Page 43 of The Secret of Flirting
“Not at all. Including him would satisfy any of my objections about including Pontalba.”
That gave Monique pause. She could see from the glint of calculation in his eyes that he knew something about Prince Leopold that he wasn’t letting on.
Apparently so did the count, for he scowled. “How do we know that theprincewasn’t part of the assassination attempt?”
Gregory leapt upon that statement with great glee. “So now you’re acknowledging it was an attempt to murder the princess?”
Her great-uncle rubbed his chin nervously. “I’m merely saying that he’s even more likely a suspect than the duke, since he’s in the running for the position.”
“But very low on the list. We English prefer him, but none of the French or Dutch or Austrians do.” Gregory cast her a considering look. “And given that rumor says he’s interested in marrying the princess, I doubt he would risk her life.”
MarryingAurore? Monique’s stomach knotted painfully. If that was true, the prince must know Aurore personally. Judging from the gloating glance Gregory shot her, he’d realized that, too. So he was including Prince Leopold in this party solely in hopes that the man would expose Monique as an impostor.
Oh, Lord. Lady Ursula had led them right into a trap.
Monique frowned. That made no sense. Why would Lady Ursula have made the suggestion if she’d known that Prince Leopold could expose their scheme?
“Actually,” the count said, “Prince Leopold made an offer of marriage to Aurore through an emissary some months ago and was rejected. So he may not have taken kindly to that. Perhaps he sent someone to shoot at my great-niece so she would be frightened into accepting his offer.”
Gregory laughed outright. “Who’s being ludicrousnow? The prince can have his pick of royals in Europe.” He shot Monique a furtive, knowing look. “Of course, if he fell in love with her when he met her—”
“They’ve never met,” Lady Ursula said swiftly.
“Ah,” Gregory said, disappointment fleetingly crossing his face.
Relief swamped Monique. Hah! His plan to have the prince unmask her wouldn’t work after all, thank God.
Though it was still curious that Lady Ursula wished to include the man. Bringing Monique into contact with Aurore’s spurned suitor didn’t seem wise.
“Well then, I see no issue with having the prince come.” Gregory dusted off his hands. “So that’s settled, as far as I’m concerned. Princess?”
Monique felt trapped between the count’s disapproval and Gregory’s insistence. But the captain’s words confirming the deliberate nature of the shooting had frozen her blood. She had to get away, if only to have a place where she could breathe and figure out whom she could trust. “Yes, I would prefer that, too,” she told Gregory.
The count assessed her and Gregory with a long look, then shrugged. “Very well. We will decamp to your estate. Tomorrow?”
Gregory nodded. “In the afternoon. I have a few matters to attend to before I can leave London, including sending an invitation to Prince Leopold in Brighton. Then we can set off for Canterbury Court, if that meets with everyone’s approval. I’ll speak to Pontalba myself tonight.”
“Excellent,” her great-uncle said.
Meanwhile, Lady Ursula appeared oddly cheery about the excursion to Kent. Monique would try to find out why once she had the lady-in-waiting alone.
Gregory turned to Monique with a veiled smile. “So, Your Serene Highness, you’re finally going to get your wish.”
“My wish?”
“You said you weren’t fond of the city, and it looks like you’ll get to spend time in the countryside. I hope it does not disappoint.”
She nodded. Before they left town, she’d have to ask her great-uncle about the real reason for Princess Aurore’s illness.
As soon as Gregory took his leave and the count turned to her as if to chide her for forcing him to go to the country, she asked the question that had been burning in her brain.
“Was my cousin poisoned, Uncle?”
The count blinked, and Lady Ursula gasped. Clearly, neither of them had expected that question. “Of course not!” he said. “She has cholera.”
He certainly looked as if he believed it. But she wasn’t entirely convinced. “So you did not put me in Aurore’s place to protect her from another assassination attempt.”
“What?” His shock was palpable. “Why would I do such a thing? If I’d thought Aurore was at risk, I would have whisked her back to Chanay and given up on the idea of her being queen.” He was red in the face now. “Mon Dieu, she’s my great-niece! As are you, I might point out. I would not risk either of your lives. What would even make you think—”
