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William glanced in that direction. “Lady Worth and her daughter, Lady Ellen. I would guess that Lady Worth is frantic with worry that he will somehow win your hand, leaving her daughter without the match she has pursued with great vigor. But he’ll have no cause to mourn if you decide against him, as Lady Ellen is a superb match. Her fortune is no’ as large as yours, naturally, and her title no’ as illustrious. But it is enough for a man like him.”
A man like him.Of course Justine knew aboutmen like him. She’d been warned aboutmen like himall her life. William might be right about Rotham, but it wasn’t as if he was some extraordinary judge of character. “The same truth could be said of all the men crowded into this gallery. Including you.”
One of his brows arched. “I beg to differ.”
“Please. Men marry for advantage and women marry for wealth. Do you think I’m not aware what sort of match I present to someone like him?”
“I think you’d have to be dead no’ to know it.”
“Exactly. And for all I know, you’re as hungry for advantage as Rotham. Should I trust you?”
The other brow shot up to meet the other.“Yes,”he said emphatically. “How can you even ask it? We’ve been round this, have we no’? Your fortune and your throne hold no interest for me.”
She shrugged insouciantly. “So you say.”
“Idosay.” He appeared to be squaring off to argue. “Have I been anything less than honest with you? Have I no’ offered my thoughts even if they are unflattering? And really, have you any other choice than to trust me?”
True, he had been nothing but completely honest. And he did seem unreasonably determined to tell her what he thought, just as he’d said. She didn’twantto believe him...but for some reason her fizzy thoughts couldn’t sort out just now, she did. “I have very little choice in most things. Isn’t that a wonderful bit of irony? I am to be queen, and I have the least bit of choice of anyone here.” She sipped more of the champagne to hide her displeasure from the many onlookers.
An awkward moment passed, the two of them standing like a married couple in the middle of a row. He said, finally, “You have a choice. I’ll no’ interfere.” He took her by the elbow and steered her from Rotham’s view. “I give you my word to be honest at every turn. Spend the entire afternoon in Rotham’s company if you like. Bring him home with you. Keep him in your rooms and naked in your bed.”
Justine choked on another sip of champagne.
“Pardon—did I shock your tender sensibilities?”
“Hardly. I’m not as naive as you seem determined to believe.”
“Ah,” he said, holding up a finger. “You’re no’ even a wee bit naive. That’s why I feel quite at ease to bluntly advise you, especially about Rotham. Now, look up.”
Justine looked up. They were standing before a portrait of a woman, and Justine knew her instantly. “Anna of Austria,” she whispered in awe.
“Know her?”
“Je.”
“Remarkable, is it no’?” William said. “Look at the way she smiles.”
It was a portrait of her mother’s ancestor, who had become the French queen two hundred or so years ago. Justine had seen reproductions, but William was right, the original painting was remarkable. She wore a blue velvet gown, encrusted with pearls. Her lips were cherubic, her smile knowing, her blue eyes shrewd.
“Ah, the Rubens.” Justine turned her head and smiled at Rotham. “Your Royal Highness, please do forgive the interruption. If I may turn your attention to the ceiling? There was one last thing I wanted to draw to your attention. You might notice a bit of a surprise in the scene painted on the ceiling in the far corner of the room, if I may show you?”
“You may!” she said brightly. “I’d like just one very quick word with Lord Douglas before we view it.”
Rotham bowed and stepped away, putting his back to them. Sutherland took the opportunity to confer with him.
Justine turned to William and pushed her now empty glass into his chest, forcing him to take it. “You needn’t worry about me. And now, here is some advice foryou.”
“At last,” he said, catching the glass and her fingers with it for a moment. “I await with bated breath.”
“Lady Ellen can’t take her eyes off you. But you really must be aware that a young woman who seeks you out is most assuredly looking for a fortune.”
“Pardon?” He turned his head to look, of course he did, and in that moment Justine stepped away and moved forward to greet Rotham again.
She did not look back to see if William watched her. She knew that he did.
Or at least she hoped that he did.
CHAPTER NINE
