Chapter Twelve
Vivienne and I will leave for Grantham today,” Gabriel told Roberta the next morning at breakfast. Roberta had come back from her morning ride—she was not going to change that, it helped to calm her, only this time Freddie Hart had ridden with her, despite her complaints that he was spoiling it.
Now he sat with them at breakfast, hoeing into kidneys and sausages and swallowing gulps of black tea.
“The army taught me to eat as if there is no tomorrow,” he had excused himself, seeing her watching. “Because quite possibly, there won’t be.”
Gabriel’s words brought her gaze to him. “You’re leaving today? I thought you were coming with me to the theater tonight? I asked Estelle.”
“We were going to go to the theater, but Vivienne wants to take Austin home. He is fractious with his teeth, and she thinks being in familiar surroundings will help calm him. It’s a wonder you did not hear him bawling in the night.”
Now that she looked at him properly, Gabriel did look tired.
“I’m sorry, Robbie. I know this has been difficult for you”—he shot Freddie a fulsome glance—“and I want to help as much as I can, but—”
“No need to apologize,” she cut him short. “I understand, of course I do, and I will manage perfectly well. I’m sure the evening at the theater will be very tedious.”
Gabriel gave her a knowing grin. “Very tedious. Us Ashtons are used to much more exciting times. But you will be joining us for the weekend, so Vivienne and I can make sure everything is prepared for the prince’s arrival.”
“I am looking forward to going home,” she said, and was unable to keep the longing from her voice. “I miss it. I miss being able to do just as I please.”
He leaned toward her, and Freddie stopped eating to listen. “Well then, imagine yourself married to the prince. I am thinking of you when I say you could not be the spontaneous Robbie we all know and love, and I’d hate to see you made miserable.”
“I suppose.” She hesitated. She wanted to explain that when she was with Niki, she could be herself.
It was just when they were in public or with his family that she was forced to act a part.
But then, Niki had had to do that for his entire life.
It explained much about him. Not that she thought about him all of the time, goodness no!
“Freddie has assured me he will keep a very close watch over everyone,” Gabriel said, dark eyes serious and that familiar pinch of a frown between his brows. He and Freddie exchanged a glance that made Roberta wonder what they were keeping from her.
“I have sworn nothing will happen to you,” Freddie spoke up, before taking another gulp of tea. He pushed his plate away.
“Which is a good thing,” her brother responded, “because I would have to fight a duel with you if anything did happen. Then I would win, and the authorities would try to arrest me, so I would need to leave the country. Where would we all be then?”
Roberta snorted an unladylike laugh. “If anyone should fight a duel then it is me. I have been practicing with my rapier.”
Gabriel shook his head at her in amazement. “You really are an exceptional girl. Perhaps it is a pity you will not be a princess after all. I think you would make a most unusual one. You would teach those pompous Holtswiggers a thing or two.”
It was a nice compliment, and just for a moment, it gave Roberta the illusion that perhaps it could happen. That the engagement could become real, and Niki could marry her, and then…? Well, that was the problem. She had no idea what would happen next.
Estelle was bright-eyed with excitement as they drew up at the theater.
Niki and his brother Karl had collected them both from Ashton House, and within moments of them settling into the coach, Roberta could see that Estelle had fallen under Karl’s spell.
It was very clear she found him fascinating and was hardly able to take her eyes off him, while Karl was his usual smiling, charming self.
Roberta just hoped her friend would not fancy herself in love with him.
Estelle tended to fall in and out of love often, and so far, it had been harmless, but Karl was older and far more experienced than the boys Estelle danced with at society dos.
While Roberta watched her friend and tried not to worry, Niki ignored their banter with a roll of his eyes.
Evidently, he had seen Karl in action before.
He turned to Roberta and asked her politely if she was well, and when she said she was, he inquired whether she had heard of this play they were going to see.
Roberta could see that he had never heard of it. Was it just that he was too busy to indulge in something so frivolous? Was he too serious for light entertainment? When she asked him if this was so, he pondered the question as if his answer was of the utmost importance.
“You are right. I am normally far too busy for these things, which is why tonight will be a treat for me. As will you being at my side.” He smiled and looked down, and she couldn’t tell in the gloom of their coach, but she thought there was a faint flush on his cheeks.
It was a sweet thing to say, and Roberta felt a little shaky on hearing it.
As if someone had reached into her chest and squeezed.
Her eyes dropped to his lips, she couldn’t help it, and she remembered his kisses.
Indeed, she had been thinking about his kisses since the moment they happened.
She was beginning to think that she must have overembellished the whole thing, and that it couldn’t possibly have been as soul stirring as she imagined.
Now, looking at his lean, handsome face, she knew she hadn’t, and it was.
And as his eyes rose to meet hers, she thought that he might be remembering that delicious moment too.
Their private box at the theater was the best in the house—the balcony at the front had a prime view of the stage and was decorated with swags of velvet dotted with silk flowers.
A dignitary whose name Roberta did not catch bowed and scraped and informed them of this fact.
He seemed overawed by the royal party, and when Niki treated him with cool disdain, he almost swooned.
Estelle watched on, wide-eyed with amazement, while Karl smiled as if he found his brother’s behavior amusing.
Roberta wasn’t sure what to think of it all, but she suspected it was Niki just being the ruler of Holtswig.
The more she had gotten to know him, the more she thought the real Niki, the one beneath the veneer, was very different from the face he showed to the world.
Recently, she had had plenty of glimpses of that inner man, and she thought she was beginning to know him quite well.
Countess Matilda was already waiting in the box, and on one side was a gentleman Roberta did not recognize but who Niki told her was a distant cousin of her late husband.
On the other side was Freddie, looking dashing in his evening clothes, his bright hair a beacon in the dim gas lighting.
From the glimpse she got of him, he seemed more animated than usual, and the countess was smiling in a way that reminded her of the look on Estelle’s face when Karl paid her attention.
There were others too, two elderly gentlemen who were members of Niki’s council, as well as other faces she did not know and forgot once they were introduced.
There was also an empty seat where the king had been meant to sit, but he had cried off.
The excuse was he was busy with matters of state, but Roberta heard someone whisper it was more likely illness.
King George’s health, both physical and mental, was a matter of constant concern to the government.
As she looked about her, Roberta couldn’t help but notice how very important everyone looked, and how very well-dressed they all were.
This was a level of society she was unused to, and she couldn’t help but feel out of place.
Niki’s family were very different from her own, who were a great deal more friendly and casual.
She was glad she had worn the dress Antonia had insisted was perfect for the occasion.
The cream silk shows off your skin tone, as well as your blue eyes and dark hair. The shawl with the fringe will hide a little of your bosom but still display a flattering amount. You look beautiful, Robbie, and more importantly, you will look as if you belong.
Her sister’s words had given Roberta confidence. Antonia never said anything she did not mean. Now she just had to put on the same sort of mask as Niki did and play her part.
The older members of their party were seated toward the back of the box, while the younger members were at the front.
Roberta was relieved she was beside Niki and Estelle, with Karl on the other side of her friend.
He was leaning close and whispering in her ear, and she felt Estelle shake with giggles.
Then the first act of the play began, and it was only as the lighting began to dim even more that she looked about her and realized, to her consternation, that most of the eyes in the theater weren’t looking at the stage.
They were turned to the Holtswig box, as if they were the entertainment.
It made her feel a little queasy. Especially when she thought she spied Mr. Walter, her persistent admirer, looking up at her from the stalls.
He turned away almost at once, and she quickly focused her gaze in front of her, squeezing her fingers tightly together.
She had forgotten about Mr. Walter, and it wasn’t pleasant to be reminded.
Was he still following her around? Why else would he be here?
But of course, there were numerous reasons for him to be at the theater, and she wasn’t even sure it was him…
Just then, Estelle dug a sharp elbow into her and leaned close to murmur breathlessly, “How exciting! Thank you so much for inviting me!”