heard the steel in his tone.
If Princess Clarice heard the steel, she did a masterful job of ignoring it. "Revolution makes the role of princess not only difficult but dangerous."
"Yet you shout of your royalty in a town square," Robert said.
Princess Clarice smiled with her jaw tight. "I have to sell creams, and women do not try them without due reason. Knowing that they're wearing the same emulsions as the queens of old proves to be the enticement they cannot resist. So I take the chance and proclaim my title, then ride on to foil any abductors — or assassins."
"Convenient," Robert said.
"Necessary," Princess Clarice countered.
Again, that was no answer. This sparring between her brother and the princess fascinated Millicent. Millicent herself would never dare to thwart Robert on any matter. She had so looked forward to Robert's return, but after these few months of speaking to a courteous stranger whose smiles never reached his eyes, she had lost all hope of ever finding her beloved brother again.
Until today.
Princess Clarice had moved Robert out of his self-imposed exile and back toward humanity, so Millicent wanted Princess Clarice close under his nose, where he couldn't ignore her. Where the princess could bring that peculiar expression of pain and amazement to his usually impassive face.
He wore it now as he watched her ride.
In a move that dismissed him and brought Millicent into the conversation, Princess Clarice turned to her. "Tell me about this ball you're planning."
With a pride Millicent didn't bother to subdue, she told Princess Clarice, "My brother is hosting a ball for Colonel Oscar Ogley."
"The war hero?" Princess Clarice sounded suitably impressed. As well she should be. Colonel Ogley's feats of derring-do had been reported in every newspaper. His name had been on every lip. His height, his handsome demeanor, his nobility, had been reported throughout the land, and it was rumored the Prince of Wales would confer upon him and his family a title commensurate with his valor. Colonel Ogley had even written a book, and Millicent owned it bound in the finest leather. It sat in a place of honor on her shelf. "Colonel Ogley is coming here?"
"He was my commanding officer on the Peninsula," Robert said. "Celebrating his return is the least I can do after his courageous acts."
Princess Clarice sounded impressed as she said, "What a coup for you to have him!"
Robert glanced down, a small smile playing about his mobile mouth.
Millicent knew what he thought. He thought that Colonel Ogley should realize the honor he was paid by the Hepburns. Gently she tried to convey that to the princess. "We're very pleased to have the colonel with us. This is the only ball he has agreed to attend in all of Scotland."
Even before the words were out of Millicent's mouth, Princess Clarice comprehended, and added, "Yes, and what a coup for Colonel Ogley to have the Hepburns honoring his return!"
Which proved Princess Clarice was very gracious and instinctively polite.
Millicent didn't know why Robert had insisted the princess come to stay at MacKenzie Manor, but she had dared to add her own, less imperious invitation to Robert's — and she found herself pleasantly surprised by Princess Clarice's reception. Usually, pretty women intimidated Millicent. Yet for all the princess's beauty, she was approachable and not at all condescending, and when she laughed at Millicent's small joke about Prudence . . . well, Millicent thought they could possibly be friends.
Except that Princess Clarice was a princess. Perhaps Millicent was being presumptuous in thinking they could ever have something in common.
Then Princess Clarice said, "Dear Lady Millicent, I would be frazzled at the thought of arranging such a grand ball! Please, you must tell me what I can do for you. I'll be glad to help where I can."
Before Millicent could thank her, Robert said, "Then be present."
Princess Clarice whipped her head around and said swiftly,
If Princess Clarice heard the steel, she did a masterful job of ignoring it. "Revolution makes the role of princess not only difficult but dangerous."
"Yet you shout of your royalty in a town square," Robert said.
Princess Clarice smiled with her jaw tight. "I have to sell creams, and women do not try them without due reason. Knowing that they're wearing the same emulsions as the queens of old proves to be the enticement they cannot resist. So I take the chance and proclaim my title, then ride on to foil any abductors — or assassins."
"Convenient," Robert said.
"Necessary," Princess Clarice countered.
Again, that was no answer. This sparring between her brother and the princess fascinated Millicent. Millicent herself would never dare to thwart Robert on any matter. She had so looked forward to Robert's return, but after these few months of speaking to a courteous stranger whose smiles never reached his eyes, she had lost all hope of ever finding her beloved brother again.
Until today.
Princess Clarice had moved Robert out of his self-imposed exile and back toward humanity, so Millicent wanted Princess Clarice close under his nose, where he couldn't ignore her. Where the princess could bring that peculiar expression of pain and amazement to his usually impassive face.
He wore it now as he watched her ride.
In a move that dismissed him and brought Millicent into the conversation, Princess Clarice turned to her. "Tell me about this ball you're planning."
With a pride Millicent didn't bother to subdue, she told Princess Clarice, "My brother is hosting a ball for Colonel Oscar Ogley."
"The war hero?" Princess Clarice sounded suitably impressed. As well she should be. Colonel Ogley's feats of derring-do had been reported in every newspaper. His name had been on every lip. His height, his handsome demeanor, his nobility, had been reported throughout the land, and it was rumored the Prince of Wales would confer upon him and his family a title commensurate with his valor. Colonel Ogley had even written a book, and Millicent owned it bound in the finest leather. It sat in a place of honor on her shelf. "Colonel Ogley is coming here?"
"He was my commanding officer on the Peninsula," Robert said. "Celebrating his return is the least I can do after his courageous acts."
Princess Clarice sounded impressed as she said, "What a coup for you to have him!"
Robert glanced down, a small smile playing about his mobile mouth.
Millicent knew what he thought. He thought that Colonel Ogley should realize the honor he was paid by the Hepburns. Gently she tried to convey that to the princess. "We're very pleased to have the colonel with us. This is the only ball he has agreed to attend in all of Scotland."
Even before the words were out of Millicent's mouth, Princess Clarice comprehended, and added, "Yes, and what a coup for Colonel Ogley to have the Hepburns honoring his return!"
Which proved Princess Clarice was very gracious and instinctively polite.
Millicent didn't know why Robert had insisted the princess come to stay at MacKenzie Manor, but she had dared to add her own, less imperious invitation to Robert's — and she found herself pleasantly surprised by Princess Clarice's reception. Usually, pretty women intimidated Millicent. Yet for all the princess's beauty, she was approachable and not at all condescending, and when she laughed at Millicent's small joke about Prudence . . . well, Millicent thought they could possibly be friends.
Except that Princess Clarice was a princess. Perhaps Millicent was being presumptuous in thinking they could ever have something in common.
Then Princess Clarice said, "Dear Lady Millicent, I would be frazzled at the thought of arranging such a grand ball! Please, you must tell me what I can do for you. I'll be glad to help where I can."
Before Millicent could thank her, Robert said, "Then be present."
Princess Clarice whipped her head around and said swiftly,