Page 28 of Second Chance Prince
“Yes.”
“I trust Hart. I think he will root out this evil.”
Karl sounded serious and unlike his usual self. It warmed Niki to know his brother was concerned, that he cared. He was ashamed to think that he had wondered whether Karl could be behind the attempts on his life. But if not Karl, then who? The other night he had thought it might be Tomas, but he was young and the idea that someone like Tomas could be involved in a plot to kill him was ridiculous. Wasn’t it?
It made him sick at heart to suspect people he had known allhis life. Much better if it was a stranger, someone he had not been brought up to think of as his family and friends.
“Methinks Aunt Matilda is in love,” Karl said in his more normal voice. He chuckled. “It will be amusing watching her and Hart try to pretend they are mere acquaintances.”
Niki managed a smile. “Maybe it will burn itself out after the first rush of passion.”
“We shall have to see. One thing I know for sure—Tomas will be annoyed. Although it will probably do him good to take second place in Matilda’s affections. She has spoiled that boy.”
Niki hardly heard him. He was remembering how Roberta threw herself across him, protecting him with her life in a way that nearly made his heart stop. She had said that she believed it to be her fault, that her obsessed suitor was standing there, but nevertheless, Niki felt overcome by her selfless courage. Would he have done the same? The question was moot. He already knew he would do anything to save her in dire circumstances. Anything.
Chapter Fourteen
Roberta rode home with Estelle clasping her hand tightly in hers. Her friend was worried about her, but she was also excited. Estelle always wore a certain look when she was wound up, and she had it now. Cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling, and she couldn’t keep still no matter how she tried.
Roberta longed for some peace and quiet to settle her own feelings. If she had known the would-be assassin was not Mr. Walter, she wondered if she would still have thrown herself in the way of death for Niki’s sake. She didn’t think of herself as particularly brave, but when she had seen the man with the pistol and realized what was happening, she had just acted. Flung herself into danger for the sake of the man beside her.
It had been instinctive, and she suspected if it happened again, she would do the same thing.
“Wait until word spreads!” Estelle said, barely able to keep the anticipation out of her voice. “You’ll be the toast of Holtswig, Roberta. The toast of London!”
“I don’t want to be the toast of anything,” Roberta retorted. “I just want to forget it.”
“I doubt anyone else does,” Estelle went on blithely. “You’ll see. By the time you return from Grantham, you will have somany invitations. Everyone will want you as their guest of honor.” She smiled to herself. “Me too, I suspect. I will be asked to tell the story over and over again, about how my best friend saved the life of Prince Nikolai.”
Roberta sighed. “Then let us hope that something else takes their fancy.” She reminded herself that by then, the engagement might be over—if it was discovered who was threatening Niki, then there would be no reason for Freddie and his bodyguards. Although casting off a fiancée who just saved your life might be a bit awkward.
She put a hand to her head, which was aching.
“I was sorry not to be asked to Grantham,” Estelle said disingenuously, “but now I am glad I am not going.”
“Karl won’t be there,” Roberta blurted before she thought to stop herself.
“No, he said he was staying in London.” Estelle smiled again. “He is very dashing, isn’t he? I know he’s not a legal son, but neither are you a legal daughter, Roberta, so you cannot scorn him.”
Roberta widened her eyes. “I wouldn’t scorn him! I would never think less of anyone because of their birth. It’s not as if Karl, or myself, could help it. We had no say at all, Estelle.”
Estelle was chastened. “I am sorry, Robbie. I just…this has been rather overwhelming for me.”
Roberta slumped back in her seat. “Me too.”
“It started off so agreeably too. I did enjoy myself. And now I will never know how the play ended!”
“I’m sure you will go again.”
“Yes.” Estelle’s expression turned sly. “I wonder if Karl will take me?”
Roberta considered warning her friend against putting hertrust in Karl. Yes, he was charming, but he was older than Estelle and far more experienced. Despite her flirtatious ways and her bohemian family, Estelle was very much the innocent.
“Perhaps you should wait until I return to London,” she said carefully. “Then we could go to the play together.”
Estelle was quick to agree, but there was something furtive in her manner that made Roberta think she had already made up her mind. She might have said more, but at that moment, they arrived at Ashton House.
As their vehicle drew up, the front door flew open, and Antonia came running down the stairs. “Are you all right?” she cried, loud enough to wake the street, which was very unlike her. “I heard that you were shot at!”
