Duchess Diaries [2] How to Pursue a Princess

  Sadly, the rest of the house was all Tata, who had filled it with the most expensive and gaudy furnishings and decorations she could find. He started to walk toward the fire but found his way blocked by not one, but four small red cushioned ottomans. “This room looks like a brothel.”

  “What?” Tata’s voice crackled.

  He raised his voice. “I said, ‘This room is beautiful.’ ”

  She sniffed, although he could tell she was pleased. “It is well.”

  She gestured to a settee, but he shook his head. “I’ve only a minute. I’m to ride this morning with some of the duchess’s guests.”

  Her lips thinned and she perched on the settee and scowled. “You ride with Miss Balfour.”

  “No, with several gentlemen, including the Earl of Huntley.”

  “Huntley? Why would you ride with him?”

  “Perhaps I am on a secret mission.”

  “And perhaps you have been drinking, though it is not yet ten in the morning.”

  He chuckled and leaned against the fireplace.

  She gathered her black shawl closer. “What do you want, that you come so early?”

  “What? I cannot visit my favorite grandmother without a reason?”

  “No,” she said baldly.

  “Tata Natasha, don’t look so bitter. You cannot still be angry with me for making you apologize to the duchess.”

  “I will be angry with you until the day I die.”

  “It is a waste of time and energy, Tata. But if you wish to be angry . . .” He shrugged.

  She scowled, but after a moment said, “Have you had breakfast?”

  “Arsov brought me breakfast hours ago. I came to send a missive to my father.”

  “Couldn’t Arsov have done that for you?”

  “Yes, if he’d been available, but he’s here caring for the horses. My only regret about the cottage is the lack of a proper stable. I can only keep one horse there at a time.”

  “Do not complain to me. I warned you of the consequences of living beneath your rank.”

  “Pah. According to you, men of my rank should attend endless dances and balls, speak pretty words that have no meaning, and devote themselves to mindless pleasures. I am not such a man.”

  Her mouth puckered as if she’d sucked a lemon. “You have come to torment me.”

  “Nyet. I came to ask if you’d like an escort to the dinner and dance at the duchess’s tomorrow evening. Do you go?”

  She muttered something under her breath.

  “The Duchess of Roxburghe is not an ill-mannered witch,” he chided.

  “You don’t know her the way I do. You are too trusting, like a babe in the woods.” Tata’s gaze narrowed. “Miss Balfour will be there, I suppose?”

  “I can only hope.” He’d slept little last night, thinking of Lily. She’d looked bedraggled and forlorn when he’d left her after the rain. That is good. Maybe she wished you to stay but did not dare ask.

  Tata’s expression softened. “Wulf, I worry for you.”

  “Why?”

  “You are not yourself.”

  “I’m in love, Tata. That is the grandest adventure of all.”

  Tata didn’t smile. “I don’t wish to see you hurt. You have been spoiled, Wulf. Everything you wanted—horses, pistols, women—they have all been given to you. Now, you face the reality of a woman who may not be for you.”

  “She will be mine. I won’t accept anything else.”

  Tata’s brow furrowed. “There are no guarantees in love. If this Lily does not do as you hope, and if she marries Huntley as the duchess wishes her to . . . what then? What will you do?”

  Wulf’s chest tightened. Then a part of me will never live again. He curled his hands into fists. “I will go home and help Father.”

  “And marry as he wishes you to?”

  “No. I will never marry. If I do not have Lily, then I will have no one.”

  “Never?”

  “Never.”

  Tata’s shoulders slumped. She sighed deeply and stared down at her bejeweled hands clasped in her lap. Finally she grumbled, “If that is how it is, then I suppose you must have your Lily.”

  Her words surprised him so much that he laughed. “I never thought to hear you say such a thing.”

  “I have no choice. You have the madness.”

  “Of the worst kind.” He came to sit before her, pulling up one of the silk-covered ottomans so that he was directly before her. “Tata, I do not know how this will end; it’s possible—” He took a breath. “It’s possible that I will not win Lily.”

  “You admit that now, eh?”

  “I must. At first I thought that all I had to do was love her enough, but her circumstances are complicated, as are mine. It was a naïve way of thinking.”

  Tata nodded. “You are growing, my Wulf.”

  “I have grown up, Tata. Now, I am just facing reality and I find it painful. Lily’s time here is short and I must return home soon, too. My father sent for me.”

  “Why? Your brothers, they are well?”

  “Everyone is healthy. The treaty with Luxemburg is in danger. I know the Luxemburg ambassador very well, as we went to school together in France. Father hopes I may be able to help with the negotiations.”

  “I see. So what will you do about your Lily?”

  “I will fight.”

  Tata patted his hand. “Good for you. If she is worth winning, you will do it.”

  Outside a horse neighed and through the window, Wulf watched as Arsov brought his horse to the front steps. “I must go.” He pressed a kiss to Tata’s fingers and offered a faint smile. “When we return to Oxenburg I will be a prince of work, but today I am a prince of leisure. As I will not be back until tomorrow, shall I come ride with you in your carriage to the duchess’s for dinner?”

  “Yes.” Her hand tightened on his and she looked at him beseechingly. “Be careful, Wulf.”

  “I’m always careful, Tata.”

  “With everything but your heart.”

  He laughed, gave her a hug, and then left, but her words followed him. She was right. He hadn’t been careful with his heart, and now it was lost, held tightly in the hands of a woman with silver eyes and reddish-gold hair. But though he might face a loss of the worst kind, he could not be sorry.

  • • •

  Lily awoke late as the clock chimed ten. She eyed the clock with one open eye, then rolled over and stretched before she tossed back the covers and arose. Yawning, she padded to the bellpull and tugged it.

  The morning sun teased her through a crack between the curtains. Lily shoved the curtains aside, washing the room in pale morning light. Still yawning, she leaned against the windowsill and looked out at the beautiful view. A heavy mist had settled over the lake, following the River Tweed as it meandered through the fields around Floors Castle, making it seem as if she were floating above the clouds.

  Feeling a draft of cool air, she caught sight of the small hole made by the prince’s tossed rock. She touched the small circle and then traced the surrounding cracks that spiderwebbed around it.

  She’d hoped to see Wulf at dinner last night, but he hadn’t appeared. Neither had several other guests—including Huntley—who had claimed exhaustion from the day at the folly and had opted to have a tray brought to their bedchamber instead of dressing and joining the others at dinner.

  A horse neighed and she looked down. Below in the courtyard, several male guests appeared, all dressed for riding. Huntley was among them. Dressed in buff riding breeches, his dark blue coat hugging his slender shoulders, his gold-tasseled Hessians catching the morning light, he looked elegant and polished and far more handsome than the other men. Why can’t I fall in love with him?

  But no answer came.

  The sound of a horse cantering up the drive made her turn to see Wulf arriving. He, too, was dressed for riding, but his dress was more that of a Cossack soldier. His coat was wide at the shoulders, his breeches narrow at the waist
but flared from there. His black boots had thick tops, but none of the shine or tassels displayed on the others. But the way he rode captured her attention, lithe and sure, as if he were an extension of the horse rather than a rider perched upon it.

  The prince entered the courtyard, dismounted, and joined the group waiting for their horses to be brought from the stables. Instantly the others gathered to look at his horse. She imagined they were quizzing him about the magnificent animal.

  As she watched, Wulf casually detached himself from the other riders and approached Huntley, who’d held back from the group. She could tell from the set of Huntley’s shoulders that he wasn’t happy to speak to the prince, but Wulf persisted. After several moments, something he said made Huntley laugh, and the stiff set of his shoulders disappeared.

  The other horses were brought and the men mounted, Huntley falling in with Wulf. As they left the courtyard, Wulf turned and looked up at her window, the morning sun limning his face with gold.

  Lily’s heart thudded. He is doing as he promised. She lifted her hand. He dipped his head a barely perceptible amount and then was gone.

  She rested her forehead against the cool glass. Perhaps Wulf will give me the key I need to bring Huntley up to the mark. Yet a growing part of her hoped that he wouldn’t.

  A soft knock sounded on the door and Freya entered carrying a tray, Meenie on her heels. “I found the puir bairn sleeping ootside o’ yer door.”

  Lily watched the little dog sniff eagerly about the room.

  Freya brought the tray to Lily. “Ye’ve a letter, miss. It just arrived.”

  Lily recognized her father’s handwriting and tucked the missive in her pocket to read later. “Thank you.”

  “Ye’re welcome.” The maid went about her morning duties, stoking the fire and setting out a gown for Lily to wear, pausing only to watch Meenie sniffing an invisible trail. “Tha’ dog looks to be searchin’ fer somethin’. Mayhap she left one o’ the bones Cook gave the dogs yesterday. I’ll look under yer bed while ye’re at breakfast to make sure it’s no’ tha’, miss.”

  Lily thanked her but knew it wasn’t a bone that Meenie was looking for, but a tall, broad-shouldered prince. She scooped up the dog and hugged her, whispering in her ear, “If you wish to see the prince, then you should wait for him in the foyer.”

  Perhaps she should wait along with Meenie. She should find out whatever information he’d culled, after all. But she knew that wasn’t the reason she wished to see him. She wished to see him because—well, she liked him. There was nothing wrong with that, was there?

  She rubbed her cheek against the dog’s soft fur. She liked Wulf and found him attractive, but she was not going to allow that to take control again. If I focus on just liking him as a friend, perhaps the rest will go away.

  “Yer wash water is ready, miss, and I’ve laid out a blue mornin’ gown. I’ll help ye dress when ye’re ready.”

  Lily sighed and put Meenie back on the floor. An hour later, she was dressed, her hair neatly pinned, and on her way downstairs. Freya took Meenie with her toward the kitchen, while Lily made her way to the breakfast room. Glad to find it empty, she poured herself a cup of tea and opened Papa’s letter.

  She knew as soon as she spread out the much-crossed sheet that something was wrong. Father’s handwriting was never good on the best of days, and when he was agitated, it was even worse. In addition, to save the cost of sending an extra page, he’d gone back and written between the lines, and she could barely decipher it. But decipher it she did, and she read with growing alarm. Dahlia had decided that she could no longer allow Lily to sacrifice herself and was determined to go to Lord Kirk and offer herself to settle the debt. Papa had stopped her for the moment, but he wasn’t certain what he would do the next time she decided on such a rash move.

  Lily closed her eyes, her hand so tight about the letter that it crinkled. Dahlia, just give me a bit longer. Another week and Huntley and I will be settled and Papa will be saved and— A noise made her look around.

  Emma stood just inside the breakfast-room door, a concerned expression on her face. “I’m sorry to interrupt.” Her gaze flickered to the letter and then to Lily’s face. “If you’re busy, I’ll come back another time.”

  “No, no!” Lily folded the letter and returned it to her pocket. “I was just—it’s a letter from my father. It was some unexpected news, but nothing too concerning. Please, come and join me.”

  Emma entered, took a plate from the buffet, filled it, and then sat next to Lily.

  A footman arrived with trays of food to replenish the warmers, the scent of bacon and scones lifting through the air. Emma poured herself a cup of tea. As soon as the footman left, she turned to Lily. “I’m sorry you received distressing news. Is there anything I can do?”

  “It’s nothing, really.” Lily smiled as Emma poured more tea into her cup. “I didn’t see you at dinner last night. I wanted to ask Prince Wulfinski or Huntley if you were well, but neither of them came to dinner, either.”

  Emma’s hand quavered and tea splashed onto the table. She put down the pot, her cheeks bright red. “I’m sorry. I’m dreadfully clumsy this morning.”

  A footman appeared with a cloth and wiped up the spilled tea and refilled Emma’s cup. Then, with a bow, he left.

  “I have mornings like that, too,” Lily said. “I hope you didn’t miss dinner because you were feeling ill from being in the rain? The duchess said several of her guests caught a putrid throat from getting wet.”

  “No, I didn’t, although if getting wet caused a putrid throat, then I’d have one. I was under the tent when it collapsed.”

  Lily gasped. “No! I’d heard that it had folded, but not that anyone was underneath.”

  “It was horrid.” Emma shivered. “I thought I would drown. Another lady and I were standing at the worst possible place, too, while the duchess was yelling at the footmen and Lady Charlotte was calling for a towel and—” Emma blew out her breath. “If Huntley hadn’t arrived just then and taken charge, I don’t know what we would have done.”

  “He is the sort to take charge. I’m glad he was there. He’s fond of you.”

  Emma’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. She glanced at the footmen to make certain they were out of hearing, then she leaned forward and said in a low voice, “After Huntley untangled me from the tent, he carried me to the boat.”

  She sounded so scandalized that Lily had to chuckle. She couldn’t count the times Wulf had carried her, sometimes for no reason at all.

  Emma shook her head in astonishment. “Of course, I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t, for my skirts were so water-soaked it would have been impossible to walk.”

  “Huntley is very chivalrous.”

  “Oh, so much so. I was worried that it might hurt his back, but he never said a word. Fortunately, when we docked, Prince Wulfinski met us. He’d ridden there from the castle to make certain that everyone had returned safely. And so”—Emma’s face flooded with soft color—“so he lifted me onto his horse and brought me to the castle, and then carried me inside. I think he found it easier to lift me than Huntley, for Wulf wasn’t even breathing hard.”

  So Wulf hadn’t gone straight home yesterday as she’d thought. For some reason, Lily felt slightly betrayed. Aware of Emma’s gaze on her, Lily managed a smile. “Goodness. You certainly had an exciting afternoon.” Much more exciting than Lily’s, which consisted of getting lost, being bribed by a tart, and little more.

  Emma put down her fork. “Lily, do you mind if I ask you a question? It is very personal, but”—Emma bit her lip, her color high—“I don’t know who else to ask.”

  “Not at all. What is it?”

  Emma leaned forward and asked in a breathless tone, “Have you ever been kissed?”

  Lily blinked.

  “And not like a sister,” Emma added. “But—really kissed.”

  Lily set her cup on the saucer so hard that it clacked. In her mind’s eye, she coul
d see it all—Emma wet and bedraggled, tucked before Wulf on his horse as he tenderly wrapped her in his arms and then bent and touched his lips to her— “No.”

  Emma drew back. “Lily—Miss Balfour, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you—”

  “No, no. I was just—” Lily took a deep breath. “I was thinking about something else.” You shouldn’t be surprised, her pragmatic side stated coolly. You’ve refused him and even pressed him to help you secure the affections of another man, so what do you expect? You had to know that eventually he would kiss another woman. And soon he’ll fall in love and marry and have children and—

  Emma’s hand closed over hers. “Lily, please forget I said anything. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “No, no, you didn’t. I was thinking about a kiss I once received that . . . Never mind. We’re talking about your kiss. What did you want to know?”

  “I just wanted to know how you . . . reacted.” Emma’s face couldn’t be any redder. “I didn’t know what to do, and I’m not sure I responded as well as I should have.”

  Though her heart ached with jealousy, Lily patted Emma’s hand. “If you were honest in your response, then I’m sure that this man was perfectly happy with your reaction.”

  “I hope so. I’ll be better prepared to deal with the next kiss.” Emma pressed a hand to her cheek. “If he does so again. He may not, although—” Emma glanced toward the open door and then said in near whisper, “It was heavenly. I was quite breathless afterward.” A blissful smile trembled on her lips.

  Lily nodded, her throat oddly tight. “A kiss is a lovely way to begin a courtship.”