At least the ridiculous sky-walk only occurred once a month.He’d be long gone before the next round of willful ignorance ensued.And as for the exasperating young lady leading the blind?
He’d take care never to cross paths with her again.
Chapter 3
The following morning, Christopher approached the castle’s crowded public dining area with trepidation.He hoped the high passions of the previous night would not come back to haunt him.He rolled his eyes at himself for his folly.
Two-and-thirty years without the slightest hint of scandal, only to lose his head over the proper identification of constellations.
He sighed.Not exactly the impression a man wished to give when hoping to attract a wife.He would not be surprised if his name were now synonymous with whatever the male equivalent of “excitable bluestocking spinster” might be.It would serve him right if he were forced to cut his holiday even shorter than he had planned.
All he could do was make the best of it.He rolled back his shoulders and strode straight into the crowded common area, come what may.No matter what the latest gossip might entail, he still needed to break his fast.
“Mr.Pringle,” bubbled a breathless female voice.“I don’t know if you remember, but on my first day here, you recommended the white sauce for my fish.It turned out to be quite a pleasing combination of—”
“Several of us are working on props tonight for a new play,” another young lady interrupted, practically bouncing in place.“If you’d like to stop by the amphitheater—”
“It’s snowing,” blurted out a different young lady.“A perfect day for a sleigh ride.After we break our fast—”
“Let him eat in peace, all of you,” scolded an older matron before treating him to a saucy wink.She lowered her voice and added, “See you in the greenhouse in thirty minutes?”
Christopher didn’t answer.There was no opportunity to do so.
In the quarter hour it took him to walk the twenty feet from the dining hall entrance to the first available table, dozens of young women stepped into his path to beg him to accompany them on more activities than he had even realized this tiny village offered.
Some of the invitations were delivered with pink cheeks and a shy stammer.Others’ suggestions were so direct Christopher feared his own cheeks were in danger of blushing.
By the time he was finally able to take refuge at a private table, his heart was thudding hard enough to rattle the handkerchief in his waistcoat.
“What is happening?”he whispered to the first footman to pass by with tea and coffee.
“They’ve been waiting for you for hours, milord.”The footman placed sugar on the table for the tea.“Ever since this morning’s service.”
Sunday.Christopher’s jaw dropped in comprehension.
The first banns announcing his brother’s betrothal had been read this morning in the local church.
Which made him the newest commodity.
He lifted his steaming cup to his mouth and pretended not to notice the surreptitious female glances being tossed his way.
Was he happy now?His wish had come true.Women were climbing over each other to approach him as if he’d become his rakish brother.But something was different.
Christopher had spent the past fortnight befriending the other guests in the castle.There were very few he didn’t recognize by name.None of the introductions have resulted in a love interest… Or much female interest at all.All eyes had been focused on Nick.Until today.
Instead of swooning, as females were wont to do whenever Nick walked into their midst, they were presenting themselves directly to Christopher.There was no need to beg for introductions, because the formalities had already occurred.
He’d spent a lifetime wishing to be in his brother’s place.Now that he was suddenly the object of every unwed young lady’s attention, he found it more than a bit overwhelming.He accepted toast and kippers from the next footman, but his appetite had vanished.
This was a positive development, he assured himself.The Great Bride Hunt had become exponentially easier.With limitless options, it should take no time at all to find his missing half.Someone sweet and sensible, like-minded and logical, with a hunger to explore the world around them.The perfect partner.
He should start by accepting a few invitations.Perhaps a courtship would blossom from there.He pushed to his feet and stepped into their midst.
“Mr.Pringle,” cooed a woman.“I hear you like to stay up all night.So do I.”
Another pressed the side of her bosom into his arm.“I get so lost in this big castle.Can you help me find my chamber?”
“When you tire of her,” a third woman murmured into his ear, “I can show you things she’s never dreamed of.”
