“You are very good, cousin,” she said, then loosed her hand.
“When did you recognize me?” I asked.
“When you kissed me. That was why I was so angry.”
“I noticed you were annoyed.”
“Yet, I was more disappointed.”
“Yes?” I inflected.
“To have my ideal Captain Smith shattered so completely.”
“But when you learned it was your cousin?”
“That saved the ideal.”
“But I cannot live up to the Captain.”
She shook her head. “There is no need. The Captain is dead. It is my cousin Armand now.”
“But every woman has her ideal,” I ventured.
“Yes, I shall have to find a new one.”
“Then it’s only exit the Captain to enter a stranger,” I said.
“Not necessarily a stranger,” she returned.
“To be sure,” I agreed; “there is His Royal Highness, the Duke of Lotzen.”
“Or Casimir of Titia,” she added, drawing down her mouth. “Or even my new-found cousin Armand.”
“He died with the Captain,” I laughed.
“No, the Captain died with him.”
“I think, as a matter of proper precaution, it would be well to go in,” I said.
“Are you tired of me, so soon?”
“You know very well it’s because I’m fearful of disgracing the Captain again.”
“Please don’t,” she said smilingly, “here comes a friend of yours.”
It was Courtney with Lady Helen on his arm.
“Two friends of mine,” I said, as they passed.
“You know Lady Helen Radnor?”
“After a fashion. I was stationed in Washington
while Lord Radnor was
Ambassador there.”
“You two would suit each other.”
“Yes?”
“You both are—shall I say it—flirts.”
I began to disclaim.
“Nonsense!” she cut in. “Don’t you think a woman knows another woman—and also a man?”
“By your leave, cousin, I’ll not think,” I said.
“It’s a bit unnecessary sometimes,” she laughed.
I made no reply. In truth, I knew none. But the Princess did not seem to notice it. She was plucking at the roses again.
“I wish I might flirt,” she broke out suddenly.
I grasped the marble rail for support.
“Don’t look so surprised,” she laughed, “I’ll not try it—I know what is permitted me.”
“Then you never flirted?” I asked with assumed seriousness.
“No; that’s another penalty of birth. With whom may the Princess Royal flirt?”
I waved my hand toward the ball room.
“I hope I am neither cruel nor indiscreet,” she said, rather curtly.
“But there are many royal guests come to Dornlitz,” I ventured.
She shrugged her shoulders. “They all bore me.”
“Which only makes them the better material to practice on.”
“Surely, I am very innocent,” she said. “I thought at least a bit of sentiment was required.”