Page 64 of A Princess By Christmas

“You attended my wedding, sir.”

“Did I?” He feigned confusion. “I can’t possibly remember all the weddings I’ve attended. There have been many in the last few years.”

“And yet, never your own wedding. Your mother must be beside herself with grief.”

He chuckled. “As I have explained to my dear, grieving mother, how can I possibly marry when the best ones have been taken? You appear to have mourned your husband very well indeed, madam,” he said, his gaze deliberately skimming over her.

“Oh, William. You were a rake when you were a lad and still are.” She laughed.

“Och,Mrs. Honeycutt—I am not arake,but an ardent admirer of feminine beauty.”

“That’s what all rakes say.” She lifted the glass with the pale green drink. She’d had a few more sips of it and she was beginning to feel a little fuzzy. “Did you really contribute this to the evening?”

“I did, indeed. I’ve just come from France with it.”

“Did you bring it on your big new ship, Captain Douglas?”

“Aye, madam. I should like to invite you onboard. Allow me to spirit you away,” he said with a flourish of his hand. “Would you like to see India?”

“I would. But I’d heard that you’d been ordered home after your purchase.”

“Who, me?” He smiled again...but he was looking past her.

Hollis wanted to ask him about the soldiers. She wasn’t quite certain how to bring it up and to tell him she knew they were aboard his ship. And she’d lost the moment—he had clearly lost interest in her, and she turned to see what had caught his eye. He was looking at Princess Justine. She was dressed in a beautiful blue gown with a long, embroidered train, a style popular in Alucia and Wesloria. “Look away, sir. She is only seventeen.”

“And her sister?”

Hollis frowned.“Fifteen.”

A lopsided grin turned up the corner of William’s mouth.

“You’re despicable!”

“You wound me, Hollis. I would never dream of defiling a princess...if she is unwilling. Let’s go and make their acquaintance all the same.”

“What’s the matter? Have your coffers sprung a leak?”

“My coffers are fine, thank you, but it’s not every evening one is presented with the opportunity to meet a princess. And before you say so, Eliza is hardly what I mean.”

“Well, sheisa princess. A duchess, even. And Caroline, too.”

William laughed. “Caroline Hawke was destined to be a princess if she had to steal a crown and kick some poor miss off her toadstool. Come, Hollis Honeycutt. Let us meet a true princess.” He put his hand on her elbow.

“You’re so cynical.”

“You’re so right,” he said jovially, and escorted her across the room, admonishing her not to spill her drink, as it was very expensive.

Hollis strained to see around him, looking for Mr. Brendan.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Absinthe is a very pretty drink, but one should be cautious in serving it, as it may lead to some unbecoming behavior, particularly if there is a sprig of mistletoe nearby.

Ladies, if your husband refuses your counsel and takes to absinthe, this home remedy should ease his discomfort: Brew magnesia, peppermint water and sulfate of iron until it boils, then have him drink while hot. If you don’t have the ingredients, it is also effective to have him drink a full glass of vinegar.

—Honeycutt’s Gazette of Fashion and Domesticity for Ladies

MAREKCOULDN’TESCAPEhis duties as quickly as he would have liked, and by the time he arrived at the address on Upper Brook Street, everyone was well into their cups. Perhaps at the very bottom of their cups by the look of it, and the dreadfully loud sound that accompanied all that merrymaking. It was so overpowering he had to work to resist the urge to cover his good ear.