A Royal Kiss and Tell

“No, Caroline, no,” he said, lifting his head. “The women—girls, really, these maids—are not spies. They are slaves. And I’ve been trying—bungling, really—to free them.”

She stared at him. “Slaves?”

Leo nodded.

“Where are they?”

“At present, they are just outside, in the coach.”

Her mouth parted with her shock. “Here?”

He put his hand on her elbow. “Please sit and allow me to explain.”

He told her everything. It felt good to say it to someone, to tell another living soul how he’d been waylaid in Helenamar, then given this list of names. To describe how difficult it had been for him to find these women quite on his own. That as a prince, he wasn’t inconspicuous. And that as a prince, he’d discovered he was ignorant of the ways of the world. He told her how he’d made such a mess of things that he’d bought a castle, was paying blackmail to an Alucian businessman who had double-crossed him, had exposed an old friend for the scoundrel he was, and had rescued, quite unexpectedly, a young boy along with the women.

And of course, the crowning detail—that the Weslorian gentleman involved in this scheme was his future father-in-law.

Caroline had turned pale by the time he’d finished. “What are you going to do?”

“I plan to take the Weslorian women to Helenamar with me and have them speak out against the men who did this to them.”

“But what about your engagement? Won’t your father be angry?”

His father would be livid, of that, Leo was certain. “Possibly. Probably. I don’t know what all will happen, Caroline. All I know is that I am determined to take these women to Alucia and have them speak against the men who had bought and sold them for political favors. I intend to expose them, the consequences be damned.”

She stared at him for a long moment, and then her eyes began to well with tears.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, reaching for her hand.

“Those poor women. And you, Leopold. What a noble thing you’re doing, and yet everyone thinks...they assume...”

“I know what they assume. I’m not noble, I happen to be in a unique position, that’s all. Do you believe me?”

“I do.” She sniffed back a tear. “The Duchess of Norfolk told me about her husband. I never dreamed there were more women like that poor girl. But Leopold, what of your reputation? It’s all but ruined, and I...oh Lord, how I regret it! I helped it along. I gave Hollis gossip to print—”

He squeezed her hand. “Darling Caroline, think nothing of it. My reputation was not a grand one to begin.”

She shook her head and looked away from him for a moment. “You said there are more women?”

He nodded. “I know of one in the Pennybacker house. The other two... I’ve not yet discovered where they’ve gone.”

Caroline gasped. She squeezed his hand. “You must attend the Pennybacker ball, Leopold. That was all my doing, and I will undo it. Nancy Pennybacker can be persuaded, I am certain. Leave it to me. You will accompany Beck and me. Beck swears he won’t attend, that balls are a colossal waste of time, but I know he will if you come.”

“Caroline...” Leopold was so moved in that moment, that she would want to help him in this, that he leaned across the space between them, put his hand to her nape and kissed her.

She pushed back. “Garrett—”

“God help me, but I can’t help myself. I will mourn you when I go, Caroline. You have...you have enlightened me. Shown me what it is to live freely in one’s skin. You have made me feel things I’ve never felt—”

“Leopold, there’s more,” she said quickly. “You’re being followed.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Mayfair is abuzz with anticipation for the Pennybacker ball. No expense has been spared, and curiously, the invitation list has recently been expanded by one noble name. Even more curious is that the expansion occurred the morning after the select list of invitees for a supper at the home of Lord Farrington were delivered. There is no explanation for this change, but we all know that rivalries die hard.

—Honeycutt’s Gazette of Fashion and

Domesticity for Ladies

AMAZINGLY, LEO DIDN’T ask who was following him or why right away. He sighed wearily, as if this was not completely unexpected.

Caroline got up and hurried to the door to the drawing room. She looked out into the hall, then quietly shut the door.

“What—”