Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 5

"MissRoyle,"Williamsaidsoftlytoher,"mightIhavethisdance?"Toofferhisarmbeforesherepliedwasamitepresumptuous,toElizabeth'swayofthinking,butshewasgenuinelythankful,foratlastshehadapropermeansofescapingSirHenry.

SheliftedtheedgesofherlipsandtookManton'sarm,offeringademuregazetoLordGallantineandSirHenry."Pleaseexcuseus,gentlemen.Thedancefloorcalls."Shegiggledlikeamiss,togiveGallantinetheimpressionthattheOldRakes'matchmakingschemewasworking,thenallowedherselftobeledtothedancefloor.

TheytooktheirplacesatthelowercornerofthesquareandwaitedfortheFrenchquadrilletocommence.TheselectionofthisparticulardanceasherescapefromSirHenrywasmostunfortunate.ThedancehadonlyjustbeenintroducedtoAlmack'sbyLadyJersey,whichmeantElizabethhadtofocusherattentionentirelyoneachstepsoasnottoaccidentallybackintoanotherduringthechaiseanglaise.Andso,forseveralwretchedminutes,shefoundherselfunabletosurveythea.s.semblyroomforherprince.

Shewasnotentirelysureifitwastheunnaturaldegreeofconcentrationthedancerequiredorthegreatnumberofguestsinthea.s.semblyroom,butbytimetheFrenchquadrilleconcluded,shefelthercheeksglowinganddampwithperspiration.

"Thankyou,Mr.Manton,forthedance.Igreatlyenjoyedit,"Elizabethsaid,andcurtsiedpolitely, "butIseemysponsor,LadyUpperton,nearthedoor,andIrequireabriefinterviewwithherbeforeIlosesightofheragain."

Mr.Manton,hisfinefeatureslookinguncharacteristicallyperturbed,bowedgracefullybeforeher."Idohopewemaydanceagainbeforetheeventadjourns,MissRoyle."

"AsdoI,dearsir."Withaquicknodandafleetingsmile,Elizabethspunaroundandmadeherwayfromthedancefloorandthroughthecrowdeda.s.semblyroominthedirectionofLadyUpperton,whowasnowspeakingwithLordGallantineandLilywhite.

SheglancedbackatMr.MantontoensurehehadrejoinedSirHenryandnotdecideduponpursuitofher.Whenshelookedbeforeher,anotherfootman,holdingagrandtrayofgobletsfilledwithwinepunch,wasonlytwostridesawayandheadedstraightforher.Blast!She'dhadnaughtbutillluckthiseveningandwasnotabouttochancebeingdousedwithwine.Shewouldnottemptfateinsummoningherowndoom.Orhergown's,either.

Suckinginagreatmouthfulofair,shecarefullypinchedtheemeraldsilkskirtandliftedherhemfromthefloor.Spinningaroundtotheleft,shechargedintothecl.u.s.teringthrong,b.u.t.thefootmanskillfullyturnedintoherwakeandremainedbehindher.

Gorblimey!Didshehaveanarcherytargetpinnedtoherback?

Suddenly,sheslammedintosomeone.Cooltricklesofwhatsmelledlikewineranbetweenherb.r.e.a.s.t.sanddownhergown.

Shegaspedandlookedlow,fearfulofwhatshewouldcertainlysee.Aburstofwetnesssaturatedtheelegantbodice,changingitfrombrilliantemeraldtothedarkestofforestgreens.Thebacksofhereyesbegantosting.

No,notmygown.Mybeautifulgown.

Butoddly,thoughshefeltgreatlysaddenedthathergownwasruined,theoverwhelmingfeelingsoffearanddreadshehadfeltsostronglyinherdreamwereabsent.Howcouldthisbe?

"Idobegyourforgiveness,"cameadeep,resonantvoice.Elizabethliftedherheadandthroughhertearblurredeyesperceivedwhat,atfirst,shetooktobeadarkbluewall.Shetookastepbackwarda.s.sherenewedherbreathinpreparationtochidesomeidioticmanforruininghergown.

Untilshenoticedthemedals.

Oh,G.o.d.Andtheredsash.

"MissRoyle!I-Ididnotrealize-"camethevoiceagain.

Slowly,sheturnedtolookupward,andforceddownthehugestonethatseemedtohaveriseninherthroat."YYourRoyalHighness."

Therewasahandsuddenlypressingdownuponhershoulder.SheglancedsidelongtoseethatLordLotharianwasnowstandingslightlybehindher."Curtsy,Elizabeth,"hewhisperedinanoverloudtonesoshemighthearhimoverthedinofthecrowd.

Andsoshedid,wis.h.i.+ngwithallherheartthatshecouldleavehergazepuddledonthefloorsoshewouldnothavetolookupagainandallowPrinceLeopoldtoseehercheeks,whichwerecertainlyglowinglikeredhotembers.

d.a.m.nitall.SumnerhadintendedtoseekoutMissRoylethisevening,todancewithher,tobeginhiscourts.h.i.+pofher.Butnotlikethis.Notbyemptyinghischampagnedownbetweenher-hecouldnothelpbutlookdownather-full,whiteb.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Hewrenchedhisimpropergazefromherdecolletagetohervibranteyes,whichappearedasgreenasheremeraldgown-beforehehadruinedit.

"Ibegyourpardon,MissRoyle,I-Ididnotseeyourapproach."Sumnerbent,tookherslenderarmandreleasedherfromhertoolong,toograciouscurtsy.

Whenshefacedhim,hesawthathereyeswerefilledwithtearsandhercheeksflushedwithembarra.s.sedcolor.d.a.m.nhimtwiceover.Outofthehundredsofothersinthea.s.semblyroom,hehadsomehowdrenchedandhumiliatedtheonlywomanwhohadfilledhiseverythoughtsincetheirfirstmeetingadayago.

Shewasmorebeautifulthananywomanhehadeverbeheld,evenwearingachampagnesplatteredgown.Evenwithhereyesreddenedfromhertears.

Shewasperfectineveryway.Forhim.

Fromwhathehadbeenabletolearnaboutherduringtheshorttimesincetheymet,MissRoylehadnotbeenbornasocietymiss.Butiftheton'schatterwastobebelieved,shewaslikehim.Oftheblues...o...b..ood,butnotofthename.

Herealizedthenthathewa.s.staringdownatherlikeanillmanneredoaf."MissRoyle,ifyouwillpermitme,Ishouldliketocontactyourmodistetofas.h.i.+onanothergownforyou."

MissRoylesmiledandthenforcedasmalllaugh."Mygownmattersnot,YourRoyalHighness."Shetiltedherheadthen,andhesawthatthetearsseemedtohavealreadydrainedfromhereyes.

Thoughhecouldnotcomprehendhow,itseemed,shehaddecidedtoforgivehisclumsyoffense.Sheleanedclosetohimandhefeltherbreathonhischeek.

Ahintof.a.grintouchedherfull,pinklips."ThoughIhadthought,"shewhispered,"whenwelastmet,thatyousaidyouwere...LordWhitevale."

AsurgeofalarmshotthroughSumnermomentarily.b.l.o.o.d.yh.e.l.l.Whentheyhadmet,hewasnotyetposingasLeopold!Instinctively,heglancedabouttobesurethatnoonewascloseenoughtohaveheardheridentifyhim.But.i.tseemednoonehad.Heexhaledinrelief.MissRoyle'sstatementposednorisktoLeopold'ssecurity.Still,heknewhehadtoensurehersilence.Andso,heputhismouthtoherear.

Despitethechampagnewithwhichhehadshoweredher,shesmelledlikeorangeblossomsinthespring.Hedrewinthescentofher,closinghiseyesforablinkoftime,beforereplying."Iwasincognitoatthejeweler'sshop.MayItrustyounottorevealmyalterego?"

Hegrinnedplayfullyashestraightenedhisbackandlookeddownather.Hereyeswerenolongerglisteningatallandhercheekshadcalmedtorevealtheirtruerosecoloredhue,thewayherememberedthemwhenhe'dplacedatiarauponherheadinHamiltonandCompany.

"Incognito?"Herreplywasheldtoawhisper."Oh,nowIunderstand.Itallmakessense."Thenherlipstwitchedandhershouldersbegantoshakewithamus.e.m.e.nt.Quickly,sheclampedherglovedhandoverhermouth.Whenshelowereditsomesecondslater,herlovelycountenancewasimpa.s.sive."Ofcourse,YourRoyalHighness.Youmaytrustinmycompletediscretion."

Itwasthenthathebelatedlybecameawareofthetall,elderlygentlemanstandingapacebehindher."Forgivemytardinessinaddressingyou.IdonotbelieveIhavehadthehonor,sir."

MissRoylebrokein."YourRoyalHighness,allowmethehonorofmakingknowntoyouEarl Lotharian.Heisoneofmyguardians."

LordLotharianbentintoagallantbow,whichtookseveralsecondsofgruntsandgaspstodisengage."YourRoyalHighness."

"Iamhonoredtomeetyou,LordLotharian."Sumnerswallowedhard.Theman,thoughlateinyearsandcertainlynophysicalthreat,waslookingathimquitemenacingly.

Theoldmandidnotreturnthepleasantry,b.u.t.tookastepcloserandanother,untilthes.p.a.cebetweenfelttooconfined."RumorhasitthatyouareinLondontorequestthehandofPrincessCharlotte,"theoldmanbrashlystated."True?"

"LordLotharian!"MissRoylegasped.ForaninstantSumnerthoughthedetectedsomethingmoreinMissRoyle'sshockedresponsetoherguardian'swords.Anger,wasit?Certainlynotembarra.s.sment,whichwaswhathemighthaveexpectedherreactiontobe.

LordLothariandidnotabandonhisstubborngaze.ItremainedfixedonSumnerasheawaitedareply.

Andso,hedecidedtotellthetruth."ThisnightmyonlythoughtwastobeseechMissRoyleforadance.Nothingmore."LordLotharianwastall,nearlyaslargeas.h.i.+mself,andsowhenSumneraddressedthegrayhairedgentleman,helookedhimdirectlyintheeye.

LordLothariandidnotsayaword,butforsomemomentsSumnerhadthedistinctimpressionthathewa.s.studyinghim.Butatimecamewhenhecouldnolongerenduretheearl'searnestness.HeturnedbacktoMissRoyle,whonowappearedsomewhatshakenattheintenseexchangeofattentionbetweenhimandLordLotharian.

Sumnersmiledagreeably,hopingtocalmher."Iwouldhavewishedtorequestadance..."Heglanceddownatherbodice,thenreturnedhisgazetoherstunninglybeautifulgreeneyes."...butsinceIhavesoakedyourgown,MissRoyle,IwonderifyouwoulddomethehonorofleavingAlmack'sforashortwhileforastrollinthenightair.Yourgownwilldryandtherelativequietofthestreetatnightisfarmoreconducivetoconversationthanthiscrowdofmerrymakers."HelookedtoLordLotharianmomentarily."Thatis,ifyouwillpermit.i.t,mylord."HisgazefelluponMissRoyleagain.

Shewasblinkingupathimasifshecouldnotquitebelievewhathewasaskingofher.Sheturned,appearingwrappedinhernerves,lookedtoLordLotharianandwaitedsilentlyforhimtogiveherpermissiontoleavetheballforashortwhile.

TheoldmanglancedoncemoreatSumner,andthenatMissRoyle."Verywell,mydear.Butdonottarryoverlong.LadyUppertonwillwishtospeakwithyou."

"Thankyou,mylord."MissRoyleexcitedlybouncedonhertoesforaninstant,butquicklyrenewedherladylikecomposure.

Sumnerliftedhisarmtoher,anda.s.shetookit,agreatsmilebrightenedherface.Together,astheystrolledarminarmthroughthecrowd,sheseemednolongerawareofthewinebloomingacrossherbodice.Instead,sheappearedextraordinarilyhappy.AndthispleasedSumnerimmensely.Somehow,hehadbeenredeemed.

Theyhadjustdescendedthestairsandaliveriedfootmanhadopenedthedoorsforthemtodepartthea.s.semblyroomswhenitoccurredtoElizabethtolookoverhershoulder."Therearenoguards?"

Theprinceshookhishead."Noneedthisevening.Besides,Iamatrainedsoldier.Iknowpreciselywhattodointheeventofanattack.SoIwarnyou,donottryanything.Ihavebeenschooledinthe defensivearts."

Shelaughedand,quiteunexpectedly,hefelthertightenherholdaroundhisbiceps."Idonotdoubtthatyouhavebeen,"shesaid,lookingupthroughherlushlashesathim.

"Thankfully,unlessyouaresecretlyplanninganattack,Idonotbelievetherewillbeanyneedtocallmymilitarytrainingintousethisfineevening."Hefeltthesoftnessofherbreastpressingagainsthisarm,andevenintherelativecoolnessoftheeveningbecameawareoftheheatgrowingbelow.

Shec.o.c.kedherheadandglancedupathimastheywalked."WhydidyouintroduceyourselfasLordWhitevalewhenwefirstmet?"

"ItoldyouIwasincognito."Heturnedhisheadandsmiledbackather,beforelookingaheadagain."Ididnotwishtodrawunwantedattention."

"Ofcoursenot,"sheconceded."AsItoldyou,youcanrestyourfaithinme."

Hislegswerelong,andforthefirsttimeinherlifeshehadtodoublesteptokeepupduringastroll.Afterafewminutesofthistrotting,theyturnedontothefamiliargrandstretchofPallMall.Ast.i.tchofexertionpainedElizabeth'sleftside,andtoherembarra.s.smentshewascompelledtostopwalkinguntilitpa.s.sed.

"Iapologize,"hetoldher."IhavebeenintheprimarycompanyofsoldiersforsolongthatI-"

Elizabethwavedoffhiscomment."Noneedtoapologize.Truly."ItwasthenthatshenotedthelongrowofcarriagesliningPallMall.OnlythreebackwasacarriageemblazonedwiththeUppertoncoatofarms.Oh,thankheaven."Wouldyoulike...torestforamomentortwo?Mysponsor'scarriageisjustthere."Shelookedupwithoutbotheringtoconcealthepleadinginhereyes.Shecouldnotracealongthestreetjustnow.

Hechuckledatthat."Verywell.Itwillallowyousometimetocatchthewindinyoursailsagain.ButIwarnyouagain,noattacks."Withutmostgrace,almostasthoughitwereadancestep,hedrewhercloseandturnedherinthedirectionofthecarriage.

Hedidnotfreeherimmediately.Instead,theystoodclingingtogether.Shedidnotwishforhimtoreleaseherandsosheheldontohimandlookedupintohiseyes.

Shefelttheheavinessofhisbreathingas.h.i.+slungs.e.xpandedandcontracted,pressinghishard,muscledchestagainsther.Herbreathingquickened,too.Sheloweredhergazetohismouth,andwithoutthinkingofit,ranthetipofhertongueoverherlips.Itwastoolatewhensherealizedhowobviousherromanticwisheshadbecometohim.

His.e.xpressionsuddenlybecameveryserious.Sheheardhisbreathhitchascantsecondbeforehecuppedhishandbehindherheadanddrewhermouthtohis.

Hiswarmlipstastedofchampagneastheymovedgentlyoverhers.Herarmsliftedupand,oftheirownvolition,slidupunderhisarmstohisbackandpulledhimtighterintoherembrace.

Hismouthteasedher,histongue,hotandslick,proddedherlipsapartandthenslidinside,whereitmingledinanancientdancewithherown.

Ashegroanedwithpleasure,asoundoflongingwelledupfromdeepwithinhim.Shefeltthatflutterinhermiddle...b.u.t.thistimeloweraswell.

Justthentherewasthesoundofgunfire,followedbyahissbesideherhead.Abruptly,herbackslammeddownuponthepavers.Theprince'sheavyformfellatopofher.

He'sbeenshot.Herheadwaspoundinga.s.shestruggledtowriggleoutfrombeneathhim.OhmyG.o.d.OhmyG.o.d.Hecan'tbedead,hecan't.Sheslappedherhandtothecoolpaversandtriedtopushup,buthisweightmadeitimpossibleforhertomove.

Anothershotrangout,puncturingthecarriagebesidethem.Shewhimperedwithfear.

"Don'tmove.Staywhereyouare,MissRoyle.Iwillprotectyou."Hisbreathwashotinherear.

"Areyouhurt?"shewhispered.

"No.Remainstill."Heroseupfromher,thenbentintoacrouch.Warily,hesurveyedthestreet, thencametohisfeet.Elizabethremainedonherback,ashehadordered,untilshesawmovementinanupperwindowofa shoptwentypacesdownPallMall.

"Inthewindow!He'sthere!"SherolledtoherfeetandflungopenLadyUpperton'scarriagedoor.

Shecaughttheprince'swristandyanked,miraculouslyknockinghimfromhisfootingandintothe opencab.Shepushedhimdownontothefloorofthecabjustasathirdshotrentthestillnightair.Thistimeherprincedidn'tmove.

ThethudoffootfallsonthepaversdrewElizabeth'sattention,andwhensheglancedup,shesawadarkfigurerunningtowardher.Herheartwaspoundingintimewiththethrobbinginherhead.Oh,G.o.d!

Withoutdelay,sheheavedtheprincefartherinside,andwasatworkbendinghislonglegstoforcethemintothecabwhenLadyUpperton'slongtimedriver,Edmund,raceduptothecarriageandappearednexttoher."Oh,thankgoodnessitisyou,"shegasped.

"b.l.o.o.d.yh.e.l.l,MissElizabeth!Whatishappening?"

"Don'tjuststandtheregawking.He'sbeenshot.Pleasehelpme!"shepleaded."Wemustaway.Now!"

Edmundclimbedintothecabandpulledtheprincecompletelyinside,positioninghimontheforwardbench.HereachedoutahandandpulledElizabethinside."He'sbleedingfierce,miss."

"Iknow.Iknow."Hernerveswerescreaming,hermindacompletejumble."Canyoutakeusfromhere,atonce?Iknowitisdangeroustohelpusnow,Edmund,butIneedyoutoclimbatopthecarriageandtakeusfromhere.Someoneistryingtokilltheprince."

"Aye,miss.Iamyourservant."Edmundgaveapartinglookattheprince,thenscrambledfromthe cabandlatchedthedoorbehindhim."Whereto?"hecalledback.

"HydePark.TheSerpentine,"cametheprince'slowvoice."Hurry."

"HydePark,Edmund.Atonce!"Elizabethkneltdownonthefloorbesidetheprinceasthecarriage lurchedforwardanddepartedthecarriagequeue.

Heopenedhiseyesa.s.shesmoothedbackhishairfromhisface,thenpeeledopenhiscoatandthenhislawns.h.i.+rt.Sheslidherrighthandunderhimandfeltaroundholeinthebackofhiscoat.Sheexhaled.

Theprincewinceda.s.sheslippedherfingeraroundtheopeningofthehole,andthenhetriedtositup.

"Donotattempttorise,"shesaida.s.shetoreaswathofsilkfromherskirtandballeditup."You'vebeenhitjustbelowtheshoulder.Itseemstohavegonethroughcleanly,butyouarebleedingquitealot."

Throughhispain,hemanagedaweaksmile."Howdoyoucomebyyourmedicalexpertise,MissRoyle?"Hebitintohislowerlipasthecarriagetilted,roundingacorner.

Sheforcedapracticednurse'ssmileatherpatientandbegantochatterascalmgavewaytogreatconcern."DidItellyouthatmyfatherwasaphysician?MysistersandIallworkedbyhissideasweweregrowingup.ItellyouthisbecauseIcanhelpyou.Youwillbefeelingmuchbetterverysoon."Shepeeredintohishalfopeneyes."OnlywhatImustdonowwillhurt.Please,remaina.s.stillasyoucan.Iamgoingtobandageyoutoslowthebleeding."

Sherippedasecondpiecefromherskirtandpositionedoneofthesilkpadsshe'dfas.h.i.+onedatoptheentrywoundandtheotheratoptheplaceonhisbackwhereitexited.Sheremovedthedarkblueribbonthatencircledherribsandtieditaroundbothpads.Itbarelyreached.

Theprinceblinkedupatherandsighed."Iapologizeformarringyourgown-forasecondtime."Hetriedtolaugh,sheknew,buthiseffortsoundedlikeagroanthemoment.i.tlefthismouth."I'vebledalloveryourgown.ThistimeIfearalittleairwillnotsufficeasaremedy."

Elizabethlookeddownandsawarivuletofbloodtricklingdownherbodice.Shetouchedthewetnessandtraceditupwardalongherneck,toherear,andtoaplacethrobbingjustabovehertemple.Warily,shesettledherfingeratopit.Painsearedthroughherskull,makingherdizzyandnauseous.Thebloodonhergownwasnothis.Itwasherown.

"Ifear...thistime,"shemuttered,"youwerenotatfault."

"DearG.o.d."Hiseyeswentwidewithconcern."You'vebeenshot?"

"Itisnothing,"shereplied,notwis.h.i.+ngforhimtoworrysincehisinjurywasfarmoresevere."Itisonlyascratch.Minorcutstotheheadarenotorious...o...b..eeding."b.u.t.thenshefelt.i.t-overwhelmingfear.Doom.

Hernightmarehadcometrue.