Page 98 of The Duke Who Loved Me (The Duke's Estates 1)

After a flurry of greetings, Sarah said, “We had to rush right over to tell you. You won’t credit what has happened!”

They waited, eyes sparkling, for Cecelia to say, “What?”

“There is a rumor flying around town that Prince Karl is not actually a prince,” said Charlotte. “That he is an imposter, who has imposed himself on theton.”

“What?” repeated Cecelia in a far different tone.

“He is absolutelylividwith rage,” said Sarah. “Whenever one sees him now, he looks like he’s going to explode.”

“Or hack something to pieces with his sword,” added Charlotte.

“Can it be true?” wondered Cecelia. It seemed so unlikely.

“No one knows,” answered Harriet. “He denies it, of course. But we know how difficult it is to deny scurrilous talk.” She gave Cecelia a wry glance as the other two girls nodded.

“Doesn’t he protest too much,” said Charlotte.

“No smoke without fire,” said Sarah.

The four young ladies exchanged satisfied looks. These things had been said of Cecelia when she tried to counter Prince Karl’s insinuations.

“You are completely vindicated, of course,” added Harriet. “The victim of a deceiver.”

“And now a duchess,” said Cecelia dryly, knowing that this change was the important factor for society.

“And that,” Harriet agreed.

“We all wish you very happy by the way,” said Sarah. The others nodded.

“And we must go,” said Charlotte. “Mama will be wondering what’s become of me. We will see you tomorrow, Cecelia.”

They rushed out again, leaving Cecelia bemused.

“I don’t think it is true,” said James when he returned to the hotel sometime later and discovered that Cecelia had already heard the rumors. The speed of gossip was always a marvel. If it could be harnessed for finer purposes, how much might be accomplished.

Cecelia nodded. “I didn’t see how he could carry off such a large deception.”

“Indeed.” As soon as he’d heard the story at his club, James remembered what Henry Deeping had told him about the prince’s father. He suspected that this slander was Stephan Kandler’s move to curb the prince. And very satisfying it was, too.

“But why did it begin?”

He was uncertain about sharing what Henry had told him. He would ask him first. “Perhaps someone wanted him to see what fighting a false accusation feels like,” said James. “Poetic justice.”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep from enjoying his struggles.”

“And why should you?”

“Overscrupulosity?” asked Cecelia. “If that is a word.”

James laughed. “I don’t think it is. Nor should it afflict you.”

“Do you never worry about other people’s feelings? Or pity their misfortunes?”

“Not those like Prince Karl, who richly deserve them.” James was puzzled by her tone. She sounded almost melancholy when a touch of genteel gloating seemed more justified.

A knock at the parlor door heralded Ned, who brought a note addressed to them both. James broke the seal and opened it. “Grandmamma wishes to hold a ball in honor of our marriage,” he told Cecelia. “I say ‘wishes,’ but it is clear that she has already planned it and sent out the invitations.”

“I don’t believe we received one,” replied Cecelia with a smile.

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