Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 15

Eitherway,Mercerhadtakencaretoincludethementionoftheprince-andtheprincess-attending.Perhapshebadehertodoit.AmessageforherthathecouldnotmeetherattheSerpentineasplanned.Itwasapossibility.

Andthatpossibility,shehadtoclingto.

"Verywellthen,LadyUpperton,"Elizabethrelented,"Ishallhappilyjoinyouandthegentlemenatthetheatrethisnight."

Whilethere,shewouldmakeithermissiontospeakwithSumner.Shewouldfindawayifitkilledher.

DruryLaneTheatre Elizabethleanedforwardonthebenchseatandpeeredasbestshecoulddownthetierofprivateboxes.Thelightfromthechandeliersabovewaslow,makingdiscerninganyindividual'sfeaturesalmostimpossible.

Herprince,dressedinformalmilitaryattire,andgivenhisremarkableheight,wouldstandoutfromthewavesofgentlemenalldressedsosimilarlyintheirdarkcoatsandtails,andstarchedwhiteneckcloths.Only,shedidnotseehimanywhere.

SheleanedclosetoLordLotharian,whonevermissedanything."Haveyouseentheprincess...ortheprince,forthatmatter?TheplayisabouttobeginandIhavenotseeneitherpartyarrive."

"Andyoushallnot,untiltheplaydoesbegin."Lothariangesturedtotwograndemptyboxesashortdistanceaway."Theywillnodoubttaketheirseatsthereorperhapsinthatboxbesideit.Itisaprecautionforsafety,thatisall,soIwouldnotelevateyourhopes."

"Elevatemyhopes?"Elizabethcrinkledhernose."Idonotknowwhatyoumean."

"Why,thatPrincessCharlottedoesnotarrive.Iknowseeingherhere,especiallyinthecompanyoftheprince,willbemostdifficultforyou."

"Idonotgiveafigiftheprincessenjoystheplaythiseveningornot.Theprince'sattendanceismyonlyinterest."Elizabethplacedherglovedhandontherailandpeeredattherowsoftheatregoersbelow.Then,lazily,sheallowedhergazetodrifttotheboxjusttotherightoftheirown."Oh,Zeus,"shewhisperedharshly."Heishere."

LadyUppertoncaughttherailingwithbothherhandsandroseupfromthebenchtoseepastElizabeth."Who,dear?"

"SirHenry.Heisjusttakinghisseat."

"Whodidyousay?Icannothearyou,gel."LadyUppertonbentovertherail.

"Shh.SirHenry."Elizabethtippedherheadtotheright."Justthere."

"Dear,noonecanhearwhatyouaresaying,especiallyme.Thereisfartoomuchaudiencechatter."LadyUppertonraisedhermotherofpearloperagla.s.sesandpeeredwhereElizabethhadgestured."Oh,yes,andheiswiththatdearMr.Manton,too.Heha.s.suchakindheart,thatyoungman."LadyUppertongraspedElizabeth'swrist."DidItellyouthatMr.Mantonhadsentanotethattheywouldbeattendingthisnight?"

"No."Elizabethgrimaced."IamsureIwouldrememberhadyoutoldmethat."

"Mr.MantoninquireduponhiscardifhemightcallbeforetheplaytobesureIwaswellaftertheincident...withthathorridbonesaltcellar."

Elizabethturnedonthebenchtofacehersponsor."Anddidhe?Surely,SirHenrydidnotdaretosetfootuponyourdoorstep."

"No,neitherdid.Therewasnoneed.Ireturnedacardlettingthemknowthatwewouldbehere.PitythatSirHenryhascometonightaswell,butIsuspectedhewould."FromherbeadedreticuleshewithdrewafoldedclothandhandedittoElizabeth."Atinterval,wouldyoupleasereturnthisnapkintoSirHenry?Icannotendurehavinganythingtodowiththatman,andthisclothisareminderofthedinnerandhisunctuousmanner."

WhileElizabethhadnodesiretoengageSirHenryatall,shehadtoconcedethatLadyUppertonhadenduredtheworstoflastevening,andsosheagreedandsetthenapkinonherlapuntiltheinterval.

Theorchestrainthepitbelowbegantoplay,andEdmundKeanesteppedontothestage,tobegreetedbythedeafeningroarofrousingapplause.

Elizabethturnedherheadtotheright,tosee,justasLotharianhadpredicted,theprinceandhiscousin,Whitevale,enteringtheboxtoherrightandtakingtheirplacesbeforeSirHenryandMr.Manton.

ElizabethleanedforwardtoseepastLordLothariantotheprince.Justthen,Sumner,lookingsoutterlyhandsomeinhisdarkbluecoatandceruleansashthatElizabethfeltherheartswell,touchedhislips,pretendingtocough,andturnedhishandtowardher.

Twinbloomsofheatroseintohercheeks,andshecasthereyesdemurelydownward.Whenshelookedup,Mr.Mantonwaswatchingher.Hegaveherawarmsmile,towhichshepolitelytippedherheadinacknowledgment,andthenreturnedhergazetoherhandsomeSumneroncemore.

OnlyaminutelaterPrincessCharlotte,Mercer,andseveralolderwomen-whomElizabethtooktobeCharlotte'saunts-enteredtheboxtotherightoftheprince's.Shetookherseatinacus.h.i.+onedchair,obviouslyplacedthereforheruse,thenleanedforwardandsmiledattheprince,whopaidherabsolutelynoheed.

Elizabethwaselated.Hisgestureoftouchinghislipsandtossingittoher-notPrincessCharlotte-hadtoldhereverything.Hedidnotwishtodispatchherinfavoroftheprincess.ThetheatreeventhadmerelymadetheirmeetingattheSerpentineimpossiblethisnight.ItwasclearbyhisignoringCharlotte'sattentionsintheboxnexttohisthathehadmadehischoice.

Hehadchosenher.

Elizabeth'sheartwasdancing.Shecouldnotwaittospeakwithhim,lud,evenaccidentallybrus.h.i.+ngagainsthimwouldbeworthwaitingthroughtheentiretiresomeperformanceonstage.

Theplayseemedtolastaneternity,andthoughtheaudiencequiteenjoyedKeane's.e.xpressivedramatics,Elizabethwaitedimpatientlyfortheinterval.

ShetappedSirHenry'snapkinonherlap,then,inherboredom,shookitfromitsfoldsandsetaboutrefoldingitagain.Inonecornershefeltasmalllumpbeneathherglovedfingertip.

ElizabethglanceduptoseeifPrincessCharlottelookedherway.Theprincesshadproppedbothherarmsontherailandwasturnedcompletelyinthedirectionoftheprince'sbox,smilingsappily.Herdevotiontohimwasblatantlyobvioustoall.

Elizabeth'sfingerdistractedlyworriedoverthelumponthenapkin.Raisinghereyestowardthestage,shedidnotdaredosomethingsoillmanneredastolifttheclothtohereyestoseewhat.i.twa.s.shewasfeeling,especiallyifthegiftofthetheatreboxthiseveningwasindeedprovidedasanofferingofapologyfromPrincessCharlotte.Instead,sheslippedherglovefromherhandandtracedtheraisedst.i.tchingwithherfingertip.Shefelttwosetsofparallellinesthatintersected.

Andthenitoccurredtoher.ItwastwolettersH,oneturnedtocrosstheother.Itwa.s.sirHenryHalford'sinsignia,neatlyembroideredinwhiteonthenapkin'scorner.Thatmadeperfectsense.

Suddenly,thetheatrewasfilledwithclappingandthecurtainclosed.Atlast,interval.AndLadyUppertonhadsuppliedherwiththeperfectexcusetoentertheprince'sbox-returningSirHenry'sembroiderednapkin.

Sumner'sbodythrummedfromhisawarenessthatElizabethwa.s.sonear.Hehadtakenachancebyun.o.btrusivelycastingthemessageofakissherway.b.u.t.toanyonewatching,hea.s.sumedhisactionwouldhaveheldnomeaning.

ButaslongasPrincessCharlottewasincloseproximitytoLeopold,hehadtorefrainfromanyothercontactwithElizabeth.

FromthemomentCharlottearrived,patronsandministersofParliamentalikewereturningintheirseatsandleaningfromtheirboxestoseetheprinceandprincess.Hecouldseetheeagernessintheireyes,waitingforsomehintthatthenewspaperreportsandclevercaricaturesofthetworoyalsecretloverswerealltrue.

Sumnerwasnotabouttogivethemanythingtogossipabout.NotwhenElizabethdidnotyetknowthetruthofhisident.i.ty.FromtheperipheryofhisvisionhecouldseeElizabethwatchinghim.Heknew,too,thathecouldnotsomuchasagivetheprincessaglancewithouthurtingElizabeth.

Hecouldnotaffordtodelaymuchlonger.Heknewhehadtoconfess.h.i.+sident.i.tytohersoon.ItmighthavebeentonightifLeopoldhadnotneededtheperfectlycostumedfalseprincetobeinplace.

Leopoldwa.s.sittingbesidehim,glancingmournfullyfromtimetotimeatPrincessCharlotte.HeplayedthelovelornsuitorsowellthathadSumnernotknownhiscousin'sheartwasnottrulyengaged,hewouldhavebelievedhisperformance.

Thenapplauseswelledwithinthetheatre,andSumnerroseatonce,wonderinghowhemightslipawaytoseeElizabeth,evenforamoment,withoutdrawingtheattentionoftheentireaudience.

Andthensheappearedattheopeningtohisbox,holdingawhiteclothinherhand.Shecurtsiedtohim,gazingupthroughherthicklashesa.s.sherose,asecretsmileonherlips.b.u.t.thensheredirectedherattentiontoSirHenry.

"SirHenry."Sheofferedaclippedcurtsytohim,andthentohisprotege,Mr.Manton."LadyUppertonwishedformetoreturnthistoyou,"sheturnedbrieflytowardMr.Manton,"andtothankyou,dearsir,foryoura.s.sistanceandconcern."Sheraisedthewhiteclothinherhand,butwhenSirHenryreachedoutforitshepulleditbackandlookedmorecloselyat.i.t.

"It...isacrosshatch."HereyesroundedandherheadjerkeduptolookatSirHenry.

SirHenryshookhishead."No,itismyinsignia.Myinitials,oneH,andanotheroverlaidonitsside.Butothershavetoldmethatmymarkdoesresembleacrosshatch.Youarenotthefirst."Hereachedoutagainandtooktheclothfromher.

SumnernoticedthatElizabethwasnowtremblingslightly.Withoutacaretothosewatching,hetookherarm.

Whenshelookedupathim,hesawanunsettlingblendoffearandangerinhereyes."Thecrosshatch,"shesaidbeneathherbreath."Itisthecrosshatchfromthebottles.Itwas.h.i.+m-SirHenry."

"Whatisthatyouaresaying,MissRoyle?"SirHenrylookedsuddenlyshakenhimself.

"Doallowmetoescortyoubacktoyoursponsor,MissRoyle,"Sumnersaidsoftlytoher.

HemetLeopold'sjudginggazeastheystartedfromthebox,buthestaredhimdown.HedidnotknowwhathadstartledElizabethso,buthewasnotgoingtoabandonherwhenshesoclearlyneededhissupport.

Withoutwastinganinstant,hewhiskedherfromthebox.ButinsteadofreturninghertoLadyUppertonashehadpromised,hepulledherdowntheouterpa.s.sageandbehindathickcrimsoncurtainattheendofthehall.

"Whyareyousofrightened?Whatha.s.sirHenrydone?"

Elizabethtriedtoreply.Herlipsmovedbutnowordscamefromhermouth.

Sumnercrushedherbodyagainsthisandheldhertightly,strokinghercopperhairuntilherbodystoppedshaking.Onlythendidhereleaseher.

Whensheraisedherheadtopeerupathim,hereyesweres.h.i.+ningwithunshedtears.

"Thecrosshatch...itwas.h.i.+smark,"shemurmured."Isawitontwobottleslabeled'laudanum.'HegavethelaudanumtoLadyJerseyandthequeen.Heknew.Iamsureheknewwhattheymeanttodo.LikelyevencounseledtheminhowtoadministerittoMariaFitzherbert."

"Elizabeth,Ihaveheardthestoriessurroundingyourbirth-andthatyouandyoursistersmaybedaughtersoftheRegent.b.u.t.thisisthefirstIhaveheardmentionofSirHenry'spossibleinvolvement.Youarecertainofthis?"

"Yes...no.HowcanIbecertainofanyofthis?Thebottleswiththecrosshatchwereleftbehindbymyfatherasevidencetohelpproveourlineage."As.h.i.+versliddownherspine,makingherwholebodyshakeanew."Butwe'llneverproveit,neverknowanythingforcertain-exceptthatthelaudanumbelongedtoSirHenry,royalsurgeon."

Sumnertenderlysettledhisfingersatherchinandturnedhermouthuptohis.Hislipsmovedoverherssoftlyandgently,quietingher,calmingher.

"Yourlineagedoesn'tmatter,Elizabeth."Slidinghisthumbsacrosshercheeks,hewipedthetearsfromhereyes."Bloodprincessororphan,itdoesn'tmatter.Iloveyou,hewhispered."Iwantedtotellyou...soyouknow."

Herbreathcaughtandshestaredathimasifnottrustingherearswithwhatsheheard.

"Iloveyou,"herepeated,hisvoiceclearandresonant.

TearsrushedintoElizabeth'seyesagain.

ThesoundofapplausereturnedSumnertothemoment."Now,youhavetostopcrying,mydear,forwehavetoreturntotheboxes."

Elizabethlaughedthroughhertears."Iamjustsohappy.Ithought...oh,nevermind."Sheroseuponhertoesandkissedhim."Iloveyou,Sumner."

Shepulledaglovefromherhandandscrubbedthetearsfromhercheeks,thenturnedtoleave.Sheglancedbackmomentarily."TheSerpentine,tomorrowatsunset?"

"Atsunset.Iwillbethere."Sumnercaughtherarmandpulledherintoonelast,heatedkissbeforereleasingherthroughthecurtain.Hedrewinadeepbreathbeforehesteppedoutfrombehindit,takingcaretostraightenthesashthatcrossedhisfullheart.

Suddenly,somethingslammedagainsthischest,andthensearingpainknifedthroughhim.Hefelltothefloor,openedhiseyesandsawabladelyingnexttohim.

Rollingtohisback,darknessalreadystartingtoobscurehisvision,hesawthesilhouetteofamanopeningthecurtainandwalkingaway.

"Elizabeth!"hecalledoutweakly.

Elizabethwa.s.standingoutsideofherbox,smoothingherhairandgownbeforeentering,whenshethoughtsheheardSumnercallouttoher.

Shesteppedintoherboxandsatdownonthebench.Still,shefeltuneasy.Leaningforward,shewatchedforSumner.Buthedidnotcome.

Hiscousinshotameaningfulglanceather,towhichsheshookherhead.Whitevaleleaptfromhisseatandrushedfromthebox.

Somethingwaswrong.HadSumnerindeedcalledoutforher?

Elizabethrose,torefromherboxandraceddownthepa.s.sage.Whenshearrivedattheend,WhitevalewasholdingSumnerinhisarms.

BlooddrippeddownthebrilliantmedalspinnedtoSumner'scoatandwasalreadysaturatingthebluesashathischest.

"GetSirHenry!"Whitevaleshouted.

"SirHenry?But-"Elizabethstammered.

"Heneedsaphysician!Go."

Shewhirledaround,caughtupherskirtsandranupthepa.s.sage.

Mr.Mantonwa.s.standingoutsidetheroyalbox."Whatisit?CanIhelp?"

"Yes,please.Theendofthepa.s.sage.Theprincehasbeeninjured."Withoutanotherword,ElizabethenteredtheboxandgrabbedSirHenry'slapel."Comewithmenow,"sheordered.Sheyankedhardandhestood,butwouldnotmoveastepmore.

"MissRoyle,youaremakingaspectacleofusboth,"SirHenryprotested.Ahushwashedovertheaudience,andeventheactorsonstagedidnotmoveastheywatchedthedisplayinthebox.

"Comewithmenow."Elizabethtriedtopullhimforward.

"Idemandtoknowwhy,"hesaidloudly,surelyforthebenefitofthosearoundthem.

"BecausesomeonehastriedtokillPrinceLeopold!"sheshoutedback,notcaringwhoheardorwhattheythoughtofher.Herprinceneededhelp.

PrincessCharlottescreamedfromtheneighboringbox,andtheaudienceroaredwithpanicaswordoftheattackspreadthroughthetheatre.

AtlastSirHenryrelentedandcamewithher.Elizabethhurriedhimdownthedarkpa.s.sage.Whentheyreachedthetwomen,SirHenrykneltbesidetheprince.

GrabbinghishandbeforeSirHenrycouldtouchtheprince,Elizabethlookedhimdeadintheeye."Youwilldowhatisright,SirHenry.Youwillsavehim.Youwill."

Chapter15.

BerkeleySquare E lizabethpacedtheparlorwithunforgivingforce,shakingthelettersheheldintheairbeforeher."Ithasbeendaysupondays,Anne,andstill,allIhaveisthisnotefromWhitevaletellingmethattheprincewillsurvive.Nothingmore,"shesaid,hervoicequavering.Sheshovedtheshortmissivetowardhersister,thensatdownuponthesettee.

Annetooktheletterandraisedittohereyes.SheroseandtookoverpacingforElizabeth.Whenshefinishedreading,sheletherhandfalltoherside."Itsaysthatwhatmighthavebeenakillingthrustofthebladewasdeflectedbythemedalsuponhischest.Thewoundisdeepbutsuperficial.Hislifeisnolongerindanger."Shefurrowedherbrow."Whatdoyoumeanthisisallyouhave?Thereportisvery,verygood.Hewasveryfortunate,Lizzy."

Elizabethnoddeddumbly,thencoveredhereyeswithashakinghand.Asobslippedthroughherlips.

"Hewillrecover,Lizzy.La,youshouldbeinthehighestofspirits."Annesatdownonthesetteebesideher."Whydoyougrieveso?"

"Becauseofthis."Shereachedoutandpulledafoldednewspaperfromtheteatable."AsourcefortheTimesclaimsthatthetwoattemptsonPrinceLeopold'slifeweredirectedbyafactionwithinParliamentthatsupportsaunionbetweenPrincessCharlotteandWilliam.o.f.orange."ShepeeredatAnne."Itisallaboutpoliticaladvantageandpower,isn't.i.t?"