Page 24 of A Problem Princess

“Thank you very much for your help.” The viscountess shooed Sophia away. “You can go.”

While Cordelia gaped incredulously at their impertinence toward the princess, who seemed not at all upset by it—or at all surprised, as if such odd behavior happened regularly—Lady Agnes gently took Cordelia’s left arm and Lady Bromley her right. Together the two women led her in a slow saunter across the wide lawn toward the far gardens.

“We wanted to personally welcome you to England,” Lady Agnes told her. “Isn’t that so, Harriett?”

“Oh yes! We both know how difficult it is to be a stranger in a strange land—”

“I had the pleasure of visiting Monrovia in my youth. Such a beautiful—”

“Is it true that the palace ispink? I’ve heard the Mediterranean views are—”

Cordelia’s head practically spun as she looked from one to the other, side to side, in a peculiar volley of conversation that felt like she’d fallen into the middle of a tennis match.

“So unlike England that—”

“You must be terribly homesick already and—”

“Are you lonely?”

With that, the conversation crashed to a halt.

Lonely?What on earth…? Cordelia looked toward Sophia to be rescued, but the princess had already fled to safety inside Buckingham House.

Cordelia blinked as the two ladies both stared at her expectantly, holding their breaths as they awaited her answer.

“I—I—” How on earth was she supposed to answerthat? “My cousins have been very welcoming.”

She tried to pull her arms away, but the two women held on and led her farther into the garden and through a long, wide arbor covered with wisteria. She might have suspected the two wanted to kidnap her except they kept wiggling their gloved fingers to greet acquaintances across the gardens.

No, not kidnappers.

Simply mad.

“I suppose they have been.” The viscountess’s lips pursed into a hard line. “But best to avoid the royal dukes, my dear.”

Lady Agnes nodded knowingly. “Especially Cumberland.” She added in a mutter, “Never have liked that one.”

Cordelia’s mouth fell open at her uncensored comment. “You…know the dukes, then?”

Lady Bromley patted her shoulder, carefully avoiding her forearm. “We know everyone at the palace.”

“Known most of them for years.” Agnes leaned in to say in confidence, “Avoid Lord Worthington as well. His behavior during the wars was questionable.”

Heavens.

“But Clayton Elliott’s most certainly was not.”

Oh, dearheavens!Cordelia squeaked out, “Pardon?”

“The general told us that he was placed in charge of your protection,” Lady Bromley answered with a knowing smile. “You could not have found a better man for the job.”

“Not at all!” Agnes agreed. Then her turbaned head suddenly stopped nodding, and she frowned. “Except…”

Cordelia’s heart skipped. “Except?”

“Well, that whole mess with his father, you know.”

Lady Bromley clucked her tongue. “Terrible business.”