“You had no right to instruct your man to wear our armor,” Siegfried said. “What on earth were you thinking? Rather farcical, wouldn’t you say?”

“I had my reasons,” Patrascue said. “I placed my men invisibly on duty around the castle to protect your royal personages, but I didn’t think this man would be foolish enough to attempt to move from his spot.”

“I needed to find a bathroom,” the man said, followed by an exceptionally loud groan as the armor was removed from his leg. “I didn’t notice the top of the stairs.”

“Get him to bed, and stop this nonsensical behavior at once,” Siegfried said. “This is royal property and you have no authority here, Patrascue. Now go away and leave us in peace. You have upset my betrothed. Come, mein Schatz.” And he extended his arm to me.

He escorted me to my door. “I am so sorry your sleep was disturbed by this idiot,” he said. “Is there anything I can have brought to your room to help you sleep better? Some hot milk, maybe? Some more coal for the fire?”

“Oh, no, thank you, Your Highness,” I stammered, conscious of Darcy presumably still lying in my bed. “I have everything I need.”

“You need no longer address me as ‘your highness,’ mein Schatz,” Siegfried said. “Now it is to be Siegfried and Georgiana.”

“Thank you, Siegfried,” I muttered.

He clicked his heels, something that had little effect in bare feet. “That is good then. Let us hope there are no more disturbances tonight.” And he took my hand and put his fish lips on it again.

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

My bedroom and not alone
Still the middle of the night

I let myself into my room with a sigh of relief. Even in the darkness I could see the bed turned back and no sign of Darcy.

“Darcy?” I whispered. He must have heard Siegfried’s voice outside the door and decided to hide, just in case. I tiptoed around, lifting up drapes, peeping under the bed. “It’s all right, you can come out now,” I said. Still he didn’t appear. I glanced over at that chest. I certainly wasn’t about to open that. But I did open the wardrobe and peer inside. It was big enough to hide several men.

“Are you in there?” I asked.

“Who are you talking to?” A voice right behind me made me spin around, heart thumping.

Darcy was standing there.

“I was looking for you,” I said. “Don’t do that again. You’re going to give me a heart attack.”

“I heard the commotion and decided I better take a look for myself,” he said. “As usual that fool Patrascue was making a balls-up of things. Go back to bed, you’re freezing.”