"I beg your pardon. I should not have come. I did not mean to be a bother.”
He stepped aside, extending a subtle invite. “But that is the problem. I find myself wanting you to.”
Her breath caught. “Mr Brand…”
“Come, Madelyn,” he mumbled. “Come in.”
Hesitantly, she obeyed. He closed the door firmly.

Commanding the high seas as he had always, Brand amasses his wealth focused on business and his fealty to the king, with his thoughts of women remaining the same: they are not worth the trouble and time they are awarded.
No woman is allowed to bother him. None, until Madelyn.
Madelyn wishes to live above the thoughts of her late husband's family and to do that, she must escape their good pleasure and find a life for herself, the farther the better. Brand's crew offers the opportunity to do so, and she would without any man commanding her ever. But what must she do when Brand's command is the very one she now wishes for?

"Miss Stanhope, you would be taken to Mainecroft Hall. Brand's staff will see you attended to," Mr Stephen said, beckoning to his wife. "A carriage will be brought about."


"Mainecroft Hall." Mrs Rose beamed. "Oh, how nice it must be. Is it as grand as people say, Stephen?"


"Of course, second only to the castle." Mr Stephen replied, handing her a note. "Give this to the butler." Then he whispered to Mrs Rose and he was gone.


Madelyn could not help the smile on her face at the couple. Then, "Is Mr Brand's mansion thus great? How wealthy is he?"


Mrs Rose shrugged. "As wealthy as you would expect of the prince."


She nodded. "He is quite humble and refuses to accord his title in relation to his business. But he is, and a kind one he is." Slowly a frown clouded her face. "You had no knowledge?"


Chapter 76 - He Was The Prince?!