Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 13

"Ihavetogo."Hisvoicebrokeandsohehardenedhisnextwords."Itismyswornduty."

Thethrashofdriedleavesbeneathherfeetheraldedherarrivalbehindhim.Softhandseasedaroundhiswaistandshelaidherheadagainsthisback.Hedidnotturnaround.Couldnot,justnow.

"Ifyoumustgo,rememberthatIloveyou."Hervoicewa.s.soft,butevennowhecouldheartherawnessinhertone."Andifyoucan,someday,please,comebackforme."

Sumner'sbodystiffenedatherwords.

Comebackforher.

Hisfingersdugintothebarkoftheoak.Oncetheagreementformarriagewa.s.securedandLeopoldsafelybackinParis-hecouldcomebackforElizabeth.Yes,heowedthefamilymuchandwaspreparedtosacrificehislifeforLeopold,toprotecthimastheprincecarriedouthisownduty.ButonceLeopoldwa.s.safe,hecouldresignhiscommissionand,thoughuntilnowhe'dneverconsideredalifeapartfromthemilitary,hecouldleaveit.

Hecouldcomebackforher.

Hecouldbeginlifeanew.

Sumnerturnedaroundsoquicklythatherarmsremainedaroundhim.Heclutchedhertohimandheldhertightly.

"Iwillcomebackforyou,"hesaid,louderthanhehadintended."Iwill."

Elizabethturnedherglisteningeyesupathim.Tearsrushedanewdownhersmoothcheeks,b.u.t.thistimethetearswereofhappiness.

Hebentandkissedherdeeply,feelingmorejoythanhehadeverknown.

Chapter13.

E lizabethwasreluctanttoreturntoCranbourneLodge,eventhoughsheknewshemust.Herheartfeltweightedwithworry,nowthatsheandherprincehadleftthesanctuaryoftheforest,thatthethornsofrealitywouldpunctureherdreamofthefuturetheywouldshareandshredhispromisetocomebackforher.

Sumnerbrushedalockofhairfromherfaceandkissedhergentlyatthedoorofthelodgejustastheskybegantochangefromdarkestebonytoacoolgray."Trustme,Elizabeth.Iwillcomebackforyou.Believeinme.Wewillbetogether.Somehow.Someday.Soon."

Elizabethnodded,alreadyfeelingthesmileshe'daffixedtoherlipsforSumnerbegintodissolve.Shepeeredupintohisgrayeyes,butfixedherattentiononthevibrantblueringsurroundingthem.Shehadtobelieveinherdream.HadtobelieveinSumnerandintheirgrowinglove.Shehadtohavefaith."Itrustyou,Sumner.Comebackforme...soon."

Shetiltedherheadbackandtheirlipsmetagaininakissfullofpromise.Wishingnevertolethimgo,herarmshadwrappedaroundhim,whensheheardtheboltsbeingreleasedonthedoor.Hereyeswidened.Thedoorshadbeenlockedsometimeaftersheleft."Sumner.Iloveyou,"shewhispered."Butyoumustgo.Hurry."

Heleanedinandpressedhislipstohersinaheadykissjustonelasttime,thenturnedanddisappearedintothemorningfoghoveringoverthelawn.

Theoldfootmanopenedthedoorjustthen,sleepilyadjustingthewhitewigatophishead.Henoddedtoher.Hesteppedback,andwithoutawordallowedhertoenterthelodge.

AsElizabethslowlyascendedthestairstoherbedchamberandslippedbeneathhercoverlet,ablissfulsmilemelloweduponherlips.ShewouldbelieveinSumner.

Yes,hewouldleaveforLondonthisdayforSirHenry'sCurzonStreethome,whereheandhiscousinhadbeeninvitedtostayinseclusion,iftheywanted,forafortnight.

ButshenolongerfrettedoverSumner'sleaving.

SheclosedhereyeswiththetasteofSumner'skissstillsweetonherlips.Sleepwouldcomeeasilytohernow-forsheknewherdreamwouldcometrue.

Sumnerhadpromisedtheywouldbetogethersomehow,andnomatterwhathappened,hewouldcomebackforher.

Whentheclockinthepa.s.sagetingedtenoftheclock,ElizabethopenedhereyestofindPrincessCharlottesittingatherbedside,herarmstightlyfoldedandhermouthsetinahardgrimace.

"Youhavereturned."Elizabethlurchedupright."Wereyousuccessful?"

Theprincessglared."Noneofmygownswillfitmenow.Aidasuspectedasmuch,butofcourseIwasnotconvinced.b.u.t.thensheattemptedtodressmeintwo,oneaftertheother,andneithercouldbelacedclosed.Thedresseswereonlymeanttobepinfitted-notfinished!"

"Oh..."Elizabethsighed."Idoapologize,b.u.t.theFrenchmodistesinsisteduponfittingthegownsandensemblesperfectly.IhavenoFrench,andwasquiteunabletoconvincethemtostoponcethepinninghadbeencompletedoreventoleavemoreroomforfreedomofmovement."

PrincessCharlottedidnotspeak,buthereyesgrewdarkerwithanger.

"Iwasquiteconcerned,YourRoyalHighness,untilIrealized,inyourwisdominconcoctingtheplan,youmusthaveconsideredthedifferencesinourshapesanddecidedthatthegownswerethepriceofyourescapetoLondon."WorrybegantosnakeupElizabeth'sspine.Theprincesswasnotsoftening.

"Youdecidedthat,didyou?"PrincessCharlotteleaptupfromtheslipperchair.Shewidenedherstanceandsetherfistsonherhips."Despitethequeen'sinterventiononmybehalf,andHenryBrougham'slessthanpersuasiveorationontheneedtoincreasemyportion,myincomehas...o...b..enincreased.Italreadyisnotadequatetosupportmymodeofliving-letalonemystaff."

"I-Iwasnotaware."Elizabethswallowedhard.

"Iamafraidyouaretoogreatanexpense,MissRoyle."PrincessCharlottewhirledandstalkedheavilytowardthedoor.

"Idoapologizemosthumbly-"Elizabethbegan,butPrincessCharlottewasnotlistening.

Beforeleavingthebedchamber,theprincessjerkedaround.Hercheekswereglowinglikeasettingsunandshefairlyspata.s.shedeliveredhernextmessage."WeshallreturntoWarwickHousewithintheweek.YouwillreturntoBerkeleySquare,whereyouwillnothavetheopportunitytomakeanyothercostlydecisionsonmybehalf."

Seizingthedoor,withouttheaidofthefootmanreachingforthehandle,theprincessslammedthebedchamberdoorclosedbehindher.

Elizabethsat,startled,forseveralmoments.

Thensheleanedbackagainstthepillowandsmiled.

Whatdidthismatter?Likeherprince,shewasgoingbacktoLondon.

Herhappilyeverafterwascloseathand.Shecouldfeelit.

CavendishSquareLadyUpperton'slibrary "Well,dove,Iamhappytohaveyoubackwithusalloncemore,butIdaresay,doyouthinkangeringtheprincesswasthebestwaytoachieveyourhomecoming?"LadyUppertonglancedsidelongateachoftheOldRakes,whosatuponthesetteeinaperfectrowlikedarkplumedravens.

"Angeringtheprincesswasboundtohappen.Makingherfuriouswasinevitable.Sheishighlyvolatileandmostchildish."Elizabethshookherhandsbeforeher,hopingtheywouldunderstand."Itwasonlyamatteroftime."

"Idaresay,hergoodopinionofyouislikelygoneforever.SheiswellknownwithinSocietyforholdingagrudge."LadyUppertonchewedherlowerlipwithworry."Iprayshedoesnotseektosoilyourname."

Elizabethdidnotcareintheleastwhattheprincessthoughtofher,thoughsheknewsheoughtto.PrincessCharlottecouldeasilymakeherapariahinSociety-ifshewasabletoescapehercagelongenoughtodoso."Ivow,Iamnottheonlymisswhoirksher.Infact,theonlywomansheseemsabletotolerateisMercer-Imean,MissElphinstone-andwhyshetoleratestheprincessisbeyondmycomprehension."

"Isitpossible,Elizabeth,thatyourfeelingstowardPrincessCharlottecouldbecoloredredbyyourownjealousy?"Gallantineaskedasherubbedthestubbledgraygrowthonhischin.

"MMyjealousy?"Elizabethwasastoundedthathecouldsuggestsuchathing."Ifanything,itwa.s.shewhoharboredfeelingsofjealousyforme.Afterall,Iholdtheprince'sheart."

LordLotharianmetLadyUpperton'sconcernedgaze.Afteramomentofsilentutterancesbetweenthetwo,headdressedElizabeth."ParliamentsupportsamarriagebetweenPrincessCharlotteandPrinceLeopold.TheonlyhindranceisPrinny'sblessing,whichhewillsurelygrantintime."

"Hewillnotmarryher."Elizabethsmiledsmugly."Helovesme."

"Deargel,"Lilywhitesaid,absentlyrubbinghisroundbelly,"eveninthisday,loveandmarriagearenotmutuallyexclusive."

"But.i.toldyouaboutmydream."Elizabethexhaledafrustratedbreath."Please,believeme.Wewillmarry."

Gallantineshrugged."Thereisthepossibilitythatthegelcouldberight.Herdreamshavecome...closetocomingtofruition.AndtheprincehasyettoreceivePrinny'sblessing,andtherearethosewhomaintainthathestilldesiresamarriagebetweenhisdaughterandWilliam.o.f.orange."Hegaveaninappropriatechuckle.

"Whatamusesyouso,Gallantine?"Lotharian'shawkisheyebrowsinchedtowardhisnose.

"OnlythatiftheRegentmanagessuchaunion,hecanpackthegelofftotheNetherlandsandbedonewithherandherantics.Thepeopleloveherbetterthanhim,andheisnodoubtwellawareofthis."

LadyUppertonscowledandshookatinyfingermostimpolitelyathim."DonotencourageElizabeth'sideas,Gallantine.Whatareyouthinking?"

"Iamonlysayingitispossibletheyoungprincedoeshaveafondnessforourgel,here.Anditmightberemissofusnottoexplorethispossibility."Gallantinerosestifflyfromthesetteeandcircledthegroupasheconsideredhisownstatement."Afterall,wedidsweartoRoylewe'dseetohisdaughters'happinessandwelfare-whichweallagreeincludesmarriage.WhatbettermatchcouldwepossiblyachieveforElizabeththantoaprince,eh?"

Elizabethrealizedshehadfounda.n.a.llyinherquestfortheprince."TheprinceandhiscousinwereinvitedtostayatSirHenryHalford'shouseonCurzonStreet.Mercerhadlet.i.tslipthatPrincessCharlotteorchestratedseveralinterviewsforhimwiththeDukeofKentandseveralministersinParliamenttohelpbuildsupportforaunion."Elizabethsuddenlyfelt.i.tdifficulttodrawbreath."WhileIbelievethattheprincewillchooseme,Ibelieve,too,thatImustdomypart.IfIcanfindawaytomeetwiththeprince,evenoncemorebeforehereturnstoParisforatime-"

Gallantinebegantonod."Yes,yes.ThereisthedinnerpartyatSirHenry'shouseThursdayevening."Aslyexpressionliftedhissaggingfeatures."MissElizabethandIhavebeeninvitedtoattend."

"Yes,yes,you'reright,mylord."Elizabethshotupfromherchair."Surelytheprinceandhiscousinwillbeinattendance."

"Ihaveanuneasyfeelingaboutthis,Imustadmit."Lotharianthrummedhisfingersonhisknee,butglancedonceortwiceupatElizabeth,whodidherbesttopleadhercasewithhereyes."Willhisprotege,Manton,attendaswell?"

Gallantinenodded."Hedidmentionthathewouldalsoattend.IhaveanotionhefanciesourElizabeth."

Elizabethcolored."Mr.Mantonishandsomeandgood,andtrue,heisheirtoaviscountcy-but...IloveSumner."

Lotharian'sattentionp.r.i.c.kedupthemomentsheutteredthename."Whohaveyoufalleninlovewith?"

"Sumner,"Elizabethsaidveryslowly,wonderingiftheoldman'shearingwasnotquiteaskeenasitoncewas.

"Oh,youarereferringtotheprince'scousin,youngLordWhitevale."Lotharian'sgazeseemedtoboreintoher."HisfatherwasonceafellowmemberatWhite's.Can'tsaythatIknewhimwellthough.Don'tknowthatanyonedid."

"No,no.Nothiscousin...theprince.Sumner,hetoldme,isthenameonlythosewhoknowhimintimatelycallhim,"Elizabethreplied."Itissomesortoffamilyname,Ibelieve."

"Andheallowsyoutoaddresshima.s.sumner?"LadyUppertonasked,withamostcurious.e.xpressionuponherroundface.

"Yes.Herequestedit."Elizabethfelthercheeksheat."We...wehavebecomeveryclose,SumnerandI."

"Sumner,eh?"Lotharianleanedhiselbowonhiskneeandbentslightly,totwirlafewstrandsofoneofhisthickgrayeyebrows.HeglancedupatLadyUpperton,whowasnoddingherheadmadly.

"Isay,Ithinkshemustattendthedinnerparty."Sheglancedaroundattheothersforagreement."Afterall,theprincewilllikelybeinattendance."

LotharianskeweredGallantinewithhisgaze."Mygoodman,doyouthinkyoucansecureanadditionalinvitationforElizabeth'ssponsor?IthinkitappropriatethatLadyUppertonbetheresince,fromwhatIhaveheard,theotherguestswillbegentlemen."

"IamsureIcanmanagesomething,Lotharian,"Gallantinesaid.

"Good,good.IagreethatElizabethshouldatleasthaveherchancewith...Sumner."LotharianshiftedhisintensegazetoElizabeth."Isn'tthatwhatyoucalledhim,dear?"

"Yes."ElizabethsurveyedLordLotharianandthenLadyUppertonthroughnarrowedeyes.

Somethingwasnotasitseemed,shejustdidnotknowwhat.i.twas.Butnevermind.ShewasgoingtoseeherprinceonThursday.

BerkeleySquare ElizabethsatatthescrubbedpinekitchentablereviewingthehouseholdbudgetandMrs.

Polkshank'smarketlist.Shewasquicktonotethatduringtheshorttimeshe'dbeenatCranbourneLodge,expenseswereevenhigherthanbeforesheleft.b.u.t.todayshewouldn'tlet.i.tworryherovermuch.

Shewasjustsohappytobehome,withherownresponsibilitiesandtaskstoundertake,insteadofsittingidlyinroyalsplendor.

HandingthemarketlistalongwithasmallclinkingpouchofcoinstoMrs.Polkshank,shestartedfromthekitchentoseetoGreatauntPrudence.

Mrs.Polkshankacceptedthelistandthepouch,butappearedutterlyconfused."What,youain'twishin'toarguethecos...o...b..eadandbeef?"

Elizabethstoppedandturned."Nottoday,Mrs.Polkshank."Shecastherabrilliantsmileandthenstartedupthestairsfortheparlor.

ShefoundGreatauntPrudenceinherfavoritechair,positionedbetweenthehearthandthewindowlookingoutuponBerkeleySquare.Shewaswideawake.

Asmallbooklayupontheoldwoman'slap,whichshetriedtohidebetweenherlegandthearmofthechairwhenElizabethenteredtheroom.ShegaveElizabethatoothygrin,whileherpalsiedhandfumbledtoconcealthebookmorefully.

"ChatterinthehousesaysyouwillbeattendingdinnerwithSirHenryHalford,"theoldwomansaid.

Elizabethpulledanotherchaircloseandsatdownnearhergreataunt."Yes,amongothers -includingmyprince."Sheliftedherlipsdemurely.

"Howdoyoufindthateelbackedbaronet,SirHenry?"

Elizabethchuckledatthat."Goodheavens,wheredidyouhearthatdescriptionofhim?"

"Fromacolleagueofyourfather's,anothersurgeontotheking,Wardropwashisname,"Prudence said."Granted,thiswasyearsago.Still,hedidn'ttrusthim,andIonlymentioneditbecauseperhapsyoushouldn'teither,gel."

"IhavehadnooccasiontotrustormistrustSirHenry,Ia.s.sureyou."Whatathingforhergreataunttosay."Howareyoufeelingtoday,dear?Youseemexceedinglywell."

"Aswellasawomanofmyyearscanfeel,Isuspect."

Elizabethreacheddownbetweentheoldwomanandthearmrestandwithdrewthebookshehadplacedthere."Iseeyouhavebeenreading."Shestartedtoopenthetomewhenhergreatauntcaughtherhand.

"CheriebroughtmetheTimesthismorning.Ihavebeenreadingthat,too.ThenewspaperreportsthatLiverpoolandParliamentsupportamarriagebetweentheprincessandyourprince."

Elizabethsetthebookdowninherownlapandshotaglanceoutthewindow."Itisnothing."

"No,itisagreatsomething.HeandtheprincessonlyneedthatgargoylePrinny'sconsent."ShepokedabonyfingerintoElizabeth'skneetomakeherpoint.

"Hewon'tmarryher,"Elizabethinsisted.

"Hewill.Itishisdutytohiscountry."

Elizabethwa.s.stunned."Whydidyoumention...'hisduty'?"