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Justine and her sister blinked at him. Princess Amelia laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”
“It is no’,” he said defensively. “I think there is nothing more bucolic than sheep dotting a field, and nothing more artistic than a dog herding them. The sheepdogs, they are born to it, aye, but they need a bit of finessing. When I was a wee lad, I spent as much time as I could with the shepherds and learned how to train them properly.” Frankly, William’s fondest memories were of a simpler time. He’d never been as happy as he had been at twelve years old with four sheepdogs to train. He’d continued to train them up until he left for the continent the first time.
“I wish I had as much enthusiasm for a task as a sheepdog,” Justine said wistfully.
“They are amazing in their tenacity,” he agreed. “You enjoy dogs, then?”
“Adorethem. Rohalan Palace is full of them. If you love dogs and sheep, why do you always seem to be in salons? Should you not be wandering around Scotland, herding your sheep?”
“Ah, would that I was, but it’s no’ so easy as that, is it? There comes a few burdens with it.”
“With being a shepherd?” Princess Amelia scoffed.
“With being the sort of shepherd I would have to be. There comes with it estate duties and family with differing opinions and whatno’, aye?”
“Je,”Princess Justine said instantly. She looked at him for a long moment, as if working something out. “I understand a bit about that.”
“Aye, I’ve no doubt that you do. Far better than me.”
“It seems there are always so many complications and people who must be considered.”
They weren’t talking about sheepdogs anymore, he gathered. “Aye, it can be very taxing on one’s good humor. One wants only to do what is just, but justice can have so many dimensions.”
“Je!”She seemed surprised. “That is precisely it.” She looked as if she meant to say something more, but Princess Amelia suddenly cried out with delight.
“Look at all the people! What is this place?”
Justine jerked toward the window. William looked out, too. “Aye, that would be Stafford House.” There were many people milling about on the expansive lawn.
Justine suddenly surged toward the window, pushing her sister out of the way. When she’d seen it, she fell back and glared at William. “You said a small reception.”
“It was supposed to be that, aye.”
“Whathappened?”
She sounded a bit frantic. It was a remarkable turn from the easy conversation they’d just been having moments ago. “I rather thinkyouhappened, Your Royal Highness. Many of these people have never seen their own queen, much less a foreign one in search of a king—”
“Not aking, a prince consort!”
One of his brows rose. “I beg your pardon.” He would have laughed, but she seemed almost beside herself and he didn’t know what to make of it. “Are you surprised to be the object of interest? Sutherland will call them distinguished guests. I will call them gawpers, all of them eager for the sight of two young, unmarried, handsome princesses.”
“Gawper? What does that mean?” Princess Amelia asked.
“He means onlookers,” Justine said. She swallowed, then drew a shallow breath. “God knows how many more inside.”
“I hope there are squads of them,” Princess Amelia said eagerly as the coach swung through the gates.
“Ohno,” Justine muttered.
Her behavior was mildly alarming. “Is something wrong?” William asked.
“Didn’t anyone tell you?” Amelia asked lightly as the coach came to the gate. “She goesmadin crowds.”
William looked at Justine. All the color had drained from her face.
“I don’t gomad,” Justine said, swallowing again and looking as if she was attempting to find her breath. “I don’t care for crowds, that’s all. They’re stifling. Could we open a window? I need air.”
William stared at her in disbelief. He did not see how it was possible for a woman who seemed so bloody sure of herself at Prescott Hall to suddenly seem as if she was about to faint.
