“Les, if you ever want an in-depth sit down with Her Majesty or any of the Family, you’d better respect protocol.” Daffy brushed her hair away from her face. “When andifPrince Gus ever wants to talk about his breakups, don’t you think he’ll choose a presenter he trusts? Who lets him ski without being hounded? You chasing him down the trail—’Hello, Your Royal Highness,yoo hoo, a word? Why did Coral Winthrop leave you at the altar?’—won’t get you what you want.”
“I’m aghast. Insulted. When have you ever heard me say ‘yoo hoo?’”
“Daff.” Thomas pulled her close, touching her face as if she had a fever. “Darling, you’re flushed. You need to sit down. Maybe take a walk outside.”
“She’s fine, Thomas. That’s her Prince Gus blush. Happens whenever he’s around. That’s how I figured out he was in Florida.” Leslie Ann ran over to the window and stared toward the slopes.
“What do you mean she blushes when he’s around?” Thomas said.
“It’s nothing. A childhood tic.” Daffy reached for her coat and kissed her sister on the cheek. “Love you all, but I’m tired. Leslie Ann, leave the prince alone.”
Her mates uttered low goodbyes followed by a soft, feminine “Love yous.”
“Wait, Daffy.” Thomas caught her in the lobby. “You don’t want to stay? Please, love, we can talk.” He attempted to kiss her, as if a kiss made everything fine between them. “And, you know, other things.” He smiled and arched his brow. “Are you really upset about the ring?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t want to be but I need to think.” She zipped on her coat, far removed from her earlier thoughts of going to the next level with Thomas.
“You’re upset.” Thomas took her scarf and tied it around her neck. “I wish you’d stay.”
“I really am tired. And I don’t want our first night together to be like this.”
He drew her in for a hug. “Do I need to be worried about this blushing?”
“No more than I need to be worried about a ring you bought for another woman.”
Or that he shopped with Blinky. Or that he wanted to tour their wedding venue with her. Deep down Daffy knew Blinky was just trying to help, but she felt confused and weary.
“Touché.” Thomas stepped back. “I’ll ring you later. Maybe we can meet in the Old Hamlet for dinner. Just the two of us.”
She held his hands in hers. “Thomas, why did you propose?”
He shrugged. “Because we’re good together.”
“And you love me?”
“I know I don’t say it much, but yes, I… I do.”
“I love you too.” She kissed him, her hand pressed to his chest. But when she pulled away, she could’ve sworn she felt nothing of his beating heart.
Chapter Sixteen
Gus
“Where in blazes were you yesterday? Don’t say the grounds—I looked.” Hemstead fell into step with Gus as he headed down to the servants’ hall breakfast. On Sundays, a local chef came from town to set out a brunch for those living on premises.
“Skiing.”
“Your Highness, I need to be with you whenever and wherever you go.”
“It was spur of the moment. I forgot.”
How long was the protection officer going to buy that excuse? It was just he didn’t want ashadowas he spied on Daffy. He’d finished the first stages of the chair repair with Emmanuel and, as he left the workshop, the snowy day had given way to a glorious, sunlit afternoon. The golden glints crowning the Highcrest ridge called to him.
Besides, he’d reckoned with something as he filled the splintered chair legs with putty then clamped them to dry—under Emmanuel’s supervision. He was filled with Daffy. The sense of her, the idea of her.
He was becoming all too fond of his old friend. It was time for a dose of reality. Not the romantic, fairy-tale atmosphere of Dalholm. Seeing her with her mates, herman, would stop his nonsense.
To his surprise, he found her friends in the middle of a row while she sat by listening, looking bored and a bit put out.
