Once Upon a Romance 01 - Before the Midnight Bells (8 page)

And that only made him laugh harder.

At last her footsteps moved away, and Max and Ella both heard her say, faintly,

“
Bless you, Frederick. Now, let’s go find Beatrice. I’m sure she’d love to dance with you.”

They tumbled out of the curtain, shrieking with mirth. Max had to prop himself up against the window mullions and Ella actually sat down on the floor. When she could finally breathe again Ella looked up at her accomplice.

“
My stepmother, Millicent, is dressed as a baker woman, but I should have had her go as a implacable matchmaker.”

“
Ah, but then, that wouldn’t have been a costume, would it?”

That set them off into another round of laughter. Ella wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and explained further.

“
Frederick is a fine, upstanding young gentleman, but he has all the personality of a boiled turnip. A few years ago he mentioned to Millicent that he quite liked the look of me, and she’s been scheming for our marriage ever since. Mostly I think she wants free range of the house he’ll inherit—it has lovely gardens.”

“
I take it you object to lovely gardens?” Max was absurdly glad that Ella seemed uninterested in this Frederick fellow.

“
Not at all, I simply object to them being a reason for matrimony.” Ella stood and brushed herself off. “Now that my stepmother
ha
s
started looking for me
, I should go. She’ll
persist until she tracks me down, and then insist on introducing me to
scads of other young worthies.”

Max found himself reluctant to part. “Surely we could find a
better hiding place, one fortified against young worthies
.”

For a moment Ella was tempted, but then she heard the city bells ringing, tolling the midnight hour. She regretfully shook her head. “I would love to, really, I would, but I’ll be getting little enough sleep this week, trying to finish my costume orders.”

Max looked at Ella, really looked at
her
, not her features or her hair or her petite body in the thin shift. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her shoulders drooped from weariness. During their banter her natural animation had hidden these things from him, but now that her thoughts were turning towards home and the upcoming work week he could see the strain she was under. He had the bizarre urge to gather her up against him and let her sleep undisturbed in his arms, safe and protecte
d
. What nonsense.

“
Well, Match
g
irl Ella, I have enjoyed this evening.”

“
As have I, Beggar..?”

“
Max.”

“
Pleased to make your acquaintance, Beggar Max; Eleanor Emberton, at your service.” She dropped a small curtsy, and Max swept into his most elaborate bow.

“
I assure you, Miss Emberton, the pleasure was all mine.”

Ella smiled at him brightly, but her heart was heavy as she turned to go. Tonight, for what seemed like the first time in years, Ella had forgotten her cares and truly enjoyed herself. She glanced back at the man who had made that possible. For just a second she let herself imagine what it would be like if she had come here hunting a husband. If she might have invited him to call. If he might have accepted the invitation.

But no. Though he had given only his first name, it was obvious that Max was Sir Max, or even Lord Max. He was wealthy and probably titled, whereas she was perilously close to being as poor as the little matchgirl she portrayed. Even if she wanted to marry, she would have to set her sights a little lower.

Just as well, then, that her dreams weren’t of marriage at all. Ella resolutely made her way out of the crowd and back up the grand staircase. The courtyard was a mad house, with carriages jammed in every which way. Ah well, she could walk if she needed to
;
it would give her an opportunity to make her plans for the week. Mrs. Minglesall had already placed her next order, as had Madam Fire Hair. She would start
pulling fabrics for them in the morning
.

She winced as her foot struck a small p
ebble. If only she’d worn shoes.

***

Max watched Ella leave. He wanted to take her home and tuck her in bed, while at the same time he longed to keep her here until dawn, just to enjoy her company. Ah well. Tucking her in bed would be
highly
inappropriate, and as for spending more time with her… he’d see her soon enough. He smiled in anticipation. When Ella had left, she’d completely forgotten her match basket. Some kind soul would need to return it to her, and he knew just the fellow.

Max was on his fourth attempt at tying his cravat. He hated the blasted things so much that he normally did without on all but the most formal occasions, but they were considered proper attire for gentlemen and this morning he heartily wished to be seen as such. A knock on his door broke his concentration and he crushed the pleats he had so carefully formed. With a huge sigh he picked up his fifth clean cravat.

“Come in.” Max was surprised to see the Duke of Yarrow entering his private chambers. “Father, I thought you were still at the palace.”

“
I was, but the king has finally retired, after spending the entire ball f
irmly trouncing the rest of us at Baccarat.
I thought I’d come see you before I sought out my own bed.”

“
You’re lucky I’m having such difficulties with my cravat, or I would already be out the door.”

Nathaniel Wellesley laughed, “You’d do better if you had more patience.”

“
You’re right, as always, my lord. Perhaps you would demonstrate for me? I do so enjoy learning from your example.” Max’s eyes twinkled. His father chuckled and took the fresh cravat from his son.

“
You’re going to make an excellent prince, my boy. You’ll have all the lords dancing to your tune and thinking it was their idea to begin with.” His hands moved with calm sureness, and Max viewed the result with satisfaction. “I’m proud of you, Max. Someday your firstborn will sit on the throne of Albion, and your second born will hold the Duchy of Yarrow. I had always hoped that you and Vivienne would make a match of it, but for years I thought you were only friends.” Max squirmed a bit on the inside, but his father wasn’t done yet. “Just remember to always treat her well. A lady deserves to be well treated by her lord, whether she’s a queen or a laundress.”

“
I try to be everything that Vivienne needs, father.” That was true enough, although sneakily non-specific.

“
That’s all any man can do, son. Keep it up and you two will get on just fine.”

Another knock came at the door.

“
I’m quite popular this morning, it would seem. Come!”

This time it was Mayhew, the butler.

“
Lord Max, her royal highness has come to call. I have put her in your personal salon. She asked that I also relay the following message verbatim.”

“
Yes?”

“
Max, get your lazy arse out of bed and attend me.”

Max turned to his father and grinned. “If you’ll excuse me, sir, I’ve been summoned.”

“
Go on, boy, it never does to keep royalty waiting.”

***

Vivienne was pacing the salon with great energy, and no outward signs that she had been dancing until dawn. As she walked she periodically kicked the furniture in frustration. It was all right. The furniture
—large, sturdy pieces that were comfortable, rather than stylish—
could take it. Her impatient foot swings were more perilous to the
stacks and stacks of books that littered all the available surfaces, including the floor. Max had specifically forbidden the household staff from moving anything in his salon, and the maids were getting rebellious about the way they had to tiptoe around to do his dusting.

On hearing his footsteps, the Princess swung to face the door.

“
At last!”

“
Vivienne, be reasonable
;
I came as soon as Mayhew told me you were here, it can’t have been more than five minutes.”

“
I do not have to be reasonable, Max, I am a princess. It is specifically in my job description that I be petulant and demanding.
” Her attending guard made a sound suspiciously like a snort, and Vivienne glared at him. “Thank you, Rutgers. You may wait in the hall. With the door
closed.
”

Max waited until they were alone, and then
looked at her with amusement. “Surely you didn’t come by just to exercise your royal privilege?”

“
Where were you last night? I kept looking for you. I know it isn’t the done thing for us to be together during the balls, but I thought at least you might search me out to say hello.”

“
I did my duty by you earlier in the day when I presented you with the first betrothal gift. I hope you like him, by the way.”

“
Yes, the horse is magnificent, and I love the purple embroidery on the travel saddle. Well done.” Despite her praise she was tapping her toe with impatience. “But don’t think I haven’t noticed that you didn’t answer me. Where were you last night?”

“
Obviously I was at the ball
;
you heard me announced.”

“
Max…” her tone of voice warned that she would not be put off again.

“
Fine, fine. I was hiding in one of the far rooms
—
with the food
,
if you must know.”

“
All night? That must have been a dull time.”

“
Honestly, I would prefer standing alone all night. Listening to all those bereaved mothers’ lamentations that I am off the market, while slyly hinting that it isn’t too late to change my mind, is enough to make me want to crawl under a table.
Set your mind at ease
, however
;
I had a companion for the evening, someone equally disinclined to brave the crowds.”