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indeed.” He understood what Iris was about, even if he had no idea what she was saying. “Quite right.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Daisy demanded.
    â€œThe Treaty of St. Petersburg,” Iris said.
    â€œYes, you said as much,” Daisy said irritably. “But what is it?”
    Iris froze. “Oh, well, it’s, ehrm . . .”
    Richard choked down a laugh. Iris didn’t know. She’d jumped into the breach to save Winston from her sister, but she didn’t know the answer to her own question.
    One really couldn’t help but admire her brazenness.
    â€œIt’s the agreement, you know,” Iris continued, “between Great Britain and Russia.”
    â€œIndeed,” Winston said helpfully. “A treaty. I believe it was signed in St. Petersburg.”
    â€œIt’s quite a relief,” Iris put in. “Don’t you think?”
    â€œOh, yes,” Winston answered. “We should all sleep more soundly because of it.”
    â€œI’ve never trusted the Russians,” Daisy said with a sniff.
    â€œWell, I don’t know if I’d go that far,” Iris said. She looked over at Richard, but he just shrugged, enjoying himself far too much to intercede.
    â€œMy sister almost married a Russian prince,” Winston said offhandedly.
    â€œDid she?” Daisy asked, suddenly aglow.
    â€œWell, no, not really,” Winston admitted. “But he wanted to marry her.”
    â€œOh, how divine,” Daisy gushed.
    â€œYou just said you don’t trust the Russians,” Iris reminded her.
    â€œI didn’t mean royalty,” Daisy said dismissively. “Tell me,” she said to Winston, “was he terribly handsome?”
    â€œI’m not really the best judge of that,” Winston hedged, then offered, “He was very blond, though.”
    â€œOh, a prince .” Daisy sighed, one fluttery hand coming to rest over her heart. Then her eyes narrowed. “Why on earth didn’t she marry him?”
    Winston shrugged. “I don’t believe she wanted to. She married a baronet instead. They’re quite nauseatingly in love. Good fellow, though, Harry is.”
    Daisy gasped so loudly Richard was sure they heard it in Kensington. “She chose a baronet over a prince?”
    â€œSome women aren’t swayed by titles,” Iris said. She turned to Richard, and said in a low voice, “Believe it or not, this is the second time we’ve had this conversation today.”
    â€œReally?” His brows rose. “Who were you talking about before?”
    â€œFictional characters,” she explained, “from a book I was reading.”
    â€œWhich one?”
    â€œ Pride and Prejudice ,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I’m sure you haven’t read it.”
    â€œI have, as a matter of fact. It is a favorite of my sister, and I thought it prudent to acquaint myself with her reading choices.”
    â€œDo you always take such a paternal view with respect to your siblings?” she asked archly.
    â€œI am her guardian.”
    Her lips parted, and she hesitated a moment before saying, “I am sorry. That was rude of me. I did not know.”
    He accepted her apology with a gracious nod. “Fleur is eighteen and a bit of a romantic. If she had her way, she’d read nothing but melodramas.”
    â€œ Pride and Prejudice is not a melodrama,” Iris protested.
    â€œNo,” he said with a laugh, “but I have no doubt that Fleur has managed to turn it into one in her head.”
    She smiled at that. “Have you had her guardianship for very long?”
    â€œSeven years.”
    â€œOh!” Her hand came to her mouth, and she stopped walking. “I’m so sorry. That is an unimaginable burden on such a young man.”
    â€œI regret to say that I did consider it a burden at the time. I have two younger sisters, in fact, and after my