Page 78 of Her Royal Houseguest

Her eyes widened. ‘Oh, no. There are many people more important than me. You need to dance with them.’

‘And so I will. After I dance with you.’

She wanted to agree but her parents intervened.

‘That won’t do,’ her father said.

‘By rights, you should dance with me first,’ her mother said with a sniff.

‘By rights,’ her father interrupted, ‘he must dance with Princess Caroline first.’

The prince stared them both into silence. ‘Lady Anna dances with me. She is not backwards or cursed. She goes before anyone else except the queen.’

Then before her parents could say more, Prince Vaji intervened, stepping forwards.

‘Prince Deva has spoken. So it will be done.’

Then he returned to his place, surreptitiously winking at her as he moved. He was so fast with the gesture that she almost missed it. She sent him a quick smile in return. Truthfully, her heart soared that Deva would put her above all others except the queen. It was a measure of his respect and she knew he meant well.

But one look at her parents’ faces and she knew what everyone would say. They thought she had pushed for recognition above her status. Many people would claim she was a scheming shrew who had designs on the prince.

It didn’t help that she did have designs on the man. She did want so many impossible things with him.

The prince and her father left for the ducal carriage. The monks followed behind in the next, Clarke going with them as he carried the important gifts. Anna and her mother had the third carriage and so waited a moment while the others went ahead. And in that pause, her mother touched her arm.

‘You cannot dance with him,’ she said, her tone urgent. ‘You know what everyone will say.’

‘I do,’ she admitted. But for the first time in her life, she didn’t care. If nothing else, Deva had helped her realise that she wasn’t damaged goods. ‘What can gossip do to me? We’ve stopped looking for a husband for me.’

‘Lord Patrick might still offer.’

‘And he’d be refused.’

‘Then think about my reputation,’ her mother said with a sniff. ‘They’ll think I taught you no better.’

‘Than to follow a royal command? Mama, you know I have to obey the prince.’ That was a stretch. She could refuse. Indeed, polite society would say she ought to.

‘You’ve spent a lot of time with him. He’s fond of you but don’t think it’s anything else.’

Anna’s breath caught, pain lancing through her chest. She turned slowly to her mother, choosing her words carefully. ‘What are you saying?’

Her mother pressed her lips together, refusing to speak until they were inside their carriage, rumbling along to Carlton House.

‘Anna,’ she finally said. ‘Things have been going very well. The new servants are working out.’

‘I’m pleased to hear it.’ And she was. Mama had been very upset at losing Mrs Barker.

‘And I can see that you’re happier lately. I hear you humming more. You even laugh, usually too loud, but still, I am pleased by it.’

Trust her mother to throw in a criticism along with her compliment.

‘I am happier,’ she admitted. And frustrated. And aching with longing.

‘It’s Prince Deva. Don’t argue with me. I see how you look at him.’

Anna felt her cheeks heat. Had she been that obvious? ‘We have come to an understanding,’ she said. And at her mother’s pointed look, she sighed. ‘Not that kind of understanding. We work well together. He values me. And I like being…’ Important. Capable. Desired. ‘Useful.’

Her mother sniffed. ‘You’ve always been useful.’ She made it sound like she was talking about dirty shoes. ‘But you’re a ducal daughter and we’ll be in Carlton House. You cannot embarrass us!’