Page 14 of Second Chance Prince
Niki shot him a frown, but Karl seemed unaffected. Roberta understood all too well how easy it was to say something Niki disapproved of. Karl was such an affable and good-tempered man. She liked him more and more.
One of Niki’s entourage leaned close, and she heard him say, “We have stayed the allotted half hour, sir.”
Niki immediately got to his feet, and Karl followed more reluctantly, with a tolerant grimace in his brother’s direction. The rest of them stood up too, and Niki came to take Roberta’s hand in a formal manner. He bent over it, and she felt the warmth of his breath against her skin. For some reason, it made her shiver a little. And then he straightened, and she tried to read whatever thoughts were on his face.
“I look forward to tonight.”
“Oh, me—me too,” she said hastily, when he paused and seemed to be expecting a reply.
Niki nodded and turned away, and then Karl bowed and smiled and lifted his brows, as if to say:What will we do with him?And then they were gone.
“Good heavens,” Vivienne murmured when the door closed. “Does the prince ever relax?”
“No,” Gabriel said. “I don’t think he does. Perhaps he doesn’t dare in case that is the moment someone chooses to attack him.”
Roberta shuddered, the words tumbling from her. “Oh no, I can’t bear the thought of it!”
Gabriel inspected her with a thoughtful look, and then he wrapped an arm about her and gave her a squeeze. “Don’t worry,” he said. “Freddie will make sure nothing happens to him. Enjoy yourself, Roberta. This is the sort of opportunity that will never come again, so you may as well make the most of it. Didn’t you want to join a circus when you were younger?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Because I have a feeling this engagement may turn out to be a true spectacle.”
Chapter Six
The day seemed to drag, and Roberta just wanted it to be over. Vivienne guessed how nervous she was and set her the task of keeping Austin occupied. Roberta helped him build castles made of wooden blocks so that he could knock them down again. He soon lost interest, and they spent some time in the garden chasing butterflies.
And before she knew it, Vivienne was calling her in to begin her preparations for the evening.
Antonia was waiting too, already dressed in a simple white gown, her dark hair topped with a flower coronet, and Roberta found she was glad to see her. Her sister’s calming presence was just what she needed. The next hour was spent being dressed in the gown Niki had paid for. Their modiste, Madame Annabelle, had created something beautiful and unique in a short space of time, and Roberta wondered how many women she had had working on it. The gown was beautiful, a cream color, with the bodice a pale blue, and matching blue swags of ribbons sewn about the hem. The sleeves were puffed and short, but her gloves were long. Her hair was dressed elaborately, with pearls intertwined in her dark locks, and she was wearing one of the family necklaces, a less opulent creation than the emeralds Viviennewore. Grandmama had sent the jewelry up from Grantham, with her best wishes. The diamond earbobs dangled enticingly from her earlobes, matching the diamonds around her neck.
Looking in the mirror, Roberta felt a little giddy. Was this elegant young lady really her? And was she going to say or do something that would spoil the illusion?
Vivienne must have read the doubt in her face. “You look beautiful, absolutely perfect for the part,” she said quietly. “And remember, it’s only for three months, so if you do say something…Well, it hardly matters now, does it?”
She laughed. “Was that meant to reassure me?”
Vivienne smiled. “It did go slightly awry, didn’t it?”
It was time to leave. The coach journey didn’t seem nearly long enough, and by the time they reached Countess Matilda Brooks’s house in Berkeley Square, Roberta had been through a dozen worries and was now on the one where she wouldn’t be able to make her curtsy without wobbling.
Inside, they were led to the reception room where they waited to be announced. Gabriel frowned, looking about. “Where is Antonia? I thought she promised to stick to your side like glue?”
“She was here a moment ago,” Vivienne said. Then, with a worried note, “Take a deep breath, my love.”
Gabriel laughed. “I’ll need several, I think.”
Roberta peeped through the half-open door into the next room. She could see a lot of people and didn’t recognize any of them, but she told herself not to be silly. As Vivienne had reminded her, in three months’ time she would sink back down to the bottom of the social pond. All the same, tonight, she wanted to do the Ashtons proud, and she admitted to herself that shewanted Niki to be proud of her too. It was her chance to shine, and she was determined to do so.
Just then, Antonia appeared at her side, flushed and trying to catch her breath. “I just met Ernest,” she said when she was able to speak.
“Ernest?” Roberta asked, hardly hearing her, her gaze still focused on the slice of the room she could see through the half-open door.
“The prince’s youngest brother.” Antonia looked at her expectantly. “He’s nothing like Niki.”
Roberta wasn’t sure what to make of that, but it was too late to think up a reply. The door opened fully, and a footman resplendent in red and gold stood before her and bowed low.
“Lady Roberta, His Royal Majesty the King of the United Kingdom and His Highness Prince Nikolai of Holtswig await you.”
