Page 30 of A Problem Princess

She took the bow from the nurse’s hand and gave it back to Elizabeth, who closed her tiny fist around it. The little girl held tightly to Clayton for protection with both arms slung around his neck, and her big eyes warily watched the confrontation unfolding in front of her. Cordelia’s chest sank. Even little Elizabeth knew she’d gone too far in confronting the nurse.

“Nurse Beecham, perhaps you would enjoy some refreshments,” Cordelia said and gestured toward the tables. “Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.”In other words…please leave.

Cordelia couldn’t bear to look at the woman as the nurse curtsied and walked away, her colleagues grouping around her, and all of them thinking she was right to slap a child. Across the garden, guests continued to crane their necks to catch a glimpse of what was happening, and they no longer even bothered to pretend they weren’t talking about her.

Cordelia had thoughtlessly created a spectacle, and she would be punished for it. From the corner of her eye, she could see Marie scurrying across the lawn toward her.

She placed her hand on Elizabeth’s head and told Clayton in a low voice so the guests couldn’t overhear, “I’ll be sent to my room for this. You won’t see me again until tomorrow.”

If then.Uncle Ernest was already uneasy about their visit. He would send her away before he allowed her to do anything to further endanger her potential marriage. No matter that she’d defended a helpless child.

“Come here, sweetling.” She pulled Elizabeth from Clayton’s arms and handed her over to Clayton’s two aunties as the women bustled up. “Please take care of her, and do not give her back to that hospital. I will find another home for her.”

She kissed Elizabeth’s cheek, right over the red slap mark.

“Be brave and do as the aunties tell you.” She smoothed down the girl’s hair before dropping her hand away. “They are both very kind ladies.”

The child nodded and clasped onto the viscountess as tightly as she had to Clayton.Smart girl.She knew how to recognize those who would protect her.

Cordelia looked at Clayton and bit her lip. Perhaps it was time she learned to do the same.

***

Clayton saw the fiery determination that had blazed in Cordelia’s eyes only moments earlier fade into—was thatfear? Uneasiness pinched his gut. “Princess? Are you—”

“Your Serene Highness!” The comtesse practically ran across the lawn toward Cordelia, a consternated expression on the woman’s face. “You’ve upset yourself. Let us go—”

“The princess is fine,” Clayton assured her as he stepped to place himself between the comtesse and Cordelia. Even now, the need to protect her rose strongly inside him. “I’ve been watching over her.”

“I think you’ve done enough, sir.” The comtesse stepped past him to take Cordelia’s arm. “Come, Your Highness. We’ll find a quiet room for you to rest.” But as she led Cordelia away, she chastised in a low voice Clayton was certain he wasn’t meant to overhear, “You’ve forgotten your place…”

Once again, he saw Cordelia transform into the regal princess who reminded him so much of a lifeless statue. But as the comtesse led her away, Cordelia sent him a parting glance over her shoulder, a look so full of desolation that it nearly undid him.

He could do nothing more than stand and watch her walk away. Cordelia might be so much stronger than she knew, but she also reminded him of the swans the regent kept in gold aviaries in front of Carlton House. Beautiful, trapped in a gilded cage…in desperate need of rescue.

“Clayton.” Danielle Braddock, Duchess of Hampton, stepped up to his side and frowned as she followed his gaze toward the departing princess. “Aunt Harriett just left the party, carrying a child. Since that’s not the usual kind of party favor the palace hands out to its guests, I thought I’d ask… What on earth just happened?”

“There was a misunderstanding. A nurse at the Foundling Hospital accused a child of stealing a bow the princess had given her, and the woman struck the child for lying,” he explained distractedly, catching one last glimpse of Cordelia before she disappeared inside Buckingham House. “It upset the princess.” And for coming to a child’s defense, she’d be locked away in punishment.Madness.If he could only have found a means to spirit her away, even if only for a few hours, until her family calmed down.

An idea struck him. He sent a sideways glance at his best friend’s wife. Only he and Marcus knew the truth about the duchess’s past and what she was capable of doing to help women in need. And Cordelia was certainly in need.

“You’re good at rescuing people,” he said thoughtfully.

“I am.” Pride laced her voice.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Of course. What is it?”

He turned his back to the house and tugged at his sleeves. “I need you to help pry open a cage door.”

Intrigued, the duchess slowly arched a brow.

Ten

Clayton stepped down from the carriage and grimaced at the façade of Covent Garden. The opera.Bloody hell.He didn’t think anything could be more torturous than yesterday’s garden party, but this… Yet he wasn’t here for his own entertainment.

No. Tonight was purely for Cordelia.