Chapter 9
Resenting immensely that Hortense had interrupted such an intimate moment between him and Estelle, Valentin forced himself to keep a measured tone. “I’ve been busy, Hortense—”
“So it seems.” Hortense pointedly looked from him back to Estelle. “You poor girl, I heard as well that you’d been injured. I’m so pleased to see none too seriously. You’re absolutely glowing!”
“Hortense, I was about to take my leave so Miss Easton might rest,” Valentin said before Estelle could utter a word.
Indeed, she was glowing, he knew from the wedding plans they had happily been making together before Hortense’s unexpected arrival.
Yet she looked nonplussed, too, by his half-sister’s effusive show of concern, and he didn’t blame her. Something didn’t seem right, though now wasn’tthe time to consider what might lie behind such gracious behavior after Hortense’s rudeness the night before. Having no intention of leaving her alone with Estelle, he offered his arm to his half-sister.
“Since you’re here, I thought we might visit our other guests to assure them that all is well. This morning was no doubt a shock to them.”
“Yes, my thoughts exactly.” Hortense leaned towardEstelle and patted her hand. “Rest is the remedy you need, my dear. A pity, though, you might have to miss the coronation and ball—”
“Lord Linley seems quite confident that Miss Eastonwillattend,” Valentin couldn’t resist announcing, noting the tightening of his half-sister’s lips. “He’s a doctor, you know. Marvelous news, don’t you agree, Hortense?”
“Yes, yes, marvelous.”
As Hortense acceptedValentin’s assistance and rose from the chair, he noted how stiffly she held his arm, too.
He knew then she was putting on a superb act for Estelle’s benefit, and probably for him as well, but he’d never been able to fully decipher his half-sister’s motives other than that they usually suited her own purpose.
He threw a reassuring smile at Estelle, hating to leave her, but nonetheless escortingHortense as quickly as he could from the room.
***
“Oh, my, will you pay a visit to our royal guests dressed so carelessly, Valentin?”
Estelle couldn’t hear his low reply as he and Princess Hortense disappeared down the hall, Robert following, while Mattie bobbed a curtsey and left the room, too, closing the door behind her.
Alone, Estelle sighed heavily.
Poor Valentin. She couldn’thelp hoping that when they were married, Princess Hortense wouldn’t be such a constant visitor at the castle.
She imagined he must have been thinking something similar from his restrained expression, any trace of how relaxed and happy he’d looked moments earlier fading in his half-sister’s presence. Only his smile just before he left the room had assured her that their secret wedding plans remaineduppermost in his mind, which made her smile to herself now, too…though it quickly faded.
She still felt a bit in shock at how concerned his half-sister had appeared. Was it possible that Princess Hortense’s attitude toward her was softening? Perhaps she was simply being protective of Valentin until she grew to know Estelle better. Her own sisters had always been protective of her, which was onlyright and natural. Could she hope that when Valentin made the announcement about their upcoming marriage, Princess Hortense might even be happy for them?
Estelle closed her eyes, willing herself to rest as everyone had bade her. The last thing she wanted was the soreness in her side, which seemed to have increased, to prevent her from attending Valentin’s coronation and the ball afterward.
Soon she’d be waltzing in his arms…her beloved, her hero.
Prince Valentin Chevalier, the man of her dreams.
***
“Such lovely young women, all three of them a perfect match for you. You must tell me! Does one stand out to you above the rest?”
Accompanying Hortense to her waiting carriage after another interminable dinner, it was all Valentin could do to hold his tongue though he wantednothing more than to declare that Miss Estelle Easton would be his bride.
Not Lady Ingrid of Bavaria with her cool beauty and brittle, too eager smiles.
Not Countess Alicia of Castile with her gleaming dark eyes that surveyed him as if he were a prize she’d already captured.
And certainly not Princess Ophelia of Luxembourg, the most avaricious of the lot with a temper she barely managed toconceal whenever the other two came close to him.
Only one more day—one more day! Valentin had to remind himself, choosing to evade his half-sister’s question as diplomatically as possible.
