He gritted his teeth. He squeezed her fingers between his own and then, helplessly, lifted her hand to his mouth.
He had to believe—hedidbelieve—that he could do some good if he stayed right here, by her side.
He could talk. He was good at talking. He could persuade Hangleton to listen to his daughter; he would convince the ambassador that Ruby was the greatest thing that had ever happened to House di Sangro and the earl’s political career. He could do it.
He made himself smile. “Hope you’ve still got that bayonet under your skirts,” he murmured.
And, faintly, almost imperceptibly, her mouth twitched up. “Dash it,” she said. “I forgot. I’ve brought the Elgin Marbles, though. Should they prove useful.”
“I’m certain that, between the two of us, we can think of something.”
She swallowed hard. And then she pasted on a smile and—bravely, as she did everything—knocked on the door.
It came open in seconds, and obviously Archer was an execrable butler, because he’d never opened a door so fast in his life.
The stern, bewigged fellow inside unbent slightly when he recognized Ruby, though he cast a doubtful glance at their crew and Ruby’s hand entwined with Archer’s. “Lady Ruby,” he said, “welcome home. We were not expecting you. Shall I tell the earl that you’re—”
“It’s Mrs. Archer now,” she said calmly, and Archer nearly swallowed his tongue.
Right. Well. Evidently there was to be no deception about the nature of their relationship, and no easing into things either.
It made him... proud. Idiotic besotted fool that he was, it made him want to weep.
“You may alert my father, yes,” she said, “and show my guests into the east sitting room, please, Finch—”
But before anyone could move, the Earl of Hangleton came around the corner and into view.
Archer recalled the man from Gravesmuir’s cursed dinner party. Hangleton was tall, fine-boned, dressed with a ferocious elegance that called to mind the exacting shape of the shrubs outside. His hair was a sandy gray, and his cravat was starched to a level that Archer had heretofore never seen or imagined.
“Ruby,” Hangleton said reflexively. “What in—”
His gaze flicked from Ruby to Archer to the small crowd behind them: Eugénie and Gerry and Alice and the Enys boys, all fresh off theDelphiniumand in various states of dishevelment and disrepair. Sidney Enys, for some reason, had on two different shoes.
“What is the meaning of this?” Hangleton snapped.
“Father,” Ruby said. “This—”
Hangleton didn’t let her finish. “What could you possibly be thinking?” He strode to the door and peered out, looking left and right over Ruby’s shoulder. “My God, anyone could see you like this. Anyone could seethem—a gang of criminals, at my doorstep—”
“No,” Ruby tried again, “they’re not—” She stumbled on the obvious lie and tried valiantly to go on. “If you’ll allow me to explain—”
Hangleton caught Ruby’s elbow and towed her inside, and Archer, by virtue of still having hold of her hand, was dragged into the house as well.
“Oh, you will certainly explain,” Hangleton said icily. “In my study. Alone.”
“My companions—”
“Can take themselves off.” He cast a frigid glance at the ramshackle crew, still arrayed before the door. “I’d advise you not to remain in this square, unless you’d like to have the magistrates brought down upon your heads.”
Ruby looked miserably out at their companions. “You can... wait in the mews,” she said. “I’m—I’m so sorry.”
There was a crack in her voice as she spoke, and it cracked something inside Archer too. Fierce bright anger rose in him: at Hangleton’s hand on Ruby’s arm, at the expression on the earl’s face as he’d looked out at their crew.
But Archer thrust it back. He took every scrap of outrage and humiliation and shoved it into a ball, pressing it down beneath his breastbone. He could not afford anger right now. He had to be calm and pleasant and sure of himself. He had to secure Hangleton’s assistance so that they might find the princess, and hewas notgoing to let Ruby down.
So he sent his crew a bolstering smile and followed Ruby and her father down the hall to Hangleton’s study.
Inside, Ruby sat down in front of the earl’s desk and burst once again into hasty speech. “Father. I know that our arrival was unexpected. But if you’ll only permit me to explain—”
