“Your parents are arriving? Where will they be staying?”

“They were invited to stay at Buckingham Palace with the king and queen, but they wanted something a little less formal, so they’ve opted for the Dorchester instead.”

I tried to picture a life in which the Dorchester counted as less formal. I smiled. “How lovely for you to have them here.”

“I’m not so sure. Mummy and my sisters will want to come shopping with me and I rather enjoy our adventures alone, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do, but I think it’s a mother’s prerogative to help her daughter choose her trousseau.”

She nodded. “I suppose so. But we’ll still make time for evenings out without them. This was fun tonight.” She beamed at our escorts. “Thank you both. I’m rather sad, now, that I’m getting married with such delightful company in London.”

The two boys had the grace to blush. We got up to leave. Whiffie and Monty escorted us into the foyer and sent for our car.

“So you’ve promised we can see you again as soon as this blasted wedding business is over,” Monty said to me. “You will come to a hunt ball?”

“That will be nice,” I replied as he put my wrap around my shoulders.

The manager appeared. “Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence, Your Royal Highness,” he said, bowing unctuously. “Allow me to escort you to your car.” He ushered her out of the front door. I was about to follow when an employee tapped me on the shoulder. “I was told to remind you to collect your winnings, Lady Georgiana. They are being held for you. Please follow me.”

My winnings, of course. How silly of me. It just shows what too much champagne and brandy can do to the brain. I was escorted across the gaming room.

“I was told that they were being held for you in here,” he said and opened a door for me. I stepped into one of the small private gaming rooms with a baize table in its center. While I was taking this in, and looking for where my winnings might be, I heard the click of a latch as the door was closed behind me.

I spun around. Darcy was standing in front of the door.

Chapter 24

VERY LATE ON NOVEMBER 7

“What are you doing here?” I demanded angrily. “I thought you’d be in a dungeon in the Tower of London by now.”

He grinned. “I might say the same for you.”

“It was quite obvious I had done nothing wrong,” I said haughtily. “Now please open this door immediately. Princess Marina is waiting for me.”

He put a restraining hand on my shoulder. “The princess has been sent home without you. She has been told you have met an old friend and will be following in a separate car.”