To Charm a Prince Read Online Free

bodies can rest on Douglas land,” Victoria added.
    “Out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom,” Angelica said.
    “Almost seventeen is not a child,” Victoria informed her sisters. She looked at Samantha. “Too bad Prince Rudolf never called upon you.”
    Samantha kept her face expressionless, but her stomach knotted at the sound of his name. “Tory, you cannot have believed that a man of his esteem would call upon me.”
    “You don’t need to marry a man you don’t love because you fear no other man will ask you,” Angelica told her.
    Samantha lifted her chin a notch. “I fear nothing, especially spinsterhood.”
    “Hello, my darlings,” called a voice from the doorway.
    The three sisters watched their aunt cross the bedchamber. Aunt Roxie sat on the settee in front of the hearth. “Is everyone excited about tonight?”
    “I can hardly wait for the midnight fireworks,” Victoria said. “His Grace certainly knows how to celebrate New Year’s.”
    “Yes, he certainly knows how to celebrate,” Aunt Roxie drawled in a suggestive tone.
    Samantha and Angelica exchanged smiles. Their wonderful aunt had recently made the duke her fourth husband, and the two seemed to spend a lot of time closeted within their bedchamber.
    “Be careful,” Angelica teased, “or you’ll find your belly as big as mine.”
    Aunt Roxie laughed. “Swallow your tongue, child.”
    “You look young enough to become a mother,” Samantha said.
    “Bless you, darling.” Aunt Roxie reached into her pocket and produced a necklace, a ruby pendant hanging on a gold chain. “I’ve brought you a gift.”
    Samantha let her aunt place the necklace over her head and then looked down at the ruby. “Thank you, but what did I do to deserve this?”
    “Darling, you deserve to be drenched in jewels for being your wonderful self,” Aunt Roxie said smoothly. She gazed into her niece’s blue eyes and told her, “This necklace possesses powerful magic.”
    Samantha managed to keep her expression serious and the laughter out of her voice. “What kind of magic?”
    “Legend says the star ruby will darken to the color of blood if its owner is threatened,” Aunt Roxie said.
    “I will keep a guarded eye on it,” Samantha promised, a smile flirting with the corners of her lips.
    “Remember, child,” Aunt Roxie said, putting her arm around her, “life doesn’t always turn out as planned.”
    “Did you have another vision?” Victoria asked. “Can you tell me which gentleman will invite me to supper?”
    “Tory, you are beginning to give me a headache.” Samantha said, rising from her chair.
    “I need some fresh air.” She donned her hooded, fur-lined cloak over her blue dress and grabbed her special violin case with the wide leather strap that hung over her shoulder.
    “Darling, have a wonderful time,” Aunt Roxie called. “Remember, your ruby will warn you if danger threatens.”
    Samantha paused at the door. Her aunt sounded as if she was going on a trip instead of the gazebo to play her violin.
    “I won’t forget.” Armed with her violin, Samantha walked down the corridor to the curving staircase. She paused when she reached the foyer and looked at the duke’s statuary of the Three Fates.
    What did the Fates have planned? Whenever her aunt behaved mysteriously, something unexpected happened, and the unexpected was always a turn for the worse.
    A crisp afternoon greeted Samantha. The sun warmed her face as she crossed the expanse of snow-dusted lawn nearest the mansion.
    Samantha opened the iron gate that separated the lawn from the garden. The fine hairs on her nape prickled. Feeling like she was being watched, she paused and glanced around the area. Nothing seemed amiss.
    Flicking her cloak open, Samantha looked at the placid star ruby. She shook off the uncomfortable feeling and continued on her way past the maze and across another, larger expanse of lawn.
    The gazebo stood beyond the lawns at the edge of the woodland.