Chapter 11
Estelle stared in astonishment at Valentin, utterly overcome with joy.
She hadn’t expected this at all…never imagining he would announce tonight that she would become his bride! In front of everyone he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers so tenderly, his gaze fixed upon her face. Then he smiled, a sweet boyish smile that went straight to her heart forhow truly happy he looked—
“Stop! That is impossible!”
Estelle froze at the collective gasp that erupted in the ballroom while Valentin’s expression was truly ominous to behold as Princess Hortense rose from her chair.
“You cannot marry that girl, Valentin, and if you doubt me, ask your privy council!”
He didn’t move, didn’t say a word, though he looked darkly around the ballroom as if seekingout the seven men who that very afternoon had attended his coronation. One by one the members of his privy council began to stand, several with clear reluctance, while Estelle felt the tension rising in Valentin as he held fast to her fingers.
Still he said nothing, the bearded gentleman who appeared to be the most senior member of his council stepping forward as if he meant to speak for allof them.
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but it is true. There is an impediment—”
“Impediment?”
Valentin’s voice filled with barely controlled anger, Estelle was struck by a horrible sinking feeling as the man nodded, clearly uncomfortable from how he glanced at the others. Yet then he seemed to square his shoulders as if he knew he must press forward with a very unpleasant task.
“Yes, Your Highness,though I think it best we adjourn to another room to discuss this matter privately—”
“I have nothing to hide from anyone here, Lord Petit! Speak!”
Sighing heavily, the man glanced at Estelle with a regretful look and then back to Valentin. “Our law states that the bride of our sovereign must be of impeccable virtue—”
“Good God, man, what are you saying?”
Valentin didn’t sound as angry nowas incredulous, while Estelle began to tremble from the sudden intuition gripping her. Oh, Lord, no…please, no.
“It’s been brought to our attention that four nights past, Miss Easton allowed you entrance into her room with no chaperone.”
“Yes, I asked her if she would marry me! I was there for only a few moments and then I left—but by God, how did you come by this knowledge?”
“A footman thenext morning observed the exchange of an article from your clothing between Miss Easton and her lady’s maid. Clothing you’d worn the night before.”
At that revelation, the terrible hush that had descended upon the ballroom became shocked gasps and furtive conversation as Valentin swore vehemently under his breath.
“Might this article be abrass button, Lord Petit? I admit one came loose frommy dress uniform but surely that is no grounds to bar my marriage to Miss Easton—”
“Oh, but itisgrounds, Valentin,” Princess Hortense interrupted him, lifting her chin imperiously. “Lord Petit already stated your bride must be of impeccable virtue, but that is clearly not the case here. Most certainly not! That she allowed you into her room with no chaperone is proof enough that her moralsare as loose as her pedigree is nonexistent!”
Estelle sucked in her breath as Valentin’s half-sister looked at her with such disdain that she wished she could simply sink through the floor. Trembling uncontrollably now, she truly feared she would be sick.
“Enough of this madness!” shouted Adam, who strode forward to Estelle’s side. “Forgive me, Valentin, but I’ll not stand by any longer whilemy sister-in-law is so unjustly and falsely maligned. Discuss this matter further with your privy council as you must, but not with us present!”
Linette rushed to Estelle’s side, too, and only then did Valentin reluctantly release her hand as he nodded at Adam. Her legs wooden, she was certain she would have collapsed if her sister and brother-in-law hadn’t looped their arms through hers to assisther from the ballroom.
Only at the last moment did she glance behind her at Valentin, his face so stricken that an anguished cry burst from her throat.
Yet no tears came, she was so stunned, so horrified.
She heard him roar out a command for everyone to leave the ballroom save for his privy council and his half-sister, and then the world seemed to spin around her and her legs finally gave way.
She felt herself lifted by Adam as Linette hastened alongside him, weeping, then blessedly nothing more.
***
