Royle - How To Propose To A Prince - novelonlinefull.com
You’re read light novel Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 17 online at NovelOnlineFull.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit NovelOnlineFull.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy
"ThoughnowthatPrinnyunderstandsherultimatum,IdonotthinkIamincorrectinmyprediction."LeopoldwalkedacirclearoundSumner,examininghisattire."Adarkblueslipper,"hesaidtothevalet,"nottheblack.Itisday.WhatdoEnglishmenknowofdressingwell?Iaskyouthat."
SumnercaughtaglimpseoftheglarecastfromthevaletatthetruePrinceLeopold,anditwasallhecoulddonottolaugh.
CarltonHouseThegarden Atthreeoftheclock,ElizabethandLadyUppertonwereusheredintothelushgardenascantmomentbeforethePrinceRegentandtheroyalfamilyarrived.
RollsoffleshwereplainlyvisiblebeneathPrinny'sclothing,andhewasastartlingsightwithouttheaidofstays.Still,helenthisarmtothequeenandledtherestoftheroyalfamily,includingPrincessCharlotte,intothegarden.
AsElizabethfollowedthequeen'sprogressacrossthelawn-thewomanwhomayhavehadherandhersistersleftfordeadupontheirbirth-shecaughtsightofLadyUppertongazingruefullyather.
"Iknowthisdayisdifficultforyou,dearone,butpleasedonotmakeitharderbydwellingonthedistantpastandwhatmayormaynothaveoccurred."LadyUppertonreachedoutandsqueezedElizabeth'shand.
"Untilthequeenarrived,IwouldhavesaidthatIlookedforwardtothisdayfromthemomentIreceivedtheinvitationtoattend."ElizabethshookoffthedarkimageofthequeenandLadyJerseyfromhermind."ForIwillseeSumner,andFatewillseetotherest."
LadyUppertonsigheddisappointedly,butdidnotpressElizabethtosetherdreamaside."Itislovelyhere,youmustagree."
"Indeed,Ido."Elizabethdrewinarefreshingbreathandimmediatelyfeltherspiritslifthigh.TheCarltonHousegardenwasasbeautifulasitwas.e.xtensive.Hugetreesandglossygreeneryweresetoffbycl.u.s.tersofbrightlycoloredflowers.
Ladieswereinfulldress,withfeathers,diamonds,andgowns,exactlyasiftheywereattendingadrawingroom.Thegentlemenwerewearingfittedcoatsandformalwhitekneebreechesandbuckles.Itwasaspectacletobehold.
Tentshadbeenerectedhereandthere,andbeneaththem,tablesofsumptuousfoodanddrinkcouldbefound.Atoneendofthegardenanorchestrahadbeena.s.sembled,anddancinghadjustcommencedonthelawn.
ElizabethroseupuponhertoestosearchforSumner,butLadyUppertongraspedherarmandpulledherbackdownintoherslippers.
"Heishere,somewhere,"Elizabethmutteredtoherself."Surely,hewouldhavearrivedbeforetheroyalfamily."
LadyUppertonliftedherlorgnettetohereyes."There.Heisstandingbeforetheorchestra."Shegesturedwithaflickofherivoryhandledeyepiece.
InaninstantElizabethspiedSumner,andherbreathcollapsedinherlungs.OnhisarmwasPrincessCharlotte,herheadproudanderectasheledhertothecenterofthedancingground.
Elizabethtestedherwill,tryingtolookaway,butshecouldnotremovehereyesfromtheroyalcoupleastheydancedaspiritedScotchdance.
Shestared,herheartfeelingasthoughitwerebreakinga.s.sumnergiftedCharlottewiththesamekneeweakeninggazeashe'dgivenher,theoneheclaimedtolove,attheDruryLaneTheatre.
"Heisaguestinherfather'shouse.Iamsurethatiswhytheyaredancing,"LadyUppertonoffered.
Elizabethstoodsilentlywatchingtheprinceandprincessdance.Thosestandingatthedancingground'sperimeterwerecaptivatedbythesightofthetwohandsomeroyalsdancinggracefullyinaheavenlygarden.
Itwasavisionstraightoutofafairytale.
ToElizabethitwasahorridnightmare.
Hereyesbegantoheat,andbeforeasingletearcouldbeshed,shefumbledinsideherreticuleforahandkerchief.Butbeforeshecouldwithdrawit,LordWhitevale,theprince'sstrikingcousin,caughtherhandandwithoutaskingpermissioninanywayledhertothedancingground.
"Todayisnotoneforworryandtear,MissRoyle,"Whitevaletoldher."Itisadayformakingmerry."Hespunheraround,smilingatherallthewhile.
ThemusichummedinsideofElizabeth,b.u.t.trya.s.shemight,shecouldnotfocusonthedance.NotwithSumnersoclose-andyetsofaraway.
Thoughshecouldnotremovehergazefromhim,Sumnerdidnotevenglanceherwayonceduringthedance,evenwhentheywerecalledupontocha.s.searoundoneanother.
Herthroatfeltthickandeverybreathbecameasmuchach.o.r.easremainingonthedancegroundamomentlonger.
Astheorchestraplayedthefinalnote,andthedancersandaudienceclappedtheirapproval,ElizabethsearchedthecrowdforLadyUpperton.Shehadtofindherfortheymustleaveatonce.Thiswasjusttoodifficulttoendure.
WhyhadMercerbeensoinsistentthatshecome,whenshehadtohaveknownthiswouldhappen?
Perhapsthatwasthereasonshehadbeeninvited.Soshecouldseeforherself,understand,thechoicethatPrinceLeopoldhadmadeforthegoodofSaxeCoburg.
ElizabethhoistedthemostauthenticsmileshecouldmusterandthankedLordWhitevaleforthedance.Afterdroppingacurtsy,sheturnedtoleavethedancingground,butWhitevalecaughtherwaistandspunheraround-directlyintotheprince.
Herheadjerkedupandtheirgazesmetforonelongmeaningfulmoment.Hishandreachedoutandsteadiedher.Themomenthisfingerstouchedherarm,adullacheformedinherbellyandheatbegantopoolbetweenherlegs.
Everythingaboutthismomentwa.s.sowrong.Wrong.
Hehadundoubtedlymadehischoice.Theonlyonehecouldhaveevermade.Whatshewasfeeling,withnomoreprovocationthananinnocenttouch,wasnothinglessthansinful.
Hisfingersfelthotuponherarm,andsheknewifshedidnotleaveatonce,shemightdosomethingrash,somethingtopersuadehimtoslipawayforashortwhiletoa.s.suagehercravingforhim.
Herlipsallbutburnedforhiskiss.Herarmslongedtoholdhim.
PrinceCharlotte,hercheeksallaglow,movedbetweentheprinceandhiscousin,andgracedElizabethwithasmile."Iamsogladyoucouldattendthefete,MissRoyle.Iconsiderthisasecretcelebration,yousee,formyfatherhasconsentedtoconsideramarriagebetweenmyselfandtheLeowithalldueseriousness."
Elizabethforcedasmile,butshecouldnotmaintainitanditwitheredonherlips.
"Mygrandmotheradmits,however,thatmyfatherwillgivehisblessingsoonenough.Heonlyrequiresenoughtimetobegiventheimpressionthattheideawashisown."PrincessCharlottebegantolaugh."Idonotmindabit,aslongashegiveshisconsentbeforeIamtooagedtoenjoybeingmarriedtosuchahandsomeman."
LordWhitevale,likelyfeelingasawkwardasElizabethdidattheintimatecoursetheconversationhadtaken,blanched.Theorchestrastruckachordagain,andcouplesscurriedontothedancingground.
LordWhitevalebowedtotheprincess."Doyouthinkitpermissiblethatwedance,YourRoyalHighness?"
PrincessCharlotte,neverbeingastrictmonitorofprotocol,laughedquiteloudly."Whatadearmanyouare.Come,letusdance.Whatargumentcouldmyfatherpossiblyhaveagainstmydancingwithyou?"
Elizabethwasn'tsurewhattodo.Shecertainlydidn'ttrustherself.Herprincewashere,directlyinfrontofher.Shewasliabletosayordoanythingtoholdhimtoher.
"Elizabeth,"hesaid,insuchalowtoneherearsbarelyregisteredthesound."ThereissomethingImusttellyou.ButIcannotdoithere.Notnow."
"IdonotknowwhatyoumighttellmethathasnotalreadybeensaidbythePrincessofWales."Herwordssoundedreedthinandjustasbrittle.
"Ihavemuchtosay.Muchtoconfess."
Elizabethshifteduneasilyfromoneslipperedfoottotheother.Shedidnotmuchcarefortheterm"confess."Itimplieddeliberatewrongdoing.
Sheturnedhergazeupandlookedintohisgrayeyes.Inthesunlight,theringofbluearoundthemwasasbrightandvibrantastheceruleanskyabovethegarden.Shecoulddenyhimnothing."Whenthenshallwespeak?"
"Intwodays'time."Heappearedquiteearnest."Atsunset.Youknowwhere."
"w.i.l.l.youtrulycome?"Elizabethhadnotmeanttosaythewordsaloud.Theyhadsimplyslippedfromherlipsunbidden.
Sumnerappearedhurtbythatcomment."Iwillcome."Heloweredthetoneofhisvoiceagainandleanedclosesoonlyshecouldhearhim."Iswearitonmyloveforyou."
Herheartthumpeddoubletime,andshefeltthesuddenurgetoturnherfaceuptohim,wishinghewouldkissher.Tomakeherknow,trulyknow,thatswearingontheirlovewouldmakeitso.Nomatterthecirc.u.mstances.
Agroupofcuriousladiessaunterednear,anditwasevidenttheyweretryingtohearwhattheprincehadtosaytotheoutrageousmissfromCornwall."Intwodays'time,"sherepeatedsoftly,notknowingwhatelsetosay.
"Itwaswonderfultoseeyouagain,MissRoyle.AndIdothankyouforyourpromptattentionatthetheatre."Itwasapparentthathefeltthepresenceofthegaggleofgossipersbehindhim,buthismovementsgavenohinthewasawareofthem.Helookedsteadily,pa.s.sionately,intoElizabeth'seyes,andallthewhilemadeappropriateconversation."Imightnothavesurvivedhadyounotactedsoquicklyandsecuredaphysiciantotendtomywound.Youaretobecommended,mygoodlady."
Elizabethbowedherheaddemurelyanddroppedalowcurtsy.
Sumnerbowedtoher,thenglancedoverhisshouldertowhereCharlotteandhiscousindancedonthelawn.
"Goodday,MissRoyle.PleasesendLadyUppertonmywellwishes,"hesaid.
"Ishall,YourRoyalHighness."Sumner.
Asheturned,hetouchedhislipsandcastasecretkisstoheroncemore.
Elizabethdidn'tknowwhatshewasfeelingatthatmoment.Hiseyestoldherthatnothinghadchanged.Thathelovedhera.s.shedidhim.Buthismentionofneedingtoconfesssomethingpetrifiedher.
Atthatmoment,sherealizedshewaslookingblindlythroughcrowd.Focusingherattention,andtryingthebestshecouldtopenheremotions,ElizabethlookedaboutuntilshesawLadyUppertonstandingonthetipsofhertoestoseewhatdelicaciesmightbefoundtowardthebackofabountifullystockedtable.
Elizabethplottedapaththroughtheundulatingcrowdtomeethersponsor.Everystepwasaneffort,foritwasmovingfartherawayfromherprince,but.i.twouldnotbeforever,shetoldherself.
She'dbewithhimagain.
Intwodays'time.
Chapter17.
BerkeleySquare T hefrontdoorflewopenwithsuchforcethat.i.tnearlybrokefromitshinges."Elizabeth,whereareyou?"Anneshouteddownthepa.s.sage.
Elizabethleaptupfromthetableinthekitchen,whereshehadbeensitting,reviewingMrs.Polkshank'slistforthebutcher.Shewhippedherheadaroundandlookedatthestaircasethroughthekitchendoorway."Anne?"shecalledback."Issomethingamiss?"
Allatonceitsoundedlikeaherdofoxenwerebeingdrivendownthestairtreadsandintothekitchen.ShewasgreatlyrelievedwhenshesawitwasonlyAnne.
"Lizzy,haveyoureadthenewspaperthisday?"Annewasgaspingforbreath,shovingacopyoftheTimestowardher.HadElizabethnotknownbetter,shewouldhavethoughthersisterhadrunallthewayfromc.o.c.kspurStreettoBerkeleySquaretohandittoher.
"Ihavenothadasparemomentallmorning."ElizabethtookthenewspaperfromAnne,thengaveMrs.Polkshankaconfusedglance.
Cookshruggedhershoulders,appearingascluelessastothereasonforAnne'ssurprisevisita.s.she.
Elizabethsatdownatthetableandunfoldedthenewspaper.
Annegrabbeditfromherhands,slappedittothetable,andranherindexfingerdownthefrontpage."There.Readthis."
Elizabethpickedupthenewspaperandraisedthearticletohereyes.AgainAnnegrabbedtheTimesfromherhands.
"Oh,Icannotwaitforyoutoreadtheentirearticle."Shedrewinadeepbreaththenshookherhandsasthoughdryingthemintheair."HeisleavingforParis-today!"
"Whois,miss?"Mrs.Polkshankasked.
AnneturnedherheadatCook,thenbackatElizabeth."PrinceLeopold.Today.Didyouhearme?HeisleavingforParistoday."
Elizabethwasbewildered."No,thatcannotbe.Ijustspokewithhimyesterday."
Annepokedherfingeratthenewspaper."Itsaysasmuchrightthere.Readit."
Elizabethbentherheadandlookedatthearticle,butAnneslammedherpalmuponit.
"No,don'treadit,"hersistercriedoutwithfrustration."Youdonothavetime!"
"IamsureIdohavetime.PrinceLeopoldisnotgoinganywhere.Wearetomeettomorroweveningatthe-"Elizabethcaughtherself."At...the...well,Iamnotatlibertytosay.Safetyprecautions,youknow."
"Lizzy,theprinceisleavingCarltonHouseatnoontoday."Annewaitedforaresponse,butcontinuedwhenElizabethmerelysatandlistened."Amole,insidecourt,hasitongoodauthoritythatthePrinceofWaleshasaskedPrinceLeopoldtoconferwithhisCoburgfamilyaboutthedesirabilityofamarriagebetweentheirtwofamilies.OncehehasreceivedconfirmationthattheCoburgfamilysupportssuchaunion,hewillgiveconsent-ifhisdaughterisstillunmarriedatthattime."
Elizabethcrinkledherbrow."Andso..."
"SotheprinceisreturningtoParis,toresumehismilitaryduties,whilesendingurgentdispatchestohisbrotherandfamily.Or,soclaimsthissource."Annefranticallyshookherhandsagain.
No.Itwasn'ttrue.ShehadseenthelookinSumner'seyes.HelovedherandwouldbeattheSerpentinetomorrowatsunset.Shewasascertainofita.s.shewasthatthesunwouldriseinthemorning.
"Comewithme.Ifweleavenow,youmaybeabletospeakwithhim."AnnecaughtElizabeth'swristandtuggedather.
"Whydon'tyougo,MissElizabeth,"Mrs.Polkshanksaid."ProvethatmouseinCarltonHousewrong."Cookfoldedherarmsoverheramplechestandgaveherheadafirmnod.
"Itwasamole,"Annesnapped."Notamouse."
"Idon'tcarewhatsortofverminitis,"Mrs.Polkshankrepliedsmartly."Ilearnedalongtimeagothatyoucan'ttrustaratnomatterwhathecallshimself."
Elizabethpushedupfromthetable."IagreewithCook,andIshallaccompanyyouforthereasonshesuggested.Noother.ForIdonotbelieveforoneinstantthattheprinceisleavingEnglandtoday."
CarltonHouse AnnebadehercarriagedrivertohandthemdownatthefarendofthegatewaytoCarltonHouse,thenreturntoherhomeonc.o.c.kspurStreettowait.
"Thatway,ifPrinceLeopoldspiesus,fromawindowaboveor...possiblyfromacarriage..."Annepauseda.s.shesteppedtothestreet."...wecanclaimwewerereturningfromshoppingonPallMallandwalkingtomyhome."
"Aren'tyouthecleverone?Youhavethoughtofeverything."Elizabethsighedasthefootmanhandedherdownfromthetowncarriagetojoinhersister.
"Thereisnoneedtobeangrywithme.IdidnotpenthearticleintheTimes!"Anne'sspineseemedtostiffentosuchanextentthatElizabethwonderedhowshemanagedtowalk.
"Iamnotangrywithyou,dear,IamfuriouswithmyselfforcomingtoCarltonHouseatnoon."Elizabethglancedatthehighwindowsjustbelowtherooftop.Once,shehadlookedupattheseverysamewindowswonderingifthePrinceofWales,hernaturalfatherinallpossibility,waslookingdownatheratthesamemoment.Nowshewonderedifherprince,herfuturehusband,wasgazingthroughoneofthosemanywindows.Howafewweeksmadesuchadifference.
Shesighed.Sheshouldnothavecome.
