How to Pursue a Princess by Karen Hawkins

than we shall sit out the dances I have claimed and we will talk instead.”
    “Talk? But I—” Words left her.
    He lifted his brows. “But?”
    Looking into his eyes, she couldn’t think of a “but” anything. His jaw was set and she suddenly knew how he felt—as if he were navigating a raging river of societal rules with nothing but a teaspoon as a rudder.Social events often felt the same way to her. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to talk. I could perhaps explain some of the other rules.”
    “Miss Balfour?” Huntley said impatiently.
    Lily bit her lip. This was her first opportunity to speak to the earl alone, and she was flattered by the determined note in his voice. Yet she hated leaving Wulf to wander about the ballroom alone, stumbling over the invisible dictates of polite society.
    Wulf handed the dance card back to Lily. “Very well, Huntley, you may have her. For now.” Wulf bowed to Lily. “I will see you in two dances, Moya. Until then.” He inclined his head and left.
    The earl shook his head. “Who is this Prince Wulfinski?”
    “I’m not really sure,” Lily said, having trouble looking away from where he’d disappeared into the crowd. Now was not the time for her to be thinking about an impossible prince. Not when an available earl was standing before her, ready to sweep her into the dance.
    “He’s quite sure of himself, isn’t he?” Huntley’s voice recalled her.
    “You have no idea,” Lily said fervently as she put her hand into Huntley’s waiting one. “Shall we, my lord?”
    “Yes.” He smiled down at her and led her into the dance.
    His hands were light, his dancing sure and capable, his conversation polite and within the bounds of propriety.She found herself laughing easily with him, and she made him burst into laughter once as well.
    She had to admit that he seemed to be everything the duchess had said.
    Still, she couldn’t help stealing peeks over his shoulder to see if Wulf was behaving himself; he could so easily get into trouble. And it was no use hoping that the duchess might assist him, for she obviously held no love for the foreign prince or his grandmother.
    But that’s not your concern, Lily told herself as she pulled her attention back to the earl. Her concern had to be for her family.
    Yet something about the prince touched her heart. Perhaps it was his innocence, for while he was very much a lion of a man, he was a lamb in the ways of this society. And she, struggling to find her place in a world that left her only one option for security, understood his frustration all too well.
    But perhaps it was something more. Perhaps it was also because she’d been so honest with him about her dilemma the day before. Other than the duchess and Lady Charlotte, Wulf alone knew her feelings about what life offered her. She had to give him credit, too, for he hadn’t judged her harshly, but had seemed to understand her predicament, and how dire it was.
    She glanced up at Huntley, who was talking about his aversion to certain country dances. If she wished to be successful in her attempt to save her father from gaol, then she had to focus on the earl and rebuff the prince. He was far too obvious about his intention topursue her, and she had a definite weakness for his company. Dancing with him would only make her decision more difficult.
    She hated to hurt the prince’s feelings, but it would be better to do so now, and to do it boldly so that there could be no mistake. But who will help Wulf follow the dictates of society, if not me?
    And yet even as she had the thought, Lily realized that it couldn’t be her. She couldn’t afford to pay so much attention to another man, especially a single one, without jeopardizing her burgeoning relationship with Huntley. I cannot make any mistakes with this. I must save Papa and Caith Manor.
    Setting her shoulders, Lily saw to it that she was surrounded by people for the rest of the evening, even during the times Wulf had marked on