Page 83 of A Torn Allegiance
“Those words will carry me.” He placed a kiss on her hand and then left her standing near her mother’s corner.
Mother laughed and carried on in such a merry way that Elsie wished to join her rather than wait on the edge of the dance floor to find a new partner with whom to pass the time before her much-anticipated supper set.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Hayes watched Elsie while hedanced with Lady Annabeth. Something seemed odd about this ball compared to others they had both attended. Elsie would soon be surrounded by men—of that he was certain—but now, as she waited alone on the side of the dance floor, a vulnerable lift to her shoulders, an almost self-conscious clutching of her hands to her front, he wondered just how welcome she was in her own country’s social circles.
He remembered Lady Annabeth’s open criticism of her at St. James’s. Was she thought less of because of her intelligence, her pursuits? He knew she was eccentric, but he had never before considered how she was received by others. And as he thought back over their social interactions, he realized they had always accompanied her family to places where they’d been among friends. Her friends. He looked around the ballroom, and even now, he saw neither Lady Sophie nor any of the women he remembered from Elsie’s Books for Change group. She had come to this ball alone, among those who might not be accepting of her, and she’d done so for him. That was what she’d been trying to tell him just now, perhaps.
After many moments of standing completely alone right where he’d left her, a group of women approached her. Hayes felt himself relaxing. But they walked by her, staring and whispering, and as soon as they passed, they all burst out laughing.
Lady Elsie’s chin rose higher, and she relaxed her hands.Bravo, Elsie. You are worth more than the lot of them put together.
Lady Annabeth laughed as they approached each other in the dance, distracting him. “We are so pleased you could come. My parents have many friends on the Continent, and we are always interested in increasing our relationships there.” Her eyes perhaps held a deeper meaning than the simpleness of her words, but Hayes didn’t want to see or acknowledge what her intent might be.
“I was pleased to come...” His voice trailed off. As he circled in their dance, another group of ladies approached Elsie, but instead of engaging her in conversation, they only stood nearby. Every now and then, one of them would look over at her.
Hayes’s shoulders stiffened.
A man walked toward Elsie, and every woman in the unfriendly group watched him. Their fluttering and primping increased as the man drew closer, but he passed by the lot of them and bowed before Elsie. The relieved smile that filled her face made Hayes ache with understanding. His brilliant, brave, thoughtful Elsie was vulnerable and, in this moment, completely beyond her comfort level. Every woman in the group took on such a look of superiority and unmasked disapproval as they watched her retreating form step out onto the dance floor that Hayes could only wish to stand between her and their gazes.
At least she was dancing, and surely, that man was not daft enough to mistreat her. Hayes again relaxed. Where were his brothers? He searched the room. Both were dancing, but they seemed to sense his gaze. He nodded. They could discuss after this dance whether or not to remain at the ball.
As soon as the dance ended, he walked with Lady Annabeth on his arm in the direction of Lady Elsie.
“Oh, Prince Hayes, would you mind if we were to make our way to my parents?” Lady Annabeth asked.
In the direction she indicated was a large group of some of the same women he’d watched mistreat his lovely Elsie. Though he was loathe to do so, he could not deny Lady Annabeth’s request. He resisted looking over his shoulder one more time for Elsie and instead escorted Lady Annabeth to her parents.
The women watched their approach. Each one seemed pleasant enough, cheerful, but Hayes could only feel his cravat tightening as he considered their unkind ways. How could anyone not love and appreciate Elsie?
The women each dipped a quick curtsy when he and Lady Annabeth arrived in front of them.
Hayes bowed to her parents. “Lord and Lady Thompson, I’ve enjoyed myself immensely so far.”
They dipped their heads in response.
Lady Annabeth then made introductions. New music began, and Hayes supposed it was now his duty to ask one of them to dance. But all he could wish for was Elsie again at his side. He hoped that, somewhere behind him, she was having a more pleasant experience than what he’d just witnessed moments ago.
A flutter in the group changed. The women’s eyes widened in equal parts pleasure and distaste as they looked behind him.
Hayes turned and bit back a laugh. Elsie stood with a Wilhelm prince on each side, and he felt immeasurably proud of his brothers. Her smile seemed natural and more relaxed as she looked at him.
Kristoff approached. “Prince Marc.”
“Yes, Brother?”
“I don’t believe we have been introduced to these lovely ladies.”
The whole group of them leaned forward.
Lady Annabeth opened her mouth to respond.
“Lady Elsie, perhaps you could assist us?” Marc looked as though his face might split from the grin that spread from cheek to cheek.
Lady Annabeth seemed to recover quickly from not being allowed to assert herself as having a close relationship with the princes.
“Certainly.” Elsie made the introductions, remembering the names of all those she knew, which Hayes found impressive. He nodded in encouragement.
