Page 69 of A Foreign Crown
“You are correct.” Layton nodded. “I’m sure haste would be preferable.”
“I would think, the situation being what it is, that you would be more anxious to return to your country.”
“I am, of course.” He scanned the room until he at last found Aribella. He bowed to the admiral. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll pay a visit tomorrow to finalize our plans?”
“Quite right.” His gaze followed Layton’s very distracted one. “And now I see what might be causing the delay.” He patted him on the shoulder. “Why don’t you sort that out in a timely fashion and come tell me all about it tomorrow.”
Layton nodded, even though he half suspected he was being made sport of, and left the man chuckling to himself.
As Layton pushed through the crowd, many already imbibing far too much, he tried to keep his eyes on Aribella. She hadn’t seen him yet. For a moment, he lost total sight of her. As he made his way around the next large group and moved to a place he might see her once again, he stopped short, inching behind a large man to his front.
Aribella stood with her hand on a man’s arm as though they were together. Layton recognized the proprietary look in the man’s eye. The Queen addressed them both as if familiarly acquainted, and Layton analyzed the scene with a sour taste at the sweetness of the group. At length, he realized his cowardice and stood taller, adjusted his jacket, and made his way to greet them.
Princess Mary saw him first and hurried to his side. “Oh, it is good to see you. And we have a new person in our cozy group. I don’t believe you’ve met Lady Aribella’s fiancé.”
“Fiancé?”
“Nothing official has been announced, but Mother said it’s as good as done.” She moved closer. “We all know Lady Aribella would be unwise if she turned him down.”
He nodded. So this must be the entailment man. Layton couldn’t help but notice that he seemed a nice enough sort of person. And he hated that he noticed such a thing. If only the man were the worst sort; then Layton could feel peace of conscience about selfishly trying to whisk Lady Aribella away from her estate.
Princess Mary brought him over, and Layton knew Aribella had seen him. Her face was flushed and her eyes turned down. When Layton bowed and was formally introduced to the man, Aribella looked up and curtsied.
“Prince Layton,” she said quietly.
“My lady.” He nodded and kissed her hand, lingering as long as he dared.
“Isn’t this the most wonderful group of us?” Princess Mary sidled up closer to him. “We must do more together once I am out of mourning.”
Layton’s eyes sought Aribella’s. She looked away, and his frustration rose to the point that once the music started, he almost asked Aribella to dance instead of Princess Mary.
The two couples walked out onto the floor together. Layton and Aribella and their respective partners made up two lengths of their square. And when they completed the square with two other couples, Layton was pleased that he and Aribella would make up many of the opposite-couple interactions.
As soon as the music began, they stepped forward and circled one another. Then the three other opposing couples took their turns to do the same. The dance continued. At one point in the set, Layton lifted his eyes off the floor to where he felt a gaze on him. Prince George wiggled his eyebrows in a ridiculous fashion and then waved and moved on.
Layton would be happy to return home in all regards except one.
Aribella’s eyes at last lifted to meet his as they circled, and the love that shone in them nearly stopped him. His feet stumbled a moment, but he held her gaze as long as he could. When they separated, it was all he could do not to follow her, sweep her up in his arms, and carry her off the floor.
Princess Mary giggled when he returned to stand at her side. The hair on his arms stood on end at the sound.
Once the set was finished, Lady Aribella was swept away by another man, and Layton delivered Princess Mary back to her mother. Her Majesty importuned him to stay close for a moment more, which he was loathe to do, but he could not decline the Queen’s request.
Moments later, a servant approached and bowed before him. “I have an express for Prince Layton.”
“Thank you.” He took the express and broke his mother’s seal. Then he bowed to Her Majesty. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Certainly. I hope it is nothing too serious.”
But all knew the news in an express could only be serious in nature. The letter began in his mother’s hand, and at first, he thought he’d be reading only one of her typical missives. But then she wrote,
We have just received word from Queen Charlotte of your growing relationship with one of her daughters. Your father and I are most pleased to hear it. An alliance with England would secure our waters against attack. Isn’t that what you most desire?
Then his father added more to the letter.
I agree with your mother. Secure that alliance if you can and if she would, in any way, make you happy. It would be a boon to our small nation.
Layton ground his teeth but kept reading.
