Page 68 of The Duke Meets His Match

“You gave me assurances too!” Prince Ernst bellowed back. “And I have draggedmeine Frauenon a long journey at great expense. For nothing!”

“Cosgrove, vhere are you going?” Princess Sophia whispered a bit too loudly. They all turned at her words to see what was happening and spotted Cosgrove near the door, having been caught trying to make his escape.

“I, uh, perhaps this is not the time—”

“You aren’t leaving me, are you?” she cried. “Vee vere to get a—what you call?—special license.DieHeiratsurkunde.It is what you said!”

“My apologies, dear princess, but I fear your attractions were much more ... tempting, shall we say ... when they included a dowry. It would appear now that there is none. And so, I will bid you adieu. You are better off without me.” He shrugged.

“Cosgrove!” Princess Sophia cried, dashing after him as he slipped out the door. She stopped short of leaving, though, and turned to face the others in the room. “He has left, and I blame you all! He vas charming and funny and much more exciting than anyone back home, except my Friedrich. If I cannot marry Cosgrove and the boring, rich duke prefers his cow to a princess, I might as vell marry Count Friedrich.” She flounced over to a chair and sat down in a huff.

Princess Eugenia hurried over to her daughter’s side. “Now, now,meine geliebte Tochter,my darling one, these Englishmen—they are not for you. Vee see that now, don’t vee, Ernst? Vhat a vaste of a journey. Did I not tell you it vould be so?” She shot daggers at her husband before turning her attention back to the princess. “Vee vill find someone for you. But not Friedrich!” She shuddered. “He is only a count, and he is so ... so ... vell, vee vill not say. ButnotCount Friedrich.”

The door opened once again, and two large and extremely serious-lookingdoormen entered the room with the footman who’d been sent to fetch themfollowing behind. Neither doorman was the one George and Susan hadencountered at the entrance to Carlton House.

“Finally!” Prinny exclaimed under his breath. He gestured toward George and Susan. “The Duke of Aylesham and thepersonstanding with him are leaving now. We wish you to assure us that they are gone afterward. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” one of the doormen said in reply, who, despite his elegant livery, looked like he could earn a nice living by prize fighting. The two of them approached, each taking a position on either side of George and Susan, and then waited. How two people could look both polite and menacing, George didn’t know, but these two managed it.

And then his glorious Athena spoke. “We do not need an escort of any kind to leave, Sir,” Susan said in a firm but respectful tone. “You may rest assured that the Duke of Aylesham and I will leave now. You have a garden full of guests to attend to, who are, no doubt, wondering why you have disappeared from your own party. I imagine they must wish to associate with your royal guests.

“Thank you for your hospitality this afternoon, Sir. It is my hope that you can set aside your disappointment from the events of this afternoon. I suspect that, with time, it will seem small in comparison to the other great worries that must come with responsibilities you bear as sovereign. At least, that is my hope.” And then she fell into a deep curtsy.

It was a brief but elegant speech, George thought, after her eloquent summaryof the circumstances—respectful but to the point. He decided it was a good time to leave the royals to themselves to resolve their regal problems.

“With your permission, Sir, Miss Jennings and I will excuse ourselves.” He waited for Prinny to respond. He could feel the massive doorman breathing down his neck.

Prinny only nodded slightly.

George turned to Susan in a formal manner, bowed, and offered her his hand. “Allow me, my dear.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.” She placed her hand on his arm, and together they walked away, the two doormen following behind, regardless of Susan’s earlier words.

They maintained their decorum, walked sedately up the grand staircase and through the great hall, and exited out the north front doors. The two doormen followed them outside and then stood watching them as they crossed the grounds to thestreet beyond.

“I hope you looked your fill,” George whispered to Susan. “I highly doubt either of us will be invited to step foot in here again.”

Susan chuckled, and George delighted in the sound. “I think I’ve had enough of Carlton House to last a lifetime,” she replied.

“Shall we make a run for it, then?” he asked her.

She looked at him, startled. And then she laughed.

They didn’t actually run—it would have been too unseemly for a duke and a future duchess to behave in such a manner near the royal residence, especially with the doormen as witnesses—but they did speed up their steps. As far as George was concerned, they couldn’t get to his carriage fast enough.

“Once around the park, Bentley,” George said to his coachman as he quickly assisted Susan into his carriage. “And then to Lady Walmsley’s address.”

“Very good, Your Grace,” Bentley said.

And then they were on their way.

To freedom, at last.

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