Page 93 of A Foreign Crown

Prince Marc snickered. “We will have to remedy that.”

Hayes clapped Layton on the back. “I do believe we are drawing attention.”

“You noticed, did you?”

The crowd grew, and Aribella laughed when a few of the women giggled. She smiled and waved at them.

Layton murmured under his breath, “Hayes, will you be making a call to Princess Mary?”

“I do believe I will.”

Aribella knew they’d been corresponding, but nothing had been decided. Hayes would know after he spent time with her. His task of finding a wife, in many regards, was more difficult than for the other brothers. His wife would be the new queen at some future time.

A commotion sounded behind them, a general rumbling of a crowd. The Wilhelms all turned, and Prince George approached.

Prinny called out, “You’ve brought the brothers, have you? What will we do with so many single princes?”

The women gasped, and Prinny winked at them all. “Here, now. I will solve this whole nonsense about introductions. Lovely women of this crowd of onlookers, these are the Wilhelm princes. We have Hayes, Kristoff, Frederick, Marc, Henri, Karl, Josef, and of course Layton, but he’s taken. Meet the lovely Princess Aribella of Oldenburg, the late Duke of Sumter’s daughter.”

The princes all bowed, and the giggling mass of curtsies in response made Aribella laugh again. Layton stood at her side, tall and handsome. She rested a hand on his arm. “Thank you for coming to England for a visit,” she said.

“I don’t think we could have avoided it. My brothers want more women like you in their lives.” He rested his hand over the top of hers. “I will forever have fond feelings for this land. England came to our rescue when we needed it most, and it was here that I met you.”

Aribella thought life couldn’t be any happier.

“And now,” the prince called out, “we will witness the great rising of a balloon to open the ball!”

Prince George’s ball was by special invitation only. The Wilhelms planned to remain to a certain hour, before things became too raucous. Then they would stay at St. James’s. The brothers had two weeks of parties and balls and operas during the height of the London Season planned, while Aribella and Layton would travel north to the Sumter estate. They followed Prinny to the platform, where a large colorful balloon tied to a basket was waiting. Aribella skipped, her feet moving faster, anxious to see an actual balloon rising with people in a basket, carried into the sky.

The night progressed with Layton at her side. Aribella almost couldn’t believe there was a time when they were separated.

As Layton pulled Aribella into his arms for a waltz, and all the other princes found partners, Aribella grinned with happiness. Visiting London was wonderful, but mostly because she danced in Layton’s arms and knew she had Brittiny Castle to go home to.

“What are you thinking, my wife?” His smile filled his face, his eyes moving over every feature.

“I’m thinking just how much I love hearing you call me that.” She grinned. “What are you thinking?”

“That I will enjoy this trip, but I’m itching to get you back on my ship.”

“Then, I say we enjoy every minute, watch your brothers be fawned over, and then hurry to Oldenburg, where we belong.”

“Home.” Layton dipped his head like he might kiss her.

“What are you doing?” Her smile grew.

“Can a man not kiss his wife?”

The darkness was lit only by candles, and most people were involved in their own business, so Aribella stood taller on her toes as they slowed their steps. “I hope you will.”

The kiss he placed on her lips was meant to be short, she knew, but the softness of his mouth, the quiet of the night, his arms that encircled her, led her to draw it out longer.

Aribella didn’t know how life could be any sweeter, except for the birth of a new child. She hadn’t told Layton yet, but on the voyage she’d begun to suspect her condition.

She responded to his love with a pressing insistence of her own. The years ahead would be full of more of the same, and she would never get enough of this dear man she’d married. As good as it had been to visit England, as amusing as it was to watch the ladies of thetonfall all over her new brothers, she longed to return to her Brittiny Castle, her home.

To my darling Audrey

You are noble and strong, just like your name.

I hope one day to have a heart as true as yours.