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It was rather poetic that she was helping women escape their miserable lots in life while taking her own life into her own hands. She had spent enough time sulking around her uncle’s house, resenting fate for all her misfortunes. It was time to create her own destiny, and this new fate started here, today, with Lord Porter.

Sure, he was a bit boring and self-centered, but so were all the men she had met in recent months. Lord Porter had redeeming qualities, however. He was kind and clever. He cared about his lands, unlike some people who cared about nothing. He was honorable, unlike some men who only tricked, lied, and stole to get what they wanted from life…

She shook the thoughts from her mind. No. I am not going to think about my husband.

Lord Porter was an elegant dancer, and Anna—Victoria’s sister—had always said that the way a man danced could tell a lot about his love-making abilities. If one was a graceful dancer, it meant he would be an attentive lover.

Victoria had never danced with William, so how was she supposed to know he was a selfish bastard?

“Nobody thought that Brunswick would win,” Lord Porter continued, not noticing that her mind had drifted. “But they didn’t know that I meticulously studied the racing history of all the horses and calculated their chances to win according to different terrain and weather conditions. And the only horse to do well in the rain on a racing track like Ascot was Brunswick. It’s not for nothing I spend every evening locked up in the study going over racing records. Still, it was an exhilarating win.”

Victoria smiled and nodded as if she were following along with the conversation. She’d heard about his interest in betting on horse races every time they met. She found it endearing if somewhat—well, very—boring. But she didn’t need to find everything about him exciting, did she? He cared so much about horse racing, and that was the epitome of passion.

The dance ended, and Victoria thanked her lucky stars. Now it was time to set her plan in action.

She fanned her heated cheeks. “I am rather warm. Would you mind stepping outside for a moment, perhaps?”

Lord Porter’s eyes widened in surprise, followed by a flicker of anticipation. He bowed lightly. “Of course, Your Highness.”

Victoria chuckled and fanned her cheeks again, an easy smile on her lips. “Princess Victoria, please. Or simply Princess, if you prefer.”

He sketched a low bow. “Of course, Your Highness.”

Victoria’s lips pursed on their own, making her attempt at a smile awkward. But Lord Porter didn’t seem to notice or care. He proffered his arm, and Victoria gently laid her gloved fingers atop his forearm.

They slowly made their way toward the french doors. Lord Porter held his head high, a smile on his lips as he nodded to every passing couple. He was proud to have her on his arm, loving the attention from her and from every other man who envied that he had caught a princess’s attention.

No doubt, he was thinking of courting her and perhaps marrying her.

Victoria didn’t harbor any illusions. She wasn’t the naive, young girl with stars in her eyes that she’d been when she’d first arrived in England. She knew that neither this man nor the countless other men who beat around her doorstep were interested in her. They were interested in her sizable dowry, her status as a princess, and perhaps even her looks. Victoria wasn’t vain, but she was aware enough to know that she had desirable features—pale white skin, wide dark eyes, and gorgeous, thick jet-black hair.

But she wasn’t the girl who dreamed of someone to look past all of her advantages. Not anymore. She was determined to use all her good fortunes to get what she wanted. Although she still needed to weed out men who could only benefit from marrying her. Most men wanted her dowry. Some wanted her political connections; even with her mother’s family imprisoned in Russia, her father’s family remained prominent in Europe.

And if they found out who she was married to, they would certainly run the other way.

Lord Porter was well-connected politically. He was the second son of a marquess. He was well-off. He didn’t need her fortune. So, perhaps his interest in her was genuine, not matrimonial.

As they stepped out of the French doors, Victoria tugged him farther. “Lord Porter, would you mind if we took a turn about the gardens?”

Swallowing hard, his eyes widened, and he looked around as if to see if anyone else had heard her. Victoria waited patiently for him to move past his surprise, watching him comprehend that she wanted to be alone with him in the unlit garden.

“Please, call me Gregory…” He paused, his voice hoarse and a bit strangled. “Princess.”

A good sign. Her smile widened. “As you wish… Gregory.”

His arm tensed beneath her fingers, but he didn’t say anything further. They walked in silence toward the garden, only the sounds of music filtering away from the ballroom filling the air.

“It’s a beautiful evening, is it not?” Victoria asked, slowing her pace.

Lord Porter matched her step. “Undeniably so.”

Taking a deep breath, Victoria slowed her pace a little more and a little more until finally, she was standing still. Lord Porter turned to face her and looked her squarely in the eyes. His voice was deep and thick when he said, “Your beauty rivals the radiance of the moon.”

He lifted his gloved hand and touched her cheek gently. Her cheeks heated and her pulse quickened, aflutter with a mixture of excitement and embarrassment.

Everything was going according to plan. He’d readily agreed to escort her to the gardens, a place where couples went to do very private things in the dark. He’d complimented her and looked at her as though she was the only person in the world. He was clearly captivated by her. Now, how did one subtly inquire if the gentleman was receptive to the idea of a liaison?

Before she had a chance to find out, a sudden and strange sensation enveloped her in a cold embrace. Gooseflesh crawled up her arms, and her hair stood on end, while a slight prickling feeling overtook the back of her head. She had felt this way before, a few times, in fact, but she was never able to figure out what caused it.