“Of course,” he agreed. “We will travel together wherever you wish to send me.”
They had never openly spoken of his differences from other men. The thought of such a conversation was repugnant to her. But she had to let him know he must put aside his follies long enough to consummate his marriage and do his duty by bringing children into the world. She would come back to that task later. For now, she was satisfied with putting Louise at a safe distance from temptation.
“Good,” she said. “I have an opportunity for you.” She opened the file and took from it a copy of the letter of resignation she’d received a few weeks earlier, which now required her to send a replacement for the position. The post was one that promised to be difficult to fill, as experienced diplomats were likely to turn it down in favor of a more glamorous location. She handed Lorne the paper.
He blinked as he read it. His face went a shade whiter.
“I have decided to make you my new governor of the British Commonwealth of Canada.”
Despite the impropriety of sitting down before the queen gave permission, Lorne dropped suddenly and hard into the Louis Quatorze chair nearest the piano. She imagined him picturing the vast stretch of untamed, barely populated land that ranged from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. A northern land so immense it dwarfed little England, yet remained under British influence.
He finally found his voice. “I am of course honored that you’d—”
“Then you will accept?”
“I, yes. Well, how can I deny Your Royal Majesty anything?” He looked dazed.
She smiled. “Then you may pass along the good news of your promotion to your wife. You’ll both begin making arrangements to travel to your new home, as quickly as possible.”
Forty-one
Less than three hours after Byrne and Louise had departed from the little room where they’d made love, he was walking his horse into the courtyard from the stables when he saw the enamel-black landau parked at the side of the drive. The small, open carriage frequently conveyed guests to the palace from the train station. When he came up alongside, a yellow-gloved hand extended gracefully from inside and beckoned. He hid a smile as he stepped up to the door.
Louise leaned forward from the tufted velvet cushions to speak to him. She wore a perky little hat with a seductive veil over her sparkling eyes and pearls at her throat. He envisioned kissing his way around each and every one of the little white orbs.
“Get in,” she said.
“I’m off to find Christian Stockmar.” Not that he wouldn’t give anything to spend more time with her.
“I guessed as much. We’re going together.”
He lounged against the side of the carriage, aware that the driver was within hearing, though the man pretended invisibility and a deaf ear, as any good servant would. “I wasn’t aware of that arrangement.”
Louise gave him a smug smile. “That’s because I just thought of it.”
Byrne lowered his voice. “I don’t think it’s a good idea—your interviewing Stockmar. He could be dangerous.”
“Well, I think it’s an excellent idea.”
Byrne thought: This is the problem with having a princess for a mistress. Louise would likely never take no for an answer. He tried again. “The baron’s son might be reluctant to speak openly about his personal life in front of a woman.”
“He will be more reluctant to speak to a total stranger. I know him. You don’t. Get in, Stephen, and stop trying to boss me around. It won’t work.” Her eyes lit up in the most delightful way.
Byrne grinned. “Yes, ma’am.” He gave up his horse to an equerry, who would take it off to the royal mews, and joined her.
It was a cozy little carriage but not designed with privacy in mind. Open to prying eyes from the street, and to the weather when the top was folded down, it was meant to display the wealth of its occupants’ clothing and jewelry. But Byrne suspected Louise enjoyed it because she could feel unencumbered by walls, stone or otherwise. He’d learned how much she loved feeling close to the people of the streets.
Louise gave him room to sit beside her then slid closer. When he turned to speak just after they’d driven out through the palace gates, she kissed him boldly on the lips.
“A ride with benefits. How can a man object?” he said, making her laugh.
Byrne felt the happiest he’d been in years. Perhaps happier even than before the war. Before he’d witnessed the destruction of so many lives, the repulsive brutality of man against man. He found it difficult to explain why, feeling as he did about bloodshed, that he’d chosen to enter a profession likely to not only attract violence toward him but also to demand it from him. However, saving a single life, now and then, dimmed his memory of the thousands of bodies he’d witnessed strewn across battlefields. He hadn’t been able to save his president’s life. But maybe he could buy back his self-esteem by protecting a queen’s family.
Louise pressed warmly against his side. He thought better of curling his arm around her, bringing her to his chest. One never knew where gossip columnists lurked; the royals were prime targets.
“Does the driver know where we’re going?” he asked.
“I’ve told him.” She peeked up at him. “You thought I might have forgotten to instruct him?”
“It occurred to me you might be kidnapping me. Whisking me off to your secret lair to have your wicked way with me.” He touched the tip of her nose with one finger. God, how he loved her little nose. And her eyes. And her . . . oh, Lord . . . everything.
He looked around quickly and seeing no one watching from the street, kissed her quickly again. It was all he could do not to drag her down onto the soft cushions; he was nearly out of his mind with wanting her. Again.
As if she’d had the same thought, Louise drew back and looked into his eyes. She shook her head. “We have to stop, don’t we?”
He ran his finger along her kiss-moistened bottom lip. “For the moment.”
She blinked at him, looked suddenly flustered. “This morning, in the room. It wasn’t just . . . well, something that happened, was it?”
He grinned at her. “No.”
“But it might”—she blushed—“happen again?”
“I sincerely hope so,” he said. “I am, Princess, forever at your service. Whenever. Wherever.”
She released a contented little sigh, closed her eyes, and leaned her head back against his shoulder as they drove on. “Good. I think I may require your services rather frequently.”
He laughed out loud, gave her a quick hug. His need to be near her nearly knocked him senseless. But he understood something she might not, yet. His devotion to her would likely lead to impossible complications in both of their lives. Although his sacrifice, for a woman like Louise, would be worth it, he wondered if she would feel the same when the time of reckoning came. She had so much more to lose than he. Now, however, wasn’t the time to talk about it.
Louise told him she’d sent word ahead of her arrival. Short notice, but he supposed if a member of the royal family came calling, you didn’t object.
“Here it is.” She indicated a modest but pleasant-looking brick town house when the carriage stopped. Byrne noted that neither its construction nor its location were expensive. Had Albert still lived and the old baron remained in favor, no doubt the son’s situation would have been far grander. Despite Louise’s defense of the man, he felt they should reserve judgment of Christian Stockmar’s innocence. Money was a powerful motivator. And money stolen, in the eyes of the loser, was as good an excuse as any for revenge.
The footman climbed down from the carriage and went up to knock on the front door of the house. Byrne and Louise waited in the carriage while the man spoke to someone inside, then returned to the carriage.