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address, and a stunning set of gowns for you, not to mention wielding his influence to obtain our subscriptions to Almack’s. We cannot disappoint him. He is a very powerful man.”
    “Not as powerful as Prince Randolph or his father,” Alexandra reminded her, “who is the current reigning monarch of Petersbourg. Mr. Carmichael has not held a position of power there for many years. For the duration of my life, to be exact. We are nowhere yet.”
    Lucille gathered her cloak more snugly around her shoulders. “Nevertheless, he has been most patient, biding his time until you came of age. You should be grateful to him. You were a few days ago, but tonight you seem hesitant. Have you lost your courage?”
    Alexandra regarded her stepmother steadily in the dim lamplight inside the coach. “No. I am weary, that is all.”
    They were both quiet while the coach wheels clattered over the cobblestones.
    “Do you think you made a satisfactory impression?” Lucille asked.
    “Upon whom?” Alexandra replied.
    “Upon the future king, of course! Who else matters?”
    Alexandra slowly removed her gloves. “I believe you are forgetting his brother, Nicholas, who told me quite plainly that anyone who desires access to Randolph must gain his approval first. So I must insist that you leave it to me to secure my throne. Do not tell me how to behave or how to strategize, and certainly do not make me feel beholden to Mr. Carmichael, for he has his own ambitions.”
    Lucille regarded Alex with some concern. “That may be true, but we cannot secure the throne without his support. He has maintained many connections with the old monarchists, and you may discover you require their help when you arrive. If King Frederick discovers who you are, he may not permit Randolph to marry you and we may have to seek an alternate route to the throne.”
    Alexandra shook her head. “The king will not discover the truth. Not until after I provide an heir.”
    “You seem very confident about winning a proposal from Randolph,” Lucille said. “I am impressed.”
    Alexandra watched the dark city pass by outside the window. “I am confident because I learned a great deal about him tonight, thanks to Nicholas. I know what he needs.”
    “And what is that?”
    She leaned back in the seat. “Randolph is looking for true love. Something rather rare for a man in his position. I am quite sure I can satisfy his needs.”
    Lucille scoffed. “Well. Do not be surprised if every other young lady in London is declaring the very same thing tonight while driving home from the ball.”
    “But they don’t know what I know,” Alexandra insisted. “And besides, I have Nicholas in my corner.”
    “You are certain?”
    “Yes,” she replied, but was she really? Based on her body’s response to him earlier in the evening, veering around him could prove to be a very tricky maneuver. Nevertheless, she maintained an air of confidence. “I saw it in his eyes tonight. I believe I can win his full endorsement.”
    Alexandra returned her attention to the view outside the window and remembered those first moments on the terrace when he approached her from the shadows. She recalled how her body had flared with heat when he touched her.
    “You will need to be very cunning if you intend to manipulate that man,” Lucille said. “From what I hear, he has considerable experience with a certain type of woman, and he may not be easily manipulated.”
    Alexandra looked down at her hands on her lap and felt a renewed rush of heat in her belly. “Don’t worry, Mama. I will waste no time in establishing how best to influence him.”
    *   *   *
    The following day, Alexandra’s eyes lifted at the sound of a coach pulling up in front of the house. Rising from her chair in the drawing room, she crossed to the window and looked down at the street below.
    “Who is it?” Lucille asked with an anxious little gasp. “Anyone of consequence?”
    Since their noteworthy entrance