Among them was a tall, slim woman dressed in a crimson gown, with a matching feather headdress. Even from this distance, he could tell she had a hard sheen about her. A coldness that having grown up in a royal palace, Christian had seen on women of rank many times before.
“Would you like me to make introductions?” she asked.
He considered her offer for a moment. It would, of course, be the right thing to do, but he was beginning to suspect that following the rules was not going to help them.
Christian leaned in close to Erika, placing his hand in the small of her back. His breath caught at the sensation of touching her, even though the fabric separated his fingers from her skin. It took a moment for him to compose himself before he felt able to speak.
“I want you to curtesy to me, and then go and find the supper room. I shall join you in a little while—after I have spoken to Lady Lynch.”
He sighed with relief as Erika did as he requested, then walked away. Asking her to take her leave had guilt pricking at him—he didn’t like treating Erika as being beneath him, but her revelation about her lack of standing within English society made it unavoidable. The only good thing was that she hadn’t flinched when he touched her.
Christian straightened his back, took a deep breath, and turned his smile all the way to beaming.
The moment he stepped into the small gathering of polished matrons; Christian sensed a shift in the air. He could almost smell the power these women wielded.
The four women within the group made a great show of being all a fluster about meeting a prince. Everywhere he looked there were eyelashes being fluttered at him from behind intricately decorated fans.
He bowed to Lady Lynch, and in response, she dipped into the most elegant curtesy Christian had ever seen. Her back was ramrod straight.How many hours did your mama make you practice that move as a young girl?
“Prince Christian. It is such an honor to meet you,” she said.
He gifted her a sly smirk, and a hint of mischief flashed in her eyes. “Lady Lynch, the pleasure is all mine. I have heard so much about you.”
One of the other women tittered at the remark, which gained her a hard glare from her friend.
Christian saw an opening and quickly took it. Offering Lady Lynch his arm, he led her away from the gathering. He glanced over his shoulder to the other women and smiled sweetly. “I shall return her to you shortly, or perhaps not.”
Out of earshot of her companions, Lady Lynch turned on the coy charm. “Your Royal Highness, I am surprised you have even heard of me. I am no one. Just a simple wife.”
Christian was up for a spot of banter—he rarely got to play such games at home. “Lady Lynch, you do yourself a disservice. I knew who you were long before I set foot in England,” he replied.
He had heard Erika use the word disservice enough times to have decided that it was quite useful when it came to be stroking another person’s pride. The blush of red which appeared on Lady Lynch’s already rouged cheeks was particularly pleasing. This was a woman who wanted to be noticed.
“Prince Christian, you might have just arrived in London, but it is apparent you come armed with more than just a handsome face. A man who has a way with words around the ladies of thetonis someone who will go far,” she replied.
Her hand was still on his arm. He glanced at her as she tightened her grip. Their gazes met and Lady Lynch offered him a knowing smile. Baron von Rehausen had briefed Christian on the wicked behavior of the wives of London society, and here was his first taste of it.
Slowly. Don’t give her any wrong ideas.
He shook his head. “I fear that isn’t the case. My English is not good enough for winning favors with pretty words. I also find these large formal gatherings tiresome. I prefer to mingle with people of higher birth and those with real power in more exclusive settings.”
As the cabinet minister’s wife stroked her hand up and down his arm, Christian adopted his best diplomatic face.
“Ah. Now I see why you have chosen to make my acquaintance, Your Highness. You want me to help you gain admittance to the Carlton House set,” she said.
The Carlton House set was the small, select group of people with whom the Prince Regent mixed. If Christian could manage to become a member, it would be a huge step forward. “I think it would be of great benefit to both our countries if I were able to mix with the right people. From what I can see, the Carlton House clique is exactly where I should be.”
Lady Lynch drew close. Her overbearing perfume assailed his senses. She was a striking-looking woman with her deep hazel eyes and high cheekbones. He suspected many other men viewed her the same way. They had also likely bedded her.
Christian suddenly wished he was back at Stockholm Palace. The women of the Swedish royal court were more discreet with their fragrances and their political maneuvering. He would have to move carefully and not give her the wrong idea. The look on her face told him it was already too late. He was about to seal a bargain with the devil. One who would eventually demand payment.
“I can try and get you invitations to private soirees, but there is one problem you must address first,” she said.
“And what is that?” he replied, assuming she meant his lack of English.
“Prinny doesn’t like floating singles at his parties. Everyone has to be part of an established, respectable couple. Mistresses and lovers are not included, except, of course, his.”
He blinked slowly, while trying to absorb this surprising revelation. The Prince Regent, for all his reputed wildly excessive ways, was somewhat of a stickler for standards in his own home. Who would have thought such a thing?
