Dangerous Deceptions by Sarah Zettel Read Free Book Online Page A

much like a chicken being throttled. “And when you do, you’ll be able to stop and play with all of them, and then you won’t miss them so much. Isn’t that a good plan?”
    “An excellent plan. Of course . . .” Olivia hesitated, and my heart plummeted. If she tried to play this scene out too long, it might still fall to pieces. I risked a glance at my aunt and uncle. I felt I had not until that moment truly understood what it meant to be “staring daggers” at another being, but that is very much what Uncle Pierpont was doing to his own daughter. My aunt, on the other hand, had taken on an expression as close to shrewd as I had ever seen on her.
    “What? Are you worried about Mama?” Princess Anne said. “Don’t be. I’m sure she’ll agree.”
    “While that is excellent news, I’m afraid I will need my father’s permission to visit here on such a regular basis.” Olivia’s expression of humble piety would have done credit to a cloistered nun.
    “Oh.” Princess Anne stopped her bouncing, and we were all treated to the sight of that minuscule personage carefully mustering her dignity. Then she folded her hands and scooted up to my uncle, four or five of the dogs traveling with her as a disorderly honor guard.
    My uncle watched her approach as one might watch the fall of the headsman’s ax.
    “Sir Oliver,” said Princess Anne, “it is my express wish that your daughter, Olivia, wait on me with updates as to Guinevere’s health. Will that be acceptable to you?”
    I watched Uncle Pierpont want to refuse. I watched him search frantically for some hint of a way out of this cul-de-sac of etiquette and obedience. I watched Olivia looking down at Guinevere in her arms and saw her face twitch as if she’d contracted some terrible palsy.
    Slowly, stiffly, like the most ancient and arthritic of men, my uncle bowed to this miniature specimen of royalty and her attendant puppies.
    “It is entirely acceptable, Your Highness.”
    Princess Anne nodded in stately acknowledgment. “Thank you. I will mention you particularly to Mama as a good friend to me.”
    Lady Portland, it seemed, could stand this drama no longer. “And now it is time you were in bed, Your Highness,” she said.
    The sigh with which Princess Anne answered this was long, loud, and gusting. “In a minute. It is too late for Guinevere to travel tonight, don’t you think?” she said to Olivia. “There could be rising damps. Or falling.”
    “Just so, Your Highness,” my cousin agreed. “With permission, I will come for her tomorrow and bring her traveling basket and blanket.”
    “I’ll give orders that you’re to be admitted.”
    “Thank you, Your Highness.” Olivia, showing only slight regret, set Guinevere down to make her curtsy.
    “And now we must be going, Your Highness.” The false sociable gaiety in the Portland’s voice barely concealed the warning note.
    The princess rolled her eyes and shook her curls. “ArthurLancelotGawainTristanGarethGuinevere, come along.” Princess Anne was especially generous in the matter of sharing cakes and cream and such treats. As a result the entire flock yipped at the sound of their names and followed in a tight knot when she trotted out of the room. We all made our respective bows again.
    “I’m sorry,” I said to my uncle as I straightened up to meet his poisoned glower. “I told Her Highness I would be busy this evening, but you know how it is with little girls, even princesses.” I shrugged.
    “Spare me your prattle,” he snapped. “You have demonstrated your native cunning and your pride in it. Very well. Olivia will visit. But nothing else has changed, Margaret Fitzroy.”
    He cast a glance back at Olivia and his wife. This time, Olivia made a great show of modesty, with folded hands and lowered eyes, and followed her father as he stalked out the door Norris held open.
    It was my aunt who paused and hissed in my ear, “Peggy, you must stop this game. If he gets truly