Free How to Pursue a Princess by Karen Hawkins Page A

orgeat, and she escaped him by claiming that she needed to find a retiring room to pin a torn flounce.
    As the viscount wandered off, Lily peeked at her dance card, glad to see that the next dance was Huntley’s. Where is he? She stood on tiptoe and thought she saw him on the other side of the dance floor in conversation with a portly man in a striped waistcoat. She could tell from his expression that Huntley was not happy to be so entrapped. I shall rescue him.
    She was halfway to the dance floor when a large hand encircled her wrist. Instantly, her skin heated as if she’d been immersed head to toe in warm water, and a deep shiver traced through her. Wulfinski.
    “Ah, Miss Lily Balfour.” His husky voice seemed to caress her name. “I look for you and there you are.”
    She took a shivery breath, far more pleased to see him than she should be. “Prince Wulfinski, I didn’t expect—”
    “Dance with me.” His voice was as deep as the ocean.
    “I would, but—”
    He turned and walked into the swirling dancers, pulling her ruthlessly behind him.
    Lily could either follow him or plant her feet and be yanked onto her face.
    Scowling, she scrambled to keep up. “Lord Wulf—your majesty or—Lud, whatever you name is, please slow down! I cannot keep up—”
    He came to an abrupt halt and looked down at her. “You cannot keep up, eh? Then I walk slower.” His gaze dropped to her slippers where they peeked from beneath her skirts, a look of distaste on his face. “Youcannot walk because of those shoes. Silk is for sheets, not shoes.”
    She blinked. “Sheets?” She couldn’t imagine silk sheets. Why, that would cost a fortune.
    “ Da. You need leather shoes to protect your feet.”
    “These shoes are for dancing.”
    “ Nyet . The women in my country, they would never wear such frivolous footwear.”
    “That is their loss. I’ll wear leather shoes while walking in the woods, thank you. But these”—she extended one so that the jeweled buckle sparkled in the candlelight—“are perfect for dancing.”
    He sent them a dismissive glance. “I do not like them so much, but if you do . . .” He shrugged and then said in a gracious tone, “As you wish.”
    Fuming, Lily tugged her wrist free. For one second, she’d been glad to see him, her body welcoming him before she had. But now . . . now she just wanted to find Huntley and claim their dance. This is good; the last person I need to be attracted to is a man with no fortune. “Prince Wulfinski, I did not come to this ball to be dragged about the room and have my shoes insulted.”
    Surprise crossed his face. “You are upset.”
    “Yes, I’m upset. These shoes are beautiful .”
    His lips twitched, but he managed to say in a grave voice, “There are many gems glittering upon them, yes.”
    Well, paste gems, but no one knew that but Lily. “I love these shoes.”
    “Hm. My mother’s shoes are more—” He clipped off the word as if unwilling to finish.
    His mother’s shoes what? Were more useful? More utilitarian? More—
    Oh. Wulf had told her that he was the poorest of the many princes in Oxenburg. Perhaps that’s all she can afford.
    Feeling as small as an ant, Lily tucked her foot back under her skirt. “I’m sure your mother’s shoes are lovely, too, however they look.”
    He shrugged. “It matters not. She is not here for us to compare. Come. The music appeals to me.” He put his hands about Lily’s waist, lifted her easily, and set her down directly in front of him. Then, as if she were a marionette, he placed one of her hands upon his shoulder and grasped the other. “We dance, Moya.”
    “Wulf, I don’t think—” But they were already moving as, with a sweeping step, he swung her into the twirling couples. To her surprise, he was sure-footed and graceful. It was easy to move with him, and he led with a deft touch that let her know what he wished her to do without her feeling manhandled.
    A cacophony of feelings fluttered