Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 14

"Becausethatisthewayofitwithmen,especiallythosetrainedinthemilitary.Itisalwaystheway."GreatauntPrudenceleanedforwardandtappedherfingeronthesmallbookuponElizabeth'slap."Openit.Thereisacardinside."

Elizabethwasn'tsurewhatPrudencewasabout,butshedidasdirectedandopenedthebook.Inthecentershefoundaninvitationandadried,fadedrosebloom.ShelookedupatPrudence'salltooseriousface."Idon'tunderstand."

Turninghereyesdownwardtotheyellowedcardinherhand,shebegantoread.Itwasaninvitationtoaweddingbreakfast,tocelebratetheunionofMissPrudenceSmytheandtheHonorableMr.ClarenceWinks.Sheraisedhereyestolookatherauntforfurtherexplanation.

Prudence'sfadedblueeyeswerefilledwithtears,butnotasingleonebreachedherlashes."Hewentofftobattlethatsummer.Itwas.h.i.+sduty,hetoldme.AndthenhewaskilledexactlyoneyearlaterinthebattleforQuebecCity,alongsidehismen,andGeneralWolfehimself."

Elizabethfelttearsrus.h.i.+ntoherowneyes."Andyouhavebeen-"

"Alone,eversince."Sheforcedasmileofstrength."Thatis,untilyouandyoursisterscametostaywithme."ShesqueezedElizabeth'shandasbestshecould."WhatIwantyoutounderstandisthatwhileourmenwillloveuswithalltheirhearts,whenitcomestoamatterofloveordutyforcountry,aman'shonorwillalwaysforcehimtochoose...duty."

AnachingtightnessclutchedatElizabeth'sheart.Quickly,beforeshedissolvedintotears,shecarefullysettledthecardandtherosebetweenthepagesofthebookandreturnedittohergreataunt.

"Thankyoufortellingmethis,"Elizabethbegan,hervoicebreaking,"butIhavetobelievewewillbetogetherintheend.Icannotendurealifetimewithouthim.Isimplycannot."

CurzonStreetResidenceofSirHenryHalford ThedinnerplannedbySirHenrywasmoreintimatethanElizabethhadantic.i.p.ated.NoonefromtheRoyalCollegeofPhysicianswaspresent,ashehadtoldbothherandGallantinewhenhefirstofferedhisinvitationatAlmack's.

Andnoone,exceptforSirHenry,andpossiblyhisprotegeMr.Manton,seemedcontentwiththeseatingorder.

LordGallantinesatatoneendofthegreatrectangulartable,whichseemedtogreatlyannoyhimduetohisinabilitytohearSirHenry,whosatattheotherend.Elizabethwa.s.seatedbetweentheprince'scousin,Whitevale,andMr.Manton,whileSumnerandLadyUppertonsatdirectlyacrossfromthem.

"Itisnosecret,MissRoyle,thatrumorsaboundthroughSocietythatyouandyoursistersmightbetheillegitimatedaughtersofthePrinceofWalesandMariaFitzherbert."

Elizabethfairlylurchedinherchair.SirHenryseemedtohavenoideathathewaslabelingherab.a.s.t.a.r.datthedinnertable.

"TherearemanywhomaintainthatPrinnyandMrs.Fitzherbertweremarried,SirHenry."LordGallantinetightenedhisgripsostronglyaroundhisknifethatthebloodseemedtodrainfromhishand."Somehaveseenproofofthatunion."

Elizabethforcedasmile."Youknewmyfather,SirHenry.Hewasaroyalsurgeon,likeyou."

"Yes,yes,b.u.t.thestory,"SirHenryprodded,"isthereanyevidencetosupport.i.t?RumorhasitthatRoylehadproofofsomesort."

LadyUpperton's.e.xpressionleftnodoubttoElizabeththatshedidnotlikethedirectiontheconversationhadtaken."SirHenry,pleasethinkabouttheimplicationsofyourquestions.MissRoyleisaguestinyourhomethisnight."

SirHenrygrimaced,thenappliedaslick,oilysmiletohislips."Idobegyourpardon,MissRoyle.Thepeopledoloveagoodstory,trueornot."

"Yes,theydo,SirHenry,"Sumneranswered."But,IthinkIspeakformostofusinthisroomthiseve,gossipholdsnoplaceineducatedsociety."

SirHenryblanchedslightly,andthenhis.e.xpressionchangedabruptly."Iprefertruestoriesofexcitement,myself."HelookedtoElizabethquitesuddenly."Careforsomesalt,MissRoyle?"heasked.Hisheavylefteyebrowtwitchedinantic.i.p.ation.

"No,thankyou,"Elizabethreplied,thinkinginallherlifenohosthadeversuggestedshesaltherfood.

"Areyoucertain?"

"Quite."ItwasthenthatElizabethnoticedthat,unliketheothersilversaltcellarsateachguest'ssetting,herswaswhite,andwhileround,wasnotperfectlyformed.

SirHenry'sgazedremainedfocusedonElizabeth,completelyunnervingher.Finally,whenitseemedthatifshedidnotsamplethesalthewouldnoteverremovehisattentionfromher,sheliftedherhandtoreachforthespooninthecellar.

Mr.Manton'slefthandshotoutandcaughthers.Then,gently,hepressedherpalmtothetable."Pleasedon't,MissRoyle."

ElizabethsawSumner'sbackstraightenandhisbrowdrawlowthemomentMantontouchedher.ForabriefinstantshethoughthewouldleapacrossthetableforManton,buthedidnothingmore.SheturnedandlookedatMantonquestioningly.

SirHenrylaughedaloud."Now,now,Manton,youarespoilingmyfun."

"Ifyoucontinued,sir,IdonotthinkMissRoylewouldsleepatallthisnight,"Mantonrepliedsternly.

"Oh,Idoubtthat.OurMissRoylewasbraveenoughtoattempttosavetheprince'slife."HeleanedforwardandseemedtobeaddressingElizabethalone."Iseriouslydoubtshewouldcringefromtouchingabone."

"Abone?"Elizabeth'seyess.h.i.+ftedtothesaltcellar."Isthat...oh,heavens,itcannotbe."ShelookedatSirHenry."Isthat...avertebra?"

SirHenry'seyebrowsformedahairyhillock."SheisRoyle'sdaughter,isn'tshe,Manton?Youhaveakeenmedicaleye.Indeeditis,MissRoyle-ahumancervicalvertebra."

"Oh,dearG.o.d!"LadyUppertonsquealed,coveringhermouthwithherhands."WhywouldyouplacesuchathingonthetableandbeforeouryoungElizabeth?"

SirHenryloweredhisvoicetonearlyawhisper."BecauseIsuspectedshemightbefascinatedbywhatIwilladmittoyouallnext.Butyoumustswearnottotellalivingsoulmysecret."Helookedaroundateveryoneatthetableandawaitedtheirnods,whichweregivenbyallbutone.Sumnermerelyrolledhiseyes,which,itseemed,wasgoodenoughforSirHenry,wholookedtoMr.Mantonandgesturedforhimtobegin.

Mantonsighedinannoyance."In1649,CharlestheFirstwasbeheadedandburiedinthesamevaultasthegreatHenrytheEighth.Thecoffins,however,werelost-untiltwoyearsago,whentheywererediscoveredandthePrinceofWalesdemandedthatanautopsybeperformedtoconfirmtheident.i.tyoftheskeletons.TheautopsieswereperformedbySirHenry."Mantonexhaled.Hetightenedhisfistuponthetable.Hishandbegantoshake."Sir,youmustfinishtheretellingforIwillnotbepartytohorrifyingtheladies."

"Verywell,ifyouareunabletocontinue."SirHenrygloweredatMr.Manton."Asluckwouldhaveit,Iwasleftalonewiththeremainsforagooddealoftimebeforethecoffinsweresealedagain.Iwasabletoconfirmtheident.i.ties...butIwasalsoabletosecretlystealasinglebone-paymentformyservices,ifyouwill."Hetiltedhisnosetowardthesaltcellar."CharlestheFirst'scervicalvertebra,which,asyoucanseeforyourselves,hasbeencleanlyslicedbyanax."

LadyUpperton'sfacegrewverypaleandshebeganmadlyfanningherselfwithherserviette.

"Makesforalovelysaltcellar.Doyounotagree,MissRoyle?"SirHenrygrinnedather.

LadyUpperton'seyelidsbegantotwitchandhereyeslookedasthoughtheywouldrollbackinherhead.Herheadlolledsuddenlyandshefellforward,herforeheadhittingthetable'sedge.

ElizabethleaptfromthetableandracedaroundpastLordGallantinetoreachher.Bythetimeshedid,SumnerhadalreadyliftedLadyUpperton'ssmall,unconsciousbodyintohisarms.

"Iwilltakehertotheparlorandallowhertorestonthesettee,ifImay,"hesaid.Withoutwaiting,hechargedfromthediningroom,withElizabethtrailingbehind.

ElizabethwaskneelingatLadyUpperton'ssidewhenMr.MantonrushedintotheparloramomentlaterwithadampenednapkinfromSirHenry'stableinhishand.Shesteppedoutofhiswayandallowedtheyoungphysiciantoseetoher.

Hegaveheracursoryexaminationandthensighedwithrelief."Nottoworry,MissRoyle.She'sonlyfainted,"hesaidsoothingly.

"So,shewillrecoversoon."ElizabethgazedworriedlyupatMr.Manton.

"Oh,yes,yes.IhaveseenSirHenrycausethissamereactioninotherladiesatleastadozentimesbefore.I'vecounseledhimagainstdoingthistimeandtimeagain.Avinaigrettewillbringheraroundfully.Ishallfetchonepresently."Withthat,hehurriedfromtheparlor,leavingElizabethandSumnerstandingoverLadyUpperton.

Themomenthewasgone,SumnerreachedoutforElizabeth."w.i.l.l.youmeetmeattheSerpentinetomorrowatsunset?Wherewemetmycousinandtheprincess-youknowtheplace.Wemusttalk."

Elizabethnoddedfervently."Yes,butwhy-"

Sumnergrabbedherintohisarmsandkissedher,withadesperationborneofneed.

Suddenly,fromoutsidethedoor,theyheardtheclinkandrollofsomethingdroppingonthefloor.AfewmomentslaterMantonenteredtheroomwithavinaigrettebottleinhishand."Forgivemydelay.Thevialslippedfrommyfingerstothefloor,thenrolledunderatable.Didn'tbreak,however."

LadyUpperton'seyeswerehalfopen,butaquickwaveortwoofthepungentvinaigrettefullyrevivedherimmediately."Please,takethataway,'shesnapped,swattingatManton'svial.

"Ishall,LadyUpperton,butpleasekeeptheclothuponyourforeheadforawhilelonger,"headvised."Asmallb.u.mpisrising,nothingtoworryover.Youthumpedyourheadonthetable'sedge,Iamafraid."

ShelookedupatElizabeth."You'reagooddear.FetchGallantine,w.i.l.l.you?IamafraidmyheadpainsmeandIshouldliketoreturntomyhome.Youwilljoinmeinthecarriage,won'tyou,sweeting?"

"Iwill,LadyUpperton,Iamsurebytomorrowevening,ifnotbefore,youwillbecompletelyyourself.a.gain."ElizabethflashedaquickglanceatSumner,andshothimaslightnod."IshallinformLordGallantineastoouramendedplansfortheevening.Pleaseexcuseme,YourRoyalHighness,Mr.Manton."Shedippedacurtsytoeach,andthenhurriedbacktothediningroom.

Shetriedtohidetheconfidentsmilethattuggedatherlipsa.s.shemadetheirexcusestoSirHenryandinformedLordGallantineoftheirearlydeparturefromCurzonStreet.

Itwasevenmoredifficultafeattoconcealherjoyasthecarriageconveyedthembothhome,forLadyUpperton'sabilitytoreadafacewa.s.secondonlytoLordLotharian's.

Still,thelady'snerveswereinfraysandtattersafterSirHenry'sghoulishgame,andsheseemednottheleastawarethatElizabeth'sdemeanorhadchangedatall.

But.i.thad.ForafterSumner'spa.s.sionatekiss,ElizabethknewthatbeforetheglitteringwatersoftheSerpentinetomorrownight,Sumnerwouldtellherthathisonlydutywas...totheirlove.

Chapter14.

HydeParkRottenRow "T hisisn'twise,Leopold."Sumnerreinedhishorseprotectivelyclosertotheprince'sastheyguidedtheirmountsdownRottenRowthroughthethickfog.Itwasifthecloudshaddescendedfromtheskyandsettledeerilyupontheroad."Wecantooeasilybetakenunaware."

"Ican'tstaycorkedupinsideanylonger,"theprincerepliedflatly."AsidefromsittinginSirHenry'sparlor,ridingatthisearlyhourthroughthismiasmaofgrayisprobablythesafestplaceIcouldpossiblybe.Ifwecannotseetheapproachofanother,Idoubtwecanbeseen,either."

"Butwecanbeheard.Youaresoclosetosecuringthismatch.Whydoyouriskallbyneedlesslyventuringout?"SumnerknewthathisfrustrationwithLeopoldwasplaininhisvoice,andhedidnottrytoconcealit.HewasputtingahalttohislifewhileLeopoldworkedtodiplomaticallymanipulatethismarriagetoawomanhedidnotlove.

"IcannotabidelivinglikeaprisonerduringmystayinLondon."

"ThenletusreturntoParis."SumnerknewitwastoomuchtohopeforLeopoldtoleavebeforethePrinceofWaleshadgivenhimanod,formalorencouraging,buthehadtotry."InParis,youwillbefreetoroamthestreetswhileconductingtheremainderofthecampaignthroughdispatches."

"Icannot,becausenothingisresolved.Nothing!"Leopoldwa.s.silentforseveralmomentsafterthat,hischestheavingandlaboringwithhisclearagitation."IhavetakenaboxattheDruryLaneTheatrefortonight,"hefinallysaidbrusquely."Weshallbeattending.Iwillnothearanyargumenttothecontrary."

Leopold'svoicewasfirmandsteady.Hewasnotsuggestinganightatthetheatre.Hehadalreadyplannedit.

"Tonight?"Sumnertensed."Youcannotconsiderthis."

"Yes,tonight."Therewasacurtnesstotheprince'smannerhehadneverseenexceptintheheatofbattle."Iunderstandtheimplicationsformysecurity.ButImustgo.Charlottewillbeinattendance.Ihavenochoice."

"Youcannotappearinpublicwiththeprincess.Itisfartoodangerous."Anditwas,b.u.t.therewasmoretohispositionagainstattendingthetheatrethatnight.Sumnerhadspentthenightbeforegirdinghimself,rehearsing,fortheuncomfortabletaskofadmittinghistrueident.i.tytoElizabeththisveryevening.

ItwastruethatLeopold'ssecurityneedshadnotaltered,norhadSumner'sownswornloyaltyandresponsibilitytotheprince.

WhatwasabouttochangewasElizabeth'sneedtotrusthim,tobelievewithallherheartthathewouldreturnforherdespiteappearancestothecontrary.

But,forhertoputsuchgreatfaithinhim,hemustputhistrustinherfirst,andadmitthathewasnotPrinceLeopoldatall,buthiscousin,sworntoprotecthimatallcostsduringtheincreasinglydangerouscampaigntosecureaunionbetweenEnglandandSaxeCoburg.

Ithadtakenagoodmeasureoftime,butultimatelyhehadcometotheconclusionthatperhapsifElizabethknewhistrueduty,herheartwouldnotbebrokeneachtimetheTimesreportedmovementintheromanceofPrinceLeopoldandPrincessCharlotte.AndthatshewouldunderstandthatsoontheprincemustleaveforParis-b.u.t.thathewouldreturnforher.Ashehadpromised.

"Irealizethedanger.Charlottewillnotbeviewingtheperformancewithme,butwillbeensconcedinaneighboringboxwithinview.Iwillexchangeglancesofwistfullongingwithher.Nothingmore."

"Youareriskingmuchfornogain."Sumnerhuffedattheveryideaoftheprinceandprincesstradingmooneyedglances-attheriskoftheprince'slife.

"Thegainwillbegreat,ifIamsuccessful."Leopoldnudgedhismountintoafasttrot."MyintentistoprovokeCharlotteintoconfrontingherfatheraboutmarriage."

Sumnerdrewhishorsealongside,matchinghismount'sstridetotheprince'sgelding."Doyouthinkitwisetodothissosoon?"

"Icannotwaitanylonger.IamnotblindtothefactthatPrincessCharlotteisentirelyinfatuatedwithme...justa.s.shewaswithseveralothersoverthepastyears.Imustuseherpa.s.sionatefeelingsformenow,beforetheyfade."

Sumnerfellsilent.

Leopolddrewbackonthereins.Hisgelding'sbitandbridlejingledastheprincepulledhismounttoaprancinghalt."Mycousin,youarelikemybrother.IunderstandwhatIamaskingyoutodo.Bystandinginforme,posingasPrinceLeopold,yourlifecouldbeinjeopardy."

"Andyetyouaskmetodoit."

"Ido."Leopoldlookeddownatthewetearthentrail."SaxeCoburgwasplunderedbyNapoleonbecausewelackedthestrengthandpowertodefendit.AmarriagetoPrincessCharlottewillmergeourfamilies-andSaxeCoburgwillneverbetoosmallorpowerlesstodefenditself.a.gain.Idonotaskyoutodothisbecauseyouaremycousin,mybloodkin.Idonotaskyoubecausenooneelsecouldimpersonatemesowellasyou.IaskyoutodothisbecauseIcantrustyou,aboveall,todoyourdutytoSaxeCoburg.Youareasoldier,mybrotherinarms."

"Iknowmyduty."

"Iknow."

"Thefogislifting.WeshouldreturntoCurzonStreet,"hesaidtoLeopold,hiswordsacoldanddeliberatecommand."Ifwearetoattendthetheatrethisnight,Imustnotealloccurrencesandcontingencies,thenprepare."

Asthetworeinedtheirmountsaround,SumnernoticedthatLeopoldwa.s.smiling."IstheresomethingelseIshouldknowaboutthiseve?"

"Ohyes,thereisonethingofnote."Leopoldliftedhiseyebrowsmostinnocently."IhaveanonymouslyreservedtheboxtoourleftforLadyUpperton,MissRoyle,andLordGallantine-thoughItookcaretoaskMercertoadmittothegraciousness."

SumnerstaredatLeopold."Youdidn't."

"Thoughtyoumightwishtoknow...contingencyplanning,youknow."Leopoldlaughed,thenbroughthiscropdownuponhishorse'sflankandchargeddownRottenRow.

BerkeleySquare "LadyUpperton,IcannotgotothetheatrewithyouandtheOldRakesthisevening."Elizabethpacedtheparlor,herarmswrappedaroundherselfinatighthug."Imustrefuse...Ihaveanotherengagement."

"Well,dove,unlessyougivemeafairandreasonableexplanationwhyyoumustrefusethisinvitation,Ifearyoumustbreakyourengagement,"LadyUppertonwarned."ItisbyinvitationofnoneotherthanMissMargaretMercerElphinstonethatourpartyhasbeenprovidedaboxattheperformancethiseve.Isitimpossibleforyoutoimaginethat.i.tisnotshewhotrulywishedthatyouattendtheperformance,butrathertheprincess,whoisgraciouslyextendinganolivebranchtoyou?"

Elizabethspunaroundandlookedcriticallyathersponsor."Howhaveyoucometothisconclusion?Youtoldmethatthecardwasnotsigned."

"Itwasn't.ButwhenIsentmyfootmanaroundtoinquireastoownerofthebox,IwasinformedMissElphinstoneheldthesubscription."

"Mercerisadear."Elizabethunfoldedherarms."ShemighthavesenttheinvitationbecauseshefeltsorryoverthewayIwasdismissedbytheprincesswhentheentireincitingeventwasinnowaymyfault."

"Yes,thatmightbeoneexplanationexceptforonething-thecardnotedthatbothPrinceLeopoldandPrincessCharlottewillbepresentatthisperformance."LadyUppertonswunghershortlegsbackandforthfromtheedgeofthesettee.

Elizabethstoppedpacing."PrinceLeopoldwillbeattheDruryLaneTheatrethisnight?"NotattheSerpentine...wherehehadaskedhertomeethim?

"Yes,theprinceaswellasPrincessCharlotte.DidInotmakemyselfheard,gel?"

ElizabethglanceddownatLadyUpperton.Whatwasthemeaningofthis?Hadhechangedhismindabouther,orhadhesimplybeenunabletoextricatehimselffromaninvitationtotheperformancefromtheprincess?Filledwithnerves,Elizabethbitintoherlowerlip.