The door opened, but it was not one of the servants she had been given standing at the threshold. Rather, it was Prince Ferdinando.
He was dressed formally for the feast that was being held in honor of the betrothal. A vast affair with a rumored half the city in attendance. He grinned when he saw her and offered her an exaggerated bow.
“Lady Tansy, you are a vision.”
She curtsied. “Your Royal Highness, thank you.” She wondered if she should praise him as well; he was certainly attractive, even if he couldn’t possibly compare to his older brother. But then she decided not to do so. Undoubtedly, his legion of admirers could tell him.
“Call me Nando, my dear,” he invited, and not for the first time.
She smiled. “You know I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” He raised a golden brow.
It was exceedingly difficult not to like the prince. He possessed an easy air and smooth charm that rendered him infinitely affable. Quite unlike Maxim, who was a cold, walled-off enigma.
Of course, he wasn’t always cold. But she mustn’t think of the passion she had known with him now.
Nor ever again.
“Perhaps a bit of both.” She moved toward him, grateful for his presence, for she had managed to spend a small amount of time with the prince on the ship bringing them to Varros. Sheconsidered him a friend. “It is lovely to see you on land instead of on water.”
“I still feel as if I’m aboard that damned ship,” he said ruefully, striking an indolent pose against the doorframe. “I vow, the affliction didn’t last nearly as long when I arrived in England. But perhaps that was down to my…activities. I reckon I was distracted.”
He was speaking of his conquests, and yet his air was entirely unmoved, as if he didn’t care about any of them. Rather as if he found the entire memory empty and unfulfilling. Dull, even.
“Distraction can be potent,” she agreed.
Particularly when that distraction was tall, broad-shouldered, and devastatingly handsome.
Prince Nando offered her his arm. “On that, we agree. I’ve come to offer you escort.”
She had been wondering at the reason for his presence at her door. But at his pronouncement, her smile faded, wariness blossoming inside her.
“Escort?”
The prince nodded. “My brother wishes to see you.”
Maxim wanted to see her.
She had not expected a summons from him. Not after the distance that had fallen between them over the past fortnight. Nor did she want to see him. It was too painful. Their polite interactions aboard the ship, since that day in the gardens in London when he had been so cold and impervious, had been agony enough. Now he wished to see her?
Tansy stiffened. “Why?”
“He hasn’t told me.”
“I suppose I haven’t a choice in the matter?” she asked needlessly.
Nando gave her a small smile. “You could ignore him, but I don’t think it wise.”
Of course it wasn’t wise. Maxim was king. He possessed all the power, and she must not forget it.
She slid her hand onto the prince’s proffered arm. “I’ll see him, then.”
Questions swirled as she and Nando started down the elaborately decorated hall lined with paintings and gilt. What did Maxim want from her?
“He’s been quite miserable these last few weeks,” the prince commented lightly as they proceeded, their footsteps echoing on the marble floors. “Perhaps your visit will improve his mood.”
“I very much doubt it,” she said grimly.
