleased with himself—and why did Luke get the feeling that the prince wanted more than the ruby?
‘May I ask why that ruby is so important that your life was at risk in the first place?’
‘It is a sacred thing—the eye of a goddess—and Prince Ranjit’s people have been cursed since it was stolen. My father bought it from the thief. He did not know that it was stolen and I have agreed that we should return the ruby to Prince Ranjit so that he can take it back where it belongs.’
‘What proof do you have that he will return the ruby and not sell it?’
At a movement of anger from the prince, Roxanne held out her hand. ‘I know you are angry, Luke. Please save your anger for later. Prince Ranjit is my friend. I knew him as a child and he has letters for me from my father and others from his own father. He is the man he claims to be and I trust his word. He is an honourable man, as is his father. I know that the ruby must be returned to the goddess and I beg you to arrange it with your bank, Luke. Please do this for me as soon as it may be arranged. We shall speak of other things later.’
Luke clenched his teeth. She claimed the man was her friend and the accord between them was obvious. From the way the prince looked at her, he admired her, wanted her—and she seemed dazzled by him.
After the way he had treated her it would not be surprising if she preferred the exotic prince to a man who had bullied and insulted her.
Prince Ranjit rose to his feet. His manner was haughty as he approached Luke.
‘May I assure you that my father was willing to pay the price asked so that the ruby could be returned. He would have paid twice its worth to a jeweller—but Rose Marie has given it of her own free will.’
‘Rose Marie…?’ Luke’s gaze went over her, his heart catching. She was so beautiful and she deserved so much more than he could give her. He loved her, but he had discovered his love too late and she must hate him. ‘Is this what you truly want, Roxanne?’
‘Yes, of course it is. You know that we always meant to give it back if we could discover the rightful owner. My father has left me an inheritance and the prince placed it in a bank in London for me. I have ten thousand pounds, which is more than sufficient for my needs.’
Now that he had had time to look at her, he saw that Roxanne looked different. Despite her pallor she was confident and sure of herself, with a glow in her eyes that he had not seen before. She no longer needed his help. She had a fortune of her own—and an ardent admirer in the prince. Luke had no claim on her. If she wished to be free, he must let her go.
He inclined his head to the prince. ‘Very well. If you will come to the library with me, sir. I shall write a letter to my bank and they will release the ruby into your care.’
‘As you wish, sir.’ The prince bowed to the earl. ‘I thank you for your hospitality, sir.’ He took Roxanne’s hand and kissed it. ‘Should you wish it, my father would welcome you to our palace, Rose Marie. I myself have a deep admiration and warmth for you; it would be my pleasure to serve you if you came to me. May the gods watch over you and keep you from harm.’ He shot a look of dislike at Luke and then followed him from the room.
Roxanne stood undecided for a moment, but the earl shook his head at her. ‘Let them settle it between them, girl. Sit down and tell me again what happened. Is that rogue truly what he says—and do you believe that it was his uncle’s men that attacked you?’
Roxanne smiled, drew her chair close to him and reached for his hand. ‘Yes, Grandfather, I do,’ she said. ‘Prince Ranjit is a terrible liar. When we were children he often lied to us to get his own way, because he was spoiled and a little selfish. We always knew when he was lying and I’m certain I would have known this time. His uncle wants to rule in Prince Ranjit’s stead after the present ruler dies. If he could have found the ruby and taken it back to the temple, the people might have rejected the prince and placed him on the throne.’
‘Yes, I understand that part of it,’ the earl said. ‘But why could he not have told us that he had you? You said you were ill?’
‘I lay in a fever for some days and then I was weak and unable to rise from my bed. Shulie nursed me and the doctor helped me to recover. When I was well enough to leave my bed, Prince Ranjit told me the truth. I think…’ She hesitated, then, ‘I believe he may have hoped to make me his second wife. Shulie seemed to fear it, but when I told him I was Luke’s betrothed wife he brought me back to you.’
‘Where you should always have been,’ the earl grunted. ‘It was foolish running off the way you did, girl. I shan’t demand that you marry Luke if you’d rather not—but your home is here with me. I need to see your pretty face, Roxanne. If you’re not here, what is there to look forward to in the mornings?’
‘Forgive me,’ she said and reached for his hand once more. ‘I regretted running off as I did and I think I might have returned sooner had the kidnap not happened. I was distressed, but it was foolish of me. I know that Luke does not love me, as I love him—but I did give my word that I would marry him and I should like to live in this house with you, sir.’
‘What about my foolish grandson?’
‘Luke must tell me what he wants,’ Roxanne said and her eyes shone with the tears she was too proud to shed. ‘If he still wants me, I shall marry him.’
‘My grandson is a very mixed-up young man and a part of that is my fault,’ the earl said. ‘I resented him because of his father and I blamed John Clarendon for not loving my daughter.’ He sighed deeply. ‘I pushed them into the marriage and I almost did the same to you and Luke. Please forgive me and stay with me, Roxanne. You are as a granddaughter to me and I hope you will make this your home—whatever you and Luke decide.’
‘I shall be glad…’ Roxanne’s words trailed away as the door opened and Luke entered. The look on his face was so harsh that she caught her breath. ‘Has the prince gone?’
‘That damned fellow,’ Luke said in a haughty tone. ‘He had the effrontery to tell me that he would be happy to wed you if I no longer wished for the connection.’
‘I’m sorry he made you angry,’ Roxanne replied. ‘I believe he
