smile slighted to his father , Papá’s obvious oblivion, even then . Surrounded in a field of vivid purples, orange and yellow perennials , the knowing quirk in her eye seemed to land on Prince .
He should rethink the painting over the bed.
Disgusted, he finally ventured one eye toward Arnald , noting the smirk remarkably similar to M amán’s . Arms folded across his chest, gave Arnald the haughty-down-the-nose stare usually reserved for nobility . Arnald was not nobility and he was out of line . Well, he supposed that was not only unfair, but untrue, as his mother’s dead and only sibling’s child.
“Would you care to explain?” Arnald asked.
Prince’s temper snapped . “Go ahead, bellow to your heart’s content . You know you want to, but at least bar the door a forehand. ” His temper faded just as quickly as it had appeared . T he abhorrence of what happened settled over him, leaving him queasy . He groaned . “How unfavorable would you say?”
Arnald shook his head, managing to restrain the laughter once more . He’d better . One did not laugh at the prince . It could prove fatal for one’s health.
“The future king just fainted . How unfavorable would you say?”
Chapter 7
Thomasine stepped forward to offer a comely welcome to her new houseguests with all the grace a queen summoned after her strong winsome son dropped like a pile of rocks on the ground, before God and country . Of course, she’d hidden her inclination to do the same . Truth be told, s he applauded his brilliant escape.
Rather than stalking away which was her next tempting option, she rested her gaze on the two young women before her . Each appeared, not exactly un attractive with their shiny hair and creamy complexions, but rather sullen and coddled . Their mother, Hilda, on the other hand, though at the moment, awed, would no doubt gain her voice quickly enough .
Finally, her gaze settled on the servant girl . Long dark dull locks of hair hung down her back, the top of her head covered by a many-times-mended-over kerchief in a drab faded brown . Her apron had certainly seen better days . Thomasine narrowed her eyes . Was it her imagination or had something in her pocket just moved ? Non, impossible . With a self-conscious move the child sl id her chapped hand in that same pocket , clearly ashamed .
Big brown eyes looked lost in a face dotted with…was that ash on her pale cheeks ? Once cleaned up, the chit would no doubt be quite breathtaking . Thomasine wished she could reassure the child . Her son could not have made a finer choice, she decided . If this stratagem did not somehow manage to go awry, she and Faust ine might attain hope of guiding her only son’s efforts toward maturity . The gruesome thought was enough to send a shiver skittering down her spine.
Resisting an urge to close her eyes, she silently allowed Faustine’s not so reassuring words to float over her . “Trust, my dear, trust. ” She supposed she had no choice at this juncture.
With a practiced cordiality, she clucked . “You must be weary from your travels . A long ride, non ? ” No one answered, but she had not expected them to.
Amusemen t touched her as they looked round clearly in awe . Hilda nodded which sent her triple chin into a horrifying jiggle . It seemed she could find nothing coherent to say . Thomasine had seen this before, of course . Royalty could be so unnerving to the Lessors.
“Beatrix, please conduct our guests to their quarters so they may freshen for supper,” the queen murmured . In a regal sweep she addressed Hilda . Thank the heavens Royalty had their practiced finesse . As i t would take that and more to pull off this mad plot they’d devised . “We dine at eight, my dear . We shall gather in the family parlor for a pre-dinner sherry a forehand . A servant will avail themselves to you for your direction,” Thomasine
He should rethink the painting over the bed.
Disgusted, he finally ventured one eye toward Arnald , noting the smirk remarkably similar to M amán’s . Arms folded across his chest, gave Arnald the haughty-down-the-nose stare usually reserved for nobility . Arnald was not nobility and he was out of line . Well, he supposed that was not only unfair, but untrue, as his mother’s dead and only sibling’s child.
“Would you care to explain?” Arnald asked.
Prince’s temper snapped . “Go ahead, bellow to your heart’s content . You know you want to, but at least bar the door a forehand. ” His temper faded just as quickly as it had appeared . T he abhorrence of what happened settled over him, leaving him queasy . He groaned . “How unfavorable would you say?”
Arnald shook his head, managing to restrain the laughter once more . He’d better . One did not laugh at the prince . It could prove fatal for one’s health.
“The future king just fainted . How unfavorable would you say?”
Chapter 7
Thomasine stepped forward to offer a comely welcome to her new houseguests with all the grace a queen summoned after her strong winsome son dropped like a pile of rocks on the ground, before God and country . Of course, she’d hidden her inclination to do the same . Truth be told, s he applauded his brilliant escape.
Rather than stalking away which was her next tempting option, she rested her gaze on the two young women before her . Each appeared, not exactly un attractive with their shiny hair and creamy complexions, but rather sullen and coddled . Their mother, Hilda, on the other hand, though at the moment, awed, would no doubt gain her voice quickly enough .
Finally, her gaze settled on the servant girl . Long dark dull locks of hair hung down her back, the top of her head covered by a many-times-mended-over kerchief in a drab faded brown . Her apron had certainly seen better days . Thomasine narrowed her eyes . Was it her imagination or had something in her pocket just moved ? Non, impossible . With a self-conscious move the child sl id her chapped hand in that same pocket , clearly ashamed .
Big brown eyes looked lost in a face dotted with…was that ash on her pale cheeks ? Once cleaned up, the chit would no doubt be quite breathtaking . Thomasine wished she could reassure the child . Her son could not have made a finer choice, she decided . If this stratagem did not somehow manage to go awry, she and Faust ine might attain hope of guiding her only son’s efforts toward maturity . The gruesome thought was enough to send a shiver skittering down her spine.
Resisting an urge to close her eyes, she silently allowed Faustine’s not so reassuring words to float over her . “Trust, my dear, trust. ” She supposed she had no choice at this juncture.
With a practiced cordiality, she clucked . “You must be weary from your travels . A long ride, non ? ” No one answered, but she had not expected them to.
Amusemen t touched her as they looked round clearly in awe . Hilda nodded which sent her triple chin into a horrifying jiggle . It seemed she could find nothing coherent to say . Thomasine had seen this before, of course . Royalty could be so unnerving to the Lessors.
“Beatrix, please conduct our guests to their quarters so they may freshen for supper,” the queen murmured . In a regal sweep she addressed Hilda . Thank the heavens Royalty had their practiced finesse . As i t would take that and more to pull off this mad plot they’d devised . “We dine at eight, my dear . We shall gather in the family parlor for a pre-dinner sherry a forehand . A servant will avail themselves to you for your direction,” Thomasine
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