Page 100 of Last Duke Standing

“Not back until tomorrow, I know,” Lila said curtly. “My deepest apologies, ma’am, but the prince did not feel particularly welcome. Therefore, that leaves the two of you.” She didn’t give Justine a chance to argue that shehadmade him welcome, and thank goodness for it, because Justine hadn’t. She felt awful and contrite. He was a good man, and he’d come so far to meet her. He’d brought the gift of the most beautiful birds! She hadn’t meant to be so careless with his feelings, but Lila had already turned and was stalking away, leaving her and William.

They stood in silence until Lila had disappeared from view. Justine said sheepishly, “I feel a bit queasy, I think. We’ve been...rude.” She could hardly believe it of herself.

“We were no’intentionallyrude,” William said, sounding more hopeful than convinced. But he suddenly smiled. “Och,it hardly matters, aye? He wasna right for you.”

“I think my queasiness just got worse. You’re going to offer another opinion, aren’t you? Go on, then—tell me why he wasn’t right for me. Tell me why the kindest and most gentlemanly suitor I have ever had was all wrong for me.”

“Aye, you said it yourself. He was too kind.”

With a snort, she started walking toward the hall. “There is no such thing as too kind. A person is kind or they are not.”

“Donna misunderstand me—the prince was a good man. I should very much have liked to call him friend. He was suited for me, but he was no’ suited foryou.”

“Then pray tell, wise one, who is suited for me?”

He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips as they walked. “No’ just anyone with a title,leannan.You are unique. You need a certain sort of man at your side. Someone who is sincere and truthful and no’ easily intimidated by your crown. Someone who will respect your throne and the fact that you are the one seated on it, but is no’ afraid to tell you the good and the bad.”

“And you thought Prince Michel would not respect my throne?”

“Oh aye, he would have respected it. I think he would have been a wee bit daunted by it.”

“He didn’t seem daunted.”

“No? If he wasna daunted, he’d be here now, aye?”

She laughed. “I don’t think the dear man left because he was intimidated by my looming throne.”

“It’s one of many theories,” he said.

He was still holding her hand. She liked it. “Now what?”

“On to the next, I suppose.”

“If there is a next.” She picked up her skirts to walk up the terrace steps. “I’ve surely depleted all the eligible bachelors who could possibly be considered for prince consort. How many can there be?”

“According to you, princes abound. But there is at least one more.” William caught her elbow to help her up the steps. “Lady Aleksander mentioned him.”

Justine was surprised by this. “She mentioned someone to you? Who?”

“An American industrialist.”

“Eww,”she said, wincing.

He nodded. “Exactly what I said. They eat with their hands, the Americans. No’ entirely civilized.”

She gasped. “Dothey?”

“I’ve heard it said.”

“I’ve heard it said they are too proud. Vexingly so. Really, William, why am I so bloody hard to match?”

“You’re easy to match. It’s the privileged men of the world who are so bloody difficult to match.”

Justine laughed. She appreciated his sense of humor—there was always a ring of truth to it. They had reached the terrace and he dropped his hand from her elbow. She paused. “Will you stay to dine?” she asked.

“Do you want me to stay?”

“I do. Remarkably, I have come to enjoy your company.”

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