A Royal Kiss and Tell

“Serve the tea, darling, then take your own and sit,” Hollis said. “Caro is about to tell us all how she’s fended off an unprecedented number of suitors.”

“Do tell!” Poppy said eagerly.

Caroline sat up while Poppy served tea, stroking Pris, the cat, who had made his way onto her lap. And then she proceeded to regale the Tricklebanks about the night she had two gentlemen callers and a third unexpected one, and how they’d all trooped off to the Debridge supper, where she had announced she wanted a suitor to find his interest in her, and not the size of her dowry.

“My God, you didn’t,” Hollis said with an expression that could be construed as either horrified or admiring.

“I did. Why not? It was true and everyone knew it, including the peacock Katherine Maugham. And do you know the only person who was not shocked by what I said?”

“Who?” Hollis asked.

“Prince Leopold, that’s who. He laughed.”

Hollis giggled. “Papa, I wish you could see how sparkly Caro is just now. At every mention of the prince, another spark shoots right off of her,” she said, squeezing Caroline’s knee. “She’s in love with him.”

Poppy gasped. “Another royal wedding!”

“Good Lord, not another one,” the judge moaned.

“Rest assured there won’t be another one,” Caroline said confidently, even if the mention of it sent a wave of shivers down her spine, just like those she’d felt at Eliza’s wedding.

“Why not?” Hollis asked. “It’s a lovely fairy tale dream to be an ordinary person and be swept off your feet by a true prince.”

“It is indeed a fairy tale, which is precisely why nothing will ever come of it. But I don’t mind, really. It’s been quite a lot of fun, and honestly, the reality hasn’t kept me from kissing him.”

Poppy and Hollis squealed at the same time.

“Heaven help you, Caroline Hawke!” the judge said disapprovingly over their shrieks of delight. “That sort of talk will see you ostracized from the very society you love to rule!”

Caroline laughed. “I haven’t yet gone out into the square and announced it, Your Honor. And really, is it so terrible? Men and women do share kisses. I’ve seen it happen time and again. I saw Lady Munro kiss Mr. Richard Williams at Kew Gardens just before we departed for Helenamar.”

“What? And you’re only telling me this now?” Hollis exclaimed.

“My point, if you will hear it, is that sort of affection should be reserved for husband and wife,” the judge said sternly. “Or at the very least, if you cannot contain your lust until you are married, for the gentleman who is to be your husband. What would Lord Hawke say to this?”

“He’d lock me away. For God’s sake, we must all swear to never tell him!” Caroline said, laughing.

“But...but aren’t you concerned about the maids, Caro?” Hollis asked.

“What maids?” the judge asked.

“Prince Leopold is notorious for a rather untoward preference for housemaids.”

“What?” Poppy exclaimed.

Hollis sighed. “Does no one in this house read my gazette? Did you not hear what happened in Arundel with the Norfolk maid?”

“No! Tell us!” Poppy said, inching forward on her seat.

“Hollis! You make it sound dreadful,” Caroline said. “The prince explained it to me. Norfolk was the one who was behaving badly. He was visiting the poor thing at night, if you take my meaning, and showering her with the sort of affections she did not want. And the prince, well...he helped her to escape. She was a Weslorian and I think he felt obliged.”

“Why would he feel obliged to help a Weslorian?” the judge asked.

“Well...” Caroline started, but paused. She didn’t quite know why.

“What did he do with her?” Hollis asked.

“What do you mean?”

“If he helped her to escape, what did he do with her? Where is she now?”

Caroline didn’t know the answer to this, either. She’d been so ready to accept his explanation so she’d not have to think poorly of him. “I...I really don’t know.” Her sparkle was rapidly dimming. What had he done with her? And the other one?

“Caro, you’d do well to keep your distance. Who knows what the man is about, really,” the judge cautioned her.

“Don’t look so distressed, darling. I didn’t mean to intrude on your joy in being the one and only Caroline Hawke,” Hollis said cheerfully. “Tell us, what’s next on your social calendar?”

“Oh, the, ah...the Pennybacker ball next week.” At the mention of the ball, she rallied out of her disappointment. “I have a new dress. The blue one, Hollis, remember?”

“It’s beautiful. I intend to wear the same dress I wore to Eliza’s ball—Oh! I nearly forgot. We’ve a letter from Eliza.” She went to the desk to fetch it and handed it to Caroline to read.