Page 2 of Second Chance Prince
“Yes, she did. She expressed herself very kindly. Grandfather was old and ill, and his death was a release from much suffering, but I do miss him.”
He looked away and cleared his throat, and Roberta sought for something to say to distract him from his obvious grief.
“You did not attend my coming-out ball last summer. I was sure my grandmother sent you an invitation.”
“She did. At the time, I was at home in Holtswig. After my grandfather died, there were disturbances. They have been dealt with.”
Disturbances?Did he mean the sort of social unrest that had happened in England over the past few years? Protests and the threat of rebellion as the working classes strove for a fairer system? Before Roberta could ask him, he changed the subject.
“I presume it was a huge success? Your coming-out, I mean.”
She smiled at the memory. “Wonderful! It was a little delayed because of…well…Olivia needed my help with her daughter, Lily. She was such a finicky baby, and I went to stay with them in Kent.” What Niki didn’t need to know was that she also suspected Gabriel hadn’t been in a rush to see her come out, becausehe had wanted to save up his pennies with four more sisters yet to be unleashed upon the ton.
“I am ‘out’ now,” she said firmly, “and I can go into society without being quizzed about it by the matrons in that tiresome way.”
Let him think her the model of respectability. No need for him to know she rode alone most mornings in the park, disguised as a groom. Niki, such a stickler for the rules, would not approve of that.
“Social engagements can be tiresome,” he agreed, and for a moment he looked so sad that Roberta felt quite sorry for him. “I remember with fondness the days I spent at your home at Grantham. Despite…” He stopped and gave her a sideways look.
Roberta grinned. “Despite my stealing your stallion. I remember. And I apologize, yet again.”
He smiled, a flicker at the corners of his mouth. The memory must have caused him to feel some awkwardness, because he moved as if to leave her. “I had better—”
Oh no, they could not finish on that note. Desperately, Roberta cast about for something else to say. “The roof on the east wing has finally fallen down,” she blurted out, and then could have groaned with mortification. Her wretched tongue!
Once again, his dark eyes widened. “Was anyone hurt?”
“No, it happened at night, and no one lives in the east wing. It had been dangerous for a long time, and Gabriel was always talking about having it fixed, but he never…” Well, best not to tell the prince how desperately short of money they continued to be. “I’m not sure we will ever be able to repair it now.”
He was looking at her politely, but she guessed behind thatmask he knew very well that if he had married Olivia, he could have funneled some of his fortune into Grantham, and the east wing could have been saved. If, if, if! Not that Roberta would have been happy if he had married her sister. She would have been sick with jealousy. And that wasn’t something she wanted to remember right now. Let the past remain the past. Maybe it would be best to draw their meeting to a close.
She turned to look behind her, to see if there was someone she could use as a reason to excuse herself, and caught the eyes of a somber gentleman who was gazing back at her soulfully.
“Oh dear God,” she murmured.
With a frown, Niki looked in the same direction. “Do you know that gentleman?”
“No, that is, yes.” She took a deep breath. “The truth is, he thinks he is in love with me. I have tried to persuade him he is not, but he won’t listen.”
Niki narrowed his eyes and glared in a truly alarming manner, presumably at Mr. Walter, although Roberta did not look again. After a moment, the prince gave her a satisfied smile. “He is gone,” he said.
Roberta glanced around and saw Mr. Walter was indeed gone. “Thank you so much! How did you do that?”
“My pleasure,” Niki said, and it seemed that it really was. This time, his smile made him look years younger. “I learned the trick of discouraging bores from approaching me at a young age.”
“Perhaps Mr. Walter will find someone else to fall in love with.”
Niki hesitated. “You are not intending to marry then?”
“No. Definitely not Mr. Walter, but not anyone, really. I don’t think I am cut out for marriage.” It was true enough. As much asshe loved her family and saw how happy her sisters and brother were with their partners, she did not believe what they had was for her. It seemed too small somehow. There was a big world out there, waiting, and Roberta had always had the strong desire to set off and see it.
Niki was silent, and now the awkwardness had returned. It really was time for her to go. She had opened her mouth to wish him well for his stay in London when there was a sharp sound. It sounded like something snapping. Then glass shattered in the window beside them. Niki cried out, and Roberta gave a little scream of shock.
Niki stumbled forward, as if he had lost his balance, and she caught him in her arms. Although they were much the same height, she discovered he was heavier than his slender frame suggested, and the weight of him sent her sprawling upon the chaise longue beside them in the alcove.
“Sir!” she gasped. “Niki?”
His head was resting against her breast, and for one awful moment, she thought he was dead. Then he looked up, and she saw a smear of blood on his temple beneath the fashionable arrangement of his dark hair. His eyes were glazed, and he held his hand to his injury and grimaced.
