There was a silence, during which I was certain Elizabeth stifled a panicked sob.
“But there be no lanterns here,” one man protested. Good man.
“Nevertheless, His Highness does not wish to climb any higher than this floor.”
I rolled my eyes. Prinny was afflicted with gout—no doubt because all he did was eat and carouse. I could not say I was surprised that his royal slothfulness extended that far, but if he was that reluctant to climb just one more flight of stairs, why not avoid all of them and simply have the statue carried down to the Life Academy? But there was nothing I could say from where I was.
Elizabeth sucked in a breath of apprehension, stiffening still more. I made a shushing motion with my mouth, emitting no sound but brushing my lips against her hair so she could feel my reassurance. We were safe where we were, so long as no one discovered us.
Twenty-One
Elizabeth
Ihadneverhearda prince’s voice before. I didn’t care for it.
“Now, then,” the Regent said as all others fell silent. “Let us have it out.”
I jumped against William’s chest when a dreadful screech filled the room. Men were prying off the top of the crate and carrying it aside. Would all be as he expected to find it? Would our little replacement be discovered?
I bit my lip and turned my face into William’s cravat. Well, why not? He didn’t seem to mind. And he smelled nice. His hands slipped to my waist, and I leaned into him a little more. I could get used to leaning on him.
We could hear the rustling of the packing straw, some thumping, and then a staggered series of gasps and “Aaahh”s.
“Well, take it out, Chantrey,” the Prince ordered. “What is it?”
There was a moment of relative silence. Then we heard Chantrey’s voice. “It looks to be a miniature of the statue of Athena, Your Highness.”
“But I thought this thing was supposed to be a statue of Cupid. Where is the Cupid sculpture?”
More silence. I pressed my face harder into William’s shoulder.
“But this is what was sent, Your Highness,” another man said. “I collected it myself from Longbourn, and this is the very crate. I would know it anywhere.”
“I recall what was written, and it said a sculpture of Cupid seducing Psyche. I was rather looking forward to seeing that,” the Prince complained.
No one said anything for several seconds, but then Chantrey spoke up. “If I may, Your Highness, what you have is far more valuable. This is clearly Athena, the patroness of the great Parthenon. What is Cupid compared to the great goddess?”
I was listening with my heart in my throat when something brushed against my leg. I flinched, then looked accusingly at William. This was no time for that sort of play. But he acted perfectly innocent.
“What?” he whispered.
“You’re petting my leg with your foot! Now, of all times?”
“I swear, I did not.”
“Then what…” The Something thumped against my calf again, and this time I nearly jumped into his arms. Whatever it was, it was thrashing on the floor, moving the straw heap and skittering in circles. I couldn’t help it. I squeaked.
Then I climbed William.
He grunted and let loose an impolite word or two as I clambered up his shoulders, but he caught me. “What the blazes are you doing?”
“Shh… there it is! Whatisthat?”
William shifted his weight, trying to keep us both upright without crashing through our makeshift door. But it seemed our scuffling had not gone unnoticed.
“Do you hear that?” the prince asked his men. “I say, there was the strangest squeak just now and some thrashing about.”
The prince’s question made my soul turn to lead. I buried my face in William’s neck and prayed he wouldn’t drop me. Fine chance of that—his hands were firmly clasped under my posterior, and he wasn’t letting go.
