Page 14 of The Prince Falls First
“Perhaps,” Mrs. Kaur spoke up over Mrs. Ruffin’s incessant apologies, “Helen, you should—er,succinctly—answer Her Highness’s question.”
Mrs. Ruffin blinked several times, then nodded with a broad smile. “Yes, of course. I was not at the ball, unfortunately. Though I do so love them. My daughter attended in my place, as you know, Your Highness.”
And now the woman’s attention was back on him. Gabriel wouldn’t mind it if it spared Agnes, but he was growing ever so weary of her. How did Genevieve manage this on a daily basis?
Mrs. Ruffin continued speaking, not catching any of the hints thus far that perhaps she should stop for air. “You had a lovely dance together, I understand. She told me how much she enjoyed it. Oh! Here she is now.”
They all glanced around and saw Genevieve approaching. To everyone else, her face sported a serene smile but Gabriel saw the truth. Having danced with her and seen her displeasure up close, he saw it now in the way her hands were tensed tightly, one hand around the stem of her wineglass, and the other lifting up her dress slightly, allowing her to move more smoothly.
Gabriel also caught a glimpse of her shiny silver shoes. He couldn’t say he was a ‘feet’ man, but he suddenly had a vision of taking off those shoes and kissing his way up, starting at her feet, and moving up her leg to?—
“Your Highnesses.” Genevieve curtsied to him, then to his sister. “It’s a pleasure to see you both again. The ball was wonderful, and the funds raised will greatly help the children’s hospital.”
Agnes smiled, a little more than she had at Genevieve’s mother. “Indeed, we were all pleased at the final results.”
Genevieve nodded. “If you will excuse me just a moment, Your Highnesses, while I convey some information.”
He and Agnes both nodded. To Gabriel, this seemed excessively formal, but perhaps Genevieve was acting this way due to her mother.
“Mrs. Kaur, I believe you’re needed in the dining room for a moment. And Mother, someone was asking for you in the other room.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Mrs. Kaur said as she rose, curtsied again, and left.
Mrs. Ruffin pursed her lips, but Genevieve wove an arm into her mother’s, curtsied (and forced a curtsy out of her mother), and politely manhandled her into another room.
Agnes leaned over and whispered. “That was excellent maneuvering. I doubt even Mother could have handled that better.”
Gabriel nodded in agreement but didn’t say more. Genevieve’s manners had been polite and practically perfect both yesterday and today. Yet today she seemed so different from the woman he’d met and held in his arms.
“Wouldn’t you say so, Gabriel?” his sister asked.
He blinked and turned his head towards her, trying to catch up with the conversation.
Agnes gestured with her eyes towards the dining table. “I think escorting Mrs. Kaur to dinner will get everyone moving.”
When had she returned from the dining room?“Of course. I’d be delighted.” Catching Miss Kaur’s eye, he added, “Perhaps I could also escort Miss Kaur as well.”
The young lady in question smiled brightly. “I’d be honoured, Your Highness.”
Mr. Kaur escorted Agnes, while he followed behind with the women. The others in the room followed behind them. Genevieve, he noticed, was being escorted by a rather short, slim man. Who was he? And why was his hand so close to her ass?
He found himself seated to Mr. Kaur’s right at the head of the table. He was offered the head spot, but declined it; he was merely a guest here and wanted to stay that way, protocol be damned.
Miss Kaur was seated beside him, and Genevieve wound up seated opposite her.
She was across the table and one spot away from him, yet it may have been an ocean for the glare she threw his way before taking her seat.
The glare only made him smile. For some masochistic reason, he enjoyed it when she was angry with him.
What he did not enjoy, however, was watching the man seated next to Genevieve spend the entire dinner service looking down her dress whenever he got a chance. The man also seemed to have a cold and sneezed on her more than once.
He had to hand it to her, she managed to maintain her composure, though he could see her sadness creeping in again as the evening wore on. He was growing to hate those moments when those shadows seemed to overtake her.
When they rose for after dinner drinks, he intended to pull her aside and talk, but she quickly disappeared with Miss Kaur. On the pretext of needing to speak to his driver outside, he stepped away from the group and began to search for her.
He was about to round a corner when he paused at her voice.
“I’m fine, it’s just a bad headache.”
