Page 34 of Second Chance Prince
Niki could see that Roberta was at a loss. The girl wasn’t afraid of her threats, and in fact seemed to relish the power she had over her.
“Will you indeed?” he asked, watching her eyes widen as she turned to him. “Even though, as a prince, I can order your head to be chopped off?”
Georgia froze, staring at him, and then her mouth wobbled and she burst into tears. She whirled about and ran back the way she had come.
Roberta sighed but seemed to be trying not to smile. “You may be popular with the common folk, but I think your disciplining of children needs some work. She is probably off to tell anyone who will listen that you are about to have her executed.”
She may be right, but Niki decided he didn’t care. He had slain the dragon for her—well, her difficult sister—and he thought that she was actually rather pleased.
As they walked back, he took her hand in his, and they dawdled in the garden on the way to the house. It was probably time they returned anyway. They were unchaperoned, and evenan engaged couple should have someone to watch in case they behaved in an inappropriate manner.
Niki wasn’t sure how he felt. Happy, he thought. It was a fleeting emotion, but right now, with Roberta at his side, he was happier than he had been for a long time. He had been right to become engaged to her, even if it wasn’t real. He had been right to take this time for himself before returning to the serious business of ruling his country. And he refused to think about the end. He would not.
“It is silly of me, but I—wish…” Roberta began to say, and then seemed to think better of it.
He might have asked her what she meant, although he had a strange feeling that he knew. She wished this was real and not a sham.
But then he caught a movement in the trees and realized they weren’t alone after all. Of course they weren’t. One of Freddie Hart’s men was watching, ready for the next attempt on his life. The thought sobered him. He had been enjoying himself, and now the happiness drained from him, leaving him feeling flat.
He tried to shake it off. He refused to allow whoever this person was to spoil his stay at Grantham. It might be the only time he was allowed here, because when the engagement was called off, then the dowager duchess would probably refuse to speak to him again.
Until then, Niki wanted to make the most of these magical moments.
Chapter Seventeen
Their time at Grantham passed quickly. Roberta found herself enjoying Niki’s company more and more. One morning at the breakfast table, everyone was seated together. Roberta, being helpful, spooned Lily’s boiled egg into her mouth, until the little girl knocked over the egg cup and yellow egg spilled onto Niki’s pristine white shirt. For a moment, there was complete silence, mouths open and eyes wide as everyone waited to see what would happen. Apart from Roberta, who found the startled expression on Niki’s face unbearably amusing.
“Has no one ever painted you with egg before?” she asked, fighting the urge to laugh.
Niki looked down at himself and sighed. “I did not realize that was a thing with the Ashtons. I should have brought more clothes with me.”
Appreciative laughter rang out, and everyone relaxed.
After that, any doubts her sisters had about their engagement being genuine vanished. Georgia would certainly have shared the news of the kiss, but no one spoke of it to Roberta, or scolded her, or reminded her of past Ashton scandals. Even her grandmother seemed content to allow the romance between Niki and Roberta to take its course.
Together, they rode up into the downs to the north of Grantham, where the air was fresh and the views took their breath away. There was always a bodyguard following close by, and although Nikicomplained about the lack of privacy—“How can I talk to you when we are always being listened to?”—Roberta was glad of Freddie’s caution when it came to the prince.
Once they reached one of her favorite spots, Roberta jumped off Arrow and sank down into the meadow of flowers. Niki followed, smiling. She had noticed he’d smiled a great deal since he had arrived. Last night at dinner, he had even joined in some of the banter, tentatively at first but then with growing confidence. Roberta could imagine him fitting in perfectly well with the rest of her family, growing more used to the Ashton ways, but of course, that would never happen.
She had to keep reminding herself that their relationship was finite, that soon they would part, and her life would go on without him by her side.
“In Holtswig, I enjoy riding through the forests surrounding my home. There are no views like this,” he said, standing and gazing at the Grantham estate below. “And yet I think you would like it.”
Roberta said nothing. What was there to say? She reached down to pluck a flower, twirling it in her fingers. “Olivia seemed to think Holtswig was cold and damp.”
He sat down beside her. “Did she? Perhaps she was just making excuses. She was always fixed on the Duke of Northam, and he on her.”
Roberta laughed. “Yes, it was obvious to everyone but them.” She paused, examining the flower’s white petals and yellow stamen as if they fascinated her. “What is your home like? I mean where you live, not the country.”
He said nothing, and when she looked up, he was watching her fingers on the flower, gathering his thoughts.
“Do you live with Ernest and Karl?” she added. “Are you all one big, happy family in a castle?”
That made him frown. “You have a strange notion of what a happy family looks like. Karl has rooms in the castle, as does Ernest, but Karl has his own home too. He lives his own life. Ernest is too young for that, and I prefer to keep my eye on him. Besides, I enjoy his company.”
Roberta smiled. “I can see that.” She hesitated, but a thought had been worrying her and she wanted to share it. “My friend Estelle Longhurst…Do you remember her from the theater? She was very taken with Karl in a…a romantic way. I did suggest he was too old for her and far too experienced. Despite the way she flirts, Estelle is an innocent. I am a little worried.”
Niki was frowning, his dark eyes watchful. “You were right to warn her. Karl is charming, but he has a reputation when it comes to women. There are numerous little Karls scattered throughout the kingdom. As well-liked as he is, Karl does not seem to have a sense of right or wrong when it comes to his lady admirers. Warn your friend to stay away from him.”
