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“I’m afraid you won’t see them today. They’ve gone to the country to fetch Princess Amelia.”
William tried to read her expression but found nothing there to read. “Nothing serious, I hope?”
“That would depend upon your perspective. The princess sent word that she intended to stay with Lady Holland for a week, and Lady Bardaline thought that was a disastrous idea.” Her smile turned wry. “She believes the princess lacks awareness.”
On that, he and Lady Bardaline somewhat agreed. But never mind that—William saw his opening. He shot a look at the two footmen who were always in this salon and raised a finger. “Actually.” He took a step closer to Lady Aleksander so he might speak in confidence. “I’ve been meaning to speak to you about that very thing.”
One brow rose. “You mean to speak to me about Princess Amelia’s lack of awareness?”
“No, no. Princess Amelia is young and randy. It is to be expected.”
“Ohdear.” Lady Aleksander laughed.
“If I may offer a suggestion?”
“Please,” she said and gestured for him to continue as she took a seat on the settee, settling in as though this might take some time.
“It is my observation that it might be more prudent of you to put your efforts to Princess Amelia rather than Her Royal Highness.”
“Really?”
He couldn’t tell if she was surprised or amused. “Princess Amelia is more likely to bring scandal to the royal family, aye? But her sister is...sensible.”
“Sensible.”She said it as if she’d never heard the word before and was testing it out. She looked thoughtfully toward the window a moment. “Princess Justine is quite sensible, I agree.”
He hadn’t expected that, and now he didn’t know what more to say without sounding like the meddling old crone who lived near Hamilton Palace. He pressed his lips together and finding nothing more he could possibly say that was acceptable, shrugged as if it was nothing. “I speak only as a friend of Her Royal Highness.”
“Naturally. As a friend.” She looked like she was on the verge of laughing.
“Have I said something amusing?”
She shook her head.
He nodded, unsure what more to say.
“It’s just that I find it interesting that you’ve come round to this friendship,” she said. “I heard you would have debauched the princess given the opportunity when she was the tender age of seventeen.”
William felt the blood drain from his face. “I beg your pardon?”
She gave a halfhearted shrug. “Just some old rumors. Nevertheless, you’re right.”
“I am?”
“You are right to be concerned with Princess Amelia. I should probably pen a letter to Robuchard and tell him so. That is...unless you’d care to have the honor?”
“Me?” He laughed far too loudly. “No, thank you. I scarcely speak to him.”
“No?” she said, a wee bit slyly. “Well, you’ve put me to thinking, my lord. Perhaps I should put off the next gentleman to call and give Her Royal Highness a few days to get her bearings.”
William was astonished. “There’sanotherone?”
Lady Aleksander laughed as if he were a precocious child. “There is always another one until the matter is sorted and settled. The next is an American industrialist, in London for the summer.”
“Eww,”William said unthinkingly.
“I beg your pardon?”
He blinked. “What? Nothing, really... I’ve heard it said that Americans eat with their hands.” He shuddered at the thought. “A wee bit toward the uncivilized side of things.”
