Free How to Propose to a Prince by Kathryn Caskie

all . Sumner had intended to seek out Miss Royle this evening, to dance with her, to begin his courtship of her. But not like this. Not by emptying his champagne down between her—he could not help but look down at her—full, white breasts.
    He wrenched his improper gaze from her décolletage to her vibrant eyes, which appeared as green as her emerald gown—before he had ruined it.
    “I beg your pardon, Miss Royle, I—I did notsee your approach.” Sumner bent, took her slender arm and released her from her too long, too gracious curtsy.
    When she faced him, he saw that her eyes were filled with tears and her cheeks flushed with embarrassed color. Damn him twice over. Out of the hundreds of others in the assembly room, he had somehow drenched and humiliated the only woman who had filled his every thought since their first meeting a day ago.
    She was more beautiful than any woman he had ever beheld, even wearing a champagne-splattered gown. Even with her eyes reddened from her tears.
    She was perfect in every way. For him.
    From what he had been able to learn about her during the short time since they met, Miss Royle had not been born a society miss. But if the ton ’s chatter was to be believed, she was like him. Of the bluest of blood, but not of the name.
    He realized then that he was staring down at her like an ill-mannered oaf. “Miss Royle, if you will permit me, I should like to contact your modiste to fashion another gown for you.”
    Miss Royle smiled and then forced a small laugh. “My gown matters not, Your Royal Highness.” She tilted her head then, and he saw that the tears seemed to have already drained from her eyes.
    Though he could not comprehend how, it seemed, she had decided to forgive his clumsy offense. She leaned close to him and he felt her breath on his cheek.
    A hint of a grin touched her full, pink lips. “Though I had thought,” she whispered, “when we last met, that you said you were… Lord Whitevale .”
    A surge of alarm shot through Sumner momentarily. Bloody hell . When they had met, he was not yet posing as Leopold! Instinctively, he glanced about to be sure that no one was close enough to have heard her identify him. But it seemed no one had. He exhaled in relief. Miss Royle’s statement posed no risk to Leopold’s security. Still, he knew he had to ensure her silence. And so, he put his mouth to her ear.
    Despite the champagne with which he had showered her, she smelled like orange blossoms in the spring. He drew in the scent of her, closing his eyes for a blink of time, before replying. “I was incognito at the jeweler’s shop. May I trust you not to reveal my alter ego?”
    He grinned playfully as he straightened his back and looked down at her. Her eyes were nolonger glistening at all and her cheeks had calmed to reveal their true rose-colored hue, the way he remembered them when he’d placed a tiara upon her head in Hamilton and Company.
    “Incognito?” Her reply was held to a whisper. “Oh, now I understand. It all makes sense.” Then her lips twitched and her shoulders began to shake with amusement. Quickly, she clamped her gloved hand over her mouth. When she lowered it some seconds later, her lovely countenance was impassive. “Of course, Your Royal Highness. You may trust in my complete discretion.”
    It was then that he belatedly became aware of the tall, elderly gentleman standing a pace behind her. “Forgive my tardiness in addressing you. I do not believe I have had the honor, sir.”
    Miss Royle broke in. “Your Royal Highness, allow me the honor of making known to you Earl Lotharian. He is one of my guardians.”
    Lord Lotharian bent into a gallant bow, which took several seconds of grunts and gasps to disengage. “Your Royal Highness.”
    “I am honored to meet you, Lord Lotharian.” Sumner swallowed hard. The man, though late in years and certainly no physical threat, was looking at him quite menacingly.
    The old man did not return the