These were dangerous, traitorous, but by God, they brandished him inside out. He spun, unable to face the girls suddenly. Truly, an act of cowardice. His attempt to withdraw fell short. He was too close to the carriage to retreat gracefully.
His eyes fell on Cinderella's warmth. Her presence struck a subtle, yet elusive, chord that had his heart thumping wildly against his chest. Her lips tilted at the sight of him. She would not be such a hardship to marry.
"Sire." Lady Pricilla startled him out of his reverie.
"Lady Pricilla, may I be of assistance?" Prince offered his arm. "Lady Esper-." He hid a grimace, bowing low.
"Did you mean me?" Lady Es…Lady Es. She narrowed her gaze on him.
Heat surged up his neck. "Lady Cinderella." His voice dropped a fraction. The air came alive with an unexplained brilliance. His fingers tingled with sensations he had difficulty identifying; not unsimilar to ones he'd experienced the day they'd arrived.
He swung back quickly to Pricilla, clearing his throat. "I trust your outing was pleasant." Maintaining a façade was decidedly awkward, something he'd never thought he'd have to do.
Clasping his hands at his lower back he escorted the trio toward the west lawn. From the corner of his eye he spied de Lecce's determined gait bearing down on them, Niccòlo fast on his heels. Prince suppressed a grin at the picture of a not-so-far-in-the-future more mature Niccòlo giving de Lecce a legitimate run when it came to paying attendance to the ladies.
"We did indeed," Lady Pricilla answered. She glanced over at the others. "It was most enlightening." She was quite a picture when she held her head like that. Finding her an advantageous match should not be so difficult, he thought graciously.
There was a change in the three, some secret they seemed to share. Yet, he did not sense the urge of unrestrained laughter. More like an affable affection. No trace of their prior hostility lingered. Prince found himself charmed by their unexpected amiability. "How do you ladies fare at archery?"
"Fair, sir," Lady Pricilla said. Her tone almost warm.
A snort resonated from the direction the others. And since he was almost certain Cinderella would never resort to such inarticulate sonority, it stood to reason the sound bounded from Esmeralda. He took a moment to savor the thrill in getting her name right, even if 'twas only in his thoughts.
"Buon pomeriggio, onorevoli. May I present my fratello, Niccòlo?" Alessandro said with a tilt of his head. He was slightly out of breath.
Prince bit back a burst of laughter as Niccòlo clicked his heels together loudly, bowed. Oh, the very young.