Page 43 of Second Chance Prince
“I hope she will,” he said earnestly, “because she is not the only woman he has ruined over the years. My father tolerated it, was even amused by it, but I am not. I wish to have a different court from my father. I want to rule over a place that everyone can be proud of and where everyone is safe.”
They were admirable sentiments, and at any other time she might have applauded them, but not right now. She opened her mouth only to close it again. She understood his point of view, she was not a fool, but that did not mean she was happy about it. Indeed, she was so disappointed in him, her heart ached.
Best not to think of the reason for that. Best not to admit she had done something so foolish as to…Roberta cut off the thought before she could finish it.
“I will leave you now, Your Highness,” she said with chilly formality. “I am sure you have much to do.”
“Roberta,” he sighed. “The king is dining with us tomorrow night. You must be present.”
“Must I?” she retorted and made him a deep curtsy. “I think you mistake me for one of your subjects,sir.”
It was satisfying to shut the door a little harder than necessary. Tears stung her eyes, but she told herself they were tears of fury. Why had she imagined Niki would help her friend? Why had she thought she could trust him because she knew him so well?
She had allowed herself to begin to believe she was important to him.Friends.They had spoken together in an intimate manner, disclosed secrets, and kissed passionately, and it had all been so very nice. She had truly begun to believe…Well, perhaps she was a fool, but she had never imagined whatever was betweenthem could go so suddenlywrong.
But it had.
Roberta’s loyalty was to her friend, and Niki’s was certainly not to his fake fiancée. She needed to remember this moment. She told herself that this was what it would be like to be married to him. She would always be second if it came to a choice between Niki’s country and Niki’s wife.
She reminded herself how determined she had once been to make her own way in life. Where had that strong, independent girl gone? Yes, she had agreed to the engagement for good reasons. Niki’s life was in danger, and it was exciting. But she had begun to suspect there was more to it than that. Some of her infatuation with him had lingered. Over the past weeks, she had started to wish her engagement was fact rather than fiction.
She had started to imagine herself as Niki’s wife.
Roberta allowed herself to finish her earlier thought.
Best not to admit she had done something so foolish as to fall in love with him.
Roberta groaned, because acknowledging that was both embarrassing and painful.
A servant interrupted her musings, informing her that her coach was outside. Roberta thanked him and went out into the chilly evening air, settling herself in the comfortable interior.
She wondered if she should go back to Estelle and tell her the bad news, but she was tired, and it was late. She would call upon Estelle tomorrow, and they would work out a plan. Her stomach dipped at the thought of how far the news of her friend’s ruin would have spread by then. Roberta closed her eyes, and when the coach came to a stop and she opened them again, she was home.
The footman opened the door, and she avoided his eyes. Servants didn’t judge their betters, but Roberta couldn’t help but feel there was a question in the man’s face. If Gabriel had been here, he would be demanding to know where she had been, but thankfully Gabriel was still at Grantham.
Upstairs, she was grateful to reach her room. The lamp was turned down to a faint glow beside the bed, and she was several steps inside before she realized there was someone curled up on it.
Just for a moment, she thought it was Estelle, but then she saw that it was Antonia.
She sat down on the bed beside her sister and then decided she may as well lie down. Weariness weighed on her, and she closed her eyes just for a moment. She should decide what to do next, but she was so tired. A nap couldn’t hurt, could it?
It felt like only minutes later that she was being shaken awake and Antonia’s wide turquoise eyes were staring down at her beneath her slashing dark brows.
“Robbie! You should have woken me!”
Roberta stretched her arms above her head and looked about her. The light was creeping in under the curtains, and there were sounds of activity elsewhere in the house. Then she remembered.Estelle!
“What time is it?” she demanded, rising to her feet to pull aside the draperies. To her horror, the sun was well up in the sky. She had meant to visit the Longhurst house as soon as politely possible so that she could help her friend make a plan. Instead, she had slept the hours away.
“Roberta.” Antonia was watching her curiously. “I don’t know if you have heard the news, but Miss Longhurst is ruined.”
Roberta turned to glare at her. “Don’t sugarcoat it, will you? I know she’s ruined! I should be there now, helping her, or at least offering her my support.”
Antonia watched as her sister hastily splashed water onto her face and then twisted her hair in a knot at her nape.
“You look as if you’ve slept in your clothes,” she said helpfully, and received a glare for her trouble.
“Yes, well, I have.”
