She shook her head, still holding out the necklace. Well, she could stand there all night like that. He would not take it.
But apparently, his mother would. She darted forward, exclaiming loudly, “Oh you poor dear. Of course, of course, we understand your customs. Medicine women in China do not marry. Not allowed. Not in their customs.”
“That’s not true,” he snapped.
It didn’t matter. His mother was already grabbing the family emeralds, pulling the earbobs right off Yihui’s ears.
“This is ridiculous,” he growled as he started forward, but Emma was there blocking him. She grabbed onto his arm and pulled him back.
“Don’t fight this,” she hissed. “It’s better this way.”
“Emma, stop it!” She was like a clinging vine and while he was trying to set her aside, his mother enlisted the help of the other footmen. Faster than he thought possible, Yihui was set in the palanquin.
Finally, he got past Emma, only to be stopped by his mother. And then, to his shock, even Lady Kimberly blocked his way. Three women all telling him to quiet down, to let it happen. This was only logical.
“Stop this!” he commanded, but they wouldn’t listen. Worse, Prinny had also stepped into the breech. Max might be able to bypass the women, but he couldn’t avoid the prince.
So he let it happen. He couldn’t punch out his own mother, much though he wanted to. And though he had gotten past Emmaline, Kimberly stood before him with her arms crossed and a look of challenge. She didn’t need to speak. They’d known each other so long, he could read the question on her face.
What was his plan?
He’d never intended to marry Yihui, so what was the point in making a scene now?
Why follow her in a grand display of lovelorn fury if he could not finish the act?
And then Prinny made it to his side and clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder.
“Didn’t know she was a medicine woman. Seems they don’t marry. Strange idea to us—a woman who cannot marry—butthey’re like nuns, I suppose. Married to medicine.” He chuckled loudly at that thought.
“Your Majesty, that’s not true—”
“It seems pretty clear it is,” the prince boomed. “Well, that’s done then. You can’t marry her. Best you look to someone closer to home.” He grinned at Lady Kimberly. “My lady, I believe Max has partnered with you for this next dance.” Then he clapped his hands before bellowing at the musicians. “A waltz!”
There wasn’t a dance floor set up. There was only the space where the palanquin had been. The musicians weren’t ready either, but at the prince’s command, they scrambled to obey. The first strains of a waltz began, and the prince backed away as he gestured at them.
“Go on. Dance!” He looked around the room. “Everyone! Waltz!”
And so he did. He took Kimberly’s hand and pulled her into a dance. He watched as his mother secreted the emeralds away in her overly large purse. Damn it, why hadn’t he realized she’d planned this? There was no other reason for her to bring such a large thing to the palace.
“Don’t scowl, Max. This wasyourplan.”
And that was the hell of it. That was why he hadn’t shoved them all aside and run after Yihui. That was why he hadn’t defied his family or his prince.
He could never marry Yihui. A future duke could not have a foreign duchess. Especially not a Chinese shopgirl so different from anyone he had ever known. One did not marry foreign, not because she came from far away but because she was so fundamentally different from everything he had ever known.
Unless, of course, different was exactly what he wanted.
His steps slowed, losing tempo with the musicians. Ever tuned to him, Kimberly slowed as well.
“You once told me that purebred dogs are weaker than mutts. They have known ailments that a mixed breed just doesn’t.”
“Yes,” she said, trying to push him back in tempo. “But mutts are just dogs. They’re not special in any way.”
He stopped dancing all together. “Special just means weaker. Why would anyone want a weaker dog?” He looked around the room. Others were slowing as well, some even coming to a complete stop to stare at them. “Kimberly, why do we go to other countries? Why do we want spices from the Orient or silks from China?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “Because they do some things better than we do. So we trade with countries around the world.”
“Yes. Our ships are unmatched. We explore, we—”
“Bring the strengths of other countries into our own. Why not their people, too? If they know things that we don’t, if they cover our weaknesses and make us stronger?”
