Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 11

"Itdoesn'tmatter."Elizabethleanedupandrestedherweightbehindheronherelbows."Youdidnothingwrong,Sumner."

"Yes,Idid,Elizabeth."Itseemedasiftheshameheevidentlyfeltpreventedhimfromlookingather.

"No,youdidn't."Shesatuprightandlaidherhandonhischeek."YoudidnothingIdidnot want-thatIdidnotaskfor."

"ButIruinedyou."

"Ruined?Hardly."Shehuffedasmalllaugh."Doyoumeanbytouchingme?Whatanovern.o.ble gooseyouarebeing.Andevenifyouhadruinedme,itmattersnotatall.Wewillmarrysoonenough."

"No,Elizabeth.Whydoyoubelievethis?"Sumnercametohisknees,thenjerkedtoastand."Don'tyouunderstand?Wecannotbetogether.Ihavemyduty."

ElizabethstaredblanklyatSumner,unabletocomprehendwhathemeant.Surely,hedidnot mean...afterthismorning...thathestillsoughtPrincessCharlotte'shand?

Surelynot.

Hereacheddown,tookherarmandpulledhertoherfeet.Stillhedidnotlookather."Comealong, Elizabeth.Itislate.Youmustreturntothelodgeanddress.Theprincesswillberisingsoon."Alumpclimbedupintoherthroatandthreatenedtochokeher.

Whywasthishappening?Why?

Silently,blindedbyburgeoningtears,shefollowedhimdownthetrail.

Hecan'tmeanthis.Hesimplycannot.

Inherheartandinhermindtheywerealreadywed.Shewouldnotgiveupnow.ShewasaRoyle,afterall.AndRoylesdidnotgivein.Shewoulddoasbothofhersistershaddone-whencirc.u.mstancesbecamedifficult,theybecamecreative.Andsowouldshe.

Nomatterwhat.i.ttook,shewouldsimplyhavetochangehismind,andshecoulddoit.Afterall,Fatewasonherside,sheremindedherself.Fatewasonherside.

Chapter11.

CranbourneLodge M issMargaretMercerElphinstonestoodaghast.AfterhearingElizabeth'sstoryofhereventfulmorning,sheclappedherhandsoverhermouth,stiflingagasp,a.s.shepeereddownatElizabeth,whosatbeforeherdressingdownasthelady'smaidorderedahotbathtobedrawnforher."Goodheavens,dear,youmighthavedrownedhadhenotsavedyou!"

Elizabethpluckedatelltaledeadpieceofbrownmossfromherhairandsurrept.i.tiouslydroppedittothefloor,thensettledhersoakedslipperdownatopofit."Ireallydonotremembermuchatallaboutwhathappened.OnemomentIwaswalkingontherivertrail,andthenextIwaspeeringupintoSumner'sgrayeyes."

"Sumner?"Mercer'sbrowfurrowed."Ithoughtyousaid-didyousay...Sumner?"

Elizabethnodded,thenturnedaroundtolookupatMercer."Theprince.HeaskedmetorefrainfromreferringtohimasYourRoyalHighnesswhileatWindsor,but'twasindeferencetoPrincessCharlotte'sgreaterstanding,Ia.s.sume."

Mercerlookedmostpensiveforsomemoments,andthenherhappyselfseemedtoemergeagain."Yes,Iamsureyouarecompletelyrightonthematter.IhaveheardhiscousincallhimSumneronceortwice.Hemustfeelveryateasewithyou.Though,wereIyou,Elizabeth,Iwouldnotdeigntobesofamiliarastousethenameinthepresenceofanyoneotherthanwefour."

"Yes,hesaidexactlythesamething.AndIshallabidebyhiswishes,ofcourse."WhenElizabethlookedintothedressingmirroragain,Mercercameandstoodbehindher,settlingherhandontherumpledsleeveoftheredcrimsongown.

ShepushedbackanerrantsablelockbehindherearandlookeddownatElizabeth'ssoddengown."Pityitisruined.Itmusthavelookedstunningonyou."Shepinchedabitoftheoncelovelyfabricbetweenherfingers,thenleanedaroundandpeeredattheneckline."Elizabeth,youdidsaythatthisaccidentoccurred...thismorning,didyounot?"

Elizabethnoddeda.s.shepa.s.sedaboar'sbristlebrushthroughherthick,tangledredhair."Icouldnotsleep,andaroseearly.Idecidedtotakeashortwalktopa.s.sthetimeuntiltheprincessawoke."

"Andyouchosethis...thisgownasyourmorningfrockforyourwalk?Interestingselection,myfriend."

"Oh,no.Ididnotchooseit."Atinybrokentwigcaughtattheendofherhair,andthenunexpectedlyshotlikeanarrowtothefloorunderthedownwardforceofherbrush.Elizabethfolloweditstrajectorywithhergazeandtappedherslipperaroundthearea,hopingtofinditandnudgeitbeneaththehemofhergown."IambutamissfromCornwallwithnoknowledgeofwhatmightbeconsidereda lamodeformorninginthepresenceofaprincess."

Mercerturnedherheadasthelady'smaidenteredtheroomwithtwoothermaidswhototedgreatbucketsofhot.w.a.terforthehipbath."DidyouchooseMissRoyle'smorninggownthisday,Aida?"

Thelady'smaid'scheeksflushedbrightlyandshecasthereyestothefloor."No,miss.I-Ijustoffereditasachoice.MissRoylechosethegownherself."

Mercerletoutagreatsigh."AndwhobadeyoutomisdirectMissRoyle'schoicesinherdress?ThegownisFrenchandnotsuitableformorningatall-asyouwellknow."

Thelady'smaiddidnotsayaword,butshookherheadslowly,addingasmallshrug.

Mercerswipedafingerather."Nevermind,Aida,IknowtheculpritandIshallspeakwithherdirectly.Youcannotargueyourorders,butnorwillIrelyonyoutoa.s.sistMissRoyleagain.Begone;sendmyGeorgianatotendtoMissRoyle.AtleastIknowshecanbetrusted."

Withasniffle,AidaslinkedfromElizabeth'sbedchamber.

Stunnedatwhatshehadjustheard,Elizabethwa.s.stillstaringatMercer'sreflectioninthemirrorwhenAidaclosedthedoor."SomeoneaskedAidatodressmeinappropriately?Whowoulddosuchathing,andwhy?"SheturnedonthebenchtolookdirectlyatMercer.

Mercerlaughedresignedly."Well,ourdearCharlotte,ofcourse."

"BBut,whywouldtheprincesswishtoembarra.s.smeso?"Elizabethsuddenlyfeltherhouseholdpositionwasasprecariousasherfootinghadbeenontherivertrail.

"Oh,myinnocent,Elizabeth."Mercerkneltbeforeherandtookhershouldersinherhands."Charlotteismydearestfriend,butsheca.n.a.lsobechildish,illmannered,andmischievousattimes.YouwoulddowelltobeonyourguardduringyourstayatCranbourneLodge."

"Idon'tunderstand,Mercer.Whywouldshewishformetoattendherasalady'scompanionifsheonlywishesmeillfate?"

Mercercametoherfeetquickly."Ididnotsayshewishesyouill.Onlythatsheismischievousandentirelytoobored,beingrestrictedtotheconfinesofWindsor."Shewalkedacrossthebedchamber,dunkedherindexfingerintothebathwaterandyankeditout."Toohot.Bestwaitafewminutes."ShelookedbackatElizabeth."Atleast.i.tisbetterherethanatWarwickHouse.There,IwasfortunatetoseealetterortwotoCharlotte.ButLeopoldwa.s.slyenoughtocalluponherforteathere,thoughPrinnywasinresidenceatCarltonHouse,onlyastone'sthrowaway.Courageorinsanity-orcouldittrulybelove?"

Love?Elizabeth'sbreathseemedtofreezeinherlungs."PrinceLeopoldcalleduponPrincessCharlotteinLondon?"Shewasfeelingincreasinglyuneasy,realizingthatshehadnotconsideredthatLeopoldhadapastwiththeprincess.

"Oh,yes.HemanagedtoslipoutbeforePrinnyheardthenews,whichwasmostfortunate,becauseCharlotte'sfatherwasroilingmadwhenheheardthataprincehadtakenteawithhisdaughteralone."

ElizabethdidnotcareforthewayMercerselectivelyintonedalone.Herscabbedtemplebegantothrobandsherubbedallaroundthewound,tryingtosootheherheada.s.shestruggledtofindawaytodiscountSumner'srelations.h.i.+pwiththeprincess.

"IfthePrinceofWalesknewthatPrinceLeopoldcalledabouthisunweddaughterwithouthisknowledge,"shesaid,"whichIwoulda.s.sumewouldbetakenasashowingofdisrespect,howcanSumner...er,PrinceLeopoldhopetowinapprovaltomarrytheprincess?"

MercerlaughedandfairlyrantoElizabeth.Shes.n.a.t.c.hedupherhandandsqueezeditinherexcitement."BecauseCharlottelied-shetoldherfatherthatshewasnotaloneand,furthermore,thattheprincewhocalledwasPrinceAugustus-notLeopold,ashehada.s.sumed."Mercerlaughed."Andhebelievedher!Charlotteisagiftedstorytellerwhenshechooses."

"Oh."Elizabeth'sspiritssank.Onlythismorningshebelievedsheandtheprincewerefatedtobehusbandandwife.Now,shejustfeltlikeafool.

Annehadbeenright.Sheshouldjustgiveupthissillyideathatshehaddreamedthefuture,andlearntolivethetruth-thatPrinceLeopoldofSaxeCoburgwouldmarryPrincessCharlotte.

Andtherewasnothingshecoulddotomakeherhappilyeverafterwiththeprinceofherdreamscometrue.

"...butnowthatherfatherhasgivenuphisridiculousnotionofmarryingtheprincessofftotheDutchman,heconsidersCranbourneLodgeasecureenoughprisonforthetimebeing.Whatalark,eh?Theonefortresshebelievestobesecure,andPrinceLeopoldwalksrightin."

Elizabethfeltahardtugatherarmandrealizedshehadbeenstaringblindlyintothemirror,feelingsorryforherself,andhadn'tcaughtallofwhatMercerhadtoldher.

"Areyoulisteningtome,Elizabeth?"Mercerasked,soundingmostannoyed.

"Uh,yes."ElizabethturnedfullyonherbenchandleanedclosetoMercer."IwasonlywonderingwhatPrinnywoulddoifhecaughtPrinceLeopoldandhiscousinhereatCranbourneLodge."

"Oh,hewouldbefurious,certainly.Whichiswhytheycannotstayanylonger.Ithasbeenmorethanaweeknow.ItriedtowarnCharlotteaboutgivingtheprincerefugehereatall,butshewouldnothearofit.Someonemeanttokilltheprince,andCharlottewasadamantthatsheofferhimsafetyuntilotherarrangementscouldbemade.And,thankfully,theyhavebeensafe."

Elizabethstraightenedherback."Areyoutellingmethatthey...areleaving?"

"Yes."Mercerwasimmediatelydistracted,andsaidnomoreabouttheprinceleavingCranbourne,whenherownlady'smaidenteredtheroom."Georgiana,pleasea.s.sistMissRoyle.Sheisreadyforherbath."

Georgianadisplayedthebeautifuldarkhair,paleskin,andblueeyesoftheWelsh.Shealsohadverystrongarms.WithoutaskingElizabethtostand,shewrenchedherfromthebench.Turningheraround,GeorgianabegantostripElizabethofherhopelesslyruinedgown.

ElizabethwasabouttoquestionMercerfurtherregardingthedepartureoftheprinceandhiscousinwhensheheardMercergiggle.

"Iwillleaveyoutoyourbathnow."Shestartedforthedoor,b.u.t.turnedherheadandpeeredoverhershoulderbeforereachingit."Charlottewillexpecttoseeyouinthemorningroomaftershebreaksherfast.Listenfortheclocktosoundthenoonhour.Comethen."

Merceropenedthedoorthenturnedyetagain."Georgiana,youwillbesuretoremoveallofthemossfromMissRoyle'shair,won'tyou?"

"Yes,miss."

"Goodmorning,Elizabeth..."shecalledouta.s.sheclosedthedoorbehindher.

"Goodmorn-"Ohbotheration.Whyevensaythewords?Whathadbegunasthemostbrilliantofmorningswasnowtheworstdayofherlife.

WhenElizabethenteredthemorningroom,PrincessCharlottewasdrapedacrossasetteewithadampfoldedflanneluponherforehead.Onelegdangledfromtheseat,herbluesatinslipperhangingprecariouslyfromherbigtoe."Doclosethedoorquickly,whoeveryouare,"shemoaned."Myheadpainsme."

"ItisI,MissRoyle,"Elizabethwhisperedsoftlya.s.shebegantoclosethedoor,onlytohaveanelderlyliveriedfootmanseizethehandlefromherandshutthedoorhimself.

"Elizabeth!"PrincessCharlotteyankedtheclothfromherheadanddroppeditonthefloor.

Ayoungmaidscurriedtothesetteetoscooptheclothupinherhands,thenreturnedtothecorneroftheroom,whereafootmanpouredwaterintoabasintobeginsoakingafreshclothfortheprincess.

"Mercertoldmeofyourordealthismorning.Howdreadfullyexcitingitmusthavebeenforyou!"theprincesspracticallysquealed.

"Actually,Icouldhavemadedowithouttheexcitementofthismorningquiteeasily."Elizabethsmiled,thenwhenshesawtheprincessdidn'trespond,shelaughed.

PrincessCharlotteseemedconfusedforamoment,untilMercer,whosatatawritingdesknearby,begantolaughuproariously."Oh,youhadusthere,Elizabeth,"Mercersaid."'Tiseverywoman'sdreamtoberescuedbyatall,handsomen.o.bleman."

PrincessCharlottelaughed,too."TothinkIthoughtyouwereserious.ButIseenowyouwerejusthavinguson.Oh,youaremostdiverting,Elizabeth.ButIbegyou-tellusaboutthemomentyouawokeinhisarms.Please,Elizabeth.Mylifeissohorriblyboring.Nothingsobrillianteverhappenstome."

"Oh,pishposh,Charlotte,"Mercersaid."YourushedintothestreetandescapedaveryangryPrinceofWalesinahackney-ahackney!Didyoueverhearofanythingsodaring,Elizabeth?"

"Never!"Elizabethexclaimed.WhentheprincesslookedtoMercer,Elizabethcrinkledherbrow.Ridinginahackney?ThatisPrincessCharlotte'sdefinitionofexciting?Whataboutmeetingcrownedroyaltyfromeverypartoftheworld?Dancingatglitteringb.a.l.l.s?

Havingthemosthandsomeprinceintheworldwis.h.i.+ngtomarryyou?

"Still,"PrincessCharlotteamended,"lastweekElizabethwa.s.shotinthehead-"

Elizabethraisedherchin."Well,itonlygrazedmytemple."

"-then,thismorn,shefallsoffanembankmentandiswhiskedawaybythechilledwateroftheThames.Iaskyou,wholivesthemoreexcitinglife-thisyoungwomanfromCornwallorI?"

"WWell,youdo,byfar,"Elizabethmuttered.

TheedgesofPrincessCharlotte'slipslifted."Oh,youjest.Youwouldneverwishtotradeyourlifeformineforevenoneday."

"Mostcertainly,Iwould!"Elizabethexclaimed,knowingthatforsomereason,theprincessneededtobea.s.suredthatherlifewasonetobeenvied.

"Youarejusthavingmeon,Elizabeth."PrincessCharlotteglancedatMercer,andforthefirsttimesincesheenteredtheroom,Elizabethrealizedthatanothergamewasafoot.Oneshehaduntilnowbeencompletelyblindto.

"No,no."Shewonderedifevensayingthatwastoomuch,forPrincessCharlotteleapttoherfeet,nearlytrippingoverherdiscardedslipper.

"Doyouhearthat,Mercer?Shewishestodoit.Shesaidso,justnow."PrincessCharlottesetherhandonherhipsandgaveherheadagoodfirmnod.

"Shehasn'tagreedtoanything,Charlotte,exceptthatshewouldtradeliveswithyouifgiventheopportunity."MercergaveElizabethaglanceloadedwithwariness.

CharlottewalkedovertoElizabeth,soclosethattheprincess,beingashorterwoman,stoodnosetochinwithher."WhatifIgaveyouthatopportunity,Elizabeth-forjustoneday?"

"Gavemetheopportunity...toliveyourlifeforoneday?"ElizabethknewshestammeredandsoundedlikealingeringechooffthecliffsofCornwall,butshecouldnothelpherself.

"Yes."PrincessCharlottecastasidelongglanceatMercer,beforelookingatElizabethwithadeadserious.e.xpression."Today,infact."

"TToday?"Elizabethknewshecouldnotdenytheprincess,butwhateverPrincessCharlottehadplannedwasmakingherfeelvery,veryuneasy.

ElizabethstoodverystillasMercerfittedaturbantoherhead,takingcaretostuffanyexposedredtendrilofhairunderthematronlyheaddress."Thiswillneverfoolanyone.Iamatleastaheadtallerthantheprincessandourcountenancesarenotremotelysimilar."

"Oh,theyaremoresimilarthanyouperhapsrealize,"Mercerresponded."Anditshallwork."Shestoodbackandsurveyedherwork."Whatthinkyou,Charlotte?"

PrincessCharlotteflungherupperbodyoverthearmofthesetteeandletherarmsdanglefromit."Itwillworkperfectly,"shewhined."Isitnottimewego?"

"Almost."MercerlookedatCharlotte."Youarewrinklingyourgown.Youdowishtoappearmatureandincompletecommandofyourlife.AwrinkledgownwillnotcommunicatethattothePrimeMinister."

CharlotteismeetingwiththePrimeMinister?Oh,dear.Elizabeththought.Whatwasthisruseaboutandwhyhadsheagreedtoit?

PrincessCharlotteslidbacktoherseat,andthenstoodtostraightenhergown,beforeploppingbackontothesettee.

MercerlookedcriticallyatElizabeth."Nowthen,themodistesareFrenchandhavenevermettheprincess.Theyhavebeeninstructednottospeakorlookyoudirectlyintheface.Theywillonlypinfitthegowns,sothereisnoreasonforyoutospeakatall,either."

Elizabethfeltastwistedwithnervesasthecoilsoffabricaroundherhead."Wouldn't.i.tbeeasiertosimplyschedulethemodistes'workforanotherday?"

PrincessCharlottehuffed."No.Youaremissingthepoint,Elizabeth.IhaveinformedmygovernessesthatIwillbeengagedinfittinguntilsunsetatleast,andthenIwillretireearly,forIamalwaysthoroughlyexhaustedafterhavingsomanygownsfittedtomyform."

"YourposingasCharlottewiththemodistes,thenretiringforthenight,willgiveCharlottethetimesheneedstotraveltoLondontomeetprivatelywithLordLiverpoolandtoreturnagain,"Mercerexplained.

Elizabethwasthoroughlyconfused."Whymustyourmeetingremainasecret?Idonotunderstand.YouarethePrincessofWales,afterall."

PrincessCharlottehuffedoutherfrustrationwithElizabethandshotaglanceatMercer,asiforderinghertodealwiththedullmissfromCornwallonherbehalf.