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They paused near the entrance to the West Pier. Prince Petrus and Miss Sloane were busy distracting the younger children from running out its length while Beatrice and Nancy gazed longingly at its shops and games.
Francis wasn’t interested in any of it. He only cared about Miss Narayan. “I am sorry for not being honest with my intentions,” he said. “I am sorry that I was unable to support and defend you when I first noted that you needed my help.”
Again, that seemed to be the wrong thing to say when Miss Narayan’s eyes widened. “I believe I was clear with you, sir,” she snapped. “As much as I might like to entertain the possibility, as I have told you, there can be nothing between the two of us. It is, as I have said, impossible.”
Despite her words, Francis smiled. Perhaps it was arrogant of him, but all he’d heard was that she would like to entertain the idea of something between them.
“Please tell me what is wrong,” he said in a softer voice, stepping closer to her. He would have reached for her hands, and perhaps kissed her again, but there was simply too much of a crowd around them. “I wish to understand, that is all.”
Miss Narayan made a sound of frustration. She glanced off toward the side of the pier, where Miss Sloane and Prince Petrus were now playing with the younger children. All of them were laughing. Miss Narayan’s face melted into regret and sadness.
“If I were free to give my heart away, I would give it to you,” she said at last, nearly whispering the beautiful words. She peeked at him, her complexion pink with sun and emotion. “You do not understand the ways of my people, Lord Cathraiche. I am the daughter of a maharaja, and as such, there are certain responsibilities and expectations that have been placed upon my shoulders.”
Francis nodded slowly. He believed he was beginning to understand. “Do these responsibilities involve being used as a pawn in your father’s game of alliances with neighboring kingdoms?”
He knew he’d guessed correctly by the pinch that came to Miss Narayan’s face. Everything fell into place. No wonder Miss Narayan was so insistent on the rights of women and their ability to determine their own futures. Chances were that Miss Narayan’s father had promised her hand in marriage to some old and stuffy raja as a means of forming an alliance. It was archaic and distasteful, but Miss Narayan must have held at least some respect for those traditions.
As far as Francis was concerned, knowing the source of the problem meant he could discover a solution to it. It was likely terribly British of him, but he was certain his title and influence could override the situation.
“Never mind, Miss Narayan,” he said with a smile, offering his arm again. “These things have a way of resolving themselves. I am quite certain that we can determine a satisfactory solution for the whole thing.”
Meaning that as soon as he had the first chance to speak with the Maharaja of Koch Bihar, he would make every argument possible to convince the man to break whatever political engagement he’d determined for his daughter and allow Francis to marry her instead.
Miss Narayan eyed him suspiciously, her lips pressed together. Francis couldn’t tell if she believed he had the power to make things right or not. She certainly seemed as though she had more to say on the subject.
She was prevented from doing so when Miss Sloane called out to her, “Priya! We’re going out on the pier. Are you coming?”
Miss Narayan let out a heavy breath. Some of the tension she’d been carrying with her seemed to roll off her shoulders as she slumped. If only the gesture hadn’t felt to Francis like she was giving up with some degree of despair.
“We are coming,” she called back after a moment.
Francis smiled and offered her his arm one more time. This time, blessedly, she took it.
They walked out onto the pier with the children, and though supervising that small handful of lively children took far more effort than Francis ever would have imagined, he was able to keep Miss Narayan on his arm. He felt better for having wheedled her secret out of her—and he was certain there was another promise of marriage standing between them, whether she’d confirmed it or not—but now more than ever, all he wanted to do was make her happy and set her mind at ease.
By the time they’d worn the children out enough to drag them back to the hotel, Francis could see that Miss Narayan was dragging as well.
“Might I advise that you retire to your room for a nap before supper?” he asked as their busy party stumbled into the hotel lobby, creating more noise than Francis was used to.
Miss Narayan frowned, but she didn’t have a chance to say anything before Mrs. Sloane spotted them all coming in and rushed to receive the children.
“You all look as though you’ve enjoyed the sunshine,” she said with smiles for all. That was also the moment when she seemed to notice Prince Petrus for the first time. “Oh,” she said, blinking at him. “Are you a friend of Lord Cathraiche’s? I noticed you earlier, but I wasn’t certain.”
“Mama, this is Prince Petrus of Aegiria,” Miss Sloane said, pushing the prince forward and sending her mother an excited smile. “I thought it might be grand to invite him to dine with us tonight. And Lord Cathraiche, too.”
Francis fought not to burst into a laugh. He glanced to Prince Petrus, who also seemed determined not to laugh. Miss Narayan had a firecracker of a friend.
“I think that sounds like an excellent idea,” Mrs. Sloane said, smiling and clapping her hands together. “Gentlemen, what do you say?”
“I would be delighted to join your interesting family for supper,” Prince Petrus accepted the invitation immediately. “This large and lively family reminds me very much of my own.”
“Is the royal family of Aegiria large and lively?” Miss Sloane asked, her eyes glittering with interest.
“It is,” Prince Petrus said with a nod. He glanced to Francis with a strange look of wistfulness as well.
Francis didn’t know what to make of that, so he ignored it. “I would be delighted to join you as well,” he told Mrs. Sloane.
“Excuse me,” Miss Narayan said, stepping away from Francis with a slight frown. “If we are dining in company, I must take the rest of the afternoon to prepare.” She glanced deliberately toward Miss Sloane.
“Good thinking,” Miss Sloane said in a whisper, hurrying after her friend. “Do you have our keys, Mama?”
“I do,” Mrs. Sloane said. She retrieved two room keys from her pocket and handed them to the women. “Your rooms are adjoining. I thought you might enjoy that.”
“Thank you, Mama,” Miss Sloane said. She tugged Miss Narayan toward the stairs, saying, “We have so much to talk about.”
Francis just bet they did. He exchanged another look with Prince Petrus.
