Page 94 of Her Royal Houseguest

She turned to him, her beautiful eyes widening. He never failed to appreciate the color of her eyes, especially as the sun warmed them to gold. If he were her husband, he would give her long necklaces of cat’s eye beads, though they would fade in comparison to her eyes.

‘I’d forgotten that the abbot records everything,’ she said.

‘It is his given task. What are we doing instead of seeing my tailor?’

‘We leave in ten minutes to see the queen. Quickly, change into anything that you think appropriate.’

He frowned. ‘The queen? Why?’

‘Because all the men are arrayed against you. Surely, you’ve seen that.’

He had. He knew. ‘But—’

She huffed. ‘Do you still think women are powerless? That we have no influence over—’

‘Trade? How can she—’

Anna rolled her eyes. ‘Either change or not. Come with me or not. But I haven’t the time to argue.’ She looked down at her dress. It was a simple one of rose. He liked it but she clearly did not. ‘I need to get on a court gown.’

‘I will change my clothes.’

‘Quickly, please.’

He quirked a brow, amused that she had no qualms about commanding him—a prince—to do her bidding. But then, she hadn’t commanded him. She’d asked and he would comply because he trusted her.

Ten minutes later, he was dressed in his finest Siamese attire—plus English boots because his feet were cold—and she in a gown with rich fabrics and dark sapphires to reflect her family’s colours. Once the carriage was moving, he had time to press her with more questions, though it was still awkward with her maid sitting right there.

‘What do you think the queen will do for me?’

‘Maybe nothing. But we cannot know unless we ask.’

‘We?’ he pressed. ‘This is my country.’

‘And this is my queen. We must work together or it will fail.’ She shrugged. ‘Though it might fail anyway.’

He understood her doubts. This was the way of society and politics. But he still had a question. ‘Why would you help me against your own country?’

She reared back. ‘I’m not doing that! I’m helping you get a fair hearing. That is all.’

‘But how can the queen do that?’

‘I’m not sure she can. But you can speak to her as a prince and maybe make some headway.’ She shrugged. ‘What have you got to lose?’

More than she knew. The movement of countries was complicated and any misstep could be disastrous. But he trusted her and he trusted in himself to make the most of the situation. So he turned his attention to the practicalities.

What were the palace protocols? What could he request? But all during that discussion, he kept wondering how he had managed to get an English woman to fight so strongly on his behalf. He knew that her father pretended to help the Siamese while secretly siding with the East India Company. What had he done to so firmly set Anna on his side?

He could think of many things. After all, she had firmly lodged herself in his heart. Every time he looked at her, his belly tightened and his kway throbbed. But that was nothing compared to the hunger that swept through him whenever he thought of her. She was everything he wanted in a woman—smart, poised and creative. But more than that, she brought him joy. He wasn’t even sure how she did it but her laughter was the greatest sound in his day. Her smile brought on his. And when she was happy, his heart overflowed with joy.

These were not smart feelings but when were emotions ever rational? And how could he make up for the way he had lashed out at her? He had deliberately hurt her and the shame of that moment tore at him. Up until that moment, she had been an open, giving woman whenever they were near. Afterwards, she treated him with politeness but she was guarded.

How could so little a change affect him so deeply? He didn’t know but he felt the difference as a chill in every part of his body.

‘What do you hope to gain from this?’ he asked as the carriage neared the palace.

‘I hope that she’ll help you.’

He shook his head. ‘That is what I gain. What of you?’