Read Online A Prince for Aunt Hetty by Kimberly Truesdale - Free Book Online Page B

had never heard anything substantial. In any case, the house had been empty, so she'd had no occasion to visit.
    The house was beautiful and nearly twice the size of Hayes house. There were small turrets at either end that made the castle comparison even more apt. But what really drew the eye, even in the winter with all the green leached out of the foliage, was the well-kept hedge maze in front of the house. It rose to the height of her shoulder and towered over the younger children. She could already hear their delighted gasps as they saw it.
    Mr. Henderson must have seen – or probably heard – them coming. He was waiting in front of the doors to welcome them.
    “Hello Hayes children!” He boomed out. His voice carried even to where Hetty had stopped. She watched as he knelt down to the boys who had run straight toward him and asked them something she could not hear. Both boys shook their heads vigorously.
    Mr. Henderson rose again to welcome the girls. He took them each by the hand and raised it to his lips. Hetty couldn't help her smile. The girls had no experience with courtly manners and she was sure the gesture would be discussed for many weeks to come. Being kissed on the hand by a gentleman for the first time was certainly a big moment in a young lady's life.
    As he finished with them, Hetty arrived. He turned to her with humor in his eyes.
    “Miss Masters,” he said. “Thank you for bringing the children here this afternoon.”
    Hetty smiled at him. “Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Henderson.”
    “Oh, you all must call me Rupert now that you are in my home,” he insisted.
    Hetty acknowledged the familiarity. “Then by that same rule, you must call me Hetty.”
    “I would be happy to do so, Hetty.” His smile deepened.
    Her cheeks heated and awareness of his gaze raced over her skin. “Thank you, Rupert.”
    The young boys were dancing where they stood, waiting for the adults to be finished with their boring introductions. Rupert seemed to realize it, too, because amusement and mischief suddenly sparked in his eyes. He raised his eyebrows as if to recruit her to whatever he had planned.
    “So, you have walked all this way. I think you must be in need of a rest... perhaps a... nap? Am I right, Miss --” he caught himself, “Hetty?”
    The children all looked stricken. Hetty barely kept herself from smiling as she played along. “Oh yes,” she feigned a yawn. “I am quite tired. I think we should all lay down for at least... oh... an hour or two of rest.”
    That was too much for them to take. “No!” Stephen wailed. “We should play!”
    “I hate naps,” pouted little Harriet.
    Vincent simply ran away toward the opening of the maze.
    “Children!” Hetty could no longer contain her laughter. “We were just having a little fun with you.”
    “Indeed,” Rupert chimed in. “No naps for us! Instead, I think there is a prize for the first child who makes it through the maze and comes right back to this spot.”
    “ Without cheating and without fighting,” Hetty qualified. Even with these prohibitions, their eyes were alight.
    “What is the prize?” Margaret asked.
    “Hmmm... Perhaps an extra piece of cake later?” Rupert suggested.
    “What kind?” Margaret wanted to know.
    “Well, I asked cook to make four different kinds, so I think an extra piece of one or the other might be satisfactory, do you think?” Rupert spoke seriously to her.
    “Yes, I think that will be all right.”
    “Excellent! So here are the rules: the first one to come back to this spot after going through the whole maze will get the prize. However,” Rupert looked at Hetty, “as your aunt has said, there is to be no fighting and no cheating. If we catch you doing anything to hurt someone else, your aunt and I will disqualify you. Understood?” The children nodded. “Now, everyone nine years of age and under come stand by me.” Rupert moved a few steps toward the maze and young Harriet, Vincent, and