chapter 26. He called her, The gold digger
1360 Words
Nausea roiled in her stomach as she stared up at him. No, he wasn't a fool, but she was.
Fiercely she fought back the sickness that threatened to Overwhelm her, and when she spoke, her tone was even, almost cool.
"That's odd. I thought marriage was a natural result of love. But then, you've never actually said.that you love me, have you, William?"
His mouth twisted and he got out of bed, walking to the window to stand looking out, his splendid body revealed to her in its nudity.
He wasn't concerned with his lack of dress, standing there as casually as if he wore a suit and tie.
"I've never lied to you, Ursula," he said brutally. "'I want you as I've never wanted another Woman, but you're not the type of woman I would ever take as my wife."
Ursula ground her teeth together to keep from crying out in pain. Jerkily she sat up against thee
pillows and drew the covers up over her nakedness for she couldn't be as casual about it as he could.
"Oh?" she inquired, only a slight strain revealed in her voice, for, after all, hadn't she had years of.experience in hiding her feelings?
"What type of Woman am I?"
He shrugged his broad shoulders. "My dear, that's rather obvious. Just because Robert Stanton married you doesn't make it any less an act of p**********n, but at least he married you. What
about all the others? They didn't bother. You've had some unpleasant experiences that have tuned you
against men, and I was prepared to treat you with a great deal of consideration, but I've never considered making you my wife. I wouldn't insult my mother, her majesty, by taking a woman like you home to be introduced to her."
Pride had always been a strong part of Ursula's character and it came to her rescue now. Lifting her chin, she said, "What sort of woman swould you take
home to Mama? A nun?"
"Don't get vicious with me, he snarled softy in warning."I can deal with you in a way that will make your previous experiences seem like heaven, But to
answer your question, As the crowned Prince, the woman I marry will be a virgin, as pure as the day she was born, a woman of both character and morals. I admit that you have the character, my dear; it's the morals that you lack."
"Where will you find this paragon?" she mocked,
not at all afraid of him now. He had already hurt her as badly as she could ever be hurt; what else could he do?
He said abruptly, "I have already found her; I intend to marry the daughter of an old family friend.
Elena is only nineteen, and she's been schooled in a convent. I wanted to wait until she's older before we became betrothed; she deserves a carefree youth."
"Do you love her, William ?" The question was torn from her, for here, after all, was an even deeper pain, to think that he loved another woman. By contrast to this unknown, unseen Elena, Diana
seemed a pitiful rival.
"I fond of her, " he said. "Love will come later, as she matures. She'll be a loving, obedient wife, a wife I can be proud of, a good mother to my children and a good queen to my kingdom."
"And you can take her home to Mama, Ursula mocked in pain.
He swung away from the window. "Don't mock my mother," he hissed between his teeth. "She's a queen and Wonderful, valiant woman; she knew your late husband-are you surprised? When she heard of his disastrous marriage, she was shocked and dismayed, as most people were. Her friends here in London who told to her about you didn't ease her worries
for an old friend. Should I insult her now by showing up with you in tow and saying,' Mother, do you remember the gold-digger Who took Robert Stanton
for all he was worth and ruined the last years of his life? I want to make her my wife, the furture queen. Were you really such fool as to think that, Ursula?"
Ursula flung aside the covers and stood up, her bearing erect and proud, her head high.
"You're right about one thing, "she said in a clipped voice.
"I'm not the woman for you."
He watched silently as she went over to her gown
and picked it up from the floor, slipping quickly into it. As she slid her feet into her shoes, she said,
"Good-bye, William . It's been an interesting experience,
"Don't be so hasty, my dear," he jeered cruelly
"Before you walk out that door, you should consider that you could gain even more by being my mistress
than you did by marrying Robert Stanton. 'I prepared to pay well."
Bitter pride kept her from reacting to that jibe.
"Thanks, but no, thanks," she said carelessly, opening the door. "I'll wait for a better offer from another man. Don't bother seeing me out, William .
You aren't dressed for it."
He actually laughed, throwing back his arrogant head. "Call me if you change your mind," he said by way of good-bye, and she walked out without look
ing back.
She called Charles early the next morning and told him that she would be out of town for several weeks.
She hadn't cried, her eyes had remained dry and burning, but she knew that she couldn't remain in London. She would return only when William had
left, flown back to his island. "I'm going to the cottage," she told Charles. "And don't tell williams where I am, though I doubt that he'll bother to ask. If you let me down in this, Charles, swear I wont
ever speak to you again."
"Had a spat, did youf?"he asked, amusement evident in his voice.
"No, it was really a rather quiet parting of the ways. He called me a w***e and said I wasn't good enough to marry, and I walked out," she explained Coolly.
"My God!" Charles said something under his breath, then said urgently, "Are you all right, Ursula? Are you certain you should go haring off to Cornwall by yourself? Give yourself time to caln
down."
"I'm very calm," she said, and she was. "I need a holiday and l'm taking it. You know where I am if anything urgent Comes up, but other than that, I
don't expect to see you for several weeks."
"Very well. Ursula, dear, are you certain?"
"Of course. I'm perfectly all right. Don't worry, Charles. I'm taking Samantha and the pups with me they'll enjoy romping around Cornwall."
After hanging up, she made certain everything in the house was turned off, picked up her purse and walked out, carefully locking the door behind her.
Her luggage was already in the car, as were Samantha and her wiggling, energetic family, traveling in
a large box.
The rest in Cornwall would do her good, help her to forget Prince Williams Hilton . She had had a close call and she was grateful that she had escaped with
her self-respect intact. At least she had prevented him from realizing how shattered she was.
Turning it over and over in her mind as she made the long drive to Cornwall, she wondered if she hadn't known all along just what William thought of
her. Why else had she mentioned marriage at such a moment, when he was on the brink of making love to her? Hadn't she subconsciously realized that he would not let her think he intended marriage in order to seduce her?
She was glad that she hadn't told him that she was a virgin; he would have laughed in her face. She could have proved it to him, he would no doubt have
demanded proof, but she was too proud. Why should she prove anything to him? She had loved Robert and he had loved her, and she would not
apologize for their marriage. Somehow she would forget Prince Williams Hilton wipe him out of her thoughts. She would not let his memory destroy her life!
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