Page 26 of Three Weeks with a Princess
“Does that actually work? The royals are all over the place, now that the war has ended.”
“Gillian hasn’t been in London that long, so there haven’t been many opportunities to run into them. And most of them are out of Town a great deal, either at their estates or in Brighton with the Regent. So far, our luck has held.”
“But when the Season begins, it’ll be next to impossible to avoid them completely. What will you do then?”
“Are you asking out of genuine concern for Gillian?” Charles shrewdly asked. “Or is there another motive at play here?”
Jack supposed it was obvious he was worried about what might happen to Lia if she stayed in London. “For now, let’s go with the former.”
“As you wish. Gillian and I have decided that we will treat the majority of her royal relations with the accepted standard of respect and courtesy, but we will not acknowledge any familial relations, especially with her father. Gillian has said that she’ll walk right over Cumberland if she has to. She’ll refuse to acknowledge he even exists.”
“That’s bound to go down well,” Jack said dryly.
“You forget a pertinent fact—her half brother is Griffin Steele, who, as you know, is also one of Cumberland’s by-blows.”
“Are you telling me that he threatened Cumberland?” Jack had only recently met the former crime lord, now a semi-respectable member of the Ton. No sane person would ever wish to cross Griffin Steele, and that would presumably include his royal father.
“That would be most unseemly. But he did remind his esteemed parent that he was still in debt to him for quite a large sum, left over from the days when Steele ran his gaming hells.”
“Good Lord, do you mean to tell me Cumberland actually borrowed money from his bastard son?”
“Does that really surprise you? Most of the princes did the same thing. Steele has quite a lot of influence within the royal family, as you can imagine.”
Jack couldn’t help laughing. “God, what a pack of buffoons, all of them. So Steele warned Cumberland away from his sister?”
“Suggested, more like it. But my brother-in-law would do anything to protect her.”
“As would you,” Jack said quietly. He wished he had that kind of power and influence, when it came to him.
“Naturally, but let’s talk about your royal problem,” Charles said. “Gillian is quite eager to meet her cousin. I am less so, but if I don’t support my wife she’s bound to do something drastic, and that would hardly help Miss Kincaid. So, what can we do to assist her now that she’s in Town?”
Jack stiffened. “How did you know Lia was in London? She arrived less than a week ago and she’s not announced herself in any way.”
“Let’s just say I have my sources,” Charles said with a negligent wave of his hand.
“You mean Gillian’s been gossiping with your servants again.”
Charles sighed. “I can’t seem to break her of the habit. But this time we heard it from Steele, who knows everything that happens in this blasted Town. He came calling the other day with the happy news that Gillian has a cousin living only a short carriage ride away. Needless to say, my wife was more than a bit peeved that I hadn’t already provided her with that information.”
“And knowing the duchess, I imagine she wanted to run right over to meet Lia.”
“I was only able to stop her by explaining that Lia might not yet be aware of her existence, and that the responsibility for imparting such news rested with the Kincaid family or with you.”
When Jack relaxed back in his chair, Charles lifted a sardonic eyebrow.
“So, I take it from your reaction that you have not yet told Lia about her kinship with Gillian, or any of her other relations?” His friend’s tone was austere and disapproving.
“I wanted to, but I was overruled. Her grandmother feels it wouldn’t be helpful or fair to allow Lia to associate with a cousin who is . . .”
“So far above her?” he finished as the footman returned with their brandies. When the man retreated, Charles continued. “Jack, you know we don’t care about that sort of thing.”
“Believe me, I share your frustration, although I understand Rebecca’s concerns. She feels certain that Lia and Gillian will never move in the same circles. After all, Lia is the granddaughter of an infamous courtesan and the daughter of an actress who was once equally notorious. Gillian’s family lines, on the other hand, are impeccable, and she was raised as an aristocrat. She truly belongs where she is—as your duchess.”
“And where do you think Lia Kincaid belongs?”
Jack drank his brandy as he struggled with the question, not liking the answers that sprang to mind. “Not on a bloody stage, that’s for damn sure.”
Charles’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that what she wants to do? Join her mother on the stage?”
