Page 30 of Her Royal Houseguest

‘Of course, Mother,’ she responded automatically.

‘Tell Higgins not to wake me until well after noon. These people give me bad dreams.’

‘Really?’ Anna asked. ‘Mine were disturbed as well.’

‘Of course they were!’

‘They’re a strange people, aren’t they?’ Anna continued, trying to ease her mother into a frank discussion. The woman could be difficult and self-centred but she was also smart enough to manage the uncertain moods of the haut ton. It wasn’t all Papa. Mama could be very clear-eyed about what was required and by whom in society. Perhaps she would understand Prince Deva’s strange, implied proposal of marriage.

Or not.

‘They’re completely bizarre,’ her mother said as she set aside her empty cup. ‘Now go find Higgins and tell her that I’ll need extra powder this afternoon to hide the bags underneath my eyes. Will that infernal chanting never end?’ Then she dropped back onto the mattress and covered her head with a pillow, which meant Anna’s time with the woman was over.

Very well. Anna headed down the stairs, less bothered by the chanting because Prince Vaji had a lovely voice and because she was heading below stairs. Once there she saw their housekeeper, Mrs Barker, who looked as grumpy as ever. Oh dear. The woman must not have had a good night, which spelled disaster for everyone else.

Anna tried to smooth things over. ‘Good morning, Mrs Barker. Such an exciting time we’re having, don’t you think? Just imagine. All the other houses will be green with envy and want to hear every detail.’

Gossip was the best way to cheer up the woman and Anna’s only hope of having a good morning.

‘As if I would talk about the nonsense in this house!’ the woman gasped. ‘You are wrong to suggest such a thing, after all my years of service. Let them envy me,’ she sniffed. ‘They do not know the trials I have endured.’

Anna winced. The housekeeper was in no mood to be mollified. ‘Mama feels the same,’ she tried. ‘She’s stopped her ears and is trying to rest—’

‘As if anyone could sleep with that noise!’

‘Yes. Well, I suppose you should be the one to carry up her chocolate in a few hours. What I took up will be cold—’

‘I told you as much.’

‘Yes—’

At that moment, the chanting stopped. Both women looked up, holding their breath to see if the morning prayers were finished.

Anna glanced at the clock, hoping she would remember the time. It would be easier tomorrow if she could say, ‘Well, they’ll be done by nine.’ She tried to remember but it was gone a moment later when Clarke appeared in the doorway.

He’d come downstairs in an unseemly rush. When he skidded to a halt in front of the two women, he was completely breathless.

Mrs Barker was not impressed. ‘Clarke! We do not dash about this house as if we were still a child in leading strings!’

‘No, Mrs Barker. Begging your pardon but the abbot… Well, he requires his bath now.’

Both women gaped at the man. ‘A bath? Now?’ Did he not understand what it took to get a bath ready during morning breakfast? To add a bath now was a difficult strain.

‘Yes, my lady,’ Clarke said, his expression apologetic. ‘Two separate baths. One for each monk.’

‘Two!’ Mrs. Barker gasped. ‘This is outside of enough. I’ll not spare any more maids to—’

‘Men only,’ Clarke reminded her.

‘Men or women! It’s ridiculous!’

‘It is what they require,’ came a heavy voice from the top of the stairs. ‘I apologise for the necessity and offer myself to aid with the work.’

Everyone turned to see Prince Deva descending wearing a rich brocade wrap and trousers, gold earrings and an apologetic smile. He looked breathtaking but Anna was forced to square off with him anyway.

‘Two separate baths cannot be done. We don’t have two tubs and we cannot strain that much water. Plus, to heat it will be difficult. Breakfast must be cooked and the fire—’

‘Show me.’