A Royal Kiss and Tell

“But isn’t it everyone’s duty to marry?” The question, posed by the woman Caroline had dubbed the Peacock, rose above the other conversations, and, curious, Leo looked down the table.

“Why are you asking her?” Lady Debridge asked. “Lady Caroline believes that a lady need not set her sights on marriage until she feels completely at ease with it.” She gave a good roll of her eyes to indicate her apparent opinion of that.

“Lady Debridge,” Sir Walter said. “If that is Lady Caroline’s opinion, she is welcome to it.”

“It may be her opinion, but it’s wrongheaded,” Lady Debridge said. “A woman’s good years are limited, and she must marry sooner rather than later if she is to produce an heir.”

Caroline laughed. “That’s rather my point,” she said. “Why should I marry for the sake of producing heirs if I don’t wish to produce them?”

“Oh Lord,” Lady Hogarth muttered. “Caroline, darling—”

“What are you saying, precisely, Caroline?” the Peacock said, sitting a little straighter.

“I think the topic too indelicate for the supper table?” Sir Walter tried.

“Of course it’s not, Walter,” his wife said. “We’re all adults here, are we not? That is the way of the human race. You marry, you produce heirs and life goes on. Why ever would any young woman of good health and moral standing wish otherwise? Lady Caroline, surely you don’t mean to imply that you don’t want children?”

“Not at all,” she assured Lady Debridge. “Of course I do.”

But the words didn’t match her expression and Leopold rather wondered if she really didn’t want children.

“The truth is that I haven’t given it much thought, as I have not yet found the gentleman with whom I should like to share that blessed event.”

“Darling, look around you,” Lady Debridge said. “There are gentlemen here tonight that would delight in sharing that blessed event with you, I’ve no doubt.”

Several of the guests laughed. Caroline smiled as she looked around. “Such admirable gentlemen, too. But I should hope that a gentleman’s interest in me would extend beyond the size of my fortune.”

There were audible gasps around the table. Leo almost laughed. Once upon a time, he would have led the way in the gasping and gnashing of teeth and the outward display of indignation at her cheek, but this evening, he sat back to enjoy it. The woman refused to guard a single word. He admired her for always being willing to speak the truth.

Even now, she looked around at their shocked faces. “I beg your pardon, have I spoken too bluntly? I probably should not have said what we all know to be true.” She laughed softly.

“Caroline,” her uncle said sternly. “Have a care.”

“I will, Uncle.” She smiled and leaned forward. “But whose feelings am I sparing? If anyone should be offended, it should be me, shouldn’t it?”

“Oh my Lord!” Lady Hogarth said heavenward.

“What you say may be true, Lady Caroline,” the Peacock said. “After all, the only reason anyone in London knows the size of your dowry is that you’ve made certain of it.”

“Not me. But I can’t say the same for my brother.”

Someone at the table chuckled.

“Well, I, for one, have no regard for your dowry, Lady Caroline,” Lord Ladley avowed.

“I should think Prince Leopold has no regard for it, either?” the Peacock said, and cast a smile at Leo. “It must be rather small compared to what he might command.”

Lady Debridge snorted a laugh. “The prince is not a suitor, Katherine.”

“As I said,” Ladley interjected. “I don’t care about the size of your dowry.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Caroline responded.

“For what it’s worth, I agree with Lady Caroline,” the viscount said quietly. “A dowry is an important part of a marriage bargain, and the amount must be taken into consideration. Any gentleman who claims otherwise is fooling himself,” he said, and looked pointedly at Ladley.

“But a dowry is not a substitute for love,” Lady Hogarth pointed out.

“Perhaps not always,” Lord Ainsley said.

Leo could see the amusement in Caroline’s eyes. She enjoyed starting this little fire.

When the meal was concluded and the guests invited to repair to the drawing room, Leo took his leave. He said a quiet good-night and thank you to Sir Walter. He stepped out of the drawing room door and almost collided with Caroline and another woman he’d already forgotten.

“Oh!” Caroline said, smiling up at him. “Are you leaving, then?”

“Je.”

“Excuse me,” the other woman said, and darted into the drawing room.

Caroline watched her flee with a laugh of surprise. “What do you suppose was the meaning of that?” She turned her smile to him again. “I hope you enjoyed yourself this evening, Your Highness.”

He wanted to kiss her. “Immensely.” He wanted to take her by the hand and lead her out of this place. He wanted to take her to his bed and remove her clothing one piece at a time.

“Shall I tell Beck you’ll come around?”