Page 65 of The Duke Meets His Match

“My daughter is a princess! Her blood is royal! How dare he”—he now pointed at George—“refuse her and disobey his monarch!”

“Papa!” Princess Sophia suddenly pushed through the crowd and under the canopy to join them, pulling a smug-looking gentleman with her. “Do not vorry. It is all going to be fine after all! Ido not needto marry Aylesham!”

“Vat are you talking about, Sophia?” Prince Ernst exclaimed.

“I can marry the Earl of Cosgrove,” she said. “Vee are agreed on this.”

The final puzzle piece fell into place for Susan.

The Earl of Cosgrove, which was apparently the name of the smug-looking gentleman with the princess, bowed deeply to Prince Ernst and Princess Eugenia and then bowed to the Prince Regent. “It is as she says, Your Royal Highnesses,” he said. “I have offered for Princess Sophia Augusta, and she has accepted.”

“Cosgrove,” the Prince Regent said in a warning voice. “You are meddling in matters that do not concern you.”

“He is but anearl, Sophia!” Princess Eugenia, who had been silent up to this point, cried out. “That is but acountback home! Almost anothing!”

“Anearl, bah!No!” Prince Ernst spat. “Not vhen vee vere promised a duke of the highest privilege and vealth.”

Cosgrove’s smug expression faded a bit.

Susan glanced at George. He seemed willing to merely watch as the othersdid the talking. “George,” she whispered; there were things she needed to tellhim, and the sooner the better.

He glanced at her but returned his attention to the dramatic tableau before them.

“But, Mama, Papa!” Princess Sophia cried. “Ido not likethe duke. He is ... vhat is the vord?Hochnäsig. Haughty, that’s it. Boring. I only meet him today, and already, I can tell. But Cosgrove, I meet yesterday; he is charming and fun,andI think I can learn to love him. It is good!”

Susan watched George’s eyebrows rise at Princess Sophia’s insults, but hedidn’t seem particularly upset by them. Cosgrove’s smug expression brightened. It was then that Susan observed that Princess Sophia’s lips were pinker and moreswollen than they had been earlier, and her hair was a bit disheveled.

Ah.

“Love!” Prince Ernst spat. “Vhen has marriage ever been aboutlove?” he said, earning an angry glower from Princess Eugenia.

“Here, here,” the Prince Regent chimed in at Prince Ernst’s remarks, and Susan bit her lip. She knew full well the prince’s marriage to Princess Caroline of Brunswick was a complete disaster. The two of them loathed each other and had from the very start.

“George!” Susan repeated, a touch louder this time.

“Yes?” he asked, still keeping an eye on the royals.

“There is something I must tell you,” she said.

“Can’t it wait?” he asked. “Things are a bit tenuous at the moment.”

“No, it can’t. In fact, it’s rather urgent.”

“Vhat are you two talking about?” Prince Ernst snapped, directing hisattention away from his errant daughter and Lord Cosgrove to George and Susan. “You have tried my patience enough today! And vhy is that vile ... person ... still here?” he asked, pointing accusingly at Susan. “You vere not invited; you arenot velcome. Vere ve in Schönberg-Nusse I vould have you banished for yourbrazen actions toward your ruler!” He glared at the Prince Regent. “You shoulddo something. But no, you sit there and vait for someone else to deal vith theproblem.”

Susan stood completely still after Prince Ernst’s verbal thrashing. She dared not speak. And yet, she had to talk to George.Urgently.

“How do you respond to Prince Ernst, Aylesham?” a clearly offended Prince Regent asked.

Silence hung heavy in the air.

Prinny snapped his fingers.

A footman materialized at his side. “Fetch two of the strongest doormen,” he said, his eyes boring into Susan.

It was time to act.

“How dare—” George began before Susan could do anything.

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