Miss Nothing (Unexpected Heirs)

Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

T he lady who’d slapped her—Mrs. Fairleigh—clambered to her feet. From the crown of her head to the hem of her gown, her entire front was covered in ice cream.

At the sight of her eyes blinking in her ice cream-covered face, the prince lost all composure. He doubled over, howling with laughter, one hand on his thigh, the other waving helplessly. “Oh dear!” he wheezed. “Oh dear!”

His entourage also began to laugh. The laughter spread to the rest of the assembled crowd. The young lady who’d been kissing the officer was in hysterics, emitting high-pitched yipping noises as her shoulders shook. The officer put his arm about her, attempting to comfort her.

Stephen and the other footman were already rushing to collect the fallen silver goblets. But she seemed to have lost the power of movement. She felt as though nothing were quite real.

Her cheek burned where Mrs. Fairleigh’s hand had struck her. Her eyes began to well with tears that she seemed powerless to stop. Why was everything always going wrong? Why did she make enemies wherever she went?

Suddenly Mr. Keynsham was there. “Miss Ryder!” His warm hand clasped her elbow. “Stephen!” He turned to the footman. “Fetch some ice for Miss Ryder’s face at once!”

Stephen straightened, looking from Mr. Keynsham to her and back again, clearly bewildered. “Miss—Miss Ryder? Of course. Yes. Ice. Right away, sir.” He rushed away.

Mr. Keynsham took the tray from her other hand and set it on the table. “Explanations can wait. Let me find you somewhere quiet, where you may sit down.”

But before he could lead her away, Mrs. Fairleigh was back—ice cream still dripping from her face. “You sneaky chit! You… you… imposter! ”

“Madam.” Keynsham made her a slight, cold bow. “You are not yourself. Kindly allow me to assist the young lady who you assaulted.”

“Mrs. Fairleigh.” A lady in a pale blue gown and sapphires—her thick hair piled high and adorned with strings of pearls and three ostrich plumes—swept up to them. “How very… unfortunate an incident. No doubt maternal instinct dictates that you rush your daughter to the retiring room, where your ensembles may be restored to… er.”

She nodded to the butler. “Holt, accompany Mrs. and Miss Fairleigh to the retiring room. And send Hackett to them. And have basins of warm water brought up. And order Mrs. Fairleigh’s carriage immediately.”

But Mrs. Fairleigh didn’t move. “I see. You think that your grandson can trifle with my daughter? Break their engagement? Well, let me assure you—there will be consequences!”

Keynsham… engaged?

In a flash, she saw how foolish she’d been. She’d made assumptions based on nothing more than the glances and easy laughter that they’d shared. But she knew nothing of his history —or of his true character. Or of his friends, or of his family, or of his circumstances….

“Madam.” Keynsham made Mrs. Fairleigh another very slight bow. “While your daughter is… er, no doubt everything that a young lady ought to be, there has never been any sort of understanding between us.”

“Why, you…!” Mrs. Fairleigh’s face, under the ice cream, was turning almost purple.

“Lady Sophronia.” It was the prince himself. “Allow me to congratulate you on an evening that no one present will ever forget.”

The prince was an almost overwhelming presence. Tall and heavyset, and wearing a spectacular pale blue and silver damask evening coat, he seemed to reset the center of gravity of the whole room.

“Your royal highness.” Lady Sophronia’s composure remained perfect. “How delighted I am that you are enjoying yourself.”

The prince turned to Mrs. Fairleigh. “My dear lady! You must allow me to congratulate you on your daughter’s engagement to Captain Woodward. A first-rate officer, and a sterling character. Finest fellow in the world.”

Mrs. Fairleigh’s mouth was working. “Thank you, your royal highness,” she finally managed. “I—I am most honored.”

The prince waved his hand. “Of course, of course. Allow me to accompany you.” Somehow, he managed to tuck Mrs. Fairleigh’s hand into his elbow. “No doubt we shall be seeing more of each other. Captain Woodward and I serve in the same regiment, you know—the Tenth. Indeed, I am eager to learn of your plans for the wedding.”

“I—I…” It was clear that Mrs. Fairleigh didn’t wish to be marched away. It was also clear that even she wasn’t equal to defying the prince regent.

Poor Miss Fairleigh, with one last anguished glance at Captain Woodward, allowed her mother to tow her toward the door.

“Miss Ryder.” Keynsham bent to study her face, frowning in concern. Everyone else seemed to have forgot about her. “Miss Ryder? Please. Come with me.”

She already found him far too attractive. She’d already spent far too much time with him. It was unwise to spend any more.

But the slap—the public humiliation—seemed to have knocked all spirit out of her. And she couldn’t continue her journey like this—spattered in ice cream, disheveled and penniless. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She followed him out of the saloon.