Regency Society. Ann LethbridgeЧитать онлайн книгу.
believed to have died of a fever in the poorhouse. They said you had the ruby with you when you left—did you?’
‘Yes, I took the ruby when I fled—but my father?’ Roxanne’s throat tightened. ‘Please tell me, sir.’
‘Your father had planned to return to England and make a home for you. However, when he believed you dead, he decided to remain in India. He left my father’s employ and lived in solitude doing good works amongst the poor and sick. He died of a fever about eighteen months ago.’
‘My father is dead?’ A single tear trickled down Roxanne’s cheek. For years she had forgotten the tall handsome man she’d adored as a child, but the last few days had brought him back to her. It hurt to know that he had died not knowing that she was alive and well. ‘Then I shall never see him again.’
‘I am so sorry to be the bearer of this sad news,’ the prince said and touched her hand again. ‘When he knew he was ill, Sahib Pearson left you a letter and also a small inheritance, which I have placed in a bank in London for you. You see, in the last months before he died, he had begun to believe you were not dead, though his reasons for this belief are not clear. He sent the letter with another of explanation to my father and asked that you might be searched for. It was then that he told my father of the ruby he’d given you. It was only at that time that my father learned yours had possessed the eye for a time. My father sent his men to England to search for you, but it was many months before we traced you to the camp of the travelling players and by then you had disappeared once more.’
‘You did not begin your search until eighteen months ago?’
The prince shook his head. ‘Until we had your father’s letter, the eye was thought lost and you were believed to have died.’
‘The eye? Was it stolen? Surely my father would not have stolen from yours?’
‘No, the ruby did not belong to us—it is the eye of the goddess Bersheira and it was stolen by thieves who raided the temple. My father believes that your father bought the eye in good faith. He did not know that it was stolen from the goddess, for he would never have bought it and given it to you. Until the eye is returned to its rightful place, all those who touch it are cursed. Since it was stolen the people of our province have suffered in many ways: sickness, fires in the villages, mysterious deaths and other evils. They believe that they will be cursed until the eye is returned and it was for this reason that my father decided to send me to discover you and the eye. I arrived in England only a few weeks ago. Our men had failed and it was I who finally discovered the man who revealed your whereabouts to me.’
‘Black Bob—was it he who told you?’
‘The leader of the travelling players, yes. I had advertised with posters for a missing girl who disappeared five years ago and offered gold for information of her whereabouts. We had heard vague whispers of a girl travelling with the players, a girl who had lost her memory, and I wondered if it might be you. But until he came to me I had no idea of where you might be. Then I saw the advertisement for a lost jewel and I began to link the pieces together. When that rogue told me you had a fabulous jewel I was sure it must be you.’
‘Why did you not simply come to me and ask for its return? Was it necessary to kidnap me?’
‘You must forgive me, Rose Marie. It was not my men who attacked you—though we took you from the aggressors and brought you here.’
‘Not your men? I do not understand.’
‘My father has a brother—my Uncle Sangyo,’ the prince said and looked angry. ‘He is a ruthless man and covets my father’s throne. Sangyo believes that, if he finds the eye and returns it to the goddess, the people will place him on the throne when my father dies instead of me.’
‘So it was your uncle I saw in the tower—it was he who tried to break into the earl’s strong room and he that hit the bailiff?’
‘I fear this may be so,’ Prince Ranjit said. ‘I was in London for a time on other matters and, when I was informed of your whereabouts, did not immediately send men to the earl’s estate to watch for you. When I did, they reported to me that Sangyo was lurking, intent on mischief. I decided to let him make his move and then punish him. Until he tried to abduct you I could not prove he was guilty of anything. He has been made a prisoner and sent home, to be punished by my father. It was necessary to do this or he would have remained a threat to us all.’
‘Yes, I understand,’ Roxanne said. ‘Though I cannot help wishing that you’d acted sooner for you might have spared me an unpleasant illness, sir. Had you asked for the ruby it would have been given to you.’
‘I have suffered for your suffering,’ the prince told her. ‘I must beg your forgiveness and shall do what I can to make reparation for your pain. I am sincere in my regret, Rose Marie.’ He hesitated, then, ‘Do you still have the ruby?’
‘No, I gave it to my fiancé. Lord Clarendon has placed it somewhere for safekeeping. He will, of course, give it to you if you take me to him and offer him proof of your identity. I remember my friend Prince Ranjit, but the years have changed us both, sir. I think Lord Clarendon would require proof that you are the prince before giving you the ruby.’
The prince frowned. ‘It is easy enough for me to supply proof of my identity, but this man—Lord Clarendon—he is truly your husband?’
‘Yes—at least, we are legally betrothed and intend to be married soon, sir.’
‘I see…then it is my duty to take you to him,’ the prince said. He gave her a brooding look that told of his displeasure in the discovery that she was betrothed to another. It seemed that Shulie was right to suspect the prince had entertained ideas of making her his second wife. ‘I am disappointed. I had hoped we might renew our friendship—the warm affection we had as children, Rose Marie.’
‘I am called Roxanne these days,’ she said and smiled at him. ‘You are right to think I remember you with affection, sir. You were as a brother to me when I lived at the palace and we played as children. I have to thank you and Shulie for your care of me, Highness. I believe that your wife saved my life. She is both beautiful and wise. I think she will give you handsome and clever sons.’
‘We have no sons yet,’ the prince said and frowned.
‘You will have sons, I am certain of it,’ Roxanne said. She hesitated, then, ‘Perhaps it is the curse of the eye that has prevented you from having a son thus far, sir. When you return it to the goddess, she will favour you and your wife will give you healthy sons.’
The prince looked struck by her words. He took her hand, bringing her to her feet, then bowing to her before placing a kiss on the back of her hand.
‘The Lord Clarendon is a fortunate man,’ he said. ‘I envy him his wife, Rose Marie. Your words are wise and I am sure that you speak truly. It was my destiny to find the eye and restore it to the goddess. When this is done, Shulie will give me sons.’
‘Yes, I am certain this is your destiny, sir.’ Roxanne smiled at him. ‘If you would please take me to Hartingdon, I shall arrange for the eye to be returned to you.’
‘I shall escort you myself,’ the prince said. ‘It has been a privilege to speak with you, Rose Marie. If things had been otherwise…but a betrothal is sacred and I must follow my destiny.’
Luke sighed as he dismounted and gave the reins of his horse into the hands of a waiting groom. He was tired and hungry and, as he noticed the carriage and horses waiting in the courtyard, resentful of whoever had come calling at such a time. He was in no mood for visitors. What he needed was a hot bath, food and some sleep. His search had once more been in vain and he was beginning to think he would never see Roxanne again. The thought was like a heavy weight, dragging him down.
‘My lord…’ the groom began, but Luke waved him away in frustration.