“Darcy,” Fitzwilliam said, and then glanced back to Elizabeth. ”Miss Bennet. Forgive us. Our timing, I perceive, is . . . regrettable.”
“Catastrophic,” Adrian agreed, clearly without any idea of why the colonel thought so. “But I thought I must find you without delay. It appears the Crown has . . .opinionsI must share.”
Mr. Darcy’s gaze shifted to the packet. “WhoseCrown?” he inquired, sounding as though he already knew the answer and did not approve of it.
Adrian’s grin deepened. “That would be mine. And Elizabeth’s.”
He crossed to the nearest chair and set the packet in his lap as though it were a perfectly ordinary letter rather than something that had likelytravelled with a royal courier. Fitzwilliam took his own chair and looked at Mr. Darcy expectantly.
Adrian unfolded the letter. “This arrived at my London residence while I was away,” he explained, unfolding it. “I left it for a time after I arrived in the excitement of meeting you. Long letters from the crown are always a tedious business.”
Mr. Darcy frowned. “What does it say?”
Fitzwilliam leaned back, folding his arms. “What does itnotsay? That might be easier to canvas.”
Adrian cleared his throat with exaggerated importance. “Very well. I am to read this aloud, apparently, because Their Majesties suspect I may ‘abbreviate’ when left to my own devices.”
“You? Never.” Fitzwilliam’s eyes gleamed.
Adrian turned his nose up in a haughty manner that lasted precisely two seconds.
Prince Adrian is to present himself immediately at Longbourn in Hertfordshire, to locate Princess Elizabeth—”
Elizabeth felt her spine straighten of its own accord. “Well,” she teased, “that is one instruction already disregarded.”
Adrian lifted an eyebrow, but continued to read.
—and to offer, in the name of the king and queen, their gratitude for the care and protection given her by her English family.
At that, Elizabeth’s chest eased a little. Whatever else her royal relatives meant to do, they had at least begun with courtesy.
Adrian read on, occasionally pausing to flick his eyes toward Elizabeth with a comic expression.
Prince Adrian is to answer any questions with honesty and tact, and he is to speak of Prince Maximillian with particular tenderness, as Her Royal Highness may feel the absence of her parents more keenly at present.
Adrian grimaced. “My apologies. That part was just for me.”
Elizabeth’s throat tightened briefly.
Then Adrian’s brows jumped. He read the next line.
“Under no circumstances is Her Royal Highness to accept gifts of livestock from enthusiastic subjects while travelling, no matter how sincerely offered.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam made a sound that might have been a cough or a laugh.
Elizabeth blinked. “Livestock?”
Adrian looked up, entirely innocent. “It continues.”
“I do believe that tells me all I need to know,” Elizabeth said with a little smile.
“Alas, that is only the beginning.” Adrian resumed his reading.
“If presented with a goat, a hen, or any animal not of sturdy temperament and affectionate disposition, Prince Adrian is to decline firmly and offer instead a small sum to the family in question, so that they may keep thecreature themselves.”
Mr. Darcy stared at the paper as if it had personally offended him. “Why,” he asked slowly, “is this a concern?”
Adrian folded the corner of the letter as though marking the passage for future reference. “That,” he said, with satisfaction, “is Uncle Robert’s story to tell.”