Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 6

Chapter6.

E lizabethheardthedriver'sleatherwhipcrackinthenightairasheurgedhisteamonward,faster.IttookonlyaclutchofminutestoreachthegatesofHydePark,andbythentheprincehadmanagedtositproppeduprightonthebench.

Hisstrengthandfort.i.tude,afterbeingliterallyshotthrough,astoundedElizabeth.Why,shealmostbelievedhehadcommandedbysheerwillthecolortobegintoreturntohislipsandcheeks.

Hehadn'tbeensosuccessful,however,inconcealinghisemotionsaftertheattack.Theprince'sbrowwasdrawndowninconcernandhewasbitingintohislowerlip;inpainoranxiousness,shedidnotknow.HewaspeeringfretfullyoutofthewindowasthecarriagespedtowardtheSerpentine.

"Wehaveescaped."Elizabethwincedasthefirstwordjettisonedfromhermouth.Eventheslightestmovementofherjawsentastabofpainthroughherhead."Youneedn'tworryanylonger."

Heslowlyturnedtolookbackather,thenwithoutawordsilentlyreturnedtohisvigilatthewindow.Whenfinallyhespokeamomentlater,itsurprisedher."HowmuchlongerbeforewereachtheSerpentine-whereitmeetstheLongWater?"Hiswordswereclipped,andheinhaledadeep,bracingbreathafterhefinishedhisquestion.

"Onlyafewminutesmore,Ishouldthink."Shereachedacrossandgentlylaidherhandonhisknee."WhymustwehastentotheSerpentine,YourRoyalHighness?Youneedtobeexaminedbyadoctor."

Againheturnedfromthewindowtolookather.Eveninthewideribbonofmoonlights.h.i.+ningintothecab'sinterior,shecouldseeherquestionalarmedhiminsomeway.Hepausedforsomemoments,asiftogatherstrength,beforereplying."Iworryforthesafetyofmycousin.Heishere."

"Yourcousin?Butwhywouldyourcousinbeinanydanger?Thebulletswereclearlyintendedforyou.Isawtheshooterinthewindow.Hisgunwastrainedonyou."

Theprince'sgazebecamedarklysomber."Yousawthegunman?"

Elizabethnodded."Idid."Thenotionstruckhercoldly.Shedidseehim,notthatshecouldattributeanydetailtohisappearanceduetothedarkness.Butifshesawhim,thatmeantthegunmanlikelysawheraswell-especiallyifhehadbeenfollowingthem."YourRoyalHighness,howdidheknowyouwouldbewalkingalongPallMall?"

Theprinceshookhisheadslowly."Idonotknow.UntilIspilledthechampagneonyourgown,myonlythoughtwastospendtheeveningatAlmack'sandpossiblytodance-withyou."

Athisencouragingwords,alittlethrilljoltedthroughElizabeth.

Hewishedtodancewithher.Hehadintendedtoseekheroutattheball.He'dadmittedit.

Sheleanedbackoutoftheglowingreachofthemoonlightsohewouldnotobservethesmile spreadingacrossherlips,despitethepaininherhead.

"Whichmeans,"hemanagedtosay,"wewerefollowed."

"Followed?"Elizabethcrinkledherbrow."Buthewasinafirstfloorwindowaboveashop."

"IthinkitlikelythathetrailedusfromAlmack's,andpossiblydecidedheneededheighttoaffectapropershot."Hesuckedinadeepbreathbeforecontinuing."So,heeitherfoundanopendoor,orbrokeintoadarkenedshopandmadehiswaytoafirstfloorwindowfacingPallMall."Theprincefellsilent.Hisbreathcameinpantsandgaspsnow.

"Eitherway,hewasprobablyattheballthisevening.Whichmeans,perhaps...hewasoftheton."AsElizabethlookedtotheprinceforanyreactiontothisrevelation,oneofthecarriagewheelsb.u.mpedthroughaholeinthemoistearthofRottenRow,causinghertogrimace.

Instinctivelysheraisedahandtoherachinghead.Shenolongerfeltastreamemanatingfromtheareajustbeyondhertemple.Nowtherewasonlyaslow,steadydripfallingfromtheedgeofherjawandsplas.h.i.+ngontoherbodicefromtimetotime.b.u.t.thatwasafavorabledevelopment.Thebloodwasclottingnow.

Hopefully,theprince'smuchmoreseverewoundwasdoingthesame.

Afewshortminuteslaterthecarriagerolledtoahalt.Theconveyancebounced,earningpainedgroansfrombothoccupants,asEdmundleaptfromthevehicleandopenedthedoor."We'rehere,MissElizabeth."Hehandedherdownandthencrawledinsidethecabtoa.s.sisttheprincetohisfeet.

AstheprincesteppeddownandgainedhisfootingonthedampearthofRottenRow,hestraightenedtohisfullheight.JustthenElizabethcaughtsightoftwomenracingforwardfromthebridgeovertheSerpentine.Theprincegrabbedherandpulledheragainsthim,wrappinghisstrongarmaroundtoprotecther.

Themoonlightcaughtthegleamofswordsattheirsides,andastheyneared,Elizabethsawthateachmanbrandishedapistol."They'rearmed,"shegasped,andthrewherslightweightagainsttheprince,urgentlyhopingtoshovehiminsidethecarriageoncemore.Buthedidnotmove.

Hetightenedhisholdonher,thenraisedhisrightarmandcalledouttothemen."Noneedforpanic.ItisI."Themenappearedtorecognizetheprinceandslowedtoajogbeforeultimatelystoppingaltogether.Whentheydid,theyeachboweddeeplybeforehim.

Thenagentlemaninadarkfrockcoat,andwhatElizabethtooktobeacloakedwoman,emergedfromtheshadowsandstartedtowardthem.

"Whatisit,cousin?"themancalledout."ShouldIbealarmed?"

TheprincepeeredacrossthesparklingdarkwatersoftheSerpentine,notdeigningtospeakuntilthegentlemanandhisladywerestandingdirectlybeforehim.OnlythendidhereleasehisholdonElizabethtoclasphiscousin'sarmforsupport.Heheldhisvoicelow,andhistonewasdeathlyserious."Thereisneedforalarm.Wemustreturnatonce."

So,thiswastheprince'scousin,Elizabeththoughta.s.shestudiedthesmallerman.Yes,quiteso.Eveninthedarknessshecouldseethefamilialresemblancebetweenthetwo.b.u.t.thewoman.Whowa.s.she?

Elizabethbentatherkneesandtriedinvaintodiscernthewoman'sident.i.ty.Herfacewaspartiallyobscuredbythehoodofhercloak.Whatshecouldseeofhercountenancewasawas.h.i.+nablueblurofmoonlight,thedefinitionofherfeaturesallbutlost.

Thewomanwaslookingatheraswell,andjudgingbythewayshesuddenlystiffened,Elizabethwasalmostsuresherecognizedher.

"Youareinjured,"thecousinexclaimed,gesturingtotheprince'sopencoatandthedarkblackbloodstaingleaminginthemoonlightonhiscrispwhites.h.i.+rt.

"Soisshe,"thewomanadded,noddingtoElizabeth.ShereachedoutandliftedtheblooddampedlockofElizabeth'shairtotracetheoriginofthebleeding."Wemusttakethembothtoaphysician."Shelookedattheprinceandthenathiscousin,waitingforagreement.

"We'llbewell,"theprincereplied."Itismoreimportantthatwereturntothehotel."

"Youarenotwell,andyouwillbothseeaphysician,"thewomanpracticallycommanded.

Elizabethtriedagaintoseeherface.Judgingfromherimperativetone,shewasaladyofsomeprominence,usedtohavingherownway,herordersfollowed.

"Myownsurgeonlivesnearby,andhecanbetrusted.Hetendstoallofmyfamily.Evenmyfathertrusts.h.i.+m,andhetrustsnoone."Thewomanlookedatthetwoarmedmennearbyandraisedherarm.Oneofthemenwhistled,andfrombehindablindoftwiggymaplesrolledagleaming,blackcarriage.

ElizabethlookedatEdmundandwasabouttodirecthimwhenthemysteriouswomanspokeagain.

"Youmaydismissyourdriver.Mycarriagewillserveusall,"shesaidhaughtily."Doitnow."

ElizabethscurriedovertoEdmund."Thankyou,dearman.YoushouldreturnforLadyUppertonnow.Wehavealternativetransportation."

Hetippedhishead,andElizabethturnedonherheeltoreturntotheotherswhenathoughtenteredhermind.Shewhirledbackaround."Dowipedownthebenches-andplease,please,donotmentionanythingtoLadyUpperton.Iwillspeakwithheronthemorrowandexplaineverything."

"Yes,miss."Edmundclimbedatopthecarriage,crackedhiswhipintheair,andthehorsesturnedahalfcircleandretreateddownRottenRowinthedirectiontheyhadcome.

HadsheknownthatthewomanintendedtobringthemtoCurzonStreet,bleedingfromherheadornot,shewouldhavewalkedbacktoBerkeleySquare.

Buthadsheknown,too,thatshewasbeingbroughttotheresidenceofSirHenryHalford,physicianordinarytotheking-andbysomesetofextraordinarycirc.u.mstancestothiswomanaswell-shewouldhaveleaptfromthecarriageasitracedthroughLondon'sstreets.

Elizabethwasnowsittingbeforealowcoalfire,andthehandsomeprotegeofSirHenry,Mr.Manton,wasdabbingasalveonthewoundnearhertemple.

Histouchwasgentle,andthewayheoccasionallyturnedtolookintohereyestobesurehewasnotcausingherpainwasrather...well,endearing.

"Fatewaswithyou,MissRoyle,"hetoldher."Thebulletonlygrazedyourhead.Youmighthavebeenkilled."

Elizabethsmiled."Fateisalwaysonmyside,dearsir."

Helookedpuzzledbyherreply,shecouldsee,buthedidnotquizherabout.i.tfurther.

"Didyouseethemaniacwhofireduponyou?"Heleanedbackfromhistendingandwaitedforher reply.

"No...Imean,yes.Ididseehim."

Hisblueeyesrounded."Thenwemustsummonaninvestigator-atonce."

"Idaresay,Idonotthinktheprincewouldagreewithyou,"Elizabethrepliedsoftly."AndwhileIdidseetheman,Icouldnottellyouasinglethingabouthim.Itwasfartoodarkandhewastoofaraway.Isawlittlemorethanasilhouetteofamanwiththepistolinhishand."

ThewomandescendedthestairsandheadeddirectlyforthefrontdoorsoquicklythatElizabethbarelyregisteredthat.i.twa.s.shepa.s.singby.

Pus.h.i.+ngherselfupfromthechairinwhichshewa.s.seated,sheedgedherawayaroundMr.Mantontoreachthewoman."Willherecover?Doyouknow?"shecalledoutdesperatelybeforethewomancouldleave.

Thewomanpulledhercloakupoverherheadanddrewitlowoverhereyesbeforeslowlyturningaround.OnlyhernoseandlipswerevisibletoElizabeth."Yes.Theballwentthroughcleanly."

Elizabeth'smusclesrelaxedatthenews."MayIseehim?Doyouknow,willSirHenryallowit?"sheasked,tryingnottoconveyherdesperation.

Thewomanignoredhercommententirely,thoughuponhearingthefootmanopenthedoorforher,sheaddedadepartingcomment."AhackneywillbewaitingonthestreetforyouonceMr.Mantonhasfinishedtendingyourwound,MissRoyle.Theprincerequeststhis,notI.Hesaidheshouldn'twishforyourfamilytoworry.Youshouldfeelhonoredthatheisshowingyousuchconsideration."

"Ido.AndIthankyouforinformingmeastotheprince'scondition,"Elizabethmanaged,butbeforeshecouldasktoknowwhoshewas,thewomandisappearedthroughthedoorway.

"Thankheavenssheknewtobringyoubothhere,"Mr.Mantonsaidfromsomewherebehindher.

Elizabethspunaround.Awaveofdizzinessa.s.sailedherandshestaggered,catchingherself.a.gainsttheornatelycarveddoorjamb.

"Iwillaccompanyyoutoyourhome,MissRoyle."Mr.Mantonrushedtolendherhisarmforsupport."Theprinceiswell.Thereisnoneedforconcern.Youstoppedthebleedingearly.Youmighthaveevensavedhislife."

Elizabethbreathedasighofrelief."Thankyoufortendingtome,dearsir,but..."ShelookedatMr.Mantonwithallearnestness."...mightIask...justwhowasthatwoman?"

"Youreallydonotknow?"SirHenry'sdeep,almostmockingvoiceemergedfromthedarknessofthestaircase.

Startled,Elizabethgraspedthedoorjambandturnedtoseehim."Idonot,SirHenry.Please,won'tyoutellme?"

"Ishall,indeed."Thebaronetlaughedquietly,thengesturedtohimselfproudly."Afterall,Iknowherwell.Ihavetendedtoherandmembersofherfamilyforseveralyears."HepausedforwhatseemedtobethesimplepurposeofmakingElizabethantic.i.p.atehisdisclosureofthewoman'sident.i.tyevenmore."That,mydear,wasnoneotherthanPrincessCharlotte."

"Theprincess?"WoozinesscloudedElizabeth'shead,andshefeltherkneesgiveoutbeneathher.

Chapter7.

BerkeleySquare T henextmorning,Elizabethopenedhereyestofindherselftuckedintoherowntesterbed.Atleast,shea.s.sumeditwasmorning.Theroomwasawas.h.i.+nsmokybluelight.Shecouldjustmakeoutatraybearingasteamingcupofteaandaplateofslicedgreenapplessittingonthetablebesideher.

b.u.t.thenthecurtainsweresuddenlythrownopenandthere,standingbeforethewindowinthebrightsunlight,wasCherie.

"HowdidIgethome?"ApainfulthrobpulsatedinElizabeth'stemple."Iccan'tremember."

Cherieraisedhergracefullycurvedeyebrows,asifcoaxinghertotryhardertorecalltheeventsofthenightbefore.Whilethetinymaidwaited,shepouredElizabethadishofteaandguideditintoherhands.

Raisingtheteacuptoherlips,Elizabethletthesteamwaftoverherface.Shebreathedinthewelcomingscentoftheteaandimmediatelyrecognizedit.

Hyson!WhatwasMrs.Polkshankthinking?Hysonwasfartoodearforamerefamilymember'sbreakfast.Theexpensiveleavesweremeanttobereservedfortakingteawithprominentguests.Nowonderthehouseholdexpenseswereincreasing.Suchwastefulness!Well,shewouldhavetospeakwithMrs.Polkshankabout.i.tthisveryday.

Thenithappened.Briefflashesofimagesunexpectedlyappearedinhermind'seye.Asmallcrowdofgentlemenhuddledaroundher,liftingher.Openinghereyesinadarkrockingcarriage.Thethuddingofaheart.Rubbinghernosebecauseajinglingredswathoffabricwasticklingit.Strong,capablearmscarryingher.Beinglaiduponherbedby...by- "Goodheavens!"Elizabethjoltedupright,sendingtheteainhercupslos.h.i.+ngovertheside.Cheriestretchedoutherhandsandrescuedthedish."Theprincebroughtmehere?Helaidmeinmybed?"Shestaredincredulouslyatthemaid.

Cheriesmiled,thenshruggedhershoulders.

"No,hewasinjured.Impossible.Impossible!"Elizabeththrummedherfingersonherlowerlip.b.u.t.theimagesweresoclear.Shereachedoutandwrappedherfingersaroundthemaid'stinywrist."Didithappen,Cherie?Didit?OrwasIdreaming?"

Themaidshookherhead.Theedgesofherlipspulleddownward.Itwasclearshedidn'tknow.

Butsomeoneinthishouseholdmust.

Someonehadlether,andwhoeverbroughtherhometoBerkeleySquare,intothehouse.Shewouldhaveherexplanationwithinthehour.Fromsomeone.

"Cherie,please,helpmedress."Elizabeththrewherlegsovertheedgeofthebedandstartedtostandwhenawaveofdizzinessforcedhertoimmediatelysitdownuponthemattressagain.Sheraisedhereyestothestartledlookingmaid."Iamwell,Cherie.Nocauseforworry.IjustneedtomovealittlesloweruntilIamfullyawake."

Cherieofferedherthedishofteaagain,whichshetookwithouthesitation.MaybeMrs.Polkshankwasrightinbrewingthefullbodied,pungenthysonteathismorn.Yes,itwasprobablyjustthethingforherweakenedconst.i.tution.HowwiseCookwas.

Cheriewatchedherdrinkthehysonwithanexpressionofmixedworryandsurprise,untiltheonlythingleftinElizabeth'steacupwasafewtwistedtealeaves.

Sheneededtoknowhowshearrivedhere,andthattheprince,indeed,waswell.Andshewouldhaveheranswer.Onlythistimeshedecidednottobesohasty.Shehandedthemaidherteacup,thenslowlystood,crossedthebedchamber,andeaseddownbeforeherdressingtable.

Whenshepeeredintothemirror,sheunderstoodCherie'saghastexpression.Driedbloodmattedthehairontheentirerightsideofherhead.

Goodheavens!Shemusthavebeenfarmoreseriouslyinjuredthanshe'dimagined.Somuchblood.Herhandtrembleda.s.sheraiseditandpulledbackseveralthickstrandsofcopperhairsoshemightobservethewound.

Leaningforwardtowardthesilverofthemirror,shepeeredcloselyat.i.t.Noplasterhadbeenapplied,whichsurprisedherfortherewa.s.suchalargeamountblood.Mr.Manton,however,hadadministeredsomesortoffoulsmellingointmenttothecrustingdarkredsc.r.a.pe,aboutthelengthandwidthofherpinkiefinger.

Herstomachturnedabit,whichunnervedher.

Whena.s.sistingherfatherovertheyears,she'dneverhadanaversiontothesightofblood.Sheevenstoppedaspurtingwoundbyturningatourniquettightlywhilstthedoctorst.i.tchedafarmer'sleggashclosed.Inallherlifeshehadneverevenblinkedatthesightorsmellofblood...well,perhapsoncewhenasprayfannedacrossherface,butshewouldhavedonethesamehadtheliquidbeenwater,sothatincidentforetoldnothing.

b.u.t.thistimeitwasdifferent.Thistimeitwasherownblood.

"Cherie,Ishouldliketowashmyhair."Withadisgustedsighatherownappearance,shedroppedthemattedlockssheheldbackintoplace.

ThemaidshookherheadvehementlyandherdarkeyespeeredpleadinglyatElizabeth'sreflectioninthemirror.

"Lud,Cherie,please,seetoheatingthewater.Please."Sheexhaledahardbreath."YouknowverywellthatIcan'tleavethehouselookinglikeIjustescapedamada.s.sa.s.sin'sknife.ImustbatheanddonmyfinestmorningdressifIamtoinquireabouttheprince'shealththisday."

Cherienodded,bobbedaquickcurtsy,andthenhurriedfromthebedchamber.