Page 13 of A Foreign Crown
But Prince George chuckled and sat up taller in his seat. “I shall recite one right now.”
His brothers groaned.
“No, this shall be good. You’ll see. I’ve been taking lessons.”
“You? Poetry lessons?” The Duke of Clarence eyed him in complete disbelief.
“Certainly. Women love this kind of thing.” He winked at Aribella. “Don’t they? You can be the judge.”
“I would hardly call myself a decent judge of quality literature.”
He cleared his throat. “There once was a man named Prinny.”
His brothers laughed.
“Who some liked to call a ninny.”
“Won’t argue with you there.” The Duke of Clarence grinned at Aribella.
While Aribella kept a polite eye on Prince George and smiled in anticipation, she couldn’t help but glance back at Prince Layton now and again, and whenever she did, he turned to her with attention and caring. He searched her face and seemed to be waiting for something from her. But she could only shrug subtly and turn back to Prince George.
The group laughed and was soon in tears in response to one of his more ridiculous lines when they were interrupted at the doorway. A servant bowed, his red livery stark against the blue of the walls.
The English prince called him in, and the man placed a folded piece of paper into his hands. Prince George broke the seal and read the contents with a straight, unreadable expression. Then he lifted his eyes to Aribella. They had lost some of their lighthearted amusement. He cleared his throat. “It seems my mother cannot be without her two ladies any longer.”
“Oh!” Aribella almost jumped to her feet. Then she remembered she mustn’t. She waited while the prince seemed to deliberate.
At last he nodded. “Yes, she waits for you both at Buckingham House. From there I fear you might travel to Windsor, and we be deprived of your company for a time.”
Her eyes met Prince Layton’s. What could he be feeling? Had he been drawn to her like she was to him? It was of no consequence, for now her work for the Queen would begin. She had promised herself and her mother to bring honor to her family name, but she wanted to know Prince Layton’s thoughts nonetheless. She wanted to know if his heart raced when he looked at her, even if she could never do anything about the knowledge. She’d still take it home with her later and hug her pillow close and think on him.
Prince George at last stood, which gave leave for everyone else in the room to do so. Then he ordered a carriage and servants to travel to collect their things from the other carriage and for them all to move on to Buckingham House.
The group made their way into the hall. Prince Layton had taken the opportunity to speak with the other princes, and they were already heavily engaged in conversation. The words “navy” and “pirates” and “assistance” caught Aribella’s ears, and she guessed Prince Layton would soon be too engrossed in discussing matters of state to think about her.
Prince George led the group back out into the entryway, the other men still deep in conversation as they walked, and brought them to the front doors. He kissed the ladies’ fingers, lingering a moment longer than necessary over Aribella’s hand. She found him cheerful, engaging, and mostly harmless. What trouble could he get himself into that was not completely motivated by loose frivolity? But she was just learning the ways of court, and Lady Mallory, whom Aribella had initially liked, had quickly become someone Aribella would not choose as a friend. She’d best be aware and hesitant to form trusting friendships.
When she turned to curtsy before the other men, they paused in their conversation to bid her farewell. As she offered her hand to each one, she was struck by the general handsome features of the group; and then Prince Layton took her hand in his, caressing the back of her knuckles with his thumb for a moment before pressing his lips to them.
“I hope we shall happen upon one another while I am here.”
“I as well. I’m afraid I’m at the Queen’s disposal. But perhaps our paths will cross.”
Prince George lifted a finger in a lazy gesture. “I shall make certain of it, for I would not be deprived of such beauty and entertainment simply because my mother refuses to come to court like the rest of us.”
Prince Layton bowed. “Then, I shall be all the more pleased for it.” His hand still held hers, and she nodded before removing it and taking her leave out the front doors, down the stairs, and into their carriage.
She made note that her trunk had found its way to the royal conveyance. With great relief, she sighed as she nestled back against her bench. “At last.”
Lady Mallory scoffed. “No, not ‘at last.’ Would that we could have stayed. You are so fortunate to have had the interactions you did so early in your service as a lady-in-waiting. Now we will go off to utter seclusion, reduced to nursemaids and who knows what else. Queen Charlotte avoids court as much as possible.”
“Surely she must make appearances, promenade in full court apparel, accept visitors and dignitaries—ambassadors, even?”
“You are correct. You seem to know an awful lot about the ways of court already.”
“I just remember what my mother taught me.” Aribella eyed Lady Mallory for a moment. “You seem to know much more than I do about court and how to best navigate things.”
Lady Mallory seemed to cheer somewhat. “Well now, I do. The arrival of Prince Layton interrupted most things I was hoping to pass along.” The more she talked, the brighter her face and the more pleased her countenance became.
