Page 33 of A Queen's Match
When he understood her meaning, Nicholas’s eyes widened. “Alix, no, we can’t—”
Before he could talk her out of it, she lifted a hand and put it on his lips. This was all new and exhilarating and terrifying and wondrous. But whatever it was, Alix wanted to feel it in all its intensity. She wanted as much of Nicholas as she could get, for whatever time they had before he needed to leave.
“I am very certain of this,” she replied. “Please, Nicholas, don’t tell me no.”
And then she brushed a kiss lightly over his lips.
When they pulled apart, Nicholas’s voice was ragged. “I have no intention of ever telling you no. I will tell you yes, as much as I can, for the rest of our lives. But if at any point you change your mind—”
“I won’t.”
Still, once they were inside, Nicholas gave her so many chances to pull away. He started with her hair, pulling out its pins one by one, just as she’d daydreamed. When it fell in a cascade over one shoulder, he reached out to cradle her face with his palm. His lips were so close to hers.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you,” Alix echoed.
They fell together onto her bed, not bothering to close the window, letting the night air kiss their bare skin.
Chapter Fourteen
Hélène
Thank heavens all royal residenceswere effectively the same, Hélène thought as she padded through the upstairs of Osborne House. She’d never set foot here, but it was easy enough to find her way around; she’d located the hallway where all the younger guests were housed, scanning the placards on each door.Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg—that was Ducky, the cousin May had tricked into acting like a fool around Eddy;Princess Maud of Wales; Prince Ernest of Hesse;and, ah, here wasPrincess Alix of Hesse.
Hélène moved past that door quickly, not wanting to overhear anything. She hoped Nicholas and Alix were enjoying their time alone. It was nice, thinking she’d helped them, since she didn’t seem able to help herself.
At least, until now.
Around the corner she found the room she was looking for, labeledPrincess May of Teck.Hélène stepped inside, shutting the door behind her with a silent click.
She started with the most obvious places—the traveling chest at the foot of the bed, the space beneath the mattress—even running her hand around the lining of the trunk to check for hidden compartments or secret latches. Nothing.Hélène moved to the wardrobe, systematically sorting through the dresses, the hatboxes, the shoes. May’s clothes seemed much nicer than Hélène remembered. Perhaps her parents had realized that May couldn’t catch a prince in her shabby, twice-turned dresses and had borrowed the funds for her new things.
Or perhaps May had gotten the money herself. She’d already blackmailed Hélène, after all. What if she’d gotten her hands on someone else’s secret, and was holding it over their head in exchange for cash?
Hélène wouldn’t put it past her. There seemed to be no line May wouldn’t cross in her quest to become queen.
When Hélène had exhausted every corner of the room, she sat back on her heels, the skirts of her violet gown rippling around her. She could still hear the noises of the party downstairs; the music was softer now, reflecting the lateness of the hour. She was running out of time.
Laurent’s letter had to be here. It was May’s greatest weapon against Hélène; why would she leave it in London, and risk losing it? May was far too clever to let it out of her sight. She would have brought the letter with her, wouldn’tshe?
“Most people consider it rude to go through someone else’s belongings.”
Hélène stumbled to her feet and whipped around. May stood in the doorway, surveying the scene with pursed lips.
“Most people consider it rude to spread vicious rumors about someone,” Hélène countered.
May seemed to decide that this conversation had best not be overheard, because she walked into the room and shut the door behind her. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Do you deny that you ruined Alix’s chances with Eddy by telling everyone she suffered from fainting spells?”
Something flickered behind May’s eyes, but her mask of polite behavior didn’t slip. “If Alix has an affliction, I’m sorry to hear it.”
“What about Ducky?” Hélène exclaimed. “I heard you at the Earl of Stafford’s house, giving her terrible advice about Eddy. If that poor girl did a fraction of what you suggested, I’m sure Eddy went running in the other direction.”
May’s expression darkened. “You eavesdropped on me?”
“Youblackmailedme!”
