How to Propose to a Prince by Kathryn Caskie

Author:Kathryn Caskie
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Published: 2011-11-09T02:52:48+00:00

The lady’s maid’s cheeks flushed brightly and she cast her eyes to the floor. “No, miss. I—I just offered it as a choice. Miss Royle chose the gown herself.”

Mercer let out a great sigh. “And who bade you to misdirect Miss Royle’s choices in her dress? The gown is French and not suitable for morning at all—as you well know.”

The lady’s maid did not say a word, but shook her head slowly, adding a small shrug.

Mercer swiped a finger at her. “Never mind, Aida, I know the culprit and I shall speak with her directly. You cannot argue your orders, but nor will I rely on you to assist Miss Royle again. Be gone; send my Georgiana to tend to Miss Royle. At least I know she can be trusted.”

With a sniffle, Aida slinked from Elizabeth’s bedchamber.

Stunned at what she had just heard, Elizabeth was still staring at Mercer’s reflection in the mirror when Aida closed the door. “Someone asked Aida to dress me inappropriately? Who would do such a thing, and why?” She turned on the bench to look directly at Mercer.

Mercer laughed resignedly. “Well, our dear Charlotte, of course.”

“B-But, why would the princess wish to embarrass me so?” Elizabeth suddenly felt her household position was as precarious as her footing had been on the river trail.

“Oh, my innocent, Elizabeth.” Mercer knelt before her and took her shoulders in her hands. “Charlotte is my dearest friend, but she can also be childish, ill-mannered, and mischievous at times. You would do well to be on your guard during your stay at Cranbourne Lodge.”

“I don’t understand, Mercer. Why would she wish for me to attend her as a lady’s companion if she only wishes me ill fate?”

Mercer came to her feet quickly. “I did not say she wishes you ill. Only that she is mischievous and entirely too bored, being restricted to the confines of Windsor.” She walked across the bedchamber, dunked her index finger into the bathwater and yanked it out. “Too hot. Best wait a few minutes.” She looked back at Elizabeth. “At least it is better here than at Warwick House. There, I was fortunate to see a letter or two to Charlotte. But Leopold was sly enough to call upon her for tea there, though Prinny was in residence at Carlton House, only a stone’s throw away. Courage or insanity—or could it truly be love?”

Love? Elizabeth’s breath seemed to freeze in her lungs. “Prince Leopold called upon Princess Charlotte in London?” She was feeling increasingly uneasy, realizing that she had not considered that Leopold had a past with the princess.

“Oh, yes. He managed to slip out before Prinny heard the news, which was most fortunate, because Charlotte’s father was roiling mad when he heard that a prince had taken tea with his daughter alone.”

Elizabeth did not care for the way Mercer selectively intoned alone. Her scabbed temple began to throb and she rubbed all around the wound, trying to soothe her head as she struggled to find a way to discount Sumner’s relationship with the princess.

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