Page 4 of Her Royal Houseguest

That would be a diplomatic achievement no one could ignore, least of all their father. Deva and Vaji would return victorious and finally get the positions of respect they deserved.

‘Very well,’ he said to his half-brother. ‘We go to England.’

Vaji grinned. ‘To England and glory.’

Chapter One

Anna could rarely sit still. As a child, she’d fidgeted constantly. As an adult, she hid the scattered way her body always wanted to move beneath her skirts and by twirling a hidden hand. Mostly, she danced in the early hours of the morning so that she was too tired to twitch during the day.

Today, however, she was feeling relaxed enough for a cup of tea with her good friend Phoebe. The woman had just visited Anna’s mother. Phoebe wasn’t a doctor, but she had an interest in medicinal plants. Indeed, her family had invested in an apothecary shop with an enterprising young doctor. But in this case, she was testing out a new headache medicine learned from her Chinese friends.

Mama suffered from migraines. She was right now upstairs in a dark room with her head beneath a pillow. And Phoebe had just tiptoed downstairs to share a pot of tea.

‘This is exactly what I need right now,’ Phoebe said as she settled down beside Anna in the parlour. She sniffed the air. ‘Did you add some honey?’

Anna chuckled. ‘Don’t you recognise your own blend? It’s rooibos. From Africa, I think.’

‘Yes! Stephen purchased it.’ Stephen was the doctor who was working with Phoebe at the apothecary. ‘But I don’t think it will help your mother. It’s not meant for headaches.’

‘Then it’s a good thing we’re drinking it and not her.’

Phoebe grinned as she accepted her cup. Then she looked around with a frown. ‘Where is everybody? I’ve never heard the place this quiet.’

Anna waggled her eyebrows. ‘This will be the best Season yet. Do you know why?’

‘Tell me.’

‘Because nobody is here. My brothers are at school and my sister is at her home, happily increasing.’

‘Really? That’s wonderful!’

‘She’s thrilled. Not too sick, apparently, so she could come here. But as the air is so much better in the country, she’s decided to stay in Devonshire.’

Phoebe arched her brows. ‘But that means everything’s on you. Your mother’s migraines won’t let her socialise much. Indeed, I really think she should go to the country, too.’

‘She won’t abandon Father with Parliament in session. I’ll do what I have to, just to support Father, but I’m tired of the social rounds. Aren’t you?’

‘Definitely.’

The two of them had danced and batted their eyes through three Seasons to no avail. No acceptable gentleman had proposed. Not to Phoebe because she was a cit. Not to Anna because of her ‘curse’. At least that’s what Mama called her preference for her left hand and the fact that she was a complete idiot when it came to managing a household. Frankly, it was the latter that was the problem. Most people didn’t even know about the other issue. She used her right hand as much as possible, though it made her clumsy.

‘I want to spend the spring reading books, riding my horse and…and…um…’

She looked away. That was the problem with her, wasn’t it? Everyone else had a passion. Her mother painted when her head didn’t hurt. Her father was very active in politics. Each of her brothers had a love of something, though for her eldest brother it seemed to be women and wine. What did she do with her time?

Everything and nothing. A little of this, a little of that, without ever settling on anything for long. Without a husband or children, she had to find something to fill her time. Right now, it was dancing alone in the attic before everyone was up. She never slept well.

‘No new interest?’ Phoebe asked.

‘I’m reading about fairies who clean the house for good women.’

‘That sounds useful.’

‘I must not be good enough.’

‘Your house is plenty clean.’

‘That’s the servants. You haven’t seen my upstairs attic.’ She shuddered. ‘It’s a disaster, but I can’t force myself to set it in order.’