when Mama leaned across Frances to say, “My dear Sir Reginald, you must tell us what the Prince Regent said in his letter.”
Frances didn’t miss that Mama had also emphasized the words Prince Regent and nearly toppled out of her chair in her attempt to garner Sir Reginald’s attention.
A self-satisfied smirk popped to the knight’s thin lips as Mr. Lucas settled a napkin on his lap. Sir Reginald didn’t spare the footman so much as a glance, Frances noted with some distaste.
Sir Reginald cleared his throat. “Why, he asked how I’m getting on at the house party and wanted to know if I’d like to come to dinner at Carlton House upon my return,” Sir Reginald announced, his voice raised again for the entire table to hear.
“Did you hear that, Frances?” Mama asked nodding more. “Sir Reginald has been invited to Carlton House.”
Frances did her best to smile and nod also, but she was certain both looked pained and awkward. Why did they keep emphasizing the words Prince Regent and Carlton House? Frances had never given a fig about the prince and wasn’t about to start now. The man was almost always on the wrong side of every political issue she’d ever taken an interest in.
“I intend to write back and invite him here, with Lady Clayton’s blessing, of course.” Sir Reginald smiled and nodded toward Lady Clayton who raised her wine glass and inclined her head and said, “Of course, Sir Reginald. Of course.”
Mama nearly squealed. She pressed one hand to her chest. “The Regent! Coming here! Why, just think of it, Frances.”
A great deal of talking and excitement bubbled throughout the room at the news that the Prince Regent would be invited to join them. Frances glanced at Mr. Lucas who had pursed his lips and raised his brows in the semblance of being mock-excited about the news too. She smothered her laugh behind her napkin again just before Sir Reginald turned to her and said, “My dear Miss Wharton, it’s lovely to see you again. I still recall our fascinating discussion of whist the last time we spoke.”
“I recall it, too,” Frances managed to croak, while Mama smiled approvingly. Frances glanced at Mr. Lucas when she said it and was convinced she saw the hint of a smile hovering at his firm lips. Goodness, that man was handsome. Was it hot in the dining room of a sudden?
“Yes,” Mama added, “Frances has mentioned your fascinating conversation about whist more than once.” Mama leaned so far over toward Sir Reginald, that Frances had to grab her wine glass to keep it from toppling and lean so far back in her chair as to risk falling out of it. In fact, as the chair tipped back, Mr. Lucas appeared to right it for her.
“Be careful, Frances,” Mama whispered under her breath, a false smile still plastered to her face for Sir Reginald’s sake.
Frances shot Mr. Lucas a thankful look and lifted her wine glass to her lips again. She was quite certain Mama might smile herself into insanity if she kept it up at this rate.
When Frances resumed listening to the conversation, Sir Reginald was still talking about whist. Frances watched the knight from the corners of her eyes. Did he truly believe his whist story had been fascinating? From the wide smile on his face, he looked as if he believed Mama. Frances fought the urge to shake her head. Some people were far too quick to believe flattery.
Moments later, Frances found herself looking around the room to catch Mr. Lucas’s gaze again, but apparently he had left. He was probably on his way to the kitchens to retrieve the next course. Frances had the strangest feeling of being left alone. She glanced around the table again. When her gaze fell on Lady Julianna, the woman gave her an encouraging smile. Frances returned the smile just before Sir Reginald cleared his throat again.
“I hope you don’t think it too forward of me to say, Miss Wharton, but I’ve had my eye out for you all afternoon,” the knight announced.
“Have you?” Frances drawled, clutching her wine glass as if it might somehow save her from the conversation. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
She earned a scowl from her mother for that pronouncement.
Her words didn’t appear to affect the knight in the least, however. He kept talking as if he hadn’t even heard her. “Yes, but when my man arrived from London with the mail and there was a letter from