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“Splendid day, isn’t it?” Lila asked cheerfully as she stepped in between Douglas and Princess Justine, looping her arms through both of theirs.
“Aye, that it is,” Douglas agreed.
“One could not ask for a better day to receive a special guest.”
“Who is our guest?” Princess Amelia asked with delight.
“A gentleman who should very much like to meet Her Royal Highness, Princess Justine. Aprince.”
“Only her? Why only her? There aretworoyal princesses presently at Prescott Hall, in case everyone has forgotten.”
“No one has forgotten, Amelia,” Princess Justine said. “It is rather impossible to forget with the daily reminders. But I’m the one who needs a match.”
“Well, now, I could no’ be more delighted for you, Your Royal Highness,” said Douglas. “I can scarcely wait to see the gentleman who might win your hand. Although if you ask me—”
“Which I did not—”
“But if you had, I would have advised you to hold out for a king. You could unite nations in your bed...among other things.”
Lila and Princess Amelia laughed.
“You clearly don’t understand how these things work,” said Princess Justine through a smile.
“Oh, but I understand it all too well,” said Douglas.
“Perhapsyouought to engage the services of Lady Aleksander if you understand it so well. Her services come highly recommended.”
“How kind of you to say, ma’am,” Lila trilled. “I would indeed be happy to assist you, my lord.”
“Thank you, but that will no’ be necessary. I am perfectly capable of doing it all on my own.”
“So you say,” Princess Justine said cheerfully. “And yet, here you are, on the cusp of middle age—”
“Hardly—”
“And without any visible prospects.” She leaned around Lila to smile at Douglas, and the effect, Lila thought, was very pleasing. Princess Justine really was a very pretty woman. It was a quiet beauty—it didn’t strike you straightaway like Princess Amelia’s looks, but built every time one laid eyes on her.
Amelia pushed her way into the group. “Well,Iunderstand how these things work. Who is coming?”
“Principe Gaetano di Aggiani,” Lila said.
“Pardon?” Douglas jerked his gaze to Lila. “Did you say Aggiani?”
“Oh, are you acquainted? Why, that’s marvelous! You can be on hand when he arrives. There is nothing as helpful as a familiar face in the crowd for our foreign visitors.”
“Please, Lady Aleksander, I can think of nothing more disturbing than finding Lord Douglas’s familiar face in my crowd,” said Princess Justine.
And with that feigned protestation, Lila understood the attraction was stronger than she knew, and she was positively filled with glee. It was entirely possible that the marquess and the princess were meant for each other. At the moment it was only a feeling she had, but as Valentin often said, there was nothing more accurate than her intuition. She didn’t know how she divined such things; she only knew she was awfully good at it, and she knew what these two didn’t know.
Yet.
Lila clasped her hands behind her back. “How are you are acquainted with Prince Gaetano, my lord?”
“We’ve met a time or two. A hunting party once. And then I had occasion to see him at the home of a mutual friend.”
“Wonderful! Then perhaps you can vouch what an excellent match the prince would be for Her Royal Highness.”
“No need for him to vouch,” the princess chimed in. “The gentleman is not a king, but he’s a prince! What more does one need to know?”
