Page 70 of Her Royal Houseguest

She rolled her eyes. He’d managed the problem by getting nearly everyone sacked. She intended to be firm with the replacements but she had no faith that the difficulties wouldn’t return. After all, any new staff would hear about her backwards nature. It gave them permission to disregard her, just like her parents did, just like everyone else did except for Phoebe.

And Prince Deva.

‘Thank you for your help,’ she said. She tried to keep her tone neutral but she failed again. Weariness suffused her, though she was grateful for his intention. No one else had seen her difficulties or acted to correct them. But the end result created an overwhelming amount of work.

He smiled, clearly hearing the nuance in her tone. ‘Do you think I have done this just to abandon you now?’

‘What?’

‘I saw your problem because I have experienced it so many times before. I was the lowest of the princes, given tasks no one wanted.’

‘I cannot believe you were so ignored.’

‘Not ignored! Used. And so I know that once the troublemakers are gone, there is ten times the work to do before it can be rectified. You are no longer walking in a monsoon but you still walk alone.’ He dropped his head until their foreheads touched. ‘Unless you find a friend to help.’

So close. She could smell the sweetness of his breath. ‘A friend?’ she whispered. She wanted so much more than simple friendship with him.

‘Vaji and I made an alliance when we were young. We helped each other. And now I will help you.’

She couldn’t imagine it. Her—backwards Anna—with a prince as an assistant.

‘I hope, too,’ he added, ‘that you will help me.’

Oh dear. Was this the catch? Was he about to trade his help for…what? More intimate time with her? She wasn’t sure she objected. Nevertheless, she was relieved when he elaborated.

‘I wish to dress and act more English. I need to learn your dances. I need new clothing. During negotiations, I will dress and behave exactly as a prince of Siam. But before then, I must learn how the English think by doing as the English do.’

‘There’s a lot to learn.’

‘I need a trusted guide. Someone who will not lie just to make a fool of me.’

Her eyes widened. ‘Of course not! That would be cruel.’

‘And you, who have been treated so cruelly, would not dream of doing such a thing to another.’

No, she would not. Though she didn’t think that her life had been cruel. Just misunderstood. Maybe. Could she really not be backwards?

‘I will help you any way I can,’ she said.

‘And I will help you find new servants.’

Her brows rose. ‘That will take a lot of time.’

He snorted. ‘We are yet a week away from the prince’s grand welcome. Negotiations start after that. Then there are the blessings and prayers, the search for auspicious timing before we begin true discussions.’ He shook his head. ‘I have plenty of time.’

‘Blessings and prayers?’

‘All work of the Golden Throne must be blessed. Otherwise, it will not be respected at home.’ He flashed her a rueful look. ‘The abbot must have his respect or he will report badly when we return to Siam.’

‘I’m not sure the English will think well of that. We don’t tend to pray like that before events. And blessings take less than five minutes. How long will the abbot need?’

‘A day or more depending on the heavens. And two hours every morning before we speak.’

‘Two hours?’ she squeaked. ‘Every day?’

He shrugged. ‘Have you not heard him chanting? The abbot likes the sound of his own…um, prayers.’

She chuckled. ‘Yes, I suppose many people enjoy their time at the centre of it all.’