Page 85 of A Torn Allegiance
“It is possible you might, but he has the next three taken.”
“I have my fourth one free, right after the dinner set.” Lady Annabeth moved closer. “And I’d love to dance a set with Prince Marc as well.” Her hopeful expression irritated Prince Hayes, who unabashedly kept a protective watch only a few feet away.
The group separated out again when the music started, each prince dancing with a woman of Elsie’s choosing. Her reception at this party had improved, certainly. But as Hayes considered her position among her peers, he was astounded that so little esteem would be placed on traits he numbered among those of highest value in a woman. He was grateful to his brothers for helping to ease the unfriendly reception. He wished to be at her side, but as it was, the dinner set was arriving soon, and he would somehow arrange a way to be with her for the rest of the evening afterward. They would dance, eat, dance, and then take a walk in the gardens and perhaps explore the library. He grinned to himself, realizing he sounded like a complete cad. But cadlike behavior was not his intent. A kiss might be acceptable, however. He astounded himself at his train of thought and attempted to force some interest in his current dance partner, or at least polite conversation.
The dance itself was more involved than some of the others and required his attention, so for a time, he lost sight and awareness of Lady Elsie. When at last he left his partner with her parents, he went in search of Elsie.
Neither she nor his brothers were in sight, but a bit of movement across the ballroom near an exit drew him in that direction. He couldn’t imagine where they might be, and hoped they were together. As Hayes drew nearer, voices carried over to him, and he recognized Lady Annabeth’s.
“We all know they only give you such deference because of your father. What prince would want someone so... active? I mean, suffrage. Can you imagine?”
A tittering of ugly giggles followed her question.
“And the crown prince?” Lady Annabeth continued. “Perhaps he wishes to marry a duke’s daughter, but would he really want to marry someone with such strong opinions? I’d tell you to temper them, but it is too late for that. Your reputation has been set, I’m afraid.”
Another voice joined. “Only think—she will arrive in Oldenburg and start a revolution.”
More laughter followed, and Hayes was about to enter the scene when Kristoff’s voice carried out. “There you are. I was hoping you were with the other ladies.”
Marc’s voice joined in. “Yes, I too was hoping to get a number of you all together.”
“Were you?” Lady Annabeth’s voice was almost a purr, and Hayes felt ill at the sound of it.
“Of course. I wanted to let you know, before the night is over, that you ladies have an excellent mentor here,” Marc said. “I’m pleased you are so close as to be under her tutelage, because she has so much that men would find appealing.”
Elsie’s soft gasp made Hayes smile. “Really, Prince Marc—”
“Oh, she will be embarrassed because her humility is at work. Honestly, I cannot believe our brother has found the best woman in all thetonto court, but you are all doubly blessed to know her now, before she is whisked away.”
“Oh, well, I—” Elsie sounded as humble as she was surprised. And he suspected she might prefer to just be away from them all.
Hayes stepped into the corridor. “Oh, Lady Elsie, there you are. I can wait no longer for our set to begin.” He paused. “But I see you are tutoring these fine women in the higher ways of their educations.”
The women looked equally as surprised as they were uncomfortable.
Hayes held out his arm. “Most excellent. Perhaps you should share with them some of the things you have become well-versed in so they might broaden their knowledge.” He tried most diligently to bite back a laugh, but his smile he could not dim. “For example, might I presume to ask your thoughts on, say... suffrage in England? I should love to hear your insights.”
Her face had relaxed into a smile at the sight of him, something that gratified him to no end. And now a wicked glint lit her eye. “I would love to expound on the subject. And I’m certain these ladies here, as enlightened as this particular group is, would also wish to listen.”
Marc nodded. “Certainly. But first, could you remind me who my supper-set partner is?”
“Oh, hmm. I don’t think you have asked anyone for that set.”
He nodded. “Excellent. If this group is so interested in topics of such importance, I had best choose from among them, if one would be so good as to have the set free.”
Elsie nodded, clearly more comfortable than Hayes had seen her. “I think you are wise to choose a woman among those who value their own voices, who wish to learn from those around them.” She turned to Hayes, her eyes showing again such gratitude that he wished to spend the rest of his days igniting such a look in her face. “In answer to your question, it has been said that a woman’s vote is unnecessary.” She shook her head. “But how could that be so? She is a very necessary human, is she not? And she has an opinion of her own, does she not? And there are laws specifically related to women, aren’t there?”
A few of the women nodded. Some looked once at Lady Annabeth but then turned back to Elsie.
She went on, and the longer she spoke of women and their value and the importance of every voice, every citizen to be heard, Hayes began to think again on his tenants. And his own country’s laws. And with Elsie’s words firing his imagination, a new system of government began to take shape.
“Forgive me, but consider the Colonies,” Elsie said.
The other women fluttered in disapproval.
“No, actually, don’t forgive me. I make no apology for applauding their system. Thus far, the people seem immensely pleased with their situation.”
“Surely, you are not suggesting we mimic what a paltry few outcasts in a rebellious state have created?” Lady Annabeth closed her mouth. And then, after a self-conscious moment, she glanced up with a look of apology, as if she regretted her sudden burst of opinion. He had begun to think she had no opinions. “I’ve heard my father discuss such things; it’s not as if I myself am a prodigy on the topic.”
