Page 97 of A Tenuous Betrothal
“Yes, miss.” She helped Rhi take off her dress, loosened her stays, and left her alone.
And then, after a terrifying experience, the loss of the man she loved, and the knowledge that an almost-stranger guarded her in her sitting room, she fell into bed and immediately went to sleep despite it all.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Rhi awoke to sunlight streamingin from the windows. A tray waited on her table. All was quiet and peaceful for the briefest of moments.
Then the previous night’s events came rushing back. She moaned and pulled the covers over her head. “Why do I have to face this day?”
“Do I hear you are awake?” Frederick called from the other room.
She moaned louder.
“I’m going to assume that is a yes.”
“What are you still doing here?” she called in response, trying not to feel the great awkwardness of her situation.
“I’m afraid I’m here, on assignment, as it were, until all threats have been eliminated.”
The door to her room was shut. That, at least, was a blessing.
“Might I suggest that, if you arise, you will be gifted with a view of today’s regatta?” he said.
Rhi sat up. “Regatta?” She couldn’t help but be intrigued. She had never seen a regatta. “Catrin?”
Her maid hurried into the room. “Yes, miss?”
“Perhaps we will get dressed to watch this regatta. I’ll be out by the sea.”
“Yes, miss. Perhaps the green taffeta?”
“That’s a lovely color and will be warm in the wind, with a matching pelisse.”
“Excellent choice, miss.”
Rhi smiled. Her maid was wonderful. Ever since London, she’d become very formal, which was all right by Rhi, but Catrin wasn’t fooling anyone. They were friends, had been for a very long time and would be forever.
Rhi called out through the closed door, “Your Highness, Prince Frederick, if you are still present, I will take you up on your invitation to watch the regatta.”
“Very good, Miss Davies. I will leave you to your preparations. A full security team is outside your door should you need anything at all. And, of course you may pull the bell to summon a servant at any time, day or night.”
“Thank you.”
He did not answer, and she assumed he had at last left.
She couldn’t help but be grateful to Marc. It had aided in her sleep to have Frederick present. And the man had prevented her from riding after Marc ignorantly into the night when she hadn’t a clue how to go about a spy mission.
But that did not preclude her from still being of assistance to Marc. She was going to be more intelligent about it, though, which included getting his brothers to talk. She smiled to herself.
Once she was dressed, feeling fetching in her new clothes, and on her way toward the back of the palace to see the regatta, she felt lighter and full of purpose. She was not giving up Marc.
A handsome man—tall, broad-shouldered, and bearing a resemblance to Marc—approached. “Miss Davies?” He smiled, and white teeth sparkled at her. Rhi imagined whole roomfuls of women swooned at such a sight. He might be the most beautiful man she’d ever seen—definitely the most beautiful Wilhelm, and that was saying something. Whom had she not met? Karl or Josef? He stepped nearer and bowed.
“Yes, I’m Rhianna Davies.” She curtsied.
“I am Karl Wilhelm. It’s so good to meet you.” He straightened and offered his arm. “I would love to escort you out to our boat.” He indicated with his hands that the boat was to be shared.
“We have a boat?”
