Page 15 of A Torn Allegiance
All in the room stood. Her father, her mother, Prince Hayes, and... “Duncan?” Every bit of angst forgotten, she ran to her brother and allowed him to swing her up into his arms. “You’ve come home.”
His face was tanned, his eyes bright, his smile as large as ever. “I heard someone needed extra support this Season to fight off the courters.”
She held him close and then stayed at his side. “Everything will be improved now that you’re here.” Principally, conversations that oft left her out would now continue in her presence. “Tomorrow, first thing, we must go riding. I don’t know if Thunder even remembers you.”
“Done. Now, Sister, what’s this I heard about our own private viewing of the Elgin Marbles?”
“Yes, I’ve arranged it for us. They’re straight from Greece, have you heard?”
“I’ve been hearing, yes. Prince Hayes gave me a short history of them.”
“Did he?” She looked in his direction, successfully pretending her abovestairs pacing had nothing to do with him.
He nodded. “And I’ve been enjoying this plentiful meal.”
“Oh yes, Elsie, come fill a plate, and then we will depart.” Her mother indicated the sideboard.
Obediently, she placed a few food items on her plate and rushed back to Duncan’s side. She opened her mouth to start peppering him with questions of Scotland, but Hayes leaned toward him. “Lord Argyll, how were the roads?”
She nearly choked in amused surprise at Prince Hayes’s use of her brother’s Scottish title. And had they not expressly agreed not to speak of the condition of the roads?
Duncan raised his glass and, as though reading her thoughts, said, “Ah, so you will use my Scottish title. I will accept Argyll with pride, though most people know me by Lord Devon.”
“Then, seeing as we are in England, I shall agree to call you by your English title, though I’ve heard Argyll called perhaps the most valued of the two.” His smile in Elsie’s direction nearly melted her in her chair. Hayes winked at her. “I have also heard it spoken that roads are not to be mentioned. In my defense, I truly wish to know how they are. Since talking to Lady Elsie and hearing your exuberance, I find myself half convinced that a trip to Scotland is a necessity before I return home.”
“In your defense? Is Elsie affronted with the road conditions?” Duncan turned to her with mock consternation.
“You know I am not. He refers to an earlier conversation in which we agreed our walk in the park would consist of only the most interesting subjects.”
“And how did you fare?” Duncan looked at Prince Hayes.
“I speak only for myself, but I must praise your sister in this regard. I’ve never had a more captivating conversation with a woman.”
“With a woman? Or ever?” Duncan teased. But Elsie appreciated him for it. Comments like the prince’s implied that all women were boring unless they surprised him otherwise.
“Ever, I’d wager. And I meant nothing untoward in my mentioning the fairer sex, only that women of my previous acquaintance seem to typically limit themselves in their choice of topics. And with Lady Elsie, I noticed no such limitation. Her knowledge seems to spread to most areas of interest. I was most impressed and enjoyed myself greatly.”
Her cheeks burned, and her frustration with her reactions to him grew. Could a man not notice her conversation on the weightier matters and she not swoon over him? Apparently not. But it was not to be helped. When had a man ever cared to listen to her perspective on topics not usually addressed? How singular. She determined then and there that she’d never met a man quite like this Prince Hayes.
But her brother would not spare her, though surely he noticed her discomfort. “And Elsie, did you find the conversation equally captivating?”
She stopped herself from crossing her arms in an older version of her childhood pout, but only just. “I found the conversation suitable. And in Prince Hayes I found a willing ear to hear the plight of our dear Scots.”
“Ho, ho! No wonder you found conversation with my sister captivating,” he said to Prince Hayes. “Her eyes were aflame, her fists clenched. If your walk had been longer, you might have heard an old Scottish pub song.” Duncan laughed and her father joined in. Only her mother stared back with a portion of the sympathy Elsie thought was merited.
Prince Hayes’s eyes held an expression she could not quite decipher. But she daren’t look for too long to ponder it. Those kinds of mysteries could well be saved to think on later, when he wouldn’t notice her great curiosity and when she was not in danger of becoming lost in the depths of his gaze in front of her family.
She ate her remaining two bites and then stood. “Perhaps it is time to depart. The Elgin Marbles await.” Her smile stretched awkwardly across her face, but it couldn’t be helped. As soon as her mother stood, Elsie stepped close and clung to her arm.
“Perhaps you should walk with His Highness when we arrive to see the Elgin Marbles.” Her mother’s low murmur sent a shiver of expectation that accompanied dread.
“Must I?” Elsie whispered as they walked slowly behind the three men, who were engaged in their own discussion. No doubt Duncan continued to regale her father and the prince with stories of his time in Scotland.
“It would make your father happy,” her mother answered. “You would look as though you were fulfilling his designs in inviting this man into our lives.”
“Why, again, are we doing this?”
“He just wishes to know why the prince is here.”
