Prince of Ravenscar (Sherbrooke Brides 11)

“Yes, yes, a minor head injury, no more than that.”

“That’s good. I shouldn’t want to hear his lordship had died. Such a treat he is to the senses, don’t you think? And to watch him laugh and play the vampire, I find it quite amusing. He is so tall and lean, and so very white, such a contrast to his dark eyes and hair. I have wondered what it would be like to kiss him.”

“Please, Vicky, do you know if Richard indeed went to London?”

“Richard? No, I don’t know for sure if he went to London, how could I? He is a man, he can do as he pleases, he can strew lies where he pleases. All I know is that he isn’t here, so that means he had to go somewhere, doesn’t it?”

“Where is your maid, Vicky?”

“Oh, Whipple is doubtless in the village, having tea with her sister.”

“But why would you send her away? It’s raining.”

Vicky paused with her brushing, met Leah’s wild eyes in the mirror. “I don’t know why you should care, Leah. Am I not doing a fine job assisting you?” Leah’s hair tangled in the brush, and she yelped.

“How clumsy of me. Do forgive me.” Vicky worked Leah’s hair free and continued to brush until it was nearly dry.

“Do you know, the gown fits you very well. We are nearly of a size, isn’t that fortunate, since you will be my new sister?”

Who cares?

“I had another sister, you know. Her name was Lily. She was very nearly my size as well. The gown you’re wearing belonged to Lily. It was one of her favorites. It has been hanging in my wardrobe for three years now. I haven’t worn it, but I thought it would be perfect for you. I’m glad, since it seems you will replace Lily.”

Leah met her eyes in the mirror. Something was wrong here, something she didn’t understand. She said, never looking away from Vicky’s face, “I do not wish to replace Lily. She was your real sister, as Roxanne is mine. Do you know where Roxanne is, Vicky?”

“I? However could I know where your sister is? Could she be hiding from the prince? Perhaps she no longer wishes to wed him? He has asked her, has he not?”

Leah shook her head. “We were all quite wrong about that. It isn’t Roxanne Julian prefers, it is Sophie.”

“Sophie? How can that be possible? I’ve seen him treat her as one would a precocious child but nothing else. Surely it is Roxanne.”

Leah shook her head. She watched Vicky reach into a small jewelry box and pull out a small golden heart on a delicate gold chain. “This also belonged to Lily. She wore it always.” Vicky flicked open the locket and showed it to Leah.

She saw a small painting of a young woman with black hair and eyes so dark they looked opaque. A small portrait of Julian was opposite hers, and she saw Lily’s eyes were even darker than his. They both looked very young and very proud. Why had she thought that?

Leah smelled Vicky’s light rose scent as she leaned close and pointed. “Isn’t she beautiful? More beautiful than you, but again, surely Richard would not agree. That sort of thing depends on who is doing the looking, doesn’t it? The prince loved Lily; he treated her like a princess—fitting, since he is, after all, the Prince of Ravenscar.”

“Her portrait—Lily doesn’t look particularly happy to me.”

“Do you know, I believe you are right. I do wonder what she is thinking. She posed for this miniature for two whole days. Father was rather upset that the young man demanded so much of her time. What do you believe she’s thinking, Leah?”

“I could have no idea, since I didn’t know your sister.”

“And now she is dead, so what would it matter what she was thinking so long ago? Did you know, Lily was wearing the pendant the day she died? When all the women were removing her clothes to wash her, I took it off her and put it in this beautiful jewelry box. The jewelry box was hers as well. She never took it with her to Ravenscar. I asked her why she hadn’t, but she only shook her head and wouldn’t answer. It is much nicer than mine, and I enjoy looking at it. I have never wanted to wear any of her jewelry. I do look at the locket occasionally, when I can’t remember what she looked like.”

“Why didn’t you give the locket to Julian?”

Vicky shrugged. “Julian—how odd that name sounds. He is the prince, everyone calls him that.” Leah watched Vicky carefully remove the small portraits from the locket, close it, then slip it back onto the chain and over Leah’s head before she could stop her.

She clutched the locket. It felt like a heavy stone in her hand. She hated it. “No, no, Vicky, I don’t wish to wear it.”

“Why not? It looks perfect with this gown, don’t you think? Both yours and Richard’s miniatures can be painted and put in the locket. Yes, that looks quite fine. You do not believe Richard will mind, do you?”

Leah dropped her hand from the locket. She shook her head, stared at herself in the mirror, then at Vicky, standing behind her. Their eyes met in the mirror. Vicky smiled, lifted a mass of her hair. “Very nearly dry now. I shall arrange your hair for you.”

Leah said, “I can twist it up, do not concern yourself.”

“Hold still, Leah. I occasionally arranged Lily’s hair. She said I had a special talent for it. No, don’t try to move away. You will see how very fine you will look.”