Startled by the sudden display of interest the young Viscount was showing in her, she looked up at him and asked, “What is it, sir?”
The handsome George smiled. “You’re trembling, Fanny. There is no need to be alarmed.”
The music was playing in the background and she felt that all the eyes of the elegant ladies and gentlemen must be upon them. She said, “I have my duties, sir. We’re ever so busy. You are keeping me back!”
He still kept her cornered in the alcove as he told her, “You’ll do no more serving this night!”
“What do you mean?”
“Prince Aran has taken an interest in you, which does not surprise me since he is a keen admirer of feminine charm,” George told her.
Her cheeks crimsoned more deeply. She recalled that the guest of honor had been rather greedily following her with his keen, black eyes. She said, “I’m much flattered. But I still have my work to do.”
“No, listen,” the young Viscount said. “Seeing his interest in you I told him of your talent for song and dance. And he has requested that you be included in the entertainment which is to begin in a few minutes.”
Her pretty face showed distress. “Oh, sir! You shouldn’t have said anything!”
“Too late now,” George said cheerfully. “Better make up your mind to put on your act for all of us.”
Becoming more uncomfortable as the moments passed, Fanny protested, “I can’t, sir! The Marquis would surely not approve of it. Nor would my cousin, Lily.”
“I can’t answer for your cousin Lily,” the amused George said. “But I can assure you my father is quite in favor of it. I have come here to make my request with his permission. You see, catering to the Prince ranks above everything else.”
She glanced beyond him at the crowded ballroom and told him, “I’d never manage! I’d be bound to faint!”
“We’ll take that chance,” George said. “I want you to put on your best dress and then take your place by the platform. When the time comes I will introduce you.”
“Must I? Please let me be free of it!” she begged him.
Staring at her George saw she was in earnest. “By Jove, you are the modest one!” he exclaimed. “But there is no way out of it now! The Prince is thin-skinned, easily annoyed. My father must encourage his every whim!”
“I have no proper dress!” she wailed.
“Never mind,” George told her. “I’ll fetch Dora and she’ll fit you into a gown of hers. You’re the same size!”
“Miss Dora!” Fanny said in dismay. “I can’t ask to wear her dress!”
“I’ll take care of it,” the Viscount promised.
And he did. Within the space of a few minutes she found herself whisked upstairs again in Dora’s company and with the help of one of the other maids being fitted into a fine yellow silk gown.
Dora stood back and studied her. “You do look really splendid, Fanny. We’ll just fix that flaming red hair a little. I feel sure that is what attracted the Prince’s attention. Dark haired girls are no novelty to him, so I’m quite out of the running!”
Fanny was almost in tears as she stood there with the two of them fussing over her. “And I’m quite out of my depth!” she said ruefully. “I shall make a proper fool of myself before all those people!”
“Nonsense!” Dora said as she expertly pinned Fanny’s hair on top of her head, allowing a few stray ringlets to escape in studied artlessness. “George tells me he witnessed your dancing and singing and you were very good. And he says your ambition is to be an actress?”
“Yes,” Fanny admitted. “My father was on the stage.”
“So that is why!” the other girl said with interest. “Otherwise I would discourage it! But if you wish to be an actress you must learn to face all sorts of people. Be glad the Prince is charmed by you! Go down to the ballroom and when your turn comes do George and me proud!”
Fanny managed a forlorn smile. “Well, if you feel that way, miss.”
“I do!” Dora said. “You’ll never look prettier, will she, Peg?”
The little maid said, “You’re ever so lovely, Fanny! No one would know you was just a maid!”
“I know!” Fanny said grimly. “Well, if I have to face it I may as well get it over with!” And she picked up her skirt so as not to have the hem trailing the carpets and getting soiled.
“That’s the spirit!” Dora cried and escorted her out of the room to the stairway.
The concert part of the evening was already under way when Fanny came to stand in the anteroom just off the ballroom, as a stout soprano was singing some frantic, high-pitched song about the beauties of an English garden. It went on for what seemed to Fanny an endless time, with the elderly male pianist anxiously accompanying the soloist with great energy.
The plump singer ended on a fantastically high note on which her voice noticeably cracked. Not taken back by this, the woman bowed to the loud applause which followed, giving a slight curtsy in the direction of the Prince. Then she marched off grandly, followed by her accompanist clutching his music. They went past Fanny without noticing her.
George suddenly appeared with a mild-looking older man at his side. He said, “This is the pianist with the orchestra. You describe your song and how you sing it and he will accompany you.”
Fanny knew fresh despair. She told the pianist, “It’s a number Little Nell made famous, called The Dairy Maid and The Squire’.”
The pianist nodded. “You’re in luck! I know it! You set the tempo and I’ll follow along for both the song and dance!”
George’s eyes showed a merry twinkle. “So you see! All your problems are settled!” And he marched out to the ballroom while she remained in the ante-room with the pianist.
George was greeted by applause. He smiled and accepted the good-natured laughter and ovation. Raising a hand, he began to speak; “Thank you, dear friends! I fear I must disappoint you. I shall not be entertaining you this evening. But I do have a special treat and surprise for you—a mystery lady who does a most spirited imitation of the famous soubrette, Little Nell! I have seen this pretty young woman perform and I can promise you some exciting moments! And some entertaining ones!” He bowed again and with a smile on his face came to the door, gloved hand outstretched, and led Fanny out to the brightly lighted ballroom. There was a loud burst of applause from the guests at the other end of the room.
Once on the stage she lost her nervousness. All she could think of now was her song and dance. The pianist had taken his place and was looking in her direction. She nodded to him and he played a short introduction to the comedy song.
Fanny had gone through the performance so many times before that she was completely at ease. The piano background was a big help, especially when it came to the dance steps. She sang and grimaced like Little Nell and was heartened by hearing the audience laughing at the right times. When she ended her lively dance the staid group went wild! She had to return four or five times to bow and the applause only ended when the orchestra began to play.
The first to reach her in the anteroom and congratulate her was the young Viscount. He seized her by both hands and smilingly told her, “I was proud of you! And the Prince seemed to be enjoying himself for the first time this evening.”
“I’m glad I didn’t trip on my skirt and fall down,” she said.
“No chance of that!” George declared. “And I must say you look damnably pretty in that gown!”
“Borrowed finery,” Fanny protested. “I must get upstairs and take it off. I have to return to work. They’re short of servers!”
The handsome Viscount shook his head. “Not at all! You have done your work for the night. Now the Prince wishes to personally congratulate you. I’m to present you to him!”
“Please, I’d rather not,” she said, weakly.
“You must or the Prince will be offended,” George warned her. “Then father will be upset and there’ll be the Devil to pay!”
Her eyes widened with concern. “What can I say to him?”
“Just answer him as you would anyone,” he said. “You speak nicely. Just be your natural self!”
It was not an easy request. And when George brought her before the brown-skinned Prince Aran she felt herself weak at the knees. Only the fact George was at her side gave her the courage to carry on. She felt that everyone else in the place was watching and whispering.
Prince Aran’s black eyes fixed on her with the same hunger as before but now there was admiration in his face and manner as he said, “You are most talented, Miss Hastings, in addition to being a beauty!”
“Thank you,” she said. “It was only a vulgar, comic song, hardly suitable for a gentleman such as yourself.”
The Prince smiled. “Truly I have too little comic relief in my life. I’m too sober a fellow. Your amusing song was just what the evening needed.”
“You are most kind, Prince Aran,” she said, lowering her eyes.
The Prince went on, “Most people are so in awe of royalty they are inclined to overlook the fact that we have average tastes. Or else, they think that Indian royalty must be savages, to be entertained only by dancing girls or trained cheetahs. This might be true of my father, the Maharajah, but I have remained in this country long enough to have cultivated Western ways.”
George told her, “Prince Aran and I attended Oxford at the same time.”
Prince Aran nodded. “George understands me. He is my good friend. Soon I will be returning to our kingdom in the hills of India and I shall much miss all this.”
Fanny said, “It is to be hoped you return soon again, Your Highness.”
“That depends,” the Prince said. “My father is old and not at all well. If I succeed to his throne I shall not be so free to travel.”
“That would be a pity,” she said with sincere sympathy.
Their eyes met and she was once again aware of his charm. Though his face was narrow and his skin brown, his features were well-formed with the exception of the rather large nose. His beard was short and suited him and she could guess that he had won the hearts of many females in his brief life.
The Marquis came up and bowed to her. “You did well, miss.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said.
Leaning on his cane the Marquis turned to the Prince and said, “I really must tear you away from this lady. Lady Andrews is asking to be introduced to you.”
Fanny was certain this was a strategy on the part of the wily old Marquis to get the Prince away from her. It would be embarrassing to him if the guests suspected the Prince was becoming too familiar with one of the household’s servant girls and that they had been hoaxed in accepting her as a mystery entertainer when she was merely a maid in the house!
The Prince seemed to suspect this also. His brown face took on an ironic expression. He told the Marquis, “Very well, I shall go with you.” And then he turned to her, his eyes making direct contact with hers and offering a message which sent a small thrill through her. He said, “I promise, Miss Hastings, to see you again before I depart for my native land.”
“You are most kind, Prince,” she said.
He bowed and left them. The old Marquis hobbling along with the aid of his cane went across the room to make the promised introduction of the Prince to Lady Andrews.
George gave Fanny a knowing smile. “I must admit you’ve made a conquest in the Prince.”
“I’m sure he’ll promptly forget me,” she predicted. “He meets all manner of pretty girls!”
“None any more so than you,” he replied. “I had to have him notice before I became so aware of you!”
“Mr. George!” she said shyly.
“I mean it,” he said studying her.
At that instant an attractive, blonde girl came rushing up and tapped him on the shoulder, saying, “George! Your memory grows worse! This is our mazurka!”
“Sorry!” he said awkwardly.
“We cannot waste a minute!” the girl said and tapping her fan against his shoulder once more she drew him away with her. She only gave Fanny a slight glance and that an unfriendly one as she left her standing there alone.
A voice in Fanny’s ear said, “That beauty was the flirtatious Virginia Andrews! Note how charmingly she took George away from you!”
She turned in astonishment to see it was George’s soldier brother, Captain Charles Palmer, resplendent in his red tunic, blue trousers and yards of gold braid. She said, “Mister Charles!”
“Don’t be afraid of me,” Charles begged her. “I’ve been wanting to congratulate you but George and the Prince have been keeping you to themselves.”
She was truly upset now. She said, “I must go, Mister Charles. I have no right to be here!”
“You have every right here tonight, Fanny,” Captain Charles said, taking her by the arm so she wouldn’t run away. “Surely you must have heard about Cinderella. She won a Prince by merely having her foot fit a glass slipper. You have done much more! Entertained the entire company most amusingly!”
“I did so on command,” she said. “And with that over I ought to leave.”
“Pray remain a moment or two with me, or I shall think I’m a poor fellow whom the ladies all despise.”
“Not at all,” she protested. “I like you, Mister Charles. All of us do below stairs.”
“Just so long as you do,” he said, his pleasant face showing one of his good-natured smiles.
“I’m wearing Miss Dora’s gown!” she said, with naive pleasure.
“Dora’s dancing her pretty head off with a fellow officer of mine,” Charles told her. “She couldn’t care less what you’re doing. But I think you have eyes only for brother George. Isn’t that true?”
“Mister Charles!” she reproved him though she felt her cheeks redden.
“Don’t be ashamed of it, all the girls like him,” Charles said frankly. “I hoped you might be the exception who inclined more to me!”
“You’re making fun of me, sir,” she accused him.
“Never, Fanny,” the young officer said sincerely. “I swear I would not do that. Joke with you, yes. But make fun of you, never! I think you’re the loveliest female here and I say it is a wry twist of fate that you are one of the household staff rather than of the gentry!”
“I’m sure you mean to be kind,” she said.
“I do,” he added quickly. “I should like to be your friend, Fanny. And I’ll start by giving you some good advice. Don’t give your heart to George, my girl; he’s already promised to wed Virginia Andrews. And her father, Sir Matthew, and my father, the Marquis, are bound to make the match happen.”
“So that is why she took him away so quickly,” Fanny said.
“She does not tolerate his enjoying the company of any other pretty girl. She did not know you are a servant so she saw a threat in you. She is a haughty baggage and if she’d guessed you were a maid she would be making a protest at your being present here at all.”
Fanny quickly pointed out, “So you merely prove what I have said. I ought not to be here!”
He shook his head. “I’m suggesting what the shallow Virginia would say. She’s not worthy of your concern!”
“But your brother is going to marry her!”
“And will regret it!” Charles said grimly. “But that is the way with families. When they decree a union it must be or we are considered traitors to our class!”
She said, “I fear I do not understand.”
“Better you don’t,” Charles said. “Now, I have no need to marry anyone. I’m the youngest son, not even the second as my brother the Reverend Kenneth is! I have no hope of inheriting the title so I am comparatively a free man, able to fall in love with the girl of my choice!”
“I hope you find her,” she said.
His blue eyes held a merry twinkle. “Perhaps I already have!”
“No. You are merely playing a game. Saying pretty words to flatter me!”
“Don’t believe it,” the young officer said. “I would truly like to know you better, Fanny. So I beg you not to become too serious about George. I don’t want to see you made sad.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I will remember your good advice.”
It was then that Dora Carson and the young officer with whom she was dancing came up to join them. Dora at once came to her and said, “You were a great success, Fanny. Everyone is talking about your talents and wondering who you are!”
Fanny gave the pretty dark girl a plaintive look. “And I’m terrified, Miss. Please see me out. I’d like to leave now!”
Dora showed mild surprise. “You truly wish to leave the scene of your triumph?”
“Yes!”
“Very well,” Dora said. And turning to the two young men, she said, “You must excuse us while we retire a moment to refresh ourselves for the balance of the evening.”
Charles and the other officer bowed. And Charles called after them, “See that both of you return!”
In a few minutes she was back in Dora’s upstairs room and the dark-haired girl was helping her out of the borrowed gown. Fanny said, “I’m ever so obliged, miss. The young men were keeping me there and I didn’t know what to do!”
Dora stood holding the gown and smiling at her. “You ought to be flattered. You were entrancing! They were charmed! I saw how quickly Virginia Andrews dragged George away from you! She wasn’t about to lose her Viscount to any mystery lady!”
Fanny was now in her maid’s dress again. She smiled grimly and said, “She did give me an ugly look as she took him on the dance floor! I can’t say I like her type!”
“She’s a silly, shallow, spoiled girl!” Dora said with a sigh. Her lovely face shadowed. “My only fear is that she’ll ruin George’s life!”
“Why don’t you marry him, miss?” Fanny said impulsively.
“The old Marquis would never allow it,” Dora said in a weary voice. “You were a Cinderella tonight, Fanny. But all dreams don’t come true that easily.”
“You love him, I can tell!” Fanny said with concern.
“I don’t allow myself to think about it. It’s hopeless! I must go back downstairs,” Dora said, tossing the gown on the bed and rushing out of the room.
Fanny watched after her sadly. Dora was hopelessly in love with the handsome Viscount and it could come to nothing. In a moment of rueful introspection she realized they were both in the same plight. For surely George meant more to her than any other young man she had known. Not that she’d been exposed to many others. He had become special to her. His brother, Charles, had offered her good advice. She should curb her feelings now so the hurt would be that much less.
Having reached this wise decision she made her way back down below to the kitchen. Cousin Lily was seated by the kitchen table drinking from a tankard of ale. The rush of the evening had ended and the exhausted Lily was taking her first rest. Some of the other kitchen help were gathered near her. On seeing Fanny they shrilled out their praise of her performance.
Peg came up with her freckled face glowing and said, “I watched from the gallery! You looked and acted like a real lady!”
Lily sighed over her ale and gave her a worried look. “I hope you didn’t step above your level tonight, my girl. If the Marquis himself hadn’t ordered it I would never have allowed you up there to take part in that nonsense!”
“They seemed very pleased,” Fanny ventured.
Marsden, resplendent in his best butler’s livery, had come into the room and now he walked over to Fanny and patted her on the arm. “Most entertaining,” the butler said in his dignified way. “I understand Prince Aran was enthralled. You’d better mind yourself, my girl! Those heathen Princes can be a danger!”
Cousin Lily looked shocked and told the butler, “There now, Marsden! Don’t be putting ideas into the girl’s head!”
The old veteran of Waterloo chuckled and gave one of his frayed, gray side-whiskers a tug as he winked at her and said, “The Prince also has commented on the excellence of the food and is seeking the identity of the cook. I shouldn’t be surprised if he spirited the both of you back to India with him!”
The stout Lily burst into pleased laughter. “You are a one, Mister Marsden! You truly are!”
The party was late ending and Fanny was safely in bed in her attic bedroom as the last of the carriages rolled away. There were still a number of house guests at Brenmoor so all the staff would be busy for at least a few days. When the Prince and his entourage left the busy time would be over.
She lay there on her hard, narrow bed in the dismal little room and stared up into the darkness thinking of the magnificence of the evening, of the grand fashion in which the gentry clothed themselves, enjoyed themselves and fed themselves. It was another world, one which would forever be closed to her after this brief experience. She had no doubt that later in life when she was married to some quite ordinary man she would remember this night and the glory of it. And prominent in those memories would be the handsome George! With a sigh she turned and almost immediately fell asleep.
• • •
There wasn’t an idle moment the next morning. Cousin Lily was busy preparing trays and having them sent up to various rooms. Fanny found herself in the ballroom helping to take down the decorations under the watchful eye of Marsden. Everything of value had to be salvaged for future parties of the kind. She and Peg carefully packed away the lanterns and removed the garlands. When this task was over she and many of the other girls went upstairs to tidy the rooms and make up the beds, as the guests were mostly all downstairs by this time.
As luck would have it, Fanny found herself assigned to the room occupied by Virginia Andrews. The vivacious blonde had apparently been the last to rise. She was still seated at her breakfast tray which rested on a table by an open window overlooking the gardens. She was wearing a white lace negligee and her face showed a certain weariness. There were dark circles under her eyes, marring the lovely face of the previous evening. Fanny was surprised by this.
Virginia gave her a haughty glance and said, “You didn’t knock before you came in!”
“I’m sorry, miss,” she apologized. “I did. You may not have heard it!”
“Don’t lie, girl! I despise liars,” Virginia said sharply.
Fanny backed away. “I can return later, miss.”
“You jolly well better,” the girl at the table snapped. Then she pointed to the dresser. “There’s a bottle of gin there! Pour me out a glass and bring it here!”
Fanny wanted to get away but she did not dare ignore the orders of the already irate young woman. She was shocked that Virginia should be drinking at breakfast—it was not a promising sign. She went to the dresser and found a partially empty bottle of gin and some small glasses. She filled one and carried it across to Virginia’s breakfast table.
Fanny no sooner put the drink down than the blonde girl took a large gulp of it. Then her eyes fixed on Fanny and she put aside her unfinished drink to ask, “Have you served me before?”
She shook her head. “No, miss.”
“Your face seems familiar, I vow!”
Fanny was trembling. “I’ll return later!” And she turned to go.
“Wait!” Virginia cried out and she jumped up from her chair and seized Fanny’s arm and wheeled her around. The blonde girl’s face was distorted with rage as she went on, “I know you now! You’re the ‘mystery singer’ of last night!”
Fanny pulled free of her and stood pale-faced as she asked, “Will there be anything else, miss?”
The blonde girl laughed nastily. “What a joke! Wait until I tell the others! It was a maid whom George foisted on us last night as his mystery lady! Special attraction for the Prince!”
Fanny turned once again and rushed out of the room with Virginia’s harsh laughter ringing in her ears. She went to another room to work, still trembling from the ugly scene. She could not understand how anyone with Virginia’s beauty could have such a cruel, hateful nature.
It was mid-day before she returned downstairs to help in the kitchen. She said nothing to anyone about her confrontation with Virginia. But while she was polishing silver Viscount George suddenly appeared in the kitchen. He paid his respects to Lily and then came directly to her and took her aside.
“I know about your meeting Virginia,” he said grimly.
“I’m sorry she found out,” Fanny said unhappily.
The young man frowned. “It was not any fault of yours. She is the one who has behaved most unsportingly!”
“Did she tell all the others?”
“Those who are still here,” George said. “Happily, most of them are my good friends and really didn’t care who you were. So no real harm has been done except that I’m bitterly disappointed in Virginia.”
“She evidently felt resentment at being deceived,” Fanny said, trying to make the best of it.
George sighed. “She behaved in her usual selfish fashion. You mustn’t feel badly about it. And you won’t have to worry about seeing her again. She’s leaving for home within the hour.”
“It didn’t matter,” she said quietly. “Perhaps there was something to say for her side of it.”
“I can’t agree with that,” the Viscount said. “I wanted you to know I’m most deeply grateful for last night and for the way you’ve accepted things today.” With that he left.
As soon as he’d gone Cousin Lily came up to her to ask, “What did the young Viscount want?”
Fanny said, “He thanked me for last night.” She felt telling more would only complicate things.
Lily’s round face showed concern. “I can’t have him popping into my kitchen whenever he likes. It keeps the staff on edge. I hope that settles it!” And she waddled back to the table where she was arranging vegetables on a huge platter to go upstairs.
Fanny also devoutly hoped it would mark the end of George’s interest in her. And for a while it seemed that it would. Then the following day there was another rush as word was given out that Prince Aran and his entourage were leaving. Fanny was in the drawing room polishing the beautiful mahogany and rosewood furniture when Peg came hurrying into the room and up to her.
Peg’s freckled face was serious. “The Marquis wants to see you in his study!”
“The Marquis!” Fanny echoed, nervously twisting the dustcloth between her hands.
“I’ll take that,” Peg offered. “He said you was to come at once!”
“I’m not even neat!” Fanny worried. “I’ve been working all morning.” She gave the cloth to Peg and smoothed her apron and adjusted her cap. “Will I do?”
“You always look first class,” Peg consoled her. “I just hope he’s not going to give you the sack.”
Fanny sighed. “Anything is possible. This is getting to be a strange house.”
She quickly made her way to the book-lined study of the old Marquis and found him standing near the doorway waiting for her, leaning on his cane. He was not alone. Prince Aran, in a dark coat and trousers and a white turban was also there, as was Viscount George. She needed only to glance at George’s face to see that he was troubled about something.
“Come in, my girl,” the old Marquis said in his hoarse voice. “You know the Prince and my son. No introductions needed. Do sit down for a minute.” He indicated a large leather chair.
She sat gingerly on the edge of the big chair. Looking up at the Marquis, she said quietly, “Yes, sir?”
The old man seemed embarrassed. He cleared his throat. “Yes!” he said. “Rather difficult to know where to begin. The fact is, you have made a most commendable impression on the Prince. He considers you a young woman of great talent!” He pointed his cane at the Prince. “I suggest you take it from there, Prince Aran.”
The Prince nodded impassively. “Very well, if that is your wish.” He turned to Fanny and in a grave voice said, “I have an offer to make you.”
“An offer?” she said in surprise.
“Yes,” the Prince said, his brown face showing no expression and his voice completely even in tone. “I believe you would be useful in my palace to teach some of my brothers and sisters English. Also to instruct them in the ways of the Western World.”
“But I am not a governness!” she protested.
“You could be,” Prince Aran said. “I’m willing to pay you any reasonable sum and guarantee your passage back to England at any time you find the post or the conditions of the country unpleasant.”
She could hardly believe her ears. It was indeed a most generous offer. It would lift her from the level of a servant to an honored position in the household of a Prince. But she had no desire to leave England for India. Her ambitions were to make her name in the theatre and London was the place for that. Also, despite the Prince’s cautious approach she wondered if her position would truly be that of governness, or if once she was in India the Prince might suggest something less proper. For all his calm demeanor, she had seen his greedy eyes on her the other night and she worried that he might have thoughts about making her one of his concubines.
Slowly, she replied, “You honor me with your offer, Prince Aran.”
“I have given much thought to this,” the Prince said soberly. “I think you would make an important contribution to my household.”
The old Marquis coughed again, and said, “You understand this is entirely between you and the Prince. I have merely asked you here at his bidding.”
George, who had been rather nervously standing in the background, now stepped forward. He looked at Fanny directly and said, “What my father means is that we are in no way involved in the offer. We are not encouraging you to accept it nor does it have our approval.”
Prince Aran’s black eyes took on a sharp look as he snapped, “Are you saying you disapprove? And are you speaking for yourself, Viscount, or for the Marquis as well?”
George met the Prince with a stern face. “I first speak for myself. But I would assume that my father is in agreement with me.”
Prince Aran glanced at the old man. “Marquis?”
The Marquis scowled and shifted his weight on his cane. “I’m not sure this girl would be as useful as you think, Prince. India is not an easy country. Her health might suffer due to the change of climate.”
Prince Aran’s tone was now icy. “That is your only concern, Marquis?”
“Oh, quite!” The old Marquis said awkwardly. “I should say it is up to the young lady to make such an important decision. And perhaps she should have more time to think about it.”
“Most certainly,” George agreed.
The Prince smiled coldly. “I fear that is impossible. As you know, I leave here in a few hours. My ship sails in the morning. If Miss Hastings decides to honor me by accepting the position she must make up her mind immediately and prepare to leave at once.”
“You’re giving her no time to think it over,” George said. “That is hardly fair, Prince.”
Prince Aran shrugged. “I would have expected more consideration and assistance from you, Viscount. We are comrades from our college days.”
“I must be honest with you,” George said firmly. “I think you are asking too much, too hastily.”
The Prince turned to Fanny again. “It would seem, Miss Hastings, that this solely depends on you. Let me assure you once more of the high esteem in which I regard you. And I offer my regrets that I have had to make my offer so belatedly.”
She knew that the Marquis was unhappy about the offer but desperately trying to humor the Prince. George was less concerned. But it was plain that neither father nor son liked the appearance of the Prince’s proposal.
She said, “I thank you, Prince. But I cannot make such an important decision on such short notice. I am honored and will consider it. If you wish to write the Marquis later I will be glad to send you word of my final answer.”
The Prince showed no emotion. Calmly, he said, “I regret the position is only open to you now. The future is another matter. I regret you have decided against it, but I accept your decision.” He bowed and turned away as if the matter were ended.
The old Marquis pointed to the door with his cane. “That is all, my girl. We will need you no further.”
She rose and hastened from the room. A moment later George followed her out into the corridor, closing the study door after him. He grasped her arm.
He said, “You gave me some bad moments. I was terrified you’d accept! Did you think my father and I wanted you to?”
She smiled ruefully. “I think you made it quite clear you didn’t. I fear you have lost a friend in Prince Aran.”
“Then let it be,” the young Viscount said. “Father will handle him and try to get him in a better mood. I’m not at all sure that his intentions were as honorable as he pretended.”
“I doubted that also.”
“Fanny!” he gazed at her with undisguised admiration. “I have come to care deeply for you. I realized that there in that room just now!”
She tried to pull away from him. “You mustn’t,” she whispered. “You are betrothed to Virginia Andrews, and even if this were not so, you are a Viscount and I’m only a servant!”
“Confound Virginia! I have no patience with her!” George said vehemently. “And as for the rest of it, there has to be a way!”
“Please let me go!” she urged him. “Someone will come and see us!”
“I must talk with you more!”
“Later!” she said in an effort to get away.
“Tonight,” George said at once. “In the gardens! Meet me by the arch of roses.”
“Perhaps,” she said, pulling away from him.
“Midnight,” he whispered, and kissed the hand he was holding before he let it go.
She rushed down the corridor in a state of confusion. She had endured one surprise after another. No sooner had she settled the matter of the Prince than she was faced with George and his declaration of love. The unhappy thing was she also loved him. If there were any hope for them she would gladly take him from Virginia. But it would be no victory if she ruined his future! She must not cause a conflict between father and son.
In mid-afternoon she watched from an upstairs window as Prince Aran took his leave. It seemed to her he was coldly formal in his goodbyes to the Marquis. She also saw that George was not present. The Marquis shook the Prince’s hand and an unsmiling Aran entered the closed carriage. As she watched it drive off she could not help wondering what her future might have been if she’d accepted his offer.
For the rest of the day she worried about whether or not she should keep her rendezvouz at midnight with George. One part of her nature warned her against it, while the other urged her on. He had asked to talk with her more about his love for her and in the end she decided to give him a chance to do this.
Midnight came and she cautiously emerged from her room and made her way down the back stairways to the ground level of the old mansion. Then she went out into the gardens. It was a pleasant night in early June and the air was warm and fragrant with the aroma of the various blooms in the large, well-tended gardens.
The arch of roses was some distance from the house. She made her way there quickly. Once a cat darted across her path, a gray blur moving swiftly in the moonlight and vanishing in the bushes opposite. It gave her a start but as soon as she realized what it had been she went on. But when she reached the arch she saw no one there.
She stood there in the silver of the moonlight wondering why George hadn’t come. He had seemed much too serious to lightly change his mind. She was standing there debating whether to return to the house or not when he suddenly appeared, coming up the gravel walk toward her.
Fanny ran to him and he took her in his arms. He kissed her ardently and held her tightly to him. He said, “I was detained. My father is still in his study worrying about Prince Aran. He gave me a long lecture about handling Indian royalty!”
She looked up at him. “Did he think I should have gone with the Prince?”
“No. But he enjoys blaming it all on my bluntness,” the young man said. “Let us forget about it. We have other more important things to discuss.”
They found a secluded spot by the bushes where he spread her cloak on the ground and they both stretched out on it. Again they were in each other’s arms.
After a period of kisses and caresses, she said, “I love you, George. But we both know it’s no good!”
“No,” he insisted. “Give me a little time until father gets over his present distress. Then I’ll tell him about us.”
“He expects you to marry Virginia!”
“I shall tell him it’s hopeless! That I love you! He thinks you are a most unusual girl. I’m certain he’ll relent and give us his blessing.”
“You truly think that?”
“I do,” he said. “You must leave our service and take up residence somewhere else with a chaperone. After a suitable time our engagement will be announced. No one need connect Miss Fanny Hastings with the servant girl here.”
“Virginia Andrews will!”
“I think not,” he said. “She does not know your name. And let us hope by then she will have found someone else and have forgotten all about us!” He kissed her again.
“George, I do love you so!” she breathed softly.
“I’m parched for you,” he whispered in her ear and at the same time began feverishly to unbutton her gown. She gave him no opposition and soon he was fondling and kissing her bare breasts.
Her misgivings were lost in her ecstasy as their naked bodies joined in a frenzy of passion. She felt the firm thrust of his manhood and in her eager response forgot all else.
When their passions were spent, he continued to hold her closely to him. He was not her first lover, but her previous venture with a shy country lad at home melted into nothingness compared to this. She knew their affair was unwise but she could not help herself.