Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 4

"Exactly."Theprincec.o.c.kedhislefteyebrow."Ihaveseenyougallopacrossthedanceflooronseveraloccasions.Donotdenyit."

Sumnergrowled."Doallowmetocontinuewithourstrategyforthisevening,Leopold."

Leopoldwavedahand,givingSumnerleavetobeginwithoutbeinginterruptedbybarbs.

"WhilstIamcertainlynotgallopingatAlmack's,Charlotteattemptstorendezvouswithyouattheappointeds...o...b..sidetheSerpentine."Sumnerstilledthevalet'shandsforamoment,andthenlookedathiscousin."Everythinghasbeenarranged.Ahackneyhasbeenhiredtoarrivehereathalfpasteleven."

"Itravelinacommonhackney,whileyouenjoythesplendorofacarriage?"Leopold'selegantcountenancerevealednoemotions,butSumnerknewhiscousintoowell.

"Itistheonlywaywecanensureyoursafety.Asimplebluecoat,graybreeches,andHessianswillpreventyoufromdrawingundueattention."Sumnershotaglanceatthevalettomakesureheunderstoodhisdressinginstructions.

"Oh,yes,IamsuretowinoverCharlotte'sheartwearingsuchfinery."Leopoldletoutanuncharacteristicallyforlornsigh.

"Shewantstoseeyou.Progresshasalreadybeenmadetowardaunion."

"NowthatshehasretiredherinterestinPrinceAugustus."Leopolduncrossedhislegandleanedbackinhischair."Interestinghowthatbitofinformationfounditswaytothenewspapers,secretedasitwas."

Sumnerremainedimpa.s.sive."Isupposeitmighthavehelpedyourpet.i.tionforherfavor...somewhat.

Ashasheruncle,theDukeofKent."

"Istheresomethingyouarenottellingme?"

"Nothingyouneedtoconcernyourselfwith,Leopold.Youronlytaskischarmingtheprincess,andIamsureyouwillcompletethistaskwithgreatease."

Whenthetallcaseclockinthecornertingedhalfpastten,theprincecametohisfeet."Youshouldbeoff.Drawtheattentionofeveryonearound,butdowatchforyourownsafety,andforG.o.d'ssakedonotembarra.s.sme.Remember,nogalloping."HeclippedSumner'schin,thensnappedhisfingersforthevalettofollowhim."Timetodonmy'ordinaryman'costume."

"Costumedornot,youwillneverbeanordinaryman,Leopold,"Sumnercalledoverhisshoulder,andthenturnedtotakeonefinallookathimselfinthemirror.Hehadtoadmit,hedidlookquiteregal.AndfarmoreruggedlyhandsomethanLeopoldeverhad.

Beforehisreflection,Sumnerpracticedhismostgallantbow.Itwasimportanttohimthat.i.tbeaselegantasoneofLeopold's,fortonightheplannedtohonorthelovelyMissRoylewithsuchabowbeforetheirveryfirstdance.

"MissElizabeth,LadyUppertonandthegentswillbecomin'aroundverrasoon,"MacTavish,thefamily'sScottishbutler,warned."ShouldCherienotbedressin'yealready?"

"Inamoment."ElizabethstraightenedthewoolencoverletdrapedoverGreatauntPrudence'sknees."IdecidedIshoulddressattheverylastmoment,sotherewillbenoopportunityforthegowntobemarred."

"That'smyclevergel,"theoldwomanreplied,spreadingherlipsintoaproudsmile.

Cherieappearedinthedoorway,andonceshehadclaimedElizabeth'sattention,turnedherheadtopeerupattheclockinthepa.s.sagejustasitsoundedthehalfhour.

"Iamready,Cherie."Elizabethrosetostartforthepa.s.sage.

"Timeforclaret,"GreatauntPrudencechirpedexcitedlyasthebellpingfadedfromhearingatlast.

"Soitis,"Elizabethreplied."MacTavish,w.i.l.l.youpleasedomyauntthehonoroffillingagla.s.sofclaretforher?"

"Aye,MissElizabeth."Belatedly,theancientbutlerdecidedtobow,butsincehislonglegswerealreadymovingacrosstheparlor,hissincereattemptatcourtesyinsteadappearedaclumsytrip.

Elizabethsmiledandnoddedherappreciationofthegesture.

WhenElizabethenteredherbedchamberaminutelater,shenearlygaspedatthebeautyoftheemeraldgownCheriehadcarefullylaidoutuponherbed.ShehurriedtowarditwhenoutofthecornerofhereyeshesawMrs.Polkshank'schampionmouserslipintotheroom.

Withinaninstantthecatleaptintotheairforthebed.Elizabeththrewherbodybetweenthecat'sclawsandheremeraldgownatonce,willingtosacrificeherskintoprotect.i.t.

Fourpaws.h.i.+therbacksolidly,andclawssankintotenderskinandheld,asthemarmaladefelinefranticallytriedtokeepfromfallingbackontothefloor.

Butlikeanangel,Cherieappearedatthebedside.Shescoopedherarmsunderthecat'sbellytosupport.i.twhilesheremovedeachindividualclawfromElizabeth'sstingingback.

ElizabethcouldfeelthethreadsofherwalkingfrockpullingawayasCherieworked,but.i.twasworththelossofherdaydressifthegreensilkgownwouldbepreserved.

TheinstantshewasfreeofMrs.Polkshank'swickedcat,Elizabethrolledfromthebed.Herheartpoundedinsideherribsa.s.shehurriedlyranherhandsoverthegown,smoothingita.s.shesurveyeditforanypossibledamage.

b.u.t.therewasnone.Noneatall.

Sheexhaledabreathofpurerelief."Please,Cherie,takethatcattothekitchenandclosethedoor.I cannotriskanythinghappeningtothisgown."

Cheriedroppedaquickcurtsy,thendisappearedfromtheroomwiththecat.

Sittingdownonthebenchbeforeherdressingtable,Elizabethpressedherhandstoherheartand tookseveraldeepbreaths.Lordhelpher.Sheonlyhadtomakeittotheball.Fatewouldtakecareoftherest.

Atfifteenminutesbeforethehour,shedescendedthestaircase.Herlongcopperhairwa.s.sweptupatthesidesandpinnedwithdozensofsparklingbrilliants,whiletherestofherlockstumbleddownherback.Somehow,againstthevibrantcoloroftheemeraldgown,herhairdidnotappearasgarishlyredasitnormallydid.Tonightsheactuallyfelt...beautiful.

Theemeraldsilkgownwaslikeaironherbody,andevenwhencoupledwithherdewthinchemise,shefeltalmostasifsheworenothingatall.Thethoughtbroughtaflushofcolorintohercheeksa.s.sheenteredtheparlor,whereLadyUpperton,GreatauntPrudence,andtheOldRakesofMarylebonewaitedforher.

Therewasacommunalintakeofbreathasthegroupbeheldherforthefirsttimeinhergown.Ajoltofpurehappinesswhiskedthroughher,becausetheirreactiongaveherhopethattheprincewouldexhibitasimilarresponsewhensheenteredtheballroomatAlmack'sanhourhence.

AbarelystifledsobslippedfromGreatauntPrudence'smouth."So,sobeautiful,"shewhispered,asatearrolleddownhercheek.SheraisedherwrinkledhandstoElizabeth,beckoninghertoherchair.

Elizabethliftedtheshorttrainofherballgownoverherwristandrushedtohergreataunt'sside."DearPrudence,donotcry.Tonightpromisestobeoneofthehappiestoccasionsofmylife.Iamcertainofthis.Ionlywishyoucouldbewithmetoshareitandmakemyhappinesscomplete."SheleanedcloseandGreatauntPrudencekissedhercheek.

"Theclaret!"LadyUppertonsquealed."Mrs.Winks,yourclaret!"

ElizabethlookeddownandsawtoherhorrorthatGreatauntPrudencehaddroppedhercrystalofclaretonthefloor.

Oh,lud,notthegown!Shelurchedbackward,armsspreadwide.Shecouldnotseemtocatchherbreath.

"Missed."GreatauntPrudencewa.s.smiling."Itmissed."

Elizabethlookeddownandsawthatthewinehadindeedsplatteredonthecarpetandthemomentumhadsentaflourishedsprayofredwinealongtheleftlegofthemantel.

Butsomehow,bythesaints,GreatauntPrudencewascorrect.Notasingledrophadtouchedheremeraldgown.

Elizabethreleasedherpentbreath,andthensmiledatPrudence.Hergreatauntlaughedwithdelight,adeepthroatylaughthatinamomenthadeveryoneintheparlorholdingtheirsidesastheylaughedalongwithher.

LordLothariantookElizabeth'shandandplaceditonhisarm."Ihaveneverbeheldamorebeautifulwomaninallmyyears,MissElizabeth."

Elizabeth'scheeksfilledwithwarmth."TonightIwilltakeyouatyourword,mylord."Shetippedherheadandlookedupathimthroughherthicklashes."ThoughIhavemysuspicionsthatyouhavesharedtheverysamesentimentwithhalftheladiesinLondon."

"Touche,mydear."Lothariangrinned."ButIdonotexaggerate.Isweartoyou,noonewillbeabletooverlookyourbeautythisnight."

"Iagree,"echoedLilywhite."Perhapsacertainyoungmanmightswellwithemotionatthesightofourgirlandmakeanofferthisverynight."

Elizabethflushed."Ionlyhopetheprinceremembersme."

"Oh,Iwasnotreferringtotheprince,Elizabeth,"Lilywhitesaid,"Imeant-"

"Letusnotdelayanylonger,"Lotharianinterjected,cuttingoffLilywhite'snextwords."Thecarriagesawait.Shallwe?"Heraisedalargehandandgesturedtowardthepa.s.sage.EveryoneinthepartybadeGreatauntPrudencegoodnightandonebyonetheyheadedforthefrontdoor.

Theyhadallreachedthepa.s.sagewhenElizabethnoticedthatLordGallantinewasnotamongthem.Sheturnedandpeeredbackintotheparlor.

Cheriebrushedpasthera.s.shehurriedintotheparlor,kneltbesidetheburstofwetnessonthecarpetandbegantodabatthestain.

There,theovertallviscountwiththeauburnwigstoodfixedinhisspot.Hisgauntfacetwistedintoanexpressionofhorrorashestaredatthestainonthecarpetandthebloodliketrailsofreddrippingdownthemantelpiece."Wecannotleavewithclaretonthefloor.Itwon'tdo.Itwon't!"hesputtered.

"Missed,"AuntPrudencerepeatedtoLordGallantine,andthenagaintoCherie."Itmissed."

Cherielookedupattheoldwoman,thennoddedherheadandsmiled.

"LordGallantine,Cheriewillseetothespill,"Elizabethsaid."Sheisveryskilled,andwhenwereturn,Iamsuretherewillbenosignoftheclarethavingeverbeenonthecarpetoronthemantel."Sheraisedahandandgesturedtohim."Comenow,wedonotwishtoarrivelate.Thedoorswillbeclosedpromptlyateleven."Sheroseuponhertoesandwhisperedinhisear."AndIdobelieveyoupromisedtointroducemetosomeonespecial."

"What?"LordGallantineliftedtheedgeofhiswigwithhislittlefingerandscratchedhisbaldpate."Oh,yes.Ididindeed."Nowthathewasdistractedfromthewetmess,hismoodseemedalmostbuoyant."Andwaituntilyoumeethim.Youandhearemeantforeachother.Infact,thoughIknowitisamiteearlytopredict,IthinkaMichaelmasweddingmaybeinorder."

Fromthecornerofhervision,ElizabeththoughtshesawGreatauntPrudencenarrowhereyesatGallantineattheverymomenthementionedawedding.

SheturnedhergazebackuponGallantine."Well,mylord,ifwetarrymuchlongerIshallnothavetheopportunitytomeetanyonethisnight."Shetookhisarmandtuggedhimalongwithhertothepa.s.sage."Come,letusaway."

Theladiescollectedtheirwraps,fans,andreticulesfromtheentrywaytable,andthecadrewasabouttodepartthehousewhenMrs.Polkshankcalledout."MissElizabeth!MightIhaveamomentbeforeyouleave,ifyouplease?"

ElizabethturnedherheadandglancedoverhershoulderatCook,feelingveryconfused"Certainly."

"Holdstilljustatick,miss.Thereisadarkspotonyourgown."Mrs.Polkshankrushedforward."Oh,Iwouldnotintrudeonyourparty,butIknowhowimportantthisgownistoyou.Everythingmustbeperfect."

Elizabethfroze,notdaringtomove."Areyousurethereisaspot?Isawnothing."

"Idonotseeanythingmarringthegownatall.Elizabethlooksperfecttome."LadyUppertonliftedaquizzinggla.s.sfromherreticuleandpeeredthroughit."Whatareyougoingonabout,Cook?"

Mrs.Polkshankpulledaragfromthewaistbandofherap.r.o.nandtouchedittohertongue,thendabbedatinyareaonElizabeth'sbackjustbelowhershoulderblade."Lookslikeaspeckofblood.Got.i.t,though.Thetricktogettingabloodstainoutisneverlettingtheblooddry."

Elizabethgaspedandspunaroundtolookinthemirror.Thecathadscratchedherback.Hadshebledontothegown?Shesquintedhereyes,butlikeMrs.Polkshankhadsaid,therewasnoindicationofbloodonthegown.

Elizabeth'sstomachtightenedthenandshethoughtshemightbecomeill.Forthoughtherewasn.o.bloodonthegown,therewasnowasalivastainthesizeandshapeof.a.guinea.

"'Erenow,justkeepyourwrapoveryourshouldersuntilyouarrive.It'llallbedrybythen,andnoonewillbethewiser."Mrs.PolkshankeasedElizabeth'sshawlaroundher."Goodluck,MissElizabeth."Shewinked."Thoughyouwon'tneedit,w.i.l.l.you?Ibelieveinyourdream.Tonightyourprincewillcome."

LadyUppertonturnedElizabetharoundandmarchedherthroughthedoorandintoacarriagewaitingbeforethehous...o...b..rkeleySquare.

Everythingwa.s.supposedtobeperfect.Butsuddenlyitwasn't.

Somethingwasn'tright.

Elizabethcouldfeelasenseofforebodingvibratingthroughherbody,likeapluckedtootightviolinstringthemomentbeforeitbreaks...andthemusicdies.

Chapter5.

Almack'sa.s.semblyRooms F oranexclusivegathering,Elizabethwasquiteastoundedbyth.e.s.h.eermagnitudeofthenumberofguestspresent.Truthtotell,withinthirtyminutesshewasutterlyconvincedthateverycitizenofeventheslightestsocialprominencewaspresentinAlmack'sthisnight.

Everyone,thatis,excepttheonepersonshelongedtobehold:herprince.

Shes.n.a.t.c.hedagla.s.sofcarrackpunchfromthepa.s.singsilversalverofafootmanwhoseemedwhollyfocusedonfindingatrailalongtheperimeteroftheovercrowdeda.s.semblyroom.Thes.h.i.+ftingpathwaypracticallya.s.suredeventualcollisionwithaguest,mostofwhomweretoopreoccupiedwithseeingandbeingseentonoticeadozengla.s.sesofslos.h.i.+ngliquidheadeddirectlyforthem.

Glancinganxiouslydownatherpreciousgown,sherecalledthemomentofhorrorinherdream-whenastreamofredtrickledoverherbodice-andabonechillingsenseofdoomfelloverherlikeadeathshroud.Shuddering,Elizabethturnedawayfromthefootman,notwis.h.i.+ngtoviewtheinevitablesartorialdisaster.

"Thereyouare,mydear."LordGallantineclampedhishandaroundElizabeth'swrist,makinghergla.s.sofpunchtiltprecariouslyinherglovedfingers.Herhandbegantotwitchnervouslya.s.shetightenedhergriptoforcethecrystallevelagain."ThesearethegentlemenIwa.s.sodesirousthatyoumeet,"Gallantinetoldher,gesturingbeforehim.

Shelookedupfromhergla.s.sandmanufacturedapleasantsmileashecommencedintroductionstoSirHenryHalfordandhisyoungprotege,theHonorableWilliamManton.Shedroppedacarefulcurtsytothegentlemen,thoughcouldnothelpbutpeeraroundthemhopefullyforaglimpseofherprincebeyond.

"SirHenrywasanesteemedcolleagueofyourfather's,dear,"LordGallantinetoldher."Yearsago,ofcourse.Today,SirHenryisphysicianinordinarytotheking."

SirHenryHalfordwas.a.d.i.s.tinguishedlookingbaronet,butElizabethdidnotcareforthemannerinwhichheseemedtostudyherwiththosedangerouslyintelligenteyes.Norforthepleasedflickofhisheavydarkeyebrows,whichstoodoutinmarkedcontrasttohispaleskinandsmatteringofgrayhair,as.h.i.+sgazefixedonaparticularpartofherthatseemedtocatchhisinterestmost.

Bycontrast,theHonorableWilliamMantonwasentirelywellmannered.Hewasbroadshoulderedwithfairhairandvividblueeyes,bringingtheimageofaVikingofdaysofoldtohermind.

"MissRoyle,yourfatherwasaneminentphysician,withexcellentperceptionandsoundjudgment,"thebaronettoldher.Onedarkeyebrowlifted,andElizabethsomehowknewthatSirHenrywasabouttorequestsomethingofher."IwillbeinBathforseveraldays,butwhenIreturnIamhostingadinnerforanumberofmycolleaguesfromtheRoyalCollegeofPhysicians.Iwonderifyou,MissRoyle,andLordGallantine,ofcourse,mightcondescendtojoinus.IwouldconsideritanhonortohearaboutDr.Royle'smysteriousyearsinCornwall.DoesThursdaytwoweeksfromnowsuit?"

ElizabethdidnotwishtobeanywherenearthesmarmySirHenry,evenafterknowinghimforameretwominutes.Buthowcouldsherefusehim?"Thursday?"shestammered,siftingfuriouslythroughhermindforanyexcusetobegoffofthedinner.

Mr.Mantonsteppedcloserandleanedhisheadlowersoshemightbetterhearhiswords."IknowIshouldgreetthechancetobecomebetteracquaintedwithDr.Royle'slovelydaughterwithevenmoreantic.i.p.ationthanSirHenry."HemetElizabeth'sgazeandhelditfirmuntil,fl.u.s.teredandsomewhatflatteredbyhisattention,shesurrenderedheragreementtoattendthedinner.

"Verywell,Thursdaytwoweekshence."ElizabethlookedtoLordGallantine."Wegraciouslyaccepttheinvitation,dowenot?"

LordGallantinesmiledather,obviouslyquitepleased,andnodded."CurzonStreet,isit,SirHenry?"

"Indeeditis,attenoftheclock.Dobeprompt,forIhaveauniquesurprisetoshowyouboth."SirHenrysweptElizabethonefinaltimewithhisoilygaze,makingherdesirenothingmorethantohurryofftotheladies'withdrawingroomtowashthefilmofhisdisconcertingattentionfromherskin."Ilookforwardtoseeingyoubothagain,then."

Elizabeth'sskinwaspositivelycrawling.Sheturnedhergazearoundtheroom."IhadheardrumorthatPrinceLeopoldwouldbeinattendancetonight.Isittrue?Ishepresent?"sheaskedLordGallantine.

SirHenryinterrupted."Ihadheardtherumoraswell,butIbelievethat.i.tisallitis.Thewordatcourt,alwaysabettersourceforthetruthofamatter,isthattheprinceissecretlyinLondontowooPrincessCharlotte-andsheisinWindsor.WereItheprince,IwouldnotventuretoAlmack'siftheprincesswasoutoftheTown,evenifIweretheunnamedguestofhonor."

Elizabethsuppressedascowl.Hewillcome.Hewill.Itisfate.

Shehadjustpinnedhergazeonaladyandgentleman,completelyunknowntoher,decidingshewouldpretendtheywerefriends,whentheyoungmedicalprotegeofSirHenrydisposedofhergla.s.sofpunch,thenofferedherhisarm.