Page 90 of A Torn Allegiance
“Who?” Elsie squinted toward the dust, trying to make out a single detail.
“You will find this interesting... Lamoreaux,” he said.
“No!”
“Apparently, he’s creating a stir with the flag of Napoleon flying.”
“What! That’s ridiculous.” Suddenly, it mattered less if Hayes or her brother won, so long as they both beat Lamoreaux. Elsie frowned. “Why would he do that?”
“Perhaps he’s looking for his supporters.”
“Here in London?” Elsie looked to her right and left. Surely not.
His Grace studied them for a moment, and then he said, “What if his purpose were to stir up factions and create dissatisfaction and support of Napoleon in England?”
His words thundered through Elsie. Coupled with all that Hayes had told her, she knew it must be true. “That is so wrong.” Elsie’s whole body filled with a rash sort of anger she didn’t know what to do with. Obviously, she couldn’t do anything with it. They stood on a platform surrounded by polite Society. “I wish to tell him exactly what I think of that plan.”
His Grace laughed and then wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. “You sound so much like Prince Hayes. He is most disgusted by the man’s tactics. I think he’d love to plant him a facer more than just about anything, but his great manners prevent him.”
“Blast all our manners. The man shows up in polite Society as though manners can protect him. We are at war with him. If he were on a battlefield, he would be shot.”
Lady Sophie gasped.
But His Grace nodded. “Again, precisely what His Highness would say.”
“I am glad we are of one mind.” She immediately wanted to talk it through with Hayes and do something. Never had she been more filled with such a desire to do something than now. But what could she do? This was not her fight or her place. She was not entered in the phaeton races, nor was she the admiral fighting Napoleon at sea or the generals on land. She was... she was at a loss, and the entire situation so very frustrating. Helpless. Oh, she hated feeling helpless.
Suddenly, the idea of becoming a queen took on a whole new meaning. Never again would she be in a position where she could do nothing, where her influence was so limited. She was of a mind to marry Hayes tomorrow. That hope, that suggestion of a better manner in which to handle things of this nature, lifted her spirits enough that she could trust herself to speak once again. “Well, now we know who to root against.”
Lady Sophie and His Grace nodded.
The dust cloud grew, and soon the first contenders arrived. Duncan stood at the front of his phaeton, reins in hands, two beautiful bays prancing at the front.
“He looks like a great Roman.” Lady Sophie giggled.
“He does, doesn’t he?” Elsie waved to her brother until Duncan saw them, and then he bowed in response.
The crowd cheered and waved back. Three others arrived shortly after. They received similar cheers and shouting in response.
Then Lamoreaux came into view, and a great silence filled the space around them. A huge Napoleonic French flag flew out from a staff near where he stood. It was a flagrant, blatant display. A small group actually cheered in support. Elsie leaned forward to try to catch a glimpse of who might be so bold.
“Everly. Why?” She turned to His Grace. “Why is Everly supportive of the French?”
His Grace lifted a hand in Everly’s direction. “Perhaps we are seeing evidence of factions?”
“Despicable.” She considered his answer, eyeing the small group again, and decided that perhaps His Grace knew more than he let on.
“But where are the princes?” Lady Sophie held a hand up to cover her eyes while she looked.
A new cloud of dust arose, and soon the final phaeton took shape.
“That’s them!” Elsie pointed. As they grew closer, all three princes were visible, and she laughed. “They’re all standing at the front. I can hardly believe they fit.”
His Grace smiled. “Those are good men. A good family.” He turned to Elsie, suddenly intent. “You would do well with them.”
She stared into his eyes and then nodded. “I am beginning to see that so clearly. And Hayes is very dear to me.” She hardly dared look at him while expressing such strong feelings, but he nodded matter-of-factly.
“All the better for you both. A love match is surely preferable to all others.”
