Red Wine For Miss Parker - Another very romantic Comedy (Delicious Regency by Ruby Royce, Book 2) (11 page)

Gigi stared at her father and husband in amazement. "What do you mean?"

"I think I know what— where…" Lackerby began.

"Hold it, Lackerby!" The General commanded. "Let them guess a little."

"Yes, Sir."
 

"Across the lake? But how would she have done that, she's hardly Jesus!" Gigi ventured, then quickly added "Forgive me, Excellency."

The bishop nodded and raised one hand as if to bless her.

"Eugenia, there are quite a lot of boats here, she will have taken one of those," Dominic said sternly.

"Yes, but what for?"

"Yes, what for?" Clara asked.

The General chuckled a little more. "You women are too caught up in your own affairs to see the bigger picture."

Lady Cartwright lifted a fan (which
 
- everybody would later swear
 
- had not been there a moment before) and fanned herself dramatically. "Oh, I saw it right away!"

"Of course you did, my love," the General puffed.

"I simply did not want to reveal my knowledge until the time was right and the liaison had developed further."

"Of course, my love."

Eugenia suddenly understood what everybody else was referring to. Being her mother's daughter, she did the one thing any daughter of Lady Cartwright's would do in such a situation.

"Oh, that! Well, I had not thought you others had guessed it."

"Guessed what?" asked Clara.

"It was obvious from the beginning," Dominic said. "And it was only logical. There are no two people in the world who can produce as many words in a minute as they can, in fact, if they should reproduce I'm going to buy an Island to keep the chattering bunch away from the rest of humanity. They had to flock together by a law of nature. They even look alike."

"Now, Surrey, I don't think…"

"Hold it, Lackerby," The General interrupted. "My son-in-law has the right of it. I saw it right away."

"Who would not!" Lady Cartwright sang.

"Those Boticelli mouths and long lashed blue eyes, they're of the same stock, I tell you. My cousin is so in love with himself that he could not help but fall for his mirror image, it's pure narcism."

"Certainly," Lady Cartwright said.

"Very much so," Eugenia said.

"Frankie and Flora?" Clara shook her head. "I had no idea! How could I have missed it all?"

"Oh, I know
that
too, Clara." Gigi smiled at the younger girl.

"Alas," Dominic looked towards the lake. "Here comes the bride."

The group followed his gaze and indeed! There was a rowing boat approaching the shoreline. The dark hair and white back were undoubtedly those of Flora Parker.
 

After some more minutes, Flora had reached the little landing stage and alighted from her vessel.
 

She stumbled towards the house, her face red and covered in sweat. She was wheezing badly.
 

Gigi rushed towards her and supported her friend until they had reached the veranda.
 

"Gigi," Flora panted. "I ha-, I have to go on!"

"Where? What happened? Where's Francis?"

Flora stared at her in shock. "You- you know?"

"We all know, Flora dear." Lady Cartwright cried and waved. "Have some tea, oh, is that a nightgown?"

"I— he— oh no!"
 

His Royal Highness, Prince Francis of Karlsburg-Sforza pulled himself out of the water and, dripping wet and also panting, walked towards the group of people assembled around the tea table. Flora tried to flee, but she ran into a giant human wall. The General had gotten up from his chair to prevent her escape. He wrapped a protective arm around her.

Francesco reached them. Everybody waited excitedly for what he would say.

"She—" he groaned, "she does not want to marry me!"

A cry of disappointment burst out of the others.
 

"Somebody tell her," he halted to catch more air, "that she has to marry me!"

Dominic sneered. "Cn't say dn't 'stand. Blief it's Lady's dsishn ftrall!"

Gigi coughed politely. "What did you say so rightly my love?"

"I said, that I can't say I don't understand her and that I believe it is the Lady's decision after all."

"Ah, I thought you had said that."

"But Flora, I love you so!" the Prince turned to Flora, who was writhing in the Generals grip.

"Now, Flora, why don't you want to marry his Highness?" The General inquired grandfatherly. "Has he not been nice to you?"

Flora had recovered a little. "I told him I did not want to be his wife, that I just wanted to be his mistress! And now he tells me I have to become a catholic and marry him!"

The Bishop spat out his tea. "Catholic?" he squeeled.

"Is there a reason why you should better marry the prince, little Flora?" The General gently squeezed her arm.

"What? Of course there is," Dominic spat. "He has obviously compromised the girl, that rascal! What do you think she was doing in this castle in a nightgown? Playing chess? He never knew right from wrong."

"No, he hasn't!" Flora shouted, coming to the Prince's defense. "I compromised myself!"

"Oh, darling, that's not true," Francesco cried. "It was my fault alone."

"No, no, it wasn't!" Flora sobbed. "I came to you in that wretched boat, and I was drunk on wine and I wanted to see you so badly and then…"

"I have behaved monstrously!"

"No, my love, you haven't!" Flora tore herself loose and ran towards the Prince. He lifted her into his arms, kissing her, then, murmuring unintelligible words of tenderness, he carried her off into the house.

The priest was still gagging on his tea when the two disappeared. Lady Cartwright patted his shoulder in support.

"Now, now, don't take it so hard, Excellency. It happens all the time, I'm told. At least, this time, he was wearing trousers!"

Dearest Mama, dearest Papa

I have some important news, which you may look upon unfavourably. I ask your forgiveness, but I had little choice in the matter:
 

I am now a catholic.

And I got married!

Your loving daughter,

HRH Princess Flora Karlsburg-Sforza, Archduchess of Lombardy, Marquise of Brescia and Countess of Varese

THE END

Two Pistols for Clara

The Surreys are back in London and Clara's wedding to the Earl of Darlington is drawing nigh.
 

Will they be able to profess their love for one another? And what dark secrets does he hide? And who is the mysterious dark-eyed woman who visits the Earl so late at night?