Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Before I could reply, Verity called out, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
There were a few maids and footmen behind her, carrying several things to prepare for a picnic, though I thought we were only to go on a walk.
“Is there anything else you require, Your Highness?” Verity asked him.
I was sure he did not require that much.
“No, that is fine, Lady Verity.” He nodded to her. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, and I knew he very much did not require any of that.
“Let’s be going. They can take their time to set up once we get to the park,” I said, stepping out of the gates alongside Wilhelm. When I did, it was as if all the ton had been drawn to us.
Since arriving back in London, I had not had time to walk about in society. Every day, Wilhelm and the queen’s coach were waiting for me. I was so distracted by him that I truly did not pay attention to much of the world beyond that. Then, in the palace, no one stared. It had been like that for so many days now that this experience was rather extraordinary. Every last person paused to watch us as if we were doing something astonishing, and not merely walking upon the footpaths.
“Good day, Your Highness,” several men said to him, and what was more shocking was how they addressed me as ma’am, and not my lady.
Wilhelm just nodded back and gave them short smiles that, to me, looked clearly forced and tense. Was this why he had wanted to go back to the palace? He knew it would be like this, and why wouldn’t it be? How often did royals simply walk about London with the rest of the gentry? Some people could live all their lives, lord or not, and never see a royal in the flesh. To me, it was just a walk. To them, it was royalty among men.
“Are you all right?” he asked me.
I nodded. “Yes, I just didn’t realize it would be like this; how naïve of me. Are you all right?”
“Honestly, I must say I am rather surprised by this, too. It has been a while since I have had such attention. No one in England recognized who I was before, so I could walk around unnoticed. But since they all know you, Lady Hathor Du Bell, they can guess who I am.”
“Should we go back?”
“Your friend is here. Speak with her, you both seem close. I will speak with her husband. Does he have any interests?”
“He’s a doctor.”
“A duke’s daughter married a doctor?”
“It is a long story.” I grinned, and then paused, causing Verity and Theodore to quickly stop, too. “Sir Darrington, Prince Wilhelm is curious about your profession and how you came to be married to Lady Verity. Will you inform him while Verity and I gossip for a moment?”
His eyes widened, and he froze for a moment before nodding and stepping forward. “Of course.”
He and I switched places, allowing me to link arms with Verity. “Could you two not be so tense? You are making it awkward.”
“Have we done something to offend him?” she questioned worriedly.
I groaned, pointing at her face. “This, your face, that is what is offensive. You are so overly cautious. Wilhelm is a very affable person.”
“He’s a prince, Hathor. There is no such thing as an affable prince,” she whispered back. “And with the rumors around him, I do not know how you can describe him so.”
“Rumors? Which ones?”
“Far too many to count. But everyone is speaking of him. The wild prince of Malrovia who broke hearts all throughout Europe, nearly beat Lord Covington to death at your family castle, and, of course, how he tried to steal his father’s throne—”
“What?” I gasped. “Those are gross exaggerations and mischaracterizations, and the last is simply a lie. Who is saying this?”
“Everyone, Hathor. Why do you think I had to come and see you myself?” she replied. “The way everyone is talking, it was as if some horrible beast had fallen in love with you, and you with him.”
I frowned at that, staring at his back. “He is not at all like that. Sadly, he doesn’t seem to care to fix his reputation either. But I am so shocked that so many are speaking of him at all. Did we not win a war? Troops are returning; Napoleon has abdicated. You would think they’d have their fill of gossip elsewhere.”
“All of that is happening rather far away, and it is hard to understand what exactly is happening throughout Europe right now. Everyone says it’s a mess. A banished prince and famed lady of standing seeking to marry right here in front of our eyes is rather more interesting. I’m surprised I have to explain this to you of all people. You always know what is going on in society.”