A Princely Dilemma Read Online Free PDF Page B

left.
    ‘I suppose you think I ought to be grateful you didn’t make a dash for it an hour ago.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Farnsworth. ‘I do. Damned grateful. What’s all this nonsense about Prinny and the Princess Caroline?’
    Kester cleared his throat. ‘Can’t discuss it. Sorry.’
    Louisa snorted. ‘Really, Kester! You must be the only person in town who won’t discuss it. Were you, or were you not, at St James’s Palace this afternoon?’
    ‘Yes. And that’s all I’m going to say.’ He looked over at his wife. She appeared pale, sad. What the devil had the ladies been talking about earlier? When he’d brought the gentlemen up the conversation had died instantly, and Linette had looked as though someone had struck her. ‘Why don’t you go up? I’ll see these two out.’
    She looked hesitant, but Louisa spoke up. ‘Yes, don’t stand on ceremony with us.’ She went over and gave her sister-in-law a hug. ‘Cheer up. Mama never behaves at family dinners. Don’t pay any attention to her nonsense—we none of us do.’
    ‘Which particular nonsense was Mama spouting over the teacups?’ asked Kester as he accompanied Louisa and Farnsworth downstairs. ‘Did it have something to do with the court of Versailles?’
    Louisa glanced at Farnsworth, who shrugged. ‘He’s your brother.’
    ‘True,’ said Louisa. ‘Very well.’ She looked at Kester. ‘Do you, or do you not, have a mistress?’
    Farnsworth spluttered.
    Kester stopped dead in his tracks. ‘What?’
    Grabbing his sister by the wrist, he dragged her down the last few steps and into a small parlour off the front hall, to the evident surprise of the footman on duty.
    Slamming the door behind them, he turned on her. ‘What the hell do you take me for, Louisa? A complete—’ He broke off as the door opened to admit Farnsworth. ‘—brute?’ he continued as Farnsworth closed the door.
    ‘Are you going to kill her, or just beat her?’ asked Farnsworth equably.
    Beyond flinging him an irritated glance, Kester ignored that. ‘Are you aware,’ he demanded, glaring at his impossible sister, who had strolled across to peruse the bookshelves, ‘that if it hadn’t been for Linette agreeing to marry me, we would have lost practically everything due to Papa’s damned folly? Everything.’
    ‘Slightly more aware than Mama, I should think,’ said Louisa, over her shoulder. She pulled out a book. ‘May I borrow this?’
    ‘Yes, curse you!’ Kester dragged in a breath, reaching for control. Damn it! He could scarcely think for wanting his wife, worrying that she might be regretting their marriage—how the hell could he possibly want a mistress? ‘And you believe I wouldn’t at least give her my loyalty?’ He wanted to give her far more than mere loyalty.
    ‘Of course not,’ said Louisa. ‘But Mama planted the seed. Or rather Soph did, and then Mama dropped a load of manure on it and watered it in. You might want to do some weeding.’
    Farnsworth looked pained. ‘Such a crude way of putting it, Louisa. May I presume to offer a word of advice, Severn?’
    ‘What?’ said Kester.
    ‘Don’t let this take hold. Even if she doesn’t believe it now, every time a woman so much as looks at you, particularly Anne Davison—’
    ‘Curse it, Farnsworth! I haven’t seen La Davison for months!’ He’d broken off the connection when he’d decided to court the marquise’s unknown granddaughter.
    ‘—she’s going to worry. Even if you don’t love her.’
    ‘What the hell would you know about it?’ snarled Kester.
    ‘Make sure she knows that your loyalty at least is given,’ said Farnsworth. ‘And make sure our world knows that too. Otherwise, they will tear her to pieces.’ His mouth thinned. ‘Just as Princess Caroline will be torn to pieces if Prinny doesn’t conduct himself as a gentleman.’

    He went upstairs slowly, thinking. Understandable that the prince resented the situation. He hadn’t been happy about being forced to marry