He lifted his eyes, and who should appear but the object of his thoughts? Striding in another direction. The fates might be with him but he was taking no chances in losing her. Her skirts swished stirring up the dust with her brisk stride.
Prince hurried after her but fell back when she angled toward a less inhabited passage of the castle.
Why on earth would she come to this deserted area?
The longer he followed the more confused he became. This portion of the castle had been uninhabited for years. Eyes adjusting to the dimness, he followed her trail by the disturbed dust created by the brush of her skirts. Not the cobwebs, however. He had a feeling this wasn't her first venture into this forgotten territory. Why, she was a danger to herself.
His mother's step seemed almost fervent. He swore he could hear the shuffling of tiny vermin scattering.
He held back until he heard the scrape of a door creaking. He hastened ahead on stealthy steps. He rounded the corner, and jumped back. The door stood ajar where he caught the shadow of a candle flickering wildly.
Maman's voice rang clear. "-ended where?" she asked. He had no idea whom she spoke to.
"The cottage. Poor thing is quite beside himself." The other voice laughed.
Cottage? Were they speaking of Lady Roche's home?
"I must declare, Faustine, you are a genius. This little plan of yours seems to be working, gloriously."
What the devil was going on?
"Oui, it was quite clever, non? I had no desire to ruin the picnic, of course, after all that effort and work…" She clucked her tongue then chuckled. "He stepped in quite nicely, too."
Who stepped in? Ruining the picnic? What was Maman up to? And… this Faustine-Aunt Faustine, Maman's dead sister? The temptation to step forward and demand answers nearly killed him but patience would serve him better, he reminded himself.
"What have you next for the social agenda, dear?" The genius Faustine asked.
"There is still the matter of the remaining ponds and statues, of course," Maman said. "Tedious, but it affords time and opportunities. Alas, we've only ten days outstanding, you know."
Ten days? For his farce of a wedding? That must be their ultimate goal. Oh, how he'd love nothing more than to expose the two connivers little scheme whatever it proved to be. He should call off this entire wedding debacle.
Such an act would put Maman in her place, right where she belonged. Let her explain why his nuptials fell through. Let her explain to that harridan, Lady Roche.
The instant the thought formed he knew he could not place Egeria in a situation as such. Non. There had to be another way. And what of Cinderella's good graces, to see him turn into such a rakehell rotter? There was just something about her that drew him. She, no doubt, would be the one who paid for such folly. Shocking him further was the thought that even Lady Pricilla's opinion mattered to a degree.