When We Meet Again (17 page)

Lady Edward studied her daughter for a long moment. "Your letters were more accurate than I'd thought, Millicent, although I'd suspected as much from the manner in which Pamela's own notes changed through the years. " Lady Edward cast a critical eye over her daughter. "She has changed a great deal." Aunt Millicent grinned. "She has become one of them."

"It was inevitable, I suppose, it is in her blood. But I cannot say it is not for the best. " Lady Edward cupped her daughter's chin in her hand and smiled into her eyes. "You always were entirely too reserved and quiet for a member of this family. I rather feared that at some point you might simply burst from the strain of restraint."

"She did burst, Mother, in a way that is, " Amanda said in a matter-of-fact manner. "With Penwick?

Don't you remember?"

Penwick? Alexei glanced at Roman, who nodded slightly.

Lady Edward shot Alexei a quick, assessing look. "We all remember, dear, but it's in the past and best forgotten. There is no need to bring it up now."

"Tell me about the ball, Mother, " Pamela said. "Unless you've failed to mention it in your letters, you haven't hosted a ball in years."

"Actually, it's to be held at your aunt and uncle's. At Effington House, " Lady Edward murmured.

"At Effington House? The last time I can recall a ball you hosted at Effington House it was for... " She narrowed her eyes. "Mother?"

"It's Amanda's coming-out ball. " A note of reluctance sounded in Lady Edward's voice. "However, I see no reason why we cannot make an announcement there."

"Absolutely not. " Pamela looked horrified at the very suggestion. Excellent. Alexei was rather horrified by the prospect himself. She turned to her sister and took her hands. "Amanda, it's your ball. You should be the center of attention, and absolutely nothing should distract from you."

"Pamela, dear, nothing will, " Amanda said with the confidence of a woman who is secure in her own beauty. Somewhat unusual in one so young although her appearance certainly justified it. Amanda was substantially shorter than her older sister, but there was a distinct resemblance. Amanda's fair hair was a shade darker than Pamela's, her brown eyes a bit lighter. She was delicate where Pamela was stately, and she had an almost ethereal, angelic air about her. She would have most of the eligible men in London seeking her favors in no time, if they were not already.

"You've been away for six endless years. We've only seen you once, when we met you in Paris the first year you were gone. I have missed you dreadfully. Of course, I am terribly excited about the ball—it's my official entry into society after all—but it is for me, and I should be able to have whatever I wish in regards to it. And I should like nothing better than to share it with my only sister. Besides, an announcement will be made at some point somewhere. Why not at my party?" Amanda grinned in a most wicked manner, and all sense of saintliness vanished. "The announcement of my sister's impending marriage to a real prince and his presence—" She looked at Alexei in a most suspicious manner. "You will be present, won't you?"

Alexei smiled wryly. "As it is my betrothal, I would not dare miss it. " In truth, he was beginning to wonder where all this would end, and he did rather hate to leave an opera before the final aria had been sung.

"It will make my ball the talk of the season. " Amanda leaned toward her sister confidentially. "Lucy Berkley's ball is next week, and she's been saying hers will be the event of the year. I hardly think so now."

Pamela glanced at her mother. "Lucy Berkley?"

Lady Edward sighed. "Her oldest and dearest friend in the world." Amanda chortled in a most unangelic manner. "I can scarcely wait to see exactly what shade of green she turns when she hears this."

Pamela chose her words carefully. "Still, we only just arrived in London yesterday, and as His Highness and I haven't seen each other for years, well, it all seems to be happening rather quickly."

"Precisely what I said, " Aunt Millicent muttered.

"But why wait when one is in love?" Valentina said.

"Why wait indeed?" Lady Edward winced. "For marriage, that is."

"I... I... " Pamela cast him a pleading look. He smiled encouragingly. "I would prefer to wait before a formal announcement is made. After all, it has been some time since His Highness and I parted. I simply think it would be wise for the two of us to reacquaint ourselves with one another before we go rushing into public announcements. Don't you agree?"

He stared at her for a long moment. It would be nothing more than a postponement but to what end? He had given his word after all. Alexei had always been something of a believer in the idea that if one was
about to be immersed in freezing water, it was best to plunge right in. The initial shock was intense, but ultimately it was far easier to accept. Besides, it was all becoming quite amusing.

"I do agree, my dear. " He bit back a grin. "With your sister."

"You do?" Amanda's eyes widened.

Pamela's brow furrowed. "You do?"

"Thank God, " Aunt Millicent said under her breath.

"How wonderful. " Lady Edward sighed with relief.

"My dear, Miss Effington. " He stepped closer to Amanda, took her hand, and raised it to his lips. "I can think of no greater reason to announce my intentions publicly toward your sister than that of making your Miss Berkley as green as she could possibly be."

"We are going to get along extremely well, Your Highness. " Amanda grinned, and the most enchanting dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth. At once Alexei felt a wave of sympathy for whatever young man she eventually set her sights on. He would not have a chance.

Pamela stared at him. "I really think it would be wiser to wait until we have spent some time together—"

"Nonsense. " He met her gaze firmly and tried not to laugh at her obvious annoyance. He was rather enjoying this. "Getting to better know one another is the precise reason for an engagement, particularly as we are not marrying for purposes of politics or alliances. We are following our hearts, Pamela, wherever they may lead us. They have led us to this moment, and we cannot ignore them." She stared at him. "We can't?"

"No, we cannot. " His gaze meshed with hers, and he stepped closer to her. "It is our hearts that tell us that no matter how ill-advised this might seem when viewed rationally and logically, it is nonetheless right and true. " He took her hands in his. "It is our hearts that called out for one another through the miles and years that separated us. " He kissed one hand, then the next, his gaze still locked with hers. "And it is our hearts that have at last drawn us together again."

Pamela's mouth dropped open. "Oh my."

"That was terribly romantic, " Valentina murmured.

"I can't tell you how pleased I am," Lady Edward said in a low aside to her sister.

"We are all pleased. " Aunt Millicent's voice carried a distinct note of speculation. Alexei ignored them and continued to stare into Pamela's dark eyes. "I warn you, Pamela, I intend to use every moment until the ball working to ease your fears. We shall spend a great deal of time together." She stared up at him. "I shall look forward to it."

"Properly chaperoned of course, " Lady Edward said with a firm voice.

Alexei released her hands, noting a distinct reluctance to do so and a definite loss when the warmth of her fingers left his.

"Now there are a number of details we should discuss... " Lady Edward began, the other ladies joining her to express an opinion or make a comment save for Pamela, who appeared momentarily befuddled. Excellent. He liked having her befuddled.

Alexei stepped out of the way, nodding and smiling when necessary although, in truth, he was superfluous to the discussion and paid it no heed whatsoever. They could be planning to release white doves over his head for all he cared.

No, he was intent upon watching Pamela. It was most annoying to acknowledge she knew something he was not privy to. No doubt that was precisely why he had declared they would spend a great deal of time together before the ball. Oh certainly, he fully intended to take advantage of that time to kiss her again and quite thoroughly, both in the interest of refreshing his memory and, more, because he very much wanted to.

"Now that we have everything well in hand"—a brisk note sounded in Valentina's voice and she headed for the door—"I am off to follow my cousin's example and ride in the park. " She directed her words over her shoulder but didn't turn around. "Are you coming, Petrov?" Dimitri's jaw clenched, and he shot Alexei a desperate look. Alexei shrugged and shook his head in apology.

The captain cast his gaze toward the heavens as if now seeking divine help.

"Captain, " Valentina called.

Dimitri closed his eyes for a moment, muttered something to himself, and followed after the princess.

"We should be going as well. There are endless details that must be attended to before the ball. " Lady Edward turned to her older daughter and embraced her. "I have missed you more than I can say. Promise me you will never stay away so long again."

Pamela nodded, her eyes bright. "I do promise, Mother. I have missed you as well."

"We shall have a grand time at the ball, Pamela. " Amanda gave her sister a quick hug then turned to Alexei and extended her hand. "Thank you again, Your Highness, for agreeing to make my ball the very best of the season."

He obligingly brushed his lips across her hand and tried not to laugh. "I shall do what I can, Miss Effington."

"I say, you don't happen to have a brother do you?" Amanda said thoughtfully. "Young and quite handsome, perhaps?"

He laughed. "I do indeed have a brother, Miss Effington. And yes he is a good deal younger than I and considerably more handsome. At least in the opinion of ladies."

"Really?" Amanda adopted an innocent manner. "Do you think he might be persuaded to come to the ball as well?"

"In the interest of besting Miss Berkley, I am certain he could be induced to make an appearance—" Amanda opened her mouth, but Alexei held up a hand to stop her.

"—if I knew where he was, and I am afraid at the moment I do not."

"What a pity. " Amanda's brow furrowed with thought. "Perhaps you can make an attempt to find—"

"That's quite enough, Amanda. " Lady Edward ushered the girl toward the door. "You have an engagement announcement, and a prince and a princess attending your ball. I daresay that's more than sufficient to dampen the spirits of your dearest friend."

"It is, isn't it?" Amanda flashed him a smug grin, and he grinned back. She would indeed be a handful for any man with the courage to attempt it.

After a flurry of farewells and promises to meet tomorrow, the two ladies departed, leaving Pamela, Alexei, Roman, and Aunt Millicent.

Aunt Millicent turned to the others with a pleasant smile. "That went well."

"Well?" Pamela's voice rose. "Well? I would scarcely call it well. Announcements at balls? Wedding arrangements? Don't you think this is all going too far?"

Aunt Millicent widened her eyes. "What do you mean, dear?"

"What do I mean?" Pamela sputtered. "I mean, I have just lied to my mother." Aunt Millicent scoffed. "Come now, Pamela, you fully intended to lie to her before she so much as stepped foot in the door."

"Yes, but intending to lie to her and actually doing it are two entirely different things, " she snapped, then turned her attention to Alexei. "As for you—"

"I thought I did an exceptionally good job. " Alexei tried and failed to hide the satisfaction in his voice.

"What do you think, Roman?"

Roman nodded. "A thrill ran though my blood, Your Highness."

"Exceptionally good?" Pamela stared. "Exceptionally good?"

"Does she do that a lot?" Alexei asked in an aside to the older woman. "Repeat what you have just said, I mean."

"I've never noticed it before now. " Aunt Millicent studied her niece. "She is rather upset though."

"Upset, of course I'm upset. " Pamela rubbed her hand across her forehead and paced the room. "This has gone far beyond what I expected. Granted, I should have expected it, all of it, and I admit a great deal of this is my fault. It seemed like such a simple little plan when it was proposed yesterday, but it has grown out of all proportion. I didn't think of the ramifications. I didn't think—" She pulled up short, her eyes wide. "We must call it off. At once."

Aunt Millicent snorted. "We shall do nothing of the sort."

"Why not? We could say... oh, I don't know. " She turned a pleading glance to Alexei. "What could we say?"

"We could claim"—Alexei glanced at Roman—"insanity? That would do, would it not?"

"Absolutely, Your Highness, " Roman said solemnly. "European royalty has used insanity as an excuse for ill-advised behavior since time began."

"Then it could work, " Pamela said eagerly. "Besides, a legitimate argument for insanity could be made by anyone looking at this scheme."

"Don't be absurd. " Aunt Millicent crossed her arms over her chest. "Even insanity will not save us. First of all. far too many people know of this alleged engagement, and I daresay Lucy Berkley will know within the hour and will doubtless tell her mother. Who will hasten to tell her good friends and so on and so forth. Not all of them will believe insanity."