The hostess frowned and sighed. Next to her, Hyacinth quickly offered aMadeline & Hyacinth Live!show prize to the winner. “We’re sorry it can’t be a date with the prince to the premier, but—”
“How about tickets to the art auction? As my guest.” Stephen had somewhat recovered and offered a safe alternative. He’d greet her then move on to his duties.
The audience applauded their approval. Hyacinth read Deb’s responding tweet. “ ‘Ahhhhhhhhhh blimey, yes!’ ”
“So Your Highness, who is your mystery date?” Madeline, without hesitation, barreled right into his inner sanctum. Meanwhile, the stage manager motioned sixty seconds to break.
“Amystery.” Stephen put her off with his best grin. “You’ll have to wait and see.” He’d rope Mum into going with him. Her husband, Henry, wouldn’t mind. Mum was a big fan of the cinema and Clive Boston.
Madeline turned to the camera. “We’ll be right back with Prince Stephen. More on the premier ofKing Stephen Iand his plans for rugby’s biggest test, the fall Premiership.”
The audience applauded and the lights went down. Stephen exhaled, expecting a break, but Madeline leaned into him.
“So, Corina Del Rey? You know her?”
“Some. Years ago.”
“American heiress tweeting about how to catch a prince? Is she in the city?” Madeline gasped. “Is she your date?”
“Certainly not.”Steady, lad. Be a rock.
“Then why did she tweet that American football is far superior to rugby?”
He reached for the cup of water offered him by a young woman wearing a headset. “Cheeky lass. You know how Americans can be. Tweet her back if you want to know.” He’d done it now. Why would he say such a thing?
“Yes,” Madeline said, sitting back, boring him with an intense gaze. “I believe I will.”
She’d napped longer than she’d intended, waking up late in the afternoon when the sun had moved west, leaving her room in cozy shadows.
Pacing the room, shaking off sleep and jet lag, Corina washed up in that fantastic bathroom—she took pictures with the intent of remodeling her condo’s ensuite bath—and let Adelaide in when she brought a bowl of steaming chicken, wild rice, and mushroom soup, and warm, buttery country bread.
The aroma awakened her inner growl. She was famished.
“Adelaide, this is amazing.”Slow down. Savor.Corina dipped the edge of her bread into the soup. “But you don’t have to bring me room service. Where do the other guests eat?” If there was a dining hall, like with a lot of Brighton rustic inns, most on the shore, she’d eat there.
“We’ve no dining hall. We will serve you in your room. ’Tis our privilege. We are servants.”
“Do you serve all your guests in their room?”
She went to the door. “Rest. You’ve a long week ahead of you.”
“Adelaide,” Corina said, laughing softly. “Did you go through my things while I was napping? How do you know so much?”
“I keep telling you ’tis me job. I know why you came to Brighton.”
“Oh? Why did I come?” Corina fished. What did the old woman know? Corina guessed her to be seventy-five. Eighty tops. Despite her smooth skin. She also had an unusual aura around her, like popping lights.
And Brill, he was a bear with a jelly heart, wasn’t he? Kind, yet so . . . Corina searched for the word. Warrior-like. Was that it? As if he’d seen many battles. Though he bore no scars.
“You came to answer true love’s call.” Adelaide closed the door, and her gentle footsteps faded down the stairs.
Corina stared at the door. To answer true love’s call. “Adelaide, how do you—”
Oh forget it. She’d only say, “It’s me job.”
True love’s call. If onlyhewould call. Corina supposed it was up to her to call him since the annulment rested with her. But for now the aroma of the soup beckoned her and she moved her tray to the bed and spied the TV remote.
In the corner, a flat screen powered up, shedding a bluish hue across the shadows. Spooning up her soup, Corina aimlessly surfed channels, stopping when she saw Madeline Stone fromMadeline & Hyacinth Live!
