“How did you know what I was considering? I was going to ask you to accompany me. I’d prefer not to go alone.”
She didn’t have to give him an explanation for what she was asking. Charles knew what she was uncomfortable about: the Prince of Wales showing up unannounced, and she would feel ill at ease about being alone in the same room with him. The prince did have a reputation.
“Good, it’s settled. I’ll accompany you so you can practice and afterwards we’ll have lunch.”
“Thank you, Charles.”
“No need to thank me. I’m your husband. While a lot of husbands would simply send a footman to accompany their wife, I’m not like that.”
Nodding, Cathryn placed the letter back in her pocket and took a sip of tea. He knew she felt better just knowing he’d be with her.
He watched as she pushed her toast and remaining dollop of strawberry jam on the plate. “Is there something wrong with the toast?”
“No. I’m not as hungry as I thought I was.”
“How can you not be hungry? You haven’t eaten since last night.”
“I’m just not hungry. I’ll eat this toast, and by lunch I’ll be more than ready to eat. It just takes me a while sometimes for my appetite to wake up.”
“Understood. Think about where you’d like to go.”
“I will.”
He continued to watch her as discreetly as possible. Though she did eat the toast, it took an effort on her part. She finished her tea and began to rise from the table.
“When would you like to leave? Did they give you a specific time to go and practice there?”
“All it says is any time after ten and before three.”
“We have plenty of time.”
“Why don’t we plan on leaving at ten?” she asked.
“Very well. That’ll give us plenty of time.”
She walked out of the room. Charles went back to reading his newspapers quickly before deciding he needed to make sure he was appropriately dressed for their stop at the prince’s. He tooka last bite of egg, set his newspaper down, and rose to leave the room. This was going to be a busy day.
He ordered the carriage readied before going upstairs. He knew it took a while to harness the horses and have them ready.
They left precisely on time. It didn’t take long to get to the prince’s residence. Charles looked up at the structure in amazement. This was where the prince also entertained. The palace was huge, with plenty of room for various sizes of functions. The prince and his wife loved to entertain.
Arriving at the entrance, the couple disembarked the carriage and were led to a small room where they waited and waited for someone to direct them. Finally, a young man wearing spectacles entered the room. From the looks of his dress and mannerisms, Charles concluded he must work for the prince himself.
“I apologize for my tardiness. I’m Mr. Temple, one of the prince’s secretaries. I understand you’re here to practice on the piano you’ll be using?”
“Yes, I am. The prince invited me.”
“If you’ll just follow me, I’ll show you to the ballroom.”
She was outside the room. As soon as Charles tried to go with her, he was stopped. “I’m sorry, sir, only your wife can come. You’ll have to wait here.”
He was about to protest when Cathryn spoke up. “Either my husband accompanies me, or I’ll leave now without practicing.”
“I’m just following orders, milady,” Mr. Temple said.
“Understood. Now what are we going to do to resolve this?”
“Your husband still can’t go with you.”
