Read Online When We Meet Again by Victoria Alexander - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Alexander
Tags: Historical
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be lost, that returning to her previous home would return her to her previous character, and that she would not risk. Especially when there was no need to do so.
"Mr. Graham." Pamela nodded at the butler. "Please see to it that whatever amount the prince has paid for the lease of the house is returned to him and send a footman at once to the Clarendon or the Pulteney to see if there are accommodations available for the prince and his party."
"That might be rather awkward, miss," Graham said in a decidedly reluctant manner. Her gaze snapped to his. "Which part?"
"Hotels are notoriously full at this time of year and," Graham winced, "as for the money..." She did not like the look on the butler's face one bit. "Yes?"
"It cannot actually be returned," he said slowly. "That is not entirely. Or rather not all of it." He shrugged apologetically. "Expenses, miss."
"Very well." Pamela gritted her teeth. "I shall refund their money out of my own funds."
"That, too, might be awkward, Pamela. Have you forgotten that we have yet to receive the financial portion of our inheritance? Mr. Corby said the funds would not be immediately available." Aunt Millicent glanced at the count. "Unless it is an extremely reasonable amount?"
"It was exorbitant," Stefanovich said dryly.
Aunt Millicent heaved a delicate sigh. "I'm afraid exorbitant is out of the question." Pamela cast her aunt a beseeching look. "Couldn't you—"
"Oh, I certainly could, but I have a much, much better idea than refunding the prince's money and sending him on his way." A considering light shone in Aunt Millicent's eye. "I suggest we take up residence here as we have planned and—"
"And?" Pamela held her breath.
"And," Aunt Millicent continued, "we allow His Highness, and the rest of his party, too, of course"—she glanced at Alexei—"you did say there was a cousin here as well? A royal cousin I presume?" Alexei nodded. "A princess."
"A princess? Oh I do like that. A prince and a princess under my roof, I can't wait to tell my sister." A wicked gleam sparked in Aunt Millicent's eye. "As I was saying, we allow them to remain—"
"Never!" Pamela glared.
"Oh my," Clarissa said faintly. "Here?"
"As our guests," Aunt Millicent finished with a flourish.
"Delightful," Stefanovich muttered.
"How very clever of you to think of such a solution, Lady Smythe-Windom." Alexei stepped forward, took Aunt Millicent's hand in both of his, and gazed down at her. Surely he wasn't going to kiss her hand again? That would be entirely too much even for a man of his reputation. "I am in your debt. If there is ever anything I can do for you in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."
"I'm certain I can think of something." Aunt Millicent stared up at him with a smile that hinted of all sorts of things. Naughty, wicked things.
Immediately a number of naughty, wicked things that could be done with Alexei flashed through Pamela's head, and for a moment her knees weakened. She pushed the thoughts aside and struggled for control. "Aunt Millicent." She drew a deep breath. "I don't want this man and his entourage in my house."
"It is really not much of an entourage," Alexei said thoughtfully. "Not at all like the old days. What do you think, Roman?"
"No, Your Highness." The count shook his head regretfully. "Our number is woefully small in comparison to the old days."
"Indeed." Alexei sighed in a dramatic matter. "Why, it is little more than a handful really. Aside from the count and myself, there is Captain Petrov, our respective valets, a few drivers and stable hands, whatever servants my cousin has, and of course, our cook." He leaned toward Aunt Millicent in a confidential manner. "He is most extraordinary, Lady Smythe-Windom. Why, the cook here has completely allowed him to have his way in her kitchen, and I suspect, given his mood since our arrival, has furthermore allowed him to have his way—"
"And do not forget your cousin, Your Highness," Stefanovich cut in.
"I could
"Mr. Graham." Pamela nodded at the butler. "Please see to it that whatever amount the prince has paid for the lease of the house is returned to him and send a footman at once to the Clarendon or the Pulteney to see if there are accommodations available for the prince and his party."
"That might be rather awkward, miss," Graham said in a decidedly reluctant manner. Her gaze snapped to his. "Which part?"
"Hotels are notoriously full at this time of year and," Graham winced, "as for the money..." She did not like the look on the butler's face one bit. "Yes?"
"It cannot actually be returned," he said slowly. "That is not entirely. Or rather not all of it." He shrugged apologetically. "Expenses, miss."
"Very well." Pamela gritted her teeth. "I shall refund their money out of my own funds."
"That, too, might be awkward, Pamela. Have you forgotten that we have yet to receive the financial portion of our inheritance? Mr. Corby said the funds would not be immediately available." Aunt Millicent glanced at the count. "Unless it is an extremely reasonable amount?"
"It was exorbitant," Stefanovich said dryly.
Aunt Millicent heaved a delicate sigh. "I'm afraid exorbitant is out of the question." Pamela cast her aunt a beseeching look. "Couldn't you—"
"Oh, I certainly could, but I have a much, much better idea than refunding the prince's money and sending him on his way." A considering light shone in Aunt Millicent's eye. "I suggest we take up residence here as we have planned and—"
"And?" Pamela held her breath.
"And," Aunt Millicent continued, "we allow His Highness, and the rest of his party, too, of course"—she glanced at Alexei—"you did say there was a cousin here as well? A royal cousin I presume?" Alexei nodded. "A princess."
"A princess? Oh I do like that. A prince and a princess under my roof, I can't wait to tell my sister." A wicked gleam sparked in Aunt Millicent's eye. "As I was saying, we allow them to remain—"
"Never!" Pamela glared.
"Oh my," Clarissa said faintly. "Here?"
"As our guests," Aunt Millicent finished with a flourish.
"Delightful," Stefanovich muttered.
"How very clever of you to think of such a solution, Lady Smythe-Windom." Alexei stepped forward, took Aunt Millicent's hand in both of his, and gazed down at her. Surely he wasn't going to kiss her hand again? That would be entirely too much even for a man of his reputation. "I am in your debt. If there is ever anything I can do for you in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."
"I'm certain I can think of something." Aunt Millicent stared up at him with a smile that hinted of all sorts of things. Naughty, wicked things.
Immediately a number of naughty, wicked things that could be done with Alexei flashed through Pamela's head, and for a moment her knees weakened. She pushed the thoughts aside and struggled for control. "Aunt Millicent." She drew a deep breath. "I don't want this man and his entourage in my house."
"It is really not much of an entourage," Alexei said thoughtfully. "Not at all like the old days. What do you think, Roman?"
"No, Your Highness." The count shook his head regretfully. "Our number is woefully small in comparison to the old days."
"Indeed." Alexei sighed in a dramatic matter. "Why, it is little more than a handful really. Aside from the count and myself, there is Captain Petrov, our respective valets, a few drivers and stable hands, whatever servants my cousin has, and of course, our cook." He leaned toward Aunt Millicent in a confidential manner. "He is most extraordinary, Lady Smythe-Windom. Why, the cook here has completely allowed him to have his way in her kitchen, and I suspect, given his mood since our arrival, has furthermore allowed him to have his way—"
"And do not forget your cousin, Your Highness," Stefanovich cut in.
"I could
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