Page 96 of A Royal Kiss & Tell
“You must be looking for the gaming room,” Hollis said, her voice at a high pitch.
Leo reluctantly stepped back and turned to Hollis. He was surprised and annoyed to see Lady Katherine Maugham in the hall, watching them curiously. He said to Rasa, “Thank you. Mrs. Honeycutt has rescued me and will return me to the ballroom.” He smiled at Lady Katherine. “I seem to have lost my way.”
Lady Katherine was no fool. She stared at him shrewdly.
Hollis looped her arm through his and said, “You’ve had a bit too much ale, haven’t you, Highness?”
He hadn’t had a drop. “Je, too much,” he said jovially.
Lady Katherine curtsied. “Good evening, Your Highness.”
“Mrs. Honeycutt, if you will kindly direct me to the gaming room and the nearest tankard of ale, I should be delighted.” He pretended to stumble and Hollis called out a cheery, “Good evening, Katherine.” The two of them headed for the main hall.
“Well?” Hollis whispered as they strode down the corridor.
“She refuses to leave. She likes it here. She claims Pennybacker treats her well.”
“Oh,” Hollis said, surprised. “Well...perhaps if she is happy?”
Leo didn’t understand how a woman could be happy under those circumstances. She had no freedom. She was a commodity. Because she was comfortable now didn’t mean she always would be. But he didn’t want to debate Hollis. She’d done enough for him, and he didn’t want to involve her further. When they reached the gaming room, he bowed to her. “Thank you, truly, for your help. If you would be so kind as to pass the news along?”
“Of course.” Hollis smiled sympathetically. “You tried, and that’s what matters.”
Leo wasn’t sure of that. Trying didn’t seem quite enough to him.
He watched Hollis disappear into the crowd, then walked into the gaming room and found Beck. His friend had had entirely too much to drink and was feeling very verbose.
Leo sat, his head spinning, his thoughts whirling around, grappling over what he should do next...until Pennybacker came into the gaming room and demanded in a loud whisper what Leo wanted with his Weslorian maid and asked him to take his leave.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
A certain peacock, whose feathers are easily ruffled, is nonetheless fanning them fully to attract the attention of a bachelor viscount. We have high hopes that someone will offer for the little bird before she molts.
Two ladies were spotted in gowns designed by Lady Caroline Hawke. There is some talk that Lady Caroline will invest in a shop so that she might share her talents with all the ladies of London.
Ladies, it should not have to be stated that gray is not a suitable color for a summer ball, and perhaps should be reserved only for a period of mourning.
—Honeycutt’s Gazette of Fashion and
Domesticity for Ladies
ITREQUIREDBOTHLeopold and Garrett to engineer Beck into the house and to his bed, with Caroline hurrying ahead to remove any obstacles to their progress. When he was at last on his bed, one leg sprawled off the side, Beck lamented the amount of money he’d lost at the gaming table.
As Garrett was in his nightshirt, Caroline said, “See to Beck, Garrett. I’ll see the prince out.”
“Wait, wait,wait,” Beck said from the bed and struggled up onto an elbow. “Leo...promise me if anything were to happen to me, you’ll take care of Caro.”
“Beck!” Caroline exclaimed. “Nothing will happen to you. You’re drunk and talking nonsense.”
“Promise me, man,” Beck insisted. “I know you keep an eye on her—don’t think I’ve not noticed,” he said, wagging a finger at empty space.
“Je, friend, I promise,” Leo said with a grin.
“Come and fetch her if you must. She’d be better off in Alucia than she would be with these jackals.” His eyes slid closed.
“My goodness,” Caroline said. “Your Highness, shall I see you out?”
They walked out as Garrett attempted to remove Beck’s shoes.
