They didn’t wait for the man’s reply. They walked swiftly, not looking back.
“Allow me, Your Grace,” called the page, scrambling after them into the antechamber, “to admit you.”
“Don’t trouble yourself,” Ian called, pulling open the door to the thrones and escorting Drew inside.
Drew closed her eyes to the rudeness of it—this, after all her efforts to refine the twins. Now she bore down on the prince and princess with her hair unraveling, a palace page in hasty pursuit. She couldn’t even say if she’d adequately adjusted her dress or squared her hat.
“His Grace, Ian Clayblack, the Duke of Lachlan,” called the page, part announcement, part chase, “and Lady Drewsmina, the Duchess of Lachlan.”
Ian tossed up a hand, the dismissive gesture ofthank you, but we can manage from here, and strode to the dais. The prince, Drew saw, was seated on his throne but Cynde was up, mimicking the motion of a tennis serve as Imogene pantomimed the stroke. Or that is what they’dbeen doing before they’d all frozen, turned to the door, and watched Ian and Drew promenade down the long carpet. Drew was given no choice but to affect a poised expression, hold her head high, and will her cheeks to be less pink.
When they reached the foot of the dais, Ian clipped his heels together gallantly and bowed his head sharply. “Your Royal Highnesses,” he said.
Drew flashed Cynde a look of apology and then dipped into a repentant curtsy. When she bowed her head, her hat listed sideways and slid almost to her ear. Imogene stepped up to slide it back in place.
“How kind of you to join us, Lachlan,” commented the prince.
“Pleasure, Highness. Forgive our lateness. I had an urgent matter to attend to with my wife.”
Drew closed her eyes.
“Will you show me again, Imogene?” asked Cynde, and the twins stepped away to demonstrate more tennis.
“So you say,” the prince was muttering, considering Ian through narrowed eyes. “How lucky for us, we’ve been entertained in your absence by your dear sister and charming nieces. They will delight my mother at their presentation, that much is clear. I’m so very pleased to see it.”
“Thank you, Highness,” Ian said. “We are very proud. They are good girls. They honor me with their resilience.”
“Quite,” said the prince. “If only their uncle will muster the proper respect at their presentation next spring. Tardiness will not be tolerated at St. James’s Palace, Lachlan.”
“Nor should it, Highness,” agreed Ian. “Pray do not worry. Perhaps I’ve taken advantage today, as we are old friends, you and I.”
“Perhaps you have, and if my wife were not so delighted by your marriage to her sister, I should take you to task.”
“I am nothing if not in favor of delighting wives,” said Ian.
And now Timothea made a noise of disgust. “My God, Ian,enough.”
“Apologies,” Ian said again, but his mouth was quirking up, and the prince was struggling to contain a laugh.
“Minnow?” the prince called to Cynde. “Will you not greet your sister so we may evict her pestilence of a husband and liberate the girls to their own diversions? Lachlan is disrespectful and it sets a bad example.”
Ian opened his mouth to say something, likely the rudest comment of them all, but thankfully Cynde was trotting back to her husband and climbing onto her throne.
“The girls arejewels, Your Grace,” she said, and it took a moment for Drew to realize she was addressing her.
“Baroness,” Cynde continued to Timothea, “you should be so very proud. It is a delight to see all of you. I’m so glad our families have joined.”
“We are notjoinedto Lachlan’s family,” groused the prince. “Perish the thought.” To Ian, the prince said, “You owe me a drink, Lachlan.”
“A debt I shall happily honor,” said Ian. “Forgive me, I’ve been preoccupied.”
“I can see that. Have your man set something up with my scheduler. You are more interesting to me, now that you’re married.”
“Birds of a feather,” said Ian.
“Oh, and the girls tell me you’ve taken the duke bird-watching!” said Cynde, clapping her small hands together. “How lovely, Drewsmina, that he may share your passion.”
Drew was so startled by the phrasing of this, words failed her.
