He Objects

17: Risk

I stared at the prince in askance as he doubled over, nearly wheezing with uncontrollable glee. Of all the reactions I may have pictured—rage, irritation, indifference—not once did I imagine he would find Felix's letter humorous. However, my shock was quickly replaced with impatience. Once again, the prince's private thoughts seemed to be something I would never be privy to.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I asked irritably after a minute had passed.

"My most sincere apologies, Charlotte," Prince Henri said, finally regaining his composure and clearing his throat. "It's just that I did not imagine that my cousin would stoop to such driveling prose to maintain a grasp on what he wants."

I frowned. "Not once has Felix ever insinuated that he wanted anything to do with me."

"It's not about you, it's about what you can offer him," the prince said, his eyes studying me.

"And what would that be? A sizable dowry? Heirs to carry on his family line?" I asked skeptically. "I'm sure another suitable rich daughter of child-bearing age could be found without much trouble. Really, it's a miracle I was at the front of the line."

"It's more than that," the prince said. "But until your wedding, he didn't know it."

I eyed him suspiciously. "What does that mean? What was it about that day that changed things?"

Prince Henri looked away. "You do have a habit of getting right to the heart of things," he murmured.

"And you have a habit of evading them quite neatly," I muttered.

The corner of his lips tilted up. "True."

"So you find Felix's letter to be an utter falsehood?"

"Utterly."

"Do you know why he would resort to...romantic attempts?"

The prince sighed. "I imagine he feels he has no other recourse. In a game of cards, it's perhaps the only one left for him to play."

I arched my eyebrows. "I didn't realize the situation was...nearly decided."

"The situation being...your future?" The prince's head dipped low, managing to be empathetic without crossing the line into pity.

"I suppose," I admitted begrudgingly. In truth, lately I had been so consumed in trying to determine the "why" of it all, I hadn't focused much on the fact that the outcome of the situation would result in my marriage to one of them. I was under the impression that the proceedings to determine whether I should remain betrothed to Felix would take longer.

"Charlotte," Prince Henri said, stepping closer and tucking his finger under my chin, tipping my face up to his. "Even though it may not seem like it, your feelings on the matter carry weight. At least with me."

"How?" I asked disbelievingly. "What reason do I have to believe I would be anything different to you than to Felix? A pawn in the quest for power and control, as outlandish as that may be? A means to an end?"

For a brief moment, his face looked pained. "What you would be to me is infinitely different from what you are to Felix," he suddenly said with conviction.

I blinked, not understanding his words but feeling a flutter in my chest just the same. "What?"

A sudden breeze caught my hair and tugged a few tendrils free. Prince Henri caught them and tucked them behind my ear, eliciting a slight shiver from me. Now he was nearly cupping my face with both hands, and the intimacy was startling. Startling, but...in a way that hinted at a wonderful possibility. "I'm torn between how lovely you look when you're riled up and the fact that I don't want to cause you distress," he said softly.

My breath hitched. "Then don't be the one to cause me distress," I whispered. "Just tell me what you're thinking, for once."

His silver eyes were sharp and soft all at once, showing his shrewd intelligence and hinting at mysterious emotions below the surface. "Oh Charlotte," he murmured, his fingers flexing against my cheek. "Felix wants you as an asset. A possession that provides value. I don't care about any of that. I wouldn't care if you were a servant in rags. I want you for you, and you alone."

I shifted. My face suddenly felt hot. Too hot. And as sweet as his words were, they were also...ridiculous. I stepped back, and the prince let his hands drop. "How is that possible?" I said, my voice high. "We've barely met. You don't know anything about me. I don't know anything about you! How can you say something like that and be sincere?" By the time I was finished, I was practically shouting.

"Felix sending me that insincere letter out of desperation makes sense," I continued, struggling to modulate my tone with only limited success. "You pulled the rug out from under him! But you," I said, jabbing a finger into his chest. "You don't know me enough to want me in any shape or form. Is this just you, playing the same underhanded game? Are you toying with me for fun? Using me to toy with your cousin? I won't be a pawn. I won't!" I turned in a whirlwind of skirts and made to dash for the house.

"Charlotte!" Prince Henri cried from behind me. I ignored him and kept going. "Charlotte!" he shouted again, this time much closer. Before I knew what was happening, he had taken my elbow and steered me quickly behind a tree near the edge of the garden, pinning me against the trunk with his tall, lithe body.

"Don't you ever turn away from me again," he ordered, his hands on my upper arms in a grip that was firm without being painful. At once, his steely gaze broke. "I cannot take it, Charlotte," he said, this time more quietly.

"Well, I can't take any more of this," I said, tears slipping out. His anger I could take, but this unexpected display of vulnerability was enough to disarm me completely. I reached up without thinking and lightly touched my fingers to his cheek. He closed his eyes and groaned softly.

"I already told you more than you are able to understand," he said, leaning into my touch. "I haven't wanted to scare you off. You already struggle to believe such a simple fact. How can I tell you more, knowing the risk of driving you from me is so high?"

I exhaled slowly. This close to him, out of the wind, I could smell him. He had a clean, woodsy scent, with hints of sandalwood and man that I thought might be unique to just him. As frustrating as he had been since the foiled wedding, I finally felt like he'd given me what I'd asked for. At least a little. And here I was, throwing it back in his face. Difficult though it may be, I knew I had to give him a chance. How could I ever know more otherwise?

How could I be with him otherwise?

I gasped. Alarmed, the prince released his hold on my arms, though my hand remained on his face. But that wasn't why I gasped.

No, that I did because I had a revelation. Little as I knew him, as confusing and crazy as everything was, for as much as I still didn't know...

I wanted to be with him. Whatever that entailed, at that moment, I felt he was worth it.

So when Prince Henri opened his eyes once more, I didn't turn away. Instead, I took the risk, and stayed where I was, bringing my other hand up to cup his face, like he had done mine earlier. Hesitantly at first, he settled first one hand, then the other, in the small of my waist. I allowed him to lift me gently off the trunk of the tree, to press my body against his. "Oh, Charlotte," he murmured, his words a sensual promise.

I closed my eyes as he leaned in, bringing his lips to mine.