Chapter 12 #3
“Then we should get on a ship and all go to where you are from. Because I do not think anyone here appreciates her finer points or understands us.” Leo casts a dark look around at the people walking in the park.
We keep walking, making light conversation until we’ve seen and been seen by what seems like everyone in the English aristocracy.
Near the end of the walk, back by the carriage, we’re stopped by an elegantly dressed young woman, thick brown hair piled atop her head, showing a long and graceful neck, her back as stiff as a board which she unbends slightly to do the absolute minimum to classify as a bow.
She’s covered in the finest clothes and dripping in the shiniest jewelry, so whoever she is, she’s rich. “Lord Basildon.”
“Miss Vanderbilt.” Leo bows back at her and I awkwardly do the half bow thing I did to Victoria. If it was good enough for a queen…
“I keep hearing your name wherever I go lately,” she says, in an American accent.
Miss Vanderbilt…at this time, with her appearance…
that’s Consuelo Vanderbilt! She’s about to enter into one of the most famous and most scandalous (and most unhappy, unfortunately) cash-for-title marriages of all time when she marries the Duke of Marlborough later this year.
She’s actually named after her godmother Consuelo Yznaga, who was also an American socialite that got married to a nobleman who needed money.
This happened so many times between rich Gilded Age Americans and poor but titled European families (over 400 times) that people called them dollar princesses.
For the hundredth time, I wish I had my journal.
“Hopefully only good things,” Leo says with a charming smile.
“Not entirely terrible ones. You’ve been at the palace twice in two days.”
Wow. Hanging around this circle makes London feel like the biggest small town I’ve ever been in. And apparently even the Americans aren’t immune to the snobbery.
“Her Majesty is kind.” Leo avoids giving any information like why he was there, how he got invited twice and if he’s going to be invited a third time.
Consuelo looks me up and down instead of grilling Leo more about the visits. “You’re the Indian aristocrat.”
Yup, definite small-town vibes. “I guess so.”
That surprises her, as her brows draw down. “But you sound American. Well, almost American.”
Maybe not everything gets around. “I get that a lot. I pick up languages and accents well, and I travel often.” I say it, changing between an English accent, an Indian accent and an Irish one every few words to show my skill, but by the look Leo gives me, I’m not pulling it off.
I clear my throat and go back to my modern-day, Californian accent.
“Her Majesty has been kind enough to help me while I’m in London. ”
“And why are you in London?”
“It is a lovely city, is it not? So many people are always visiting our fair town from all over the globe,” Leo says, and then checks his pocket watch.
“Ah. We regret we must leave, but Her Majesty did want us back for tea. We better go before we become late and anger Her Majesty. I hope you have a good day.” Leo tugs me away and I start breathing normally again.
I have a lot of powerful people protecting me, but it’s still stressful to have people looking at me with such open curiosity and asking me all sorts of questions.
Running into another American really emphasizes how precarious my position here is, and how much I rely on Leo.
And how much a disaster it would be if he knew I wasn’t who I said I was.
Once we’re safely inside, with only Anne to overhear anything we might say, I melt into the seat, head against the windowsill. “This is exhausting.”
Leo smiles at me. “Being courted by me is exhausting? It is not exactly what I hoped my effect would be on women, but I suppose it is best to know the truth, however unflattering it may be.”
“No!” I jerk up with a little too much energy, then force myself to relax against the seat again. “The subterfuge is exhausting. You’re only mildly tiring.”
Leo leans closer. “That, although a small step in the right direction, does leave room for improvement.”
I lean in as well, the swaying of the carriage encouraging my body to move closer with each rocking motion. “I think you should be happy with your current level of wearing on women. Any more would take a lot of work.”
“Ah, but haven’t you heard? I am now fully responsible and ready to work.”
“I had heard something to that effect.”
“It is true. I only think of others now. And work.”
I can only think about how close he suddenly is in the enclosed space of the carriage.
So close we could kiss, with a few quick adjustments of our heads and a small shift forward from both of us.
Then I could find out if his lips are as talented at kissing as they are at charming everyone around him.
If kissing him is as fun as just talking to him is.
If his kiss can convince me that I need to experience some things instead of just reading about them.
Our heads are making the micro movements that would bring our lips together when Anne delicately clears her throat.
We both jerk back, cheeks as red as the leather of the seats we’re on.
Anne has been so quiet today, I sometimes forgot we weren’t alone.
But she did her job and chaperoned when she needed to, protecting our virtue.
Leo’s much realer after today. He’s not just a spoiled but poor aristocrat who wants to continue his lifestyle. He’s a spoiled but poor aristocrat who wants to look out for his sister.
And, okay, he also wants to continue his lifestyle.
Leo drops me and Anne off at the palace, getting out of the carriage first to help both of us out. He lingers with my hand in his when it’s my turn.
“I have not looked through my correspondence yet, but I think my name is still enough to get me invitations to dinners and balls despite my many scandals. If I see something promising, I can send word for tonight,” Leo says.
“Right. We need to get you to the altar.” And it won’t be with me.
Even if my position here wasn’t so dependent on the lies I’m telling to everyone, including this man, I’m sure time would have things to say about me marrying a man in the past. Something negative, which would maybe stop an entire city from being in existence.
Hey, if a butterfly’s wings can cause a hurricane, I can stop a city from existing with my vagina.
So no more lusting after Leo. And yes more trying to figure out how to get back to the right time.