Lord Robert Sterling, a man a decade older than Louis and a respected member of the coterie of younger sons, joined them and engaged Mrs Costas in conversation. A poet with a growing reputation, Louis had noticed his interest in Mrs Costas when they had been in London and he could see now that the lady wasn’t indifferent to his attentions. They became separated from the two of them and Louis momentarily found himself alone with Miss Kazan.
‘Tell me what concerns you,’ he said, handing her a glass of champagne. ‘You are not worried about your performance; that much I do know.’
She looked down at her feet for a second or two, shuffling them and causing her silk skirts to rustle about her legs. ‘I don’t think it will be safe for me to remain in Brighton,’ she said with apparent regret.
‘Good heavens, why ever not?’ Louis scowled. ‘Have you been troubled by unwanted attentions? Tell me if that is the case and I will take steps to ensure that the situation does not recur.’
‘It is a little more serious than that.’ She smiled in a distracted fashion that caused Louis’s heart to melt with desire for his enchanting companion. ‘It’s Claus Lykaios.’
Louis jerked upright as his thoughts abruptly turned away from the inappropriate road they had taken. ‘Your agent? What of him?’
‘I have dispensed with his services, as you already know. He has helped my career a lot but I have never really liked or trusted him. He was Papa’s choice, not mine. Anyway, he advised against our coming to Brighton for the summer, you see. I knew he was right, but…’ She spread her hands and allowed her words to trail off.
‘You overrode his objections even though you knew he was right?’ Louis lifted one shoulder and frowned. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘He is my father’s man through and through. When Papa knows I am here, mixing with English aristocracy instead of harmlessly sightseeing, he will blame Mr Lykaios and my aunt for not forcing me to decline the prince’s invitation.’
Louis chuckled. ‘You can hardly deny a direct request from the heir to the British throne, even if he should not have put you in that position. That would be terribly bad for détente.’
‘My father has never liked much about England—and now, ever since Lord Elgin…’
‘Ah, I see. You are conflicted, I imagine; torn between loyalty to your father and the pleasure you take in displaying your talent to an appreciative audience.’
She mangled her lower lip between her teeth, looking vulnerable and conflicted. ‘Something like that,’ she said eventually.
Louis took a moment to think the matter through. ‘If you are so very worried about the situation, I can have a word with his royal highness. If he understands he will likely release you from your sojourn here.’
‘But I don’t want to go home!’ she cried. ‘Does that make me sound very selfish? I am enjoying…well, the freedom. I am always surrounded by people at home, never alone. I am surprised Papa allowed me to come to England with such a small retinue. Just myself and my aunt, my maid and Lykaios. Two of his men accompanied us from Italy to England, but they are no longer with us.’
‘If you don’t want to go home, then you shall not.’ He sent her a softly reassuring smile.
‘If only it were that easy.’ She bit her lower lip again in that endearing manner of hers, obliging Louis to suppress a groan. ‘Papa will be furious, and it is not sensible to cross him.’
‘You think he will send people to force you to go home, regardless of the fact that you are the prince’s guest.’
‘I am absolutely sure of it. Papa has plans for my future which he will not put aside, so he won’t care about offending his royal highness.’
‘I would ask you what plans, but I don’t want to pry. Besides, now is neither the time nor the place.’
Miss Kazan looked up at him, a frown wrinkling her ordinarily smooth brow. ‘I noticed Mr Lykaios watching us when we left our lodgings in your carriage yesterday.’
‘Yes, I saw him too. He knows where you are living, which naturally concerns you, but be assured that he cannot gain access to you. The prince has set guards to patrol the area of your house at night. Several of the guests here for the summer are residing in the area, which makes it a target for undesirables.’
‘I didn’t know that. Thank you for telling me, but it won’t stop Lykaios. He accosted us this morning when we ventured out.’ She rubbed her upper arm, as though it was bruised. ‘I don’t know why I am telling you this,’ she said absently. ‘My problems are not your concern, but you are very easy to talk to.’ She sent him an impish smile. ‘I hope my travails will not drive you away.’
‘On the contrary, I want to be of service.’ It took all of Louis’s considerable willpower not to drop his head and cover her lips with his own in a gesture of reassurance. ‘What happened? What did Lykaios do?’
‘He tried to manhandle me. He insisted that I was his responsibility and that I would have to return to his control. He is so strong, I worried that…’ Tears swamped her eyes. ‘I only managed to get away by kicking his shin and then screaming at the top of my voice. Lots of people came to see what was wrong and Lykaios slunk away.’
‘Good for you!’
‘He is gone for now, but I know he will be back, so I can’t stay in that house. The problem is that I wouldn’t feel comfortable settled here, even though the prince offered Eva and me rooms in his palace.’ She looked close to tears. ‘Papa will be furious when he learns that I have defied him, but if he thinks that I am living beneath the prince’s roof, even though Eva would be with me, well…’
‘I understand.’ Louis glanced up and noticed Chance and Mrs Kendal enter the room. ‘And now that I fully appreciate the delicate nature of your difficulties, I am sure we will be able to rectify the situation. Come with me, there is a lady I would like you to meet.’
Sabine glanced around the sumptuous room and felt her spirits plummet. This was Chance’s world, not hers. She struggled to find anything to say to these people. She had little in common with them and often sensed feelings of resentment from the women; presumably because she had attracted Chance’s interest when many of them had failed in that endeavour. Chance had never told her as much but she heard the gossip and felt the antipathy directed towards her.
The prince’s courtiers spoke a different language to her, and she was unacquainted with most of the people whom they gossiped about, destroying their reputations with sharp tongues for no reason other than that they could. Sabine wanted no part of it, and it was a measure of her devotion to Chance that she was willing to compromise and at least accompany him to these occasions when the prince was in Brighton. Well, that was what she’d agreed to do when she declined his proposal but offered to become his mistress. Attending the odd court function here at Brighton had sounded as though it wouldn’t be that arduous but now, before she had even completed the first one, she was already starting to have second thoughts.
She glanced up at her handsome lover, closing her eyes as she recalled the feel of his capable hands exploring every inch of her body and giving her the most unimaginable pleasure. He looked down and she sensed in his expressive eyes understanding and gratitude. He squeezed the hand that rested on his sleeve and Sabine’s determination to support his efforts to protect the prince was reignited. Chance didn’t ask much of her, and accepted their relationship on her terms, even though he wanted a more binding commitment, which was magnanimous.
She could do this small thing for him in return.
‘Who is the attractive lady with Lord Sterling?’ she asked.
Chance followed the direction of her gaze. ‘Evangeline Costas, Miss Kazan’s aunt.’
‘Well, she is a sorry excuse for a chaperone in that case. She seems more interested in Lord Sterling than in her charge’s wellbeing.’
Chance chuckled. ‘It seems that Louis has assumed her duties and is taking them exceedingly seriously.’ He nodded in the direction of his friend and a radiant young woman with raven black h
air, a lovely profile and an exotic olive complexion. Clothed in emerald silk, she appeared oblivious to the elegant crowd surrounding her as she smiled up at Louis. People clamoured to gain her attention, but whatever Louis had to say to Miss Kazan appeared to captivate her to the exclusion of everything else.
‘Is that Miss Kazan? Well, I can see before she even opens her mouth why everyone is so enraptured. Well, the gentlemen appear to be. I dare say all the ladies despise her already.’
‘Come along.’ Chance took her arm. ‘I’ll introduce you. You of all people must understand how she feels to be feted for her looks, especially since she is unaccustomed to English society. She’s harmless enough, and actually quite shy.’
‘One imagines that she is surrounded by chaperones and goodness knows who else in her native Greece. I wonder at her father permitting her to leave the country at all.’
‘He has actively encouraged her to develop her voice since she was a small child, so Louis tells me, and I suppose the opportunity for her to perform at Covent Garden was too good to turn down.’
‘In that case, I wonder why he didn’t accompany her and share in her moment of triumph.’
‘Perhaps she will tell you once you become acquainted. People have a tendency to confide in you.’
‘Goodness alone knows why.’
Chance shook his head, a teasing smile playing about his lips, but didn’t voice his thoughts. They made their way through the throng until they reached Louis’s side. The rest of the company moved on and they found themselves alone with Louis and Miss Kazan. Sabine took a moment to study the young woman as Chance made the introduction, thinking he had probably exaggerated her shyness. Such exquisite beauty was seldom, in Sabine’s experience, a close relation to reserve.
‘Mrs Kendal.’ Louis Harland smiled as he took her hand. ‘I trust this rogue is treating you well.’
‘Appallingly, as a matter of fact, but what can one do?’
They all laughed as Sabine turned her attention to the Greek lady. ‘Miss Kazan, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Chance has given you a ringing endorsement. I feel positively jealous.’
‘Oh no!’ Miss Kazan’s mouth fell open and her eyes widened in evident alarm. ‘There is absolutely no need.’
It was at that moment Sabine knew the younger woman was not only modest but also badly in need of a female friend. Her reservations fell away. ‘How are you finding England?’ she asked. 'I wish I could do something about this wretched weather and then you might have an opportunity to appreciate it more.’
‘Thank you, Mrs Kendal, but I shall not hold you responsible for the weather.’
She spoke with a delightful accent that she could see had worked its charm on Louis. ‘Phew, that’s a relief,’ Sabine replied.
‘Actually,’ Louis said, ‘this might sound like an imposition, but Miss Kazan has a problem and I hope you will be in a position to help her with it. Would you object if I were to bring her and Mrs Costas to see you tomorrow?’
Sabine shared a glance with Chance and didn’t hesitate to agree. ‘It would be a pleasure,’ she said.
‘Ah, here is Mrs Costas now.’
The introductions were barely completed before the prince made his entrance and further private conversation was briefly impossible. He had a lady Sabine didn’t recognise on his arm and seemed to be in an exuberant mood.
‘No prizes for guessing what they have been doing all the afternoon,’ Chance said in Sabine’s ear as they bowed to their host.
‘Who is she?’
‘Lady Phoebe Graystock, his latest fancy.’
‘And where is Lord Graystock?’
‘Keeping a low profile and pretending not to notice what his wife is up to, if he follows the prescribed pattern.’
Sabine raised a brow. ‘Is there a protocol covering behaviour in such circumstances?’
‘She isn’t the first lady who has caught his eye in his court, and doubtless she will not be the last. All the husbands who have turned a blind eye have been rewarded with promotions and favours.’
‘Even so...’ Sabine turned up her nose. ‘She is very pretty, I suppose, but seems a little full of herself. You can tell by the tilt of her chin, her condescending manner and possessive expression. It seems to me that she assumes she is here to stay.’
‘She will soon discover the error of her ways. Many before her have harboured similar ambitions, but only Mrs Fitzherbert maintains her place in the royal affections.’ Chance chuckled. ‘It will doubtless amuse you to learn that she is the leading member of a charitable commission that devotes itself to the rehabilitation of fallen women.’
Sabine choked on a laugh. ‘Now I have heard it all.’
The prince joined their group and the opportunity for further private conversation with Chance came to an end.
‘Ah, Miss Kazan, you are here.’ The prince beamed at her. ‘Excellent! Ready to beguile us all with your lovely voice after dinner, I do hope.’
She curtsied low. ‘I shall endeavour not to disappoint, your royal highness.’
‘That’s the spirit, my dear. Make sure Harland here takes good care of you.’
‘I am at Miss Kazan’s service, sir.’
The prince chuckled. ‘I don’t doubt that for a single moment.’
Sabine noticed Lady Graystock frown when the prince spent a little too long extolling Miss Kazan’s attributes. Understandable if she saw Miss Kazan as competition for the prince’s questionable favours, since if that were the case then Lady Graystock wouldn’t stand a chance. She was considerably older than Miss Kazan and not nearly so lovely—or so sweet natured, it would appear. But still, Sabine mused, she must be very insecure to harbour such concerns. The prince was known for his liberal behaviour, but in his own clumsy way he was attempting to heal Anglo/Greek relations rather than creating further discord by taking advantage of the unmarried daughter of a leading Athenian.
Sabine wanted to tell the rather desperate Lady Graystock, who barely bothered to acknowledge Sabine when the introduction was made, that her fears were groundless anyway. She was completely sure that Miss Kazan was not bent upon improving her social standing in this country by allowing the prince to seduce her, even if his thoughts did turn in that direction.
Lady Graystock’s frown intensified and she held Sabine in a death glare when the prince turned his attention to her and poured on the charm.
‘My dear Mrs Kendal. At last I have the pleasure of seeing you here in Brighton. I kept asking this rogue when I could expect to see you at Carlton House again,’ the prince said, indicating Chance with a jerk of his thumb, ‘but I am convinced that he has deliberately kept you away from me for fear of the competition.’
‘I’m afraid I have turned into something of a recluse, your royal highness, and seldom leave Brighton if it can be avoided.’
‘I share your love for the resort, my dear, even in this appalling weather. But still, we are all together and dry and comfortable as you please, which is all that signifies.’
‘Indeed, sir. I have heard much praise of Miss Kazan’s wonderful voice and look forward to hearing her. I dare say it will more than compensate for the inconvenience of the weather that keeps us all indoors and at one another’s throats.’
‘Quite so. Quite so.’
Lady Graystock looked a little taken aback by Sabine’s outspokenness. She was aware that most people were struck dumb in the prince’s presence and presumably the silly woman thought that she too must have designs upon her royal lover’s person. She glanced at Chance, who appeared amused by the exchange, and wondered if Lady Graystock was out of her senses. Who could possibly prefer the portly prince over Chance’s seductive allure?
The prince greeted Mrs Costas at considerable length, clearly testing Lady Graystock’s dwindling patience when he took her aside and spoke quietly in her ear before moving on. Lady Graystock remained tenaciously at his side, clinging to his arm. Sabine didn’t much like her, but then she didn’t hav
e a great deal of time for most of the sycophants in the room and dismissed the scowl that Lady Graystock turned to bestow upon her as insignificant.
‘You look a little taken aback by the prince’s affability,’ Sabine said, smiling at the two Greek ladies.
‘He seems very approachable,’ Miss Kazan replied, ‘and I think it very polite of him to do his best to put us at our ease.’
‘I do not know him well, but whenever our paths cross he is never anything less than charming.’
‘He has an eye for a pretty face,’ Chance said, ‘so you three ladies are bound to bring out the best in him.’
‘Careful,’ Sabine said, laughing, ‘or our heads will swell.’
Dinner was announced, and the formal procession made its stately way into the sumptuous banqueting room, headed by the prince and a superior-looking Lady Graystock. Sabine smiled at Chase as they took their place in the line, directly behind Louis and Miss Kazan. Mrs Costas was on Robert Sterling’s arm and seemed more interested in what he had to say to her than she was in her charge’s welfare.
‘Romance is in the air,’ Sabine remarked, settling herself onto the chair that Chance held out for her.
‘It is certainly on my mind,’ Chance replied in a seductive drawl that drew a shudder of awareness from Sabine.
‘Behave yourself! Are you never satisfied?’
‘If I am not then I hold you directly responsible for my state of frustration. I cannot seem to get enough of you.’
‘A charming excuse for your depravities.’
Chance smiled and spread a hand. ‘Alas, you know me too well.’
Sabine laughed, in danger of drowning in an excess of Chance’s compliments, and changed the subject. ‘Lady Graystock looks dissatisfied.’
‘I fail to see why. She is seated at the prince’s right hand.’
‘But she wanted the seat at the other end of the table that would imply she was his hostess, not just his latest plaything.’
‘That is Mrs Fitzherbert’s place. One imagines they are going through one of their separations. Mrs Fitzherbert does press too hard sometimes and tries George’s patience, but they always reunite.’
Amara (Carlton House Cartel Book 2) Page 6