Prince Rudolf Kazanov of Russia,” Durwin announced. “Princess Samantha, his wife, is one of the late earl’s daughters.”
When the Douglas servants clapped their approval, Rudolf inclined his head and said, “The marquess shows wisdom by keeping the late earl’s faithful retainers.”
“Annie and Sally, unpack Her Highness’ baggage,” Durwin instructed. “Kevin, help the prince’s man carry the baggage upstairs. The rest of you return to your duties.”
As the servants departed the foyer, the majordomo turned to the prince, saying, “I will escort you to your chamber. You will, of course, stay in the master suite.”
“Durwin, Russian royalty always keeps their own chambers,” Samantha lied, drawing a surprised look from the prince.
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
Samantha slipped her hand through the prince’s arm and smiled sweetly. He didn’t look especially happy. Apparently, she had foiled his plans to seduce her again.
Rudolf and Samantha followed the majordomo upstairs. He led them down a corridor toward the rear of the mansion.
“Here we are,” Durwin said, opening a door. “The marquess desired the quietest chambers overlooking the gardens.”
“The master suite was grand. Opposite the hearth, an enormous bed sported a red, velvet bedspread with gold braiding. The room was furnished with a highboy, a French chest of drawers, a leather slipper chair, a round mahogany table, and a mahogany settee with fabric upholstery. A red-and-blue Persian carpet covered the hardwood floor, and the walls had been painted a deep bottle green. Arched windows overlooked the rear gardens and pond; beyond the grounds, Loch Kindar provided a serene background.
“Is this satisfactory, Your Highness?”
Rudolf nodded. “This will do.”
Durwin walked across the bedchamber as Karl and two footmen carried the baggage into the chamber. The majordomo opened the door to the connecting chamber, saying, “And this is your chamber, Your Highness.”
The prince certainly doesn’t have far to go , Samantha thought, walking toward the other room. She glanced at Rudolf as she passed him. He smiled at her, satisfied by the proximity of her bed to his.
Her bedchamber was almost as large as the prince’s, its color scheme done in jeweled tones. The walls had been painted red, and opposite the hearth, the canopied bed had been decorated with brilliant blue-and-gold textiles. An upholstered settee sat near the hearth, accompanied by a writing table with chair, various occasional tables, and a highboy. A red, gold, blue, and cream Persian carpet covered the oak floor.
A footman was already busy lighting a fire in the hearth. The two maids unpacked the gowns and hung them in the chamber’s adjoining dressing room.
“A lovely room,” Rudolf remarked. “Don’t you think?”
“The chamber is quite lovely,” Samantha agreed.
Durwin flicked his wrist at the maids and the footman, who instantly left the chamber. “Will there be anything else, Your Highness?”
“No, thank you,” the prince answered.
“What time do you wish to dine?”
“The journey has been long and tiring,” Rudolf answered, glancing at Samantha. “We will skip tea and dine early, say five o’clock.”
The majordomo started to turn away but then paused. “Your Highness, we didn’t expect your visit and had planned a Twelfth Night party for tomorrow night in the Tudor great hall,” Durwin said. “Would it be acceptable if—?”
“Do not cancel your celebration because of us,” Rudolf interrupted.
Durwin smiled. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Do you have a key for that door?” Samantha asked.
“A key?” the majordomo echoed in confusion.
“Samantha, my love. . .” The prince’s voice held a warning note.
“Never mind.” She waved the majordomo away. “You may leave.”
Samantha turned to the prince as soon as the door shut behind the majordomo. From the expression on his face, she knew he was displeased with
When the Douglas servants clapped their approval, Rudolf inclined his head and said, “The marquess shows wisdom by keeping the late earl’s faithful retainers.”
“Annie and Sally, unpack Her Highness’ baggage,” Durwin instructed. “Kevin, help the prince’s man carry the baggage upstairs. The rest of you return to your duties.”
As the servants departed the foyer, the majordomo turned to the prince, saying, “I will escort you to your chamber. You will, of course, stay in the master suite.”
“Durwin, Russian royalty always keeps their own chambers,” Samantha lied, drawing a surprised look from the prince.
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
Samantha slipped her hand through the prince’s arm and smiled sweetly. He didn’t look especially happy. Apparently, she had foiled his plans to seduce her again.
Rudolf and Samantha followed the majordomo upstairs. He led them down a corridor toward the rear of the mansion.
“Here we are,” Durwin said, opening a door. “The marquess desired the quietest chambers overlooking the gardens.”
“The master suite was grand. Opposite the hearth, an enormous bed sported a red, velvet bedspread with gold braiding. The room was furnished with a highboy, a French chest of drawers, a leather slipper chair, a round mahogany table, and a mahogany settee with fabric upholstery. A red-and-blue Persian carpet covered the hardwood floor, and the walls had been painted a deep bottle green. Arched windows overlooked the rear gardens and pond; beyond the grounds, Loch Kindar provided a serene background.
“Is this satisfactory, Your Highness?”
Rudolf nodded. “This will do.”
Durwin walked across the bedchamber as Karl and two footmen carried the baggage into the chamber. The majordomo opened the door to the connecting chamber, saying, “And this is your chamber, Your Highness.”
The prince certainly doesn’t have far to go , Samantha thought, walking toward the other room. She glanced at Rudolf as she passed him. He smiled at her, satisfied by the proximity of her bed to his.
Her bedchamber was almost as large as the prince’s, its color scheme done in jeweled tones. The walls had been painted red, and opposite the hearth, the canopied bed had been decorated with brilliant blue-and-gold textiles. An upholstered settee sat near the hearth, accompanied by a writing table with chair, various occasional tables, and a highboy. A red, gold, blue, and cream Persian carpet covered the oak floor.
A footman was already busy lighting a fire in the hearth. The two maids unpacked the gowns and hung them in the chamber’s adjoining dressing room.
“A lovely room,” Rudolf remarked. “Don’t you think?”
“The chamber is quite lovely,” Samantha agreed.
Durwin flicked his wrist at the maids and the footman, who instantly left the chamber. “Will there be anything else, Your Highness?”
“No, thank you,” the prince answered.
“What time do you wish to dine?”
“The journey has been long and tiring,” Rudolf answered, glancing at Samantha. “We will skip tea and dine early, say five o’clock.”
The majordomo started to turn away but then paused. “Your Highness, we didn’t expect your visit and had planned a Twelfth Night party for tomorrow night in the Tudor great hall,” Durwin said. “Would it be acceptable if—?”
“Do not cancel your celebration because of us,” Rudolf interrupted.
Durwin smiled. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Do you have a key for that door?” Samantha asked.
“A key?” the majordomo echoed in confusion.
“Samantha, my love. . .” The prince’s voice held a warning note.
“Never mind.” She waved the majordomo away. “You may leave.”
Samantha turned to the prince as soon as the door shut behind the majordomo. From the expression on his face, she knew he was displeased with
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