She’d consoled herself with books to fill the hours. Her father hadn’t believed her capable of learning anything except embroidery and etiquette, and if he’d known how much she’d adored learning, he’d have found another place to punish her.
In reading, she’d found her escape. She’d read about exotic places around the world, dreaming of a house of her own overlooking the sea. She’d wanted a home where she could be herself, where no one would judge her.
The prince’s gaze centered upon her throat, and before Serena could move away, his hand hovered above the lightly bruised skin. “Why did this happen to you? How could anyone lay a hand upon a royal princess?”
“I’m not as protected as you might believe.” For no one could protect her from the king.
Serena started to move away, but the prince’s hand suddenly reached around to her nape. He stroked the back of her neck, threading his fingers into her hair. She froze in place when his fingers moved over the fragile skin of her throat, his thumb caressing the bruises.
“Don’t,” she whispered, trying to pull away. He returned his hand to the back of her head, leaning in. “Who hurt you?”
Serena’s blood pulsed, her skin prickling with fear. When his forehead touched hers, the heat of his skin entranced her.
His hands moved down to her shoulders, and she sank deeper under his spell. “I want you to stop,” she confessed. “Please. I can’t—I don’t—” She closed her eyes, so terribly confused when she was near him.
“Don’t what?” His mouth rested just above hers, and Serena wondered if he was going to kiss her.
Karl saw the way Serena was fighting against herself. Fear penetrated her expression, and her hands were clenched. She looked as if she wanted to be far away from him, as if she dreaded his touch.
He wanted to ignore propriety and taste the soft lips that lay so close. Her green eyes held worry, her cheeks flushed with uncertainty. After seeing the bruised skin of her throat, he understood that he couldn’t push her. Someone had hurt her badly, though he couldn’t understand why. It would be reckless to damage what little trust she had in him by forcing a kiss.
Karl released her and returned to the clock on the table. He lifted it and brought it back into the other room. While he distracted himself with mounting it on the wall, he wondered what he was supposed to do now.
He stared at the blurred reflection of his face in the glass clock cover. He’d mistakenly believed that Serena would welcome a marriage, if only to preserve her reputation. But she was running away from someone who had tried to hurt her.
Frustration unfurled inside him, for she would say nothing about it, and he couldn’t understand why. He’d been patient with her, thus far, but it was wearing thin.
Karl turned around and closed the distance between them. “Are you still afraid of me?”
In the silence between them, all that could be heard was the clock ticking. She nodded slowly. But then, she lifted her gaze up to meet his.
Karl reached for a fallen, tangled lock of hair and tucked it behind her nape. “Go and eat your luncheon without me. I’ll join you in a moment.”
She clutched her arms at the casual touch. It infuriated him that she was so mistrustful, as if she believed him to be a monster. When she didn’t move, he couldn’t tell if it was frozen fear or something else.
“I’ll…wait for you.” Her arms crossed over her chest, and he sensed that she was trying to overcome her nerves. The softness of her skin, the shadowed look of her eyes, spoke of a woman who had been hurt. A woman who no longer trusted anyone.
“That wouldn’t be a good idea.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because if you stay, I’m going to kiss you.” He wanted to taste her mouth, to coax her into wanting more. To see if she might…desire him.
Her innocent eyes widened, and Serena looked behind her, as if to see whether anyone was watching. But there was no one near, no eyes watching them. With his fingers, Karl traced a path down the back of her neck, feeling the gooseflesh rise beneath his touch.
“And if I don’t want you to?” she whispered.
“Then go into the dining room right now. I won’t stop you.”
Her face paled, and she crossed her arms over her chest, as if to shield herself. Then Serena stopped for a moment, reconsidering it. She slowly lifted her face to his, and her eyes met his gaze with uncertainty.
Karl drew his hands to the back of her head, sliding his fingers into her hair. The moment he touched her, she winced andpulled away. Then, as if she couldn’t bear his presence any more, she fled.
After she’d gone, Karl stared at the face of the clock.What did you expect? That she would want a man like you?
The brittle anger at himself threatened to break free, so he took a few moments to suppress it, along with the physical frustration Serena had conjured. She wanted nothing at all to do with him, and it was doubtful that would change. It was only what he deserved.
When Karl reached the dining room, his footman was standing next to a covered tray of food while Serena stood behind a chair.
