A Princely Dilemma Read Online Free PDF

tenor of Lord Guy’s conversation.
    ‘ You could have a word with Kester though, could you not?’ Lord Guy said to her, as though he had only just thought of it.
    Lord Farnsworth’s eyes snapped into focus and his mouth opened.
    ‘No. I’m afraid not, Lord Guy,’ said Linnet gently. She smiled at his chagrined face and looked across to his lordship. ‘Is the dinner to your liking, my lord?’
    ‘Excellent,’ Farnsworth assured her. ‘Most entertaining dinner I’ve been to in years. You must come to us next week. Meet a few people, eh? Louisa will see to it now that you’re fixed in town.’
    ‘I should like that very much,’ she said. An invitation. Even if it was given out of family obligation and kindness.

    By the time Linnet rose to lead the ladies out and leave the gentlemen to their wine, her head ached. But the drawing room was almost worse than the dinner table.
    Lady Sophia opened hostilities. ‘It’s not really so surprising that the prince has a mistress,’ she said, sipping her tea. ‘After all, most men do. Even Kester, I should think. He was very interested in Lady Anne Davison last year. Everyone knew.’
    Linnet nearly dropped the teapot into Lady Farnsworth’s lap. She had met Lady Anne, a charming widow, shortly before her marriage. The dowager had made the introductions.
    ‘What rubbish!’ said Lady Farnsworth. ‘Just a drop of milk, thank you. Sophie, your manners are disgusting! It’s just as well Mama can’t bring you out this year if you can’t hold your tongue!’
    ‘I do not say that Severn does have a mistress,’ said the dowager. She flicked a glance at Linnet, whose stomach churned. ‘But he has certainly done so in the past, and it would not be anything at all surprising if he were to continue to do so.’ Another pitying glance at Linnet.
    Linnet forced her features to remain blank. Yes, she had considered this possibility when she had realised Severn was likely to offer for her. Considered it and accepted the likelihood. She had thought she would be able to cope, that common sense would be enough. She had been a fool.
    ‘Most gentlemen do,’ continued the dowager. She primmed her mouth and sipped her tea. ‘Dear Linette would be well-advised to bear in mind that a lady does not notice these things.’
    ‘Which does not explain how you and Sophia come to be noticing them,’ said Lady Farnsworth dryly.
    Her mother glared. ‘I meant that a lady does not make a fuss, or fall into the dismals when her husband strays, as he inevitably does.’
    ‘I can assure you that when Farnsworth takes a mistress, I shall not fall into the dismals, Mama,’ said Lady Farnsworth. ‘I’ll be too busy beating him about the head with his own duelling pistols!’
    ‘ Really , Louisa!’ The dowager looked pained. ‘That would be most improper.’
    Linnet couldn’t help it; she laughed out loud, despite the aching pain of wondering if Severn would stray.
    Lady Farnsworth turned to look at her. ‘I doubt you’ll need them, but Kester keeps his in the bottom of his armoire. Or he used to. If you can’t find them, let me know. I’ll lend you Roger’s.’
    ‘It is not at all the thing for madame la duchesse to be beating her husband around the head,’ pronounced Grandmère. ‘In that—’ she nodded to the dowager ‘—Madame is perfectly correct. However—’ and she looked down her nose in scorn ‘—I think it is most vulgar to speculate upon whether or not monsieur le duc has, or may perhaps take, a mistress in front of his bride. At the court of Versailles, such manners would not have been tolerated.’
    The door opened and the gentlemen entered. Linnet’s stomach dropped. Had Severn heard any of that? Whether he had or not, she would survive this evening with her head held high. She gritted her teeth and smiled.
    ‘Tea, Lord Farnsworth?’

Chapter Nine
    After bidding his mother and Sophia farewell, Kester looked at Louisa and Farnsworth, who were the only guests