Page 65 of Romanced By the Orc

Edward leaned in closer to Albion. “Does Lady Higgins know about any of this?”

Albion swallowed hard, hopeless and insignificant. He wanted more than a temporary physical relationship or had imprudently thought that he did. And even more imprudently, he supposed she might feel the same. Every move she made delighted him, yet he did not dare reflect long on his feelings for her.

“I think it best that she does not know at present,” he said carefully. “For everyone’s sake.”

“Good,” Edward told him.

“It would help to have His Royal Highness in our corner,” William remarked.

Albion lowered his opera glasses and turned to the young man. “The Prince Regent is in our corner, as you put it. But you are not suggesting that I disclose our secret, are you?”

“Not at all,” William replied. “Yet assisting young Jacques in his escape is a far grander operation than we’ve attempted before. In addition, there is a bounty on our heads. I think that if we are assured—”

“The Regent is sufficiently taken with the Phantom. Why, he even praised my verses about him. And I intend to be sure he will grant me safe passage.”

“Very well. As always, we’re at your service, my lord,” William said.

“Take this.” Albion kept his gaze fixed ahead of him as he slipped his hand into a pocket and withdrew a slip of paper. “I shall have more time later this evening to provide details. At Lord Mandeville’s ball. After I have had a word with Prinny. Follow the directions on the missive. But I hope that what I have outlined here will suffice.”

William palmed the note and tucked it into his own pocket, before he and his brother slipped out. Moments later, the Prince Regent and Diana nearly collided as they made their way into the box. His Royal Highness had apparently bypassed his own box in favor of Albion’s, perhaps put out that the Comtesse had stolen the attention he was accustomed to receiving at these affairs.

Prinny took a moment longer than Albion found appropriate to run his eyes up and down Diana in her Orcan gown while she curtsied abruptly.

“Rise, madam,” the Regent chuckled. “Your form is impeccable, but there is no sense in injuring your lovely knees on my account.”

“It’s an honor to meet Your Royal Highness.”

“I am given to understand you have been abroad with your American cousins,” the Regent said merrily. “I hope my presence doesn’t offend your republican sensibilities.”

“I don’t know that you shall ever count me as a republican, Your Royal Highness,” she declared. “Perhaps egalitarian sensibilities more fittingly describe my politics.”

“Even so, you shan’t steal away with Lord Albion here and make your home with those rebels, will you?” the Prince Regentcontinued. “Why, how should we manage without you gracing us here in our dull gray land?”

Despite his mature stage in life, the Regent acted rakishly around most ladies. So Albion knew he should not be jealous of the mild flirtation. And yet, a strange lump stuck in his stomach. “Now, Prinny, surely you haven’t done me the honor of a visit only to steal my new wife’s heart away.”

“How could one aspire so high? On consideration, it seems her main allegiance is to your Orcan ways, for this same design has been seen on your esteemed mother. And dash it all if one isn’t quite impressed at the effect.”

Albion watched Diana smile and nod to acknowledge the compliment, but she led the conversation to a topic of her choosing.

“I must confess I am surprised to hear you refer to Americans as rebels, Your Royal Highness. When our countries have long since signed accords and made our peace.”

“To all of our benefit, one should say!” Accustomed to speaking at large gatherings, the Prince Regent gesticulated around the cozy suite of boxes Mother had reserved for their family at the opera house.

“If only the situation in Chamberly was progressing as smoothly,” Diana continued. “I fear it gets worse and worse. The circumstances portrayed inFideliocertainly resonate in this troubled time.”

The Regent clicked his teeth in sympathy and lowered his guard somewhat, dropping the princely pretense. “Such a sodding mess. Thank all that is holy, the brave men work in league with the Benevolent Phantom to rescue some portion of the many unfortunate souls trapped in that dastardly place.”

“The Phantom is an honorable gentleman, or lady, who any of us would have the privilege to meet and praise personally.”

“You certainly make him sound like a mere man of destiny, my dear.” Albion’s comment was droll, but then he was always droll. She should suspect nothing out of the ordinary.

Diana closed her eyes briefly and then opened them wide, voice chipper. “Does the Phantom not deserve my acclaim? But then I wonder who on earth he or she might be. A member of the nobility? Of the merchant class? Why, I daresay the Phantom might even hail from the royal family.”

The Regent gives one of his famously robust laughs. “You’re not suggesting—”

“Well, if youwerethe Phantom, Your Royal Highness, surely you would not confess.”

“I have not a flair for deception. Your husband can attest to that. He’s bested at gaming tables more often than I care to admit.”

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