Page 8 of A Torn Allegiance
They were directed to a large room with many chairs in small seating groups. Most people were standing, conversing. A quick count showed Hayes their dinner was rather large. He could only hope to know the people immediately around him in a thirty-person meal. The footman announced them, and everyone in the room went quiet.
“Well, now, this I should be used to,” he said quietly.
Lady Elsie’s soft laugh made him smile.
“In such a gathering, I don’t suppose I can very well welcome them to my palace or invite them to my home or other such things. I find I don’t always know what to say with so many waiting for me to say something remarkable.”
“Would you like a friend at your side to make introductions?”
He breathed out in relief. “That is what I most wish.”
She nodded. “Come, then. The Baron of Fenwick is here, on our right.”
Chapter Three
Elsie wasn’t certain what tomake of this new prince. At times, he seemed sure of himself—so tall and stately. At other times, he seemed insecure and... charming. Intense. He was, at all times, focused and intense.
Why did her father wish such a close eye on him? Even she could tell the man was not a threat to England. He seemed to be one of Britain’s greatest supporters. They had gone through the room in just enough time for him to meet the guests. He had charmed them all with talk of Vauxhall, the opera, St. James’s Palace, Carlton House, or the Thames, when a bell chimed for them to line up for dinner.
The Duke of Grant approached. “We are ready for you to lead us in, Your Highness.”
“Thank you.” The prince dipped his head.
He led Elsie to the front of the dining room, which was decorated beautifully. She couldn’t wait to detail everything in memory with her mother later. The Duke of Grant’s servants had placed extra candles. The room was brighter than most at this hour, which Elsie appreciated. The center of the table was filled with grapes, still on the vine. Tumbling, cascading piles of red, purple, and green grapes filled the table.
Every place had a name card. When the prince lifted his card near the head of the table, he tilted his head. “Am I to be blessed with you at my side?”
“It appears so.” She laughed to herself. He truly was all charm or all intensity. His interest seemed piqued, at any rate.
The Duke of Sumter was farther down the table from them, and she was pleased to see he was seated near Lady Sophie and another lovely lady who was out this Season.
The footmen helped them sit and pushed in their chairs. The Duke of Grant sat on Prince Hayes’s right, and the Duchess of Grant sat across from him. She seemed pleasant enough. Her mouth could have used a smile or two, if not for friendliness’ sake, to lessen the lines pinching together in an unnecessary frown. And, of all luck, the man across from her was the Duke of Grant’s son, Lord Harcour, who had not stopped looking at her since they all sat.
Prince Hayes cleared his throat. Lord Harcour at last diverted his eyes to the prince.
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.” Prince Hayes seemed to be taking the man’s measure.
“Have you not?” Elsie’s lower lip jutted out just long enough to draw the prince’s attention and, from the looks of things, Lord Harcour’s as well, before she realized and pulled it back in. “I apologize for overlooking your introduction. Lord Harcour is the Duke of Grant’s son. And this, my lord, is Prince Hayes of Oldenburg.”
Prince Hayes nodded. “So you are the heir to the dukedom.”
“I am.” Lord Harcour lifted his chin, all the self-importance Elsie had always seen hover about him once again taking center stage.
“Excellent. I imagine the responsibility is great. Where are your holdings?”
Lord Harcour’s face took on the bored expression of those in thetonwho knew their own importance but did not wish to appear as though they cared. The look Elsie most abhorred. She wanted to shake him by the lapels and shout, “Care!” in his face.Care about one blasted thing! Anything. Show some passion.
But he did not care. Instead, Lord Harcour leaned back lazily and said, “The dukedom covers the north of England, more or less. The responsibility doesn’t rest on me, naturally. Our steward and, of course, Father still manage most things.” He winked. “Not tied to the purse strings as tightly as some.”
“Really, Jonathon.” His mother’s frown became more pronounced, and Elsie suspected she had discovered one cause of the duchess’s perpetually dissatisfied expression.
“Your Grace.” He dipped his head and stopped talking.
“Prince Hayes, tell them what you were telling my parents and I earlier aboutyourholdings.” Elsie tried to hide her amusement, but the prince picked up on it immediately, the same amusement mirroring back in the light in his own face. But he said simply, “The country of Oldenburg has a large oceanic border. We are currently patrolling the waters for pirates. We are strong allies to Britain against Napoleon, but our southern landholders are suffering from lack of rain. The area to the middle is exploring textiles, and we are considering ways in which to open trade so we might link to the rest of Europe, if we are ever not at war with France. Of course, I, like you, am also an heir, so I already have my own responsibilities in our kingdom, but am preparing all the time to be king. Purse strings don’t apply here.”
Elsie should have snorted, just to add to the shock of his challenge. But she couldn’t be more pleased. For once, instead of a competition for who could be the least caring and the most bored, Prince Hayes had created a value to productivity and responsibility. She turned to Lord Harcour and raised an eyebrow.
He looked from her to Prince Hayes and back and fiddled with his fork for a moment. His father watched him closely as well, and Elsie felt like she was witnessing a private family moment.
