Page 98 of Her Royal Houseguest

‘Deva,’ she gasped, doing her best to control her rapid heartbeat. ‘There is no need for this.’

‘There is.’ He looked up into her eyes. ‘I see you,’ he said. ‘And I am sorry for every time I did not. And I swear this to you on my honour, on my body and on the Golden Throne itself. I will never hurt you again. Not on purpose. Certainly not in anger. You are teaching me to be a better man and I will not hurt a woman who gives so much.’

Her heart lodged in her throat. Her body melted in his gaze. In that moment, he set her one foot down and began to tend to the other.

He untied and removed her shoe, never looking away from her eyes. And then he slid his hands slowly up underneath her skirt. He skimmed across her calf and knee. She spread her thighs. How could she not? And his hands went up, up, up to the ribbon high on her thigh.

He held there a moment, fingers stretching for the top of her stocking. And she set her hands on top of his. ‘Deva,’ she whispered. ‘What are you doing?’

He didn’t answer at first. His hand and his body stilled. And then he spoke, never moving his gaze from hers.

‘Tonight, I will ask your father for your hand in marriage. Only a fool would let a woman of such worth escape him. And I am no fool.’

Her mouth dropped open. Was a prince on his knees before her asking her to marry him? It couldn’t be possible. And it certainly couldn’t be the one man she loved. It couldn’t be. And yet it was.

‘You will be my first wife, above all others. If you will say yes.’

She stared at him, too shocked to speak. And in her silence, he continued his work. He drew her stocking down with excruciating slowness. He pulled it away while her skin tingled and her breath caught.

He bent to his work and she looked down at the top of his head. She saw lush hair, broad shoulders and the golden skin of his torso. Such a beautiful man. Such an honourable prince. Such a wonder of a person wetting her toes, kneading her feet and caressing them clean with such devotion.

What did she say to this? What did she think?

Yes! She thought, yes! But she also heard the word, first.

She would be his first wife. Of many. Because the Siamese had harems.

‘Deva,’ she began but she couldn’t say more as her mother came rushing out of the house.

‘Anna! Whatever have you done?’

Anna jolted as they both looked up at her mother. How did she answer that? She’d gone to see the queen. She’d just been proposed to by a prince. She was having her feet washed and was invited to be in a harem. Too many things. Too many thoughts.

‘Prince Deva!’ her mother continued, dipping quickly into a curtsey. For his part, he rose to his feet. He would not allow his head to be below her mother’s. ‘Duchess,’ he said.

‘Oh yes. The foot washing.’ She turned and snapped her fingers at the butler. He nodded and did the same to another servant, hired specifically for this task. The maid curtseyed to the prince then rushed to bring out fresh cloth and water for Deva.

Anna’s mother continued. ‘If you will forgive me, Prince Deva, I have an urgent matter to discuss with my daughter. Anna, come along, please. I have heard the most shocking news. My maid claims that you have been to see the queen!’

‘Er, yes, Mama.’

‘Don’t stammer. What nonsense is this? Why would they say—?’

‘Mama, please.’ Anna turned to the prince. ‘May we speak again later?’

He gave her a gracious nod. ‘Tonight. After I speak with your father.’

‘Perhaps, uh, earlier?’

His gaze did not waver from her face but his expression shifted to something completely unreadable. ‘Of course, Lady Anna,’ he said.

Oh dear. She did not like his very neutral tone. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about it now.

Chapter Thirty-Five

‘Of all the irresponsible, hairbrained, backwards things to do! Anna, what were you thinking? You weren’t! You cannot go see the queen without me! Do you know who told me? Pimberton, that imbecile! He knew more about my own daughter’s affairs than I did!’

Her father had been going on in that vein for more than an hour. And that was after enduring a long hour of her mother’s ranting, plus all those queries from everyone at Mama’s salon. What did the queen say? What did she do? Did he dress naked like a savage? How embarrassing!