“Well, if you want, you can be an Aster.”
Sam had never been given anything for nothing. Still, a flutter of hope that he may get to stay with Jack and Annie started to grow in his heart. He would do just about anything for that to happen.
“I know I ain’t the same as Annie and Jack, but if you let me stay with them, I won’t be a burden. I am good with my hands. I can fetch things, build things, anything you like,” he said, hating the desperation that crept into his voice.
Too many years on the streets and in the orphanage made him skeptical of the generous offer dangled before him. Yet, he didn’t care if it were truly a sham, he would do anything to stay with the two people he considered his family. Maggie smiled at him and said, “In the Aster household, we are all the same. All of you will receive the same schooling as our daughter Sophia. You just have to stay.”
Sam frowned at her, unwilling to fully believe her words. She stood and held out her hand, helping him up. “I won’t earn your trust in one night, but I hope both Joseph and I will, eventually.”
She started to make her way to the door. Sam had a choice; he could leave or give the Asters a chance. He hesitated only for a minute before following her back inside. As Sam made his way back to the room where Jack and Annie slept, Maggie called out, “Sam.”
He turned with a sinking feeling in his stomach, wondering if this was all a joke. Who would want a boy from the streets?
Maggie pulled a paper from her pocket, and it took Sam a moment to realize that it was his sketch. She picked his pocket! She walked over and dropped the paper in his hand.
“We all have value, including street urchins. Goodnight, Sam,” she said with a smile.
Chapter 1
October 1841 - English Countryside
Lady Clara, the daughter of the Duke of Claremore, dressed only in her nightgown and wrap, inched her way back toward her room as quietly as possible. What had she been thinking slipping out of her room dressed in her night clothes? And in the Earl of Adderly’s house! Her mother would be horrified, and thetonwould be delighted to catch the Ice Princess in a scandal. She grimaced at the name she was called and pulled the two books tighter to her chest, as she paused to listen for anyone else moving around. Nothing but silence.
She always worried too much. They were on day three of Adderly’s house party and each night the festivities had gone well into the night. All the guests should be asleep after a night of dancing. No one, besides her, would be up in the quiet hours before dawn. She made it to her floor and crept along the hallway. She smiled, confident now she wouldn’t be discovered. Clara only needed to pass a few more doors, and then she would be tucked safely in her room, reading.
A lady’s hushed voice echoed down the hallway, and she paused. She waited, holding her breath, but all she heard was silence. She let out a sigh of relief and crept forward before another giggle caused her to halt. Clara looked down the hallway, trying to guess where the sound came from. She walked faster, telling herself just because someone was up didn’t mean they would leave their room. Just two more rooms, she thought to herself. A door handle rattled, and she stopped again. Her eyes widened as the door at the end of the hall started to open. She looked around frantically for a place to hide and quickly ducked into an alcove. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked out from her hiding spot.
One of the Kincaide brothers stepped out of the room at the end of the hall. It was the tall blonde one who was always telling bawdy jokes and flirting with ladies. A feminine giggle that could only come from Lady Hawley escaped from the room. Clara gasped and for a moment thought she was discovered because Kincaide hushed Lady Hawley. She held her breath, praying she hadn’t revealed her presence. The hallway fell silent again but was then interrupted by another giggle. Clara cringed at the grating, high-pitched sound.
“We are the only ones still awake at this god-awful hour. What a dull party,” Lady Hawley whispered loudly to Kincaide.
Clara frowned; it was clear Lady Hawley had one too many glasses of sherry or champagne. What would her husband think if she were discovered? Clara scrunched up her nose in distaste. He would most likely be indifferent. That was the way of the ton. She imagined Lord Hawley was happily in London with his mistress. She peeked back out as Kincaide pulled Lady Hawley to him for a kiss. Clara’s eyes widened as Lady Hawley molded her form to Kincaide. He pushed her up against the door frame, kissing her deeply. Clara felt herself turn scarlet from head to toe. She wasn’t sure she had seen anything so intimate before. She pinched her lips together. Their behavior was highly inappropriate.
“Now go to sleep, my lady,” Kincaide said in a husky voice.
Clara ducked back into the alcove. She listened to the door shut and heard Kincaide’s footsteps as they came closer. They stopped on the other side of the curtain that concealed her. Clara held her breath, hoping they would continue. They started again, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She leaned against the alcove wall, happy he continued on. The Ice Princess didn’t need to be seen with one of the Kincaides. They were exactly the type of men her mother warned her about. The kiss with Lady Hawley flashed in her mind, and she flushed.
She shook her head. Inappropriate kisses were not her focus. She took a moment to enjoy her victory over not being discovered, but her relief, however, was short-lived. The curtain concealing the alcove was thrown back, and Clara jumped. She gasped as Sam Kincaide stepped in and smiled at her devilishly.
~
Sam Kincaide could not believe his eyes. Of all the people he expected to find, Lady Clara, the Ice Princess of thetonwas not even a consideration. The normally perfectly coiffed lady’s pale blonde hair swirled around her shoulders as she stood before him in her night clothes. She stared back at him, her rose colored lips parted in shock.
He wasn’t sure he had ever seen her so uncomposed. He liked it, maybe too much. Sam ducked further into the alcove. She recovered from her shock, pressing her lips together in a frown. Her eyes stared back at him coolly, doing their best to dismiss him. Too bad he had both a sister and brother who could easily rival her condescending stare, making him impervious to such looks.
His smile only widened. “My lady, if you wanted my attention, all you had to do was ask. Hiding out and waiting for me is rather radical.”
Anger flashed in her pale blue eyes. “Hardly, Mr. Kincaide.”
He couldn’t deny it, he was intrigued to see the lady thetonconsidered the epitome of elegance so thoroughly undone. Even more intriguing, she was still staring at him with the same contempt and haughtiness. The temptation to goad her was too hard to resist.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Don’t be shy, you can tell me if you fancy me.”
Her haughtiness turned to fire, and she scowled at him, surprising Sam. The Ice Princess had a personality. “You are the last person I would hide in an alcove waiting for.”
He gave her one of his most charming smiles, hoping to fluster her, but she only rolled her eyes at him, unimpressed. He smiled back at her, bemused.
“Your charm doesn't work with me, Kincaide. I’m not interested.”
