Chapter 21

London, England

“Your mother and sister-in-law are on their way here.” The warning from Jen sent a spike of adrenaline rushing through Sophia’s system.

“Thank you. I’ll finish this.” She dismissed the stylists, who had been securing a soft blue hat that matched her conservative garden-party dress. Emma, the one doing her hair, had a panicked expression marring her young face that said she feared for her job if the damned hat flew off today. “I won’t let it go anywhere,” Sophia assured her, and the relief she saw in the woman’s eyes made her lips firm tight. This was how her mother ruled, putting the fear of God into the people over a damned hat.

She jabbed pins into the thing, enjoying the pain in her scalp as her heart hammered in her chest.

The instant the door clicked shut, she swung to face Jen. “What do you know?” Her mother and sister-in-law weren’t scheduled to be in London at all. Would they stay in the city, or were they here to escort her back to Porenza?

She was secure in the knowledge they wouldn’t stay in what her mother considered “quaint” lodging. To the dowager queen, this old mansion was Sophia’s version of staying in a cabin in the woods.

A dull roar started in her head as Jen relayed the information. “Antony was just informed. They are here to join you at the garden party.” A surprise visit was not a good sign.

“Nothing else?”

“No. Antony’s ordering the other guards around to make a good impression.”

With effort, she kept from ripping the hat off her head. It already felt like a hot weight. Out of habit, she scanned the area to be sure nothing hinted at her nighttime escapades. Jen didn’t seem concerned, but that was because her friend already knew there were no clues. She also knew the queen mother wasn’t likely to enter the home at all.

“How much longer?”

Jen was already sliding a corner of the draperies aside for a view to the street. “Now.”

Taking a deep breath, Sophia forced her nerves back, calming her features and donning the serene mask she’d lived in for the majority of her life. With a last look in the mirror, she determined that her appearance was as it should be. The dark circles from lack of sleep had been taken care of by whatever the stylists had done to her for the last three hours. Thank God for those diligent women, she thought.

She noticed Jen’s hand touch her earpiece. After a beat, Jen turned to her. “I’m supposed to bring you down.”

After moving through the house and out the door to the waiting car, she savored another breath of what could be her last bit of freedom for a while. The sun slipping through the bright blue skies allowed for sunglasses to obscure her eyes until she assessed what she was stepping into.

Sophia slid gracefully onto the soft leather of the limo seat. “Mother, Nichole, I’m thrilled you were able to join me at the party.” Thrilled was the last thing she was, but it seemed the right greeting.

Once Sophia removed her glasses, Nichole beamed as she took Sophia’s hands in hers. The fact that her sister-in-law seemed happy eased the rapid beat of Sophia’s heart. “Your mother wished to surprise you.”

The car accelerated smoothly, curving out of the drive before entering the quiet street. Trees and other cars flashed by the dark-tinted windows as Sophia went through the pleasantries. Her mother’s slight smile didn’t hold an ounce of the warmth Nichole’s did, but that was normal.

“It’s a nice surprise. Where is William?”

“He is attending a meeting downtown and will accompany your sister-in-law and I back to Porenza this evening. He has appointments at the palace in the morning.”

Sophia had never been more thankful the trip was less than a few hours by jet. It meant they could easily enter and leave the city within a day.

“How are things here?” Nichole asked. “Your brother has received a few calls. Jean Luc Richelieu has shown significant interest.”

Everything stilled around Sophia as she worked to divert a potentially dangerous situation. “Has he?”

Her mother was watching her closely. “He’s made his intentions quite clear to William. He’s from an old family.” She would bet her mother had already spoken to Lady Archibald, whom Sophia had told she had several men she was considering.

“I’ve actually eliminated him from the list. I would rather pursue ties to Britain.” It was a calculated lie to play on her mother’s desire for a British royal connection.

Her mother didn’t waste time. “Who have you chosen?”

Her mother was pushing, enough that Nichole quirked a brow.

“I’m having dinner with the Duke of Hellshire this evening. He is one of the three lords I’m considering.” Thank God she’d accepted his invitation for this evening, with the caveat that it would be at her favorite restaurant in the city, not in his damned home.

“Who are the others?” her mother demanded to know. Did her mother think she was lying? The dowager’s next words eased Sophia’s mind. “Your brother is meeting with the Frenchman now. I plan to give him your choices.”

Sophia was quick to recite names she would likely regret saying, but if she said nothing, her brother might attempt to hoist her into Jean Luc’s hands. That would never happen.

She felt the car slowing to a stop and couldn’t wait to exit into the unusually sunny day. Taking a deep breath, she donned her sunglasses again before stepping out. Thankfully, her hat stayed secure, though she set a gloved hand on it just to be sure.

She turned and smiled at the mass of people held back by uniformed police. Phones and camera equipment dotted the mix of shouting bystanders. Celebrities, royalty, and the uberwealthy all gathered on the exclusive grounds beyond the flowered gates. The cloying scent of the blooms was enough to give her a headache, but that wouldn’t show on her face as she, Nichole, and her mother waved and smiled prettily for the cameras before turning to the party.

A few hours of her mother, she could handle. She’d have to. At least the panic of the surprise visit had finally receded.

*****

“What did you just say?” Viktor had better have heard Ivan wrong.

“Jean Luc stayed in London. Pavel says he is meeting with your princess’s brother right now.” Ivan spat out the words with a foul look on his scarred face.

Viktor’s jet had just touched down in Paris, and they were taxiing to a private secure hangar. He’d known this could happen. Jean Luc had discarded a famous actress months ago. Marrying a beautiful princess was just what he’d love. Her beauty was part of that. The other part would be her unattainable reputation. Viktor had seen this coming and hadn’t liked it.

His fingers dug into the leather armrests as he waited impatiently for the plane to stop. He hadn’t wanted to leave London, even for a few hours, but this meeting was better held in person.

Especially now.