It was no secret to anyone that the Prince spent money like a drunken pirate in a seedy brothel. He was noted for his extravagant purchases in arts and antiquities and for his many indulgences in other areas, too. He had a penchant for eating and drinking too much, spending lavishly on grand homes, overbuying useless inventions that hadn’t yet been proved, and spending England’s funds on ridiculously unfounded scientific discoveries. The Prince had long since emptied England’s coffers with his madness for spending and merely scoffed when criticized for taxing the citizens to compensate.
Why would Bray want to help the Prince out of this predicament?
Bray was not one to cast stones concerning gaming. Most men, from titled noble down to the footpad on the street, wagered something from time to time. But to wager one of England’s treasures, something that wasn’t the Prince’s to lose, could be considered treasonous. And what would Parliament do if they found out what the Prince had wagered?
Now he knew why some called the Prince a gentleman and some called him a blackguard. Still, the Prince’s reputation wasn’t Bray’s concern.
“Every man is responsible for his own wagers,” Bray said. “I’ve told you, the Prince cannot expect me to be responsible for his.”
“Normally that would be true, but this time you are. Why or how this happened is not important now. It is done. The Prince was—”
“Sot-headed,” Bray said.
“I won’t reference that comment.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Be that as it may, the archduke was a very shrewd man and knew exactly how to exploit the Prince’s weaknesses and manipulate him to the archduke’s advantage.”
“You mean the flamboyant Prince was outfoxed.”
“I would never admit to anything so offensive as that. Your Grace, you must understand that this would be a huge embarrassment not only to the Prince but to all of England as well, considering the House of Commons voted to give Greece thirty-five thousand pounds for the Elgin Marbles just two years ago.”
Bray remained quiet and walked over to his desk and picked up his drink. He really didn’t care about the embarrassment to the Prince over this outrageous wager, but he did care about what it said about England. It would be his luck that if the Prince ended up losing the marbles, Londoners were fickle enough to blame Bray for not marrying Miss Prim rather than blame the Prince for making the wager in the first place.
Everyone knew the Prince had expensive habits, but wagering the Elgin Marbles was a hell of a thing to have done. Bray wondered if anyone else knew the Prince had put England’s treasures at risk.
“The Prince has always assumed you would keep your honor and marry Miss Prim. And for doing so, the Prince will be in your debt. He’s willing to bestow lands, money, horses, or whatever you desire for your cooperation. So, may I tell the Prince you’ll take care of this as soon as possible?”
Bray frowned at the man and took a sip of his drink. “You can tell the Prince I don’t need anything from him.” Bray walked to the doorway of the book room and called, “Tidmore, come show Mr. Hopscotch the door.”
“Remember, Your Grace, that it is your duty to keep the Prince safe from harm just as it is his generals and soldiers who lead and fight his wars. If this gets out, it will harm not only the Prince but England, too. You owe it to him and to your countrymen to keep the marbles safe.”
Mr. Hopscotch bowed and nodded before turning away and walking out the door. Bray strode to the side table and added more port to his glass before returning to the window. The rain continued, but with the falling darkness it was barely visible.
Bray remembered that his father’s last words to him urged him to establish himself as an honorable man, worthy of the title duke, and to fulfill his duty and marry Miss Prim. Mr. Hopscotch said he owed it to the Prince to marry Miss Prim. Even Wayebury had said Bray owed him. But at what point did one man really owe another?
If he did owe them, what could he do about it? Miss Prim had refused him. Bray had told her she would have to ask him to marry her, and he didn’t see that happening anytime soon, certainly not without some wooing on his part.
Bray thought about Miss Prim with single-minded intensity. There was much to like about her. He knew how to go after what he wanted, and he always succeeded once he did. He knew he desired Miss Prim more than he wanted any other woman, but he didn’t know if he was willing to pursue her.
He chuckled. The Prince was chasing the wrong rabbit. Bray didn’t care if the Prince and England lost the marbles, at least not enough to propose to Miss Prim again.
Chapter 16
Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.
—Othello,act 2, scene 3
The Great Hall looked as if it had been sprinkled with gold dust.
Louisa stood at the entranceway to the large, sweeping ballroom with Gwen and Mrs. Colthrust. The brass and crystal chandeliers glittered and glimmered. Huge mirrors hung on the high walls, reflecting and scattering soft candlelight all over the ballroom.
The ceiling had been washed in a shade of sky blue, a scene of flowers, ferns, and waterfalls painted around the outer edges. Cherubs holding harps, hearts, and bows and arrows looked as if they were dancing across the heavenly tableau. At a quick glance, Louisa counted sixteen massive fluted Corinthian columns draped in pale blue tulle, ivy, and beads that looked like strings of pearls. Large urns overflowing with colorful flowers and statues of Greek gods and goddesses were standing in various places around the room. The décor of the spacious room lived up to its name. It was indeed a great hall.
There were two steps down from the entrance level to the ballroom, which must have held at least five hundred people. To the far side, Louisa saw a vast dance floor where fashionably gowned ladies and dapperly dressed gentlemen twirled, swayed, and hopped as the orchestra played a lively quadrille.
Mrs. Colthrust had chosen an ivory gown with pale pink ribbon fashioned into bows at the high waist and capped sleeves for Gwen, and an alabaster-colored gown with long sheer sleeves and pale green cuffs for Louisa. Both she and Gwen had their hair pinned up with ribbons woven through their golden curls. Mrs. Colthrust wore a low-cut puce-colored gown with strands of beige lace adorning the bodice and skirt. Her headpiece resembled a crown of gold with feathers shooting out of it.
