Page 42 of A Torn Allegiance
“You should become well-versed in all bouts of womanly unease.” She adjusted her hand on his arm. “As for courting a woman, Prince Hayes is not courting me, so that part hardly applies.”
“Do you wish me to conceal your womanly unease from Hayes, then?”
She laughed, feeling somewhat caught in the bareness of her emotions. “Oh yes, please do. I’d rather he think I hadn’t a care in the world.”
“Now, why not a care? Perhaps he could know of the tiniest smidge of a care.”
She laughed as they joined Prince Hayes and Princess Elizabeth. “Perhaps the tiniest inkling of a care,” she said and then smiled at the princess. “But I can’t have him thinking I’m like every other woman trailing after him, hoping for a scrap,” she added under her breath.
Prince Kristoff lifted one eyebrow and appraised her with such a look of approval that she had to look away.
He bowed to her. “You, Lady Elsie, would never be assumed to be trailing after anyone for a scrap.”
Her smile grew. Then they stepped forward in the dance and performed their part. “Thank you.”
Prince Kristoff winked.
She lifted her chin, and even though they shared steps and space with the Princesses of England, even though Prince Hayes had replaced her in the first set with one of them, she, Elsie, was not someone to overlook. She was the daughter of one of the most influential women in theton, one of the most powerful dukes, and she was making her way in her own right the best she could. She had dreams. And she had much to offer.
She moved about through the dance, chiding herself for her insecurity and strange jealous propriety she felt over Prince Hayes. Truly, her heart was not free to love him. What if he indeed was a perfidious traitor? She almost laughed at the thought. How could he be?
But she must know for certain. Her job was not to pine over Prince Hayes’s good opinion. Her job was to listen and learn about his purpose here in England and report back her findings to her father. She nodded decisively just as she stepped into Prince Hayes’s arms for a circle.
“Have you decided something just now?” His eyes filled with amusement. “I would give much to know the thoughts racing through your lovely mind.”
“Oh, I don’t know if you’d be pleased you did.”
“I’m certain I would be. I’ve never once heard you share a thought I haven’t pondered afterward for many hours.” He lingered a moment more with her, his eyes seeking hers, when they should have moved on. “Forgive me for this set.”
She held her breath, hoping not to lose her footing, hoping his words would settle deep inside her and never leave. Of all the kind things he’d said to her, this might be the most prized. She danced away and was soon circling with another, but she heard nothing, felt nothing except for the lingering effects of his hands, his words, his gazes, and his smiles. She thought of what he’d said. Such a sincere apology, though she technically should not have required one. Did he ponder her words for hours? How could a person be so perfectly suited to her?
Perfectly suited? Not when so many things still hung in question, surely not.
A sigh slipped out. If only they were perfectly suited.
As soon as the dance ended, Prince Hayes was taken by Princess Mary. The two seemed to have quite a rapport. He laughed easily with her.
Prince Marc bowed to Elsie. “I might not have the charm of my brother, but I would be honored if I could have this dance.”
“Oh, I’m quite certain you are not lacking in charm.”
The slight teasing wrinkle around his eyes made her laugh.
“Perhaps not,” he said. “But Hayes does have a certain air, does he not? Kingly?” His eyes searched her own, and she felt at once that perhaps she was being quizzed.
“He might seem kingly, it is true. But I see more of the compassion than the dictator in him.”
“Too true. He rules much by example and expectation, by his great care and love for the people. They all know it, from my father to the highest advisor to the hardest-working tenant.”
“High praise indeed.”
“Some would overlook this quality. They might find his potential to be King the highest of all praise.” The slight challenge in his otherwise charming face riled her a bit.
“And some find that to be a possible detriment.” She wished to close her mouth once the words had exited her lips.
But Prince Marc studied her and said nothing more. His face had gone blank, but she didn’t notice any condemnation in his expression either. Which was a relief. And why should she wish to recant her honesty? If Prince Hayes were a member of the peerage in England, she would have no qualms at all about furthering their relationship. But were she to marry the future king to a country so far away from home, so far from Scotland, she would be giving up any influence there. And when her brother became a duke, no one would be caring for Scotland at all, no one of their blood. Her dreams of being a baroness would be left floating up over the rolling and rocky hills of her beloved homeland. At least, that’s the way she felt about it. She had rarely spent a year there from start to finish, but she loved Scotland all the same, and it was more than that. She felt responsibility, as should her entire family, for the tenants in their care.
She sighed again. Would she be able to attend any event, participate in anything social without being plagued with the worries of the Scottish Lowlands?
