Two Princes

Chapter 5

There was something wrong with Nikolai. Gabriel watched him from across the room and saw how his smile looked strained and his shoulders rigid. It was not like his brother to be so tense. Normally he loved occasions like these when he could charm and flirt with the guests and lap up all the attention. But tonight he looked tired and as if he was just going through the motions. Gabriel glanced over to his Mother who was in her element, dressed in a jewel red frock and clearly making one of the foreign envoys feel like the very centre of her attention. He couldn't see his father anywhere. He had probably escaped to the games room to talk old battles with General Lightower. And where was Helene? His eyes hungrily searched the room for that cloud of red hair. Then at last he spotted her, elegantly sipping from a glass of wine, her Aunt intensely whispering in her ear. Gabriel thought, not for the first time, how odd it was that Nikolai and Helene were always at opposite ends of the room. Perhaps they had had a tiff today and that explained their ignoring each other. But he knew that this was their usual mode of operation and it didn't seem right for a couple who were going to be married in a few short weeks. If he were engaged to be married he would spend every moment he could with his intended. And, he thought, as he watched a blonde haired youth sidle up to Helene, he would stick by her side so she couldn't talk to other men.

The youth laughed at something Helene said and noting that her Aunt had unwisely absented herself Gabriel launched himself across the room before he registered what he was doing.

"My lady," he said. "Would you like to dance?"

Helene stopped mid sentence and looked at him in surprise. Gabriel never danced.

"No, I don't think so. I am feeling a little weary tonight."

Turning to the besotted youth, Gabriel said. "Go and bother someone else will you Harry," and Harry, opening his mouth like a surprised fish, obviously considered arguing but then wisely changed his mind and scuttled off.

"That was rather rude."

"Where's your chaperone?" he asked looking round.

"No idea. I think she went to powder her nose."

"Well I will stay with you until she returns."

Helene gave him a puzzled look and took another sip of wine. Gabriel merely stood to attention, his eyes still wandering around the room.

She cleared her throat. "How are you finding the company?"

Gabriel shrugged.

"Wasn't it marvellous weather today?"

Gabriel inclined his head slightly.

"You're not very good at small talk are you?"

"No," he said. "It doesn't come easily to me."

"Maybe you should practice?" she suggested, smiling prettily in a way that tightened his guts.

"What should I say?"

"Ask me who I have danced with."

"Who have you danced with?"

"No one!" she laughed.

"Not even Nikolai?" he asked and then immediately regretted it, when her teasing smile disappeared.

"No," she said quietly. "It has been some time since I danced with Nikolai."

And because he was embarrassed and he didn't know what to say Gabriel blurted out, "Would you like a walk outside?"

She smiled again. "What a splendid idea! I would love a walk outside. It is such a lovely warm evening."

And she took his arm and he found himself escorting her outside to the terrace where the moon shone brightly in the sky and there was the scent of honeysuckle in the air.

"Let's go down to the lake," she said. "They have lit lanterns that float on the water."

Gabriel knew that this was an odd thing to do, guiding his brother's fiancee through a warm night to stroll along the edge of a romantically lit lake. But he couldn't seem to stop himself. It was good to be away from the noise and bustle of the ballroom, to hear only the distant strains of the music and the lapping of water on the shore.

They stood in the shadow of a tree and looked out at the floating lanterns. He felt her hand rest on his arm.

"Gabriel?" she said quietly. "Does Nikolai want to marry me?"

Gabriel held his breath. "Yes he does." And he supposed he wasn't lying. Nikolai had never said that he didn't want to marry her. Not since he was a child.

Helene was silent for a moment. "Have you ever thought of marrying?"

"No," he said. "I never have. I'm not sure that I ever will. It would be difficult ... on account of me being ..."

"Illegitimate?" she said.

He flinched at the sound of the word.

"But would that matter? You are a Prince after all and I am sure many ladies would find you very attractive. I am sure you would make a good husband for someone."

He kicked at the dirt with his shoe and then turned to her. Her face was lit by the moonlight, open and delicate and almost impossibly beautiful. "Do you find me attractive?"

She looked steadily at him. "Yes I do."

They stared at each other for a long moment. His eyes dipped to her lips and she parted them. His hands felt heavy at his sides and he so wanted to reach for her and pull her against him but she was his brother's betrothed. He couldn't touch her.

He dragged his eyes away from her lips. "We must return to the ballroom. We don't want our absence noted."

She stared at him for a moment and then seemed to shake herself. Turning and walking up the path, she left Gabriel to follow her, which he did with a heavy heart.