Page 52 of A Royal Kiss & Tell

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A lady generous in spirit and in person is adding to her household, and happily, it is not another dog. In this circumstance it is the addition of two new chambermaids. It is expected the lady and her lord will entertain many over the coming weeks of summer, beginning with the first garden party of the season.

Ladies, apply a toilet mask to your face each night liberally coated in sheep fat. After two weeks of night use, skin will revive its youthful vigor.

—Honeycutt’s Gazette of Fashion and

Domesticity for Ladies

LEOCOULDCOUNTon one hand the number of times he’d actually felt a woman’s disdain for him. Actually, he didn’t even need his hand, for he counted exactly zero times. Until today.

Today, when he’d stepped into the coach in front of Clarendon Hotel, Lady Caroline’s gaze had turned to ice. Leo had expected their first meeting after that kiss to be interesting, but he hadn’t expectedthat. It was almost as if she had determined she was the injured party, when in fact it was she who had taken liberties with him.

She folded her arms and glared at her brother. “What is the meaning of this?”

Beck blinked with surprise. “The meaning of...?”

She slid her gaze to Leo.

“Prince Leopold? Well, His Highness is to Arundel, like us, and I offered him to ride along.”

“What? He has his guards. Shouldn’t they be the ones to escort him?”

“They are escorting us, Caro. They are riding behind, but the coach is obviously more comfortable for the prince.”

“For heaven’s sake, Beck,” she said irritably, and began to fluff the many,manyflounces on her skirt.

“God as my witness, I never understand you. What is the matter? Has he offended you?”

Lady Caroline’s face turned pink.

“Je, please tell me if I have offended you, Lady Caroline, and I will do my utmost to atone for it. When last we spoke, I had the impression you esteemed me quite a lot.” Leo smiled.

Caroline’s color deepened. “I do beg your pardon, Your Highness, if that was the impression I gave you. I was being polite.”

“Ah,” he said, his smile deepening. “Then I must commend you—you were zealously polite.”

“It’s called civility, sir.”

“Isthatwhat it’s called.” He gave a shake of his head. “I am forever learning proper English.”

“What have I missed?” Beck demanded of the two of them.

“Nothing!” Caroline said, and looked away from Leo.

But Leo did not look away from her. He rather enjoyed her discomfit. He was the one who was always back on his heels when they met, and he didn’t mind that, for once, she was the unsteady one. He liked how it turned her cheeks an appealing shade of pink, and how it made her green eyes sparkle so brilliantly with vexation.

“It is clearly something,” Beck said, sounding confused.

“Really, Beck? Have you forgotten that you started it by seeking the advice of His Royal Highness about what to do with your poor, burdensome, unmarried sister?”

“I didn’t ask for his advice,” Beck corrected her. “I know precisely what needs to be done. You’ll see.”

Lady Caroline rolled her eyes. But Leo was interested in what Beck thought needed to be done.

“I’ve some prospects for you,” Beck said.

That caught Caroline’s attention. She looked at her brother curiously. “Who?”