Page 49 of A Foreign Crown
“Done?” Prinny lifted his ale up and downed its contents. The nearest servant immediately filled it anew. “I’m going to get hopelessly drunk at a luncheon in your honor.”
“And my fleet? Help for my navy? Must I wait until this...boutclears?”
“I said I will assist, and I shall.”
Layton felt little comfort in the prince’s promises. But he recognized his own callousness, and shocked at his behavior, he amended, his voice back to regular tones, “I am deeply sorry for your sister’s turn of poor health.”
“Thank you. She’s an energetic woman, just as Lady Aribella said—quite a joy to be around and the most beautiful of us all.”
Lady Aribella turned toward them at hearing her name and leaned forward. “I too am most sorry.”
Prince George nodded, turning with a grateful light in his eyes to Lady Aribella.
“The King expressed a desire to explore all options to see her well. I don’t believe they’ve given up yet,” the lady added.
“I’m pleased to hear it. If the King cannot find the best care, then who can?” Prince George raised his glass.
A murmur of assent carried down the table.
Then he changed the subject. “And now we shall hear tales of Oldenburg. Prince Layton, enlighten us as to the customs of your family.”
All eyes turned to Layton, but he felt most powerfully those of the beautiful woman at his side. “My country, much like yours, has an oceanic border. We are small but pivotal in location.” Those listening started to lose interest. “And we have a glorious music festival.”
“Oh?” Lady Aribella’s intrigue lit her face.
“Yes, people travel from all over the region to come and participate. We have the most qualified judges, and the winner is highly acclaimed.”
Prince George nodded. “I do believe we’ve heard of it here, have
we not?”
Some ladies farther down the table nodded.
“The Oldenburg Music Festival. Simply named, really.” Layton enjoyed speaking of his country to such ready ears.
“And what does your country look like?” The admiral’s wife took a sip of her wine.
“Our coast is wild, rugged. We have stark, rocky cliffs; a mountainous backdrop, and brilliantly white sand. In the winter, the wind whips across the water, sending white-capped spray up into the faces of those daring to walk the shores.”
Mrs. Hollings rubbed her arms.
“But in the summer, the breeze is delicious, and it comes in off the sea to freshen even the uppermost rooms of my home.”
“Oh?” Lady Aribella smiled. “We have the very same experience in our upper turrets. We stay up there as long as possible, sometimes into the dead of winter, so that we might have the lovely air off the sea or the moors.”
He enjoyed the excitement in her expression, the way she obviously cared for her estate, her home.
“How many other siblings are there in your royal house?” A younger woman to the right of Mrs. Hollings seemed eagerly interested.
“Oh, I am the youngest of eight brothers.”
She fanned herself. “And do you all have your own estates?”
“We do. My brothers are jealous of mine. As the youngest, I also inherited holdings from my mother’s line. My home looks as though it were born of the rocky crag beneath it, with towers and walls rising high above the water below. It can be reached only from behind or from a secret passageway in the front, open to a carefully moored ship.” The more he spoke of his inheritance, the more he wondered why he hadn’t spent more time in it.
“It sounds like something from a fairy tale. I’d love to see such a thing.” Lady Aribella’s gaze drifted, and her eyes closed in happy imaginings, if her expression was any indication.
Prince George cleared his throat and looked from her to him and back.
