Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 7

Elizabethturnedherheadandgazedatthepositionofthegrazing.Hmm.Herwidebrimmedstrawbonnet,theoneembellishedwithpalerosesandastunninggreensatinribbon,wouldcoveritperfectly.

Shesmiledatherselfinthemirrorandpinchedhercheekstolivenherpallor.Howluckyshewastohavesuchakeensenseofstyle.

Twohourslater DescendingtwoflightsofstairsprovedmoredifficultthanElizabethhadantic.i.p.ated;itmadeherheadbobble,andeachminusculemovementhurta.s.surelyasifsomeonehadthumpedherskull.Nomatter.ShewouldsimplyaskMrs.Polkshanktolocatethewillowpowderforthepaininherhead,aftershethankedherfortheinvigoratingyettoocostlytouseforsuchpurposeshysontea.ThenshewouldbeoutthedoorandheadedfortheClarendonHotel,whereshehadheardwhispersthattheprince,andlikelyhiscousin,werelodging.

Shehadjustsettledherhandonthenewelpostandsteppedtothefloorintheentrypa.s.sagewhensheheardLordGallantine'svoicecalloutfromtheparlor.

"Donotthinkit,mydear,"hesaidinwhat,surprisinglyenough,soundedlikequiteasternvoice.

Elizabethgrimaced.Thathewouldbeangrywithher,especiallyafterherordeallastevening,madenosense.SoshepushedGallantine'snonsensicalwarningfromherhead.HewaslikelyspeakingtoCherieanyway...orsomeoneelse.Certainlynother.Heprobablyhadbeeninformedthatshewasdressinganddidnotevenknowshewaspresentonthefirstflooryet.Andsoshedecidedtohurrytocontinueherquestforthewillowpowderbeforemakingherwayintotheparlortoseetohercaller.

"Elizabeth,dove,"cameLadyUpperton'ssweetvoice."Weheardyourfootfallsonthestairtreads.Docomeintotheparlor."

Blast.Elizabethfrozeinherstepsandsqueezedhereyesclosed.Shewouldhavecome,rightafterpartakingofthewillowpowder.Slowly,sheopenedhereyesandsighedheavily.Aftercheckingherappearanceinthemirror-thewoundwasperfectlyconcealedbeneathadoubletwistofhair,pulledupandthenpinnedatthebackofherhead-shehoistedaprettysmileand,holdingherheadaslevelandsteadyaspossible,glidedintotheparlor.

HerheadjerkedpainfullythemomentshesawthatnotonlywereGallantineandLadyUppertonpresent,butsowereLordLotharian,Lilywhite...and,ofcourse,herdozinggreatauntPrudence."Idoapologize.Ihadnotrealizedanyonehadcalledandwishedaninterviewwithme."

"Isthatso,Elizabeth?"LordLotharianpeeredatherthroughnarrowedeyes."AfterourchargeischasedbyagunmanthroughthestreetsofLondon-withPrinceLeopoldofSaxeCoburg,noless-andthenshot,why,pray,mightwecometospeakwithyou?"

AflushheatedElizabeth'scheeks."It'sonlyafleshwound.Asyoucansee,Iamwellenough."Sheswallowed."Has...anyoneheardabouttheprince'sconditionthisday?"

"Onlythathesurvived.b.u.t.thenyouknowthat,don'tyou,gel?"Lothariansaid,stillobservingherinthatunsettlingwayofhis.

"Yes."Sheloweredhergaze,hopingtodisengageLotharian'soverlyfocusedattention."Ionlywondered-"

"Youmighthavebeenkilled,Elizabeth!"Lilywhitesnapped,drowningoutherwords.Hehastenedovertothetantalus,andthoughitwa.s.stillquiteearlyinthedaytobedrinking,bytheton'soranyoneelse'sstandards,hepouredhimself.a.gla.s.sofbrandy."Anyoneelselikeacalmingbitofliquidsustenance?"

Hergreataunt'seyesopenedimmediately."Iwould."Sheraisedherhandandbeckonedforagla.s.s.Lilywhiteobligedheralmostinstantly,andshetookthebrandyandbegansippinghappily.

Elizabethsettledherselfinanemptyslipperchairnearthedoorway."HHow...didyouhearaboutlastnight'sincident?"Oh.Right.Edmund.Forgettingherself,sheslappedherpalmtoherhead."d.a.m.n!"

Shelookedupandwasimmediatelymetwithshockedlooksfromtheelderlygroup."Pleaseforgivemyoutburst.'Tismyhead...very,verysore."

Cherieflittedintothepa.s.sagewithatrayholdingagla.s.sofcloudywater.Beforeshecouldentertheparlor,shewasimmediatelyhaltedbythebutlerMacTavish,whohadonlyjusttakenupasentrystanceoutsidethedoor.Helookedquizzicallyatthelittlemaiduntilshegesturedtoherheadandthentothegla.s.s.

Elizabeth,who,fromtheperipheryofhervision,hadbeen.o.bservingthewholedelayinreceivinghermuchneededwillowpowder,wasabouttospringfromherchairands.n.a.t.c.hupthegla.s.swhenthebutlerenteredtheparlorandatlastofferedittoher.

Shedrankdownthebitterpowder,butknowingitwouldtakesometimetoeaseherpain,shebegantoconsiderjoiningLilywhiteandPrudenceinanoontimelibation.

"Actually,'twasMissMargaretMercerElphinstonewhocommunicatedtheastoundingnewsofyouradventureswiththeprincelastnight,"LadyUppertonrevealed."Yourememberher,doyounot?PrincessCharlotte'slady'scompanion?"

Elizabethsatsilently,tryingtopiecetogethertheeventsthatmightbringMissMercerElphinstonetoLadyUpperton'sdoor.

"Youhavemadeheracquaintance.Yesterday,infact,"LadyUppertonadded.Sheliftedherfluffywhitebrows.e.xcitedly."Andyoumusthavemadequiteanimpression."

"More,please."GreatauntPrudenceraisedheremptygla.s.sinElizabeth'sdirection."Chop,chop,Lilywhite."

Elizabeth,dumbfoundedbyLadyUpperton'sa.s.sertion,startedtorisetorefillhergreataunt'sgla.s.sherselfwhenshefeltLilywhite'sheavyhandonhershoulder.

"I'llitfetchforher,gel,"hesaid."Fancyarefresherformyself,anyway."

ElizabethlookeddirectlyatLadyUpperton."Onmyword,IdonotknowhowIcouldhavemadeanimpressionatallonMissElphinstone.Ourtimetogetherwa.s.soshort."NothingthisdayseemedtomakesensetoElizabeth,andshebegantowonder,fleetingly,ifherinjuryhadsomehowrattledherbrain."Whydidshecontactyou?"

LordGallantinerosefromhisplaceonthesetteebesideLadyUppertonandcametostandbeforeElizabeth."Youmusthavedonesomethingextraordinary,dear.Somethingveryextraordinary."

Elizabethtiltedherheadbackandpeeredupathim."Whydoyousaythat,Gallantine?Youseemsoconfidentinyourcharge."

"Because,Elizabeth,shecalledatfirstlightwithaletter-fromPrincessCharlotte."Hepausedthen,asifElizabethmightalreadyknowthecontentsofsaidmissive.Butshedidn't,and,lud,shewishedtheyallwouldstopdancingthequadrillearoundthefactsandtellhereverything!

"TheprincesshasrequestedthatyoujoinheratCranbourneLodge,temporarily...justuntilMichaelmas,"LordGallantineadded.

"Joinher-theprincess?"Elizabeths.h.i.+ftedherheadthiswayandthattopeeraroundGallantine,hoping,praying,someonecouldenlightenherastothis.e.xtraordinarilystrangeturnofevents."Butwhy?"

"Toactasoneofherlady'scompanions-likeMissElphinstone,herself,"LadyUppertonoffered.

"Butwhy...me?"

"Well,wedonotknow,dear,"LadyUppertonadmitted."Wehadhopedthatyoucouldprovideuswiththatvitalinformation.Ofcourse,weagreedtoherrequestandsentMissElphinstonebacktotheprincesswiththehappynews."

ThatbitofnewspropelledElizabethstraighttoherfeet."YYouagreed?"

"Youleavethefirstofnextweek,ifyouarewellenough.Anditseemsbyyourappearancethisdaythatyoualreadyarefit.So,itisallarranged."LadyUppertonwa.s.smilingproudly."Weknewitwouldbewhatyouwanted.Weknewyouwouldbemostdelightedtogettoknowtheprincess.Afterall,yousaidityourself-sheislikelyyourhalfsister."

Elizabethsatdownagain,herstrengthdrainedfromherlimbsatthisrevelation.Thiswasuttermadness!

Yes,inrecentmonthsshehadwonderedaboutPrincessCharlotte,herlikelyhalfsibling.Hadfantasizedaboutwhat.i.twouldbeliketolivelikeaprincess-hadthecirc.u.mstancesofherbirthbeendifferent.

Butnow...nowdestinyhadbecomerevealedtoher.Shewastomarrytheprince.ShecouldnotleaveLondonandherfuturehusbandbehind.Notnow.

Itseemed,however,thatherguardianshadalreadysealedherfatebyagreeingthatshewouldservePrincessCharlotte.

Lilywhiteheldagla.s.sofbrandyintheair."Betyou'dlikeoneofthesenow,Elizabeth,eh?"

Elizabethraisedherhandtotakeit.

G.o.dabove,pleaseletthisallbeadream.

Withinsevendayssheknewforcertainthatshewasnotdreaming.Hercoursewasnowveryclear.Duringthisweek,shehadreceivednowordastotheprince'scondition.AndwhensheslippedoutofthehousetoinquireabouthimattheClarendonHotel,wherehewasreportedlylodging,shewaspolitelytoldthattheprincewasnotinresidenceatthistime.

ElizabethwasleftwonderingifhehadreturnedtoParis,orevenCoburg,dependingontheseverityofhiswound.

Eitherway,herdream,hervividvisionoftheireventualmarriage,wasrapidlybecomingnaughtbutawishfulfantasyfadingintothewindwitheachpa.s.singhour.

WhenthedayofherdreadeddepartureforCranbourneLodgearrived,herhopesforareunionwithherprincehadallbutvanished.

Cheriehadpackedaportmanteauwithnecessities,andsawthathertrunkswerestrappedatopthecarriage.ToElizabeth'sembarra.s.sment,twoheftytrunkshadbeenrequired,forLadyUppertonhadtakenituponherselftoseethatthatthegownsMrs.Devyhadbeenengagedearliertocreatewouldbedeliveredbeforeherdeparture-eventhoughsevenadditionalseamstresseshadtobeemployedtocompletethesewing.

Elizabeth'sonlytaskhadbeentorestsoshewouldbeinvigoratedwhencalledupontoservetheprincess.Evennow,shehadstillnoclueastowhatherservicewouldentail,whichwasmoretha.n.a.littledisconcerting.

Afterab.u.mpythreehourjourneyfromLondon,thecarriagebearingherandallofherworldlybelongingsroundedthelastcurveintheroad,andCranbourneLodgecameintoviewatlast.

Elizabethgaspedtothinkshewasactuallytoresideinsuchanimposingstructure.

Thegrand,palehuedhouseseemedtoabsorbthegoldenafternoonsun,transformingthelodge'sma.s.sivetowerintoacolumnofgold.Shestrainedherneckinherattempttoseethetopofthetowerfromthewindow,andwhenshedidseeitatlast,imaginedthatwereshetostandatopofit,shewouldbeabletoviewLondon,sometwentymilesdistant.

Itdidn'tappeartobesuchabadplacetospendone'sday,ifthatwaswhatyouwished-thoughshedidnot-forCranbourneLodgewaspleasantlysituated,notfarfromWindsorCastle,attheedgeofanovergrownancientgardenflankedbythelushnessofWindsorForest.Itsbeautyandhistorywasunquestionable.

BeingaffordedtheopportunitytocometoknowPrincessCharlottewasanunimaginablegift...hadshestillwantedit.

Tolivelikeaprincess,tobefreeofdrearyhouseholdresponsibilitiesandthetaskofcaringforherfamily,hadbeenhergrandestdreamsincethemomentsheandhersistersarrivedinLondon.Andnowthatdreamwascomingtrue.

ElizabethcouldonlydiscernoneproblemwithbeingathereatCranbourneLodge,andthatwasthatherprincewasnot.

Norwastheprincess,itseemed.PrincessCharlottehadgonetoWindsortovisitherauntsandthequeen,andwasnotexpectedtoreturntoCranbourneLodgeuntillatethatevening.

Elizabethwonderedifthequeenknewshewashere.PrincessCharlotte,Elizabetha.s.sumed,musthaveheardtherumorsswirlingthetonabouttheRoylesisters'lineage-andthenrealized,ifshebelievedthestory,thatsheandtheRoyleswerehalfsisters.TheprincessknowingofherpossiblebloodconnectionwouldatleastexplainherinterestinacommonerfromCornwall.Andwhatbetterpokertotortureherpowerfulfatherwiththanhisb.a.s.t.a.r.d?

Elizabethgrimaced.EvenifPrincessCharlotteknewwhoshewas,orcouldbe,thequeenmustnot-a.s.sumingherfather'sstorywasauthentic.Ifitwastrue,thequeenwasoblivioustothefactthatthesistershadsurviveddespiteherandLadyJersey'sbestefforts.OrthequeensimplydidnotknowthatshewasatCranbourne.Therewasfartoomuchatriskforhergranddaughter,PrincessCharlotte,tospendtimewithoneofthebabesthequeentriedtokilltoprotectherson'sfutureclaimontheCrown.

ElizabethconsideredwhatherstayatCranbourneLodgemightbring.Asightingofthequeenherself?Ameeting?Shelingeredonthethought.

Justoneformalintroductiontothequeen,onemomentforthequeentotrulyrealizewhoshewas,andElizabethwasconvincedshewouldknowthetruthofthematterinstantlybythelookinthewoman'seyes.

Only,weresuchacollectionofmomentspossible,shedidnotknowifshecouldenduremeetingthegazeofthewomanwhowouldhaveseenherdead.

Elizabethshookoffthechillingthought.NomatterthereasonshehadbeensummonedtoCranbourneLodge,goodorbad,shehadbeenproperlylookedafter.Shehadbeensituatedinasmallbutcomfortableroomwithanarchedwindowandsweepingviewsofaverdantmeadow,currentlydottedwithsmallrabbitsmunchingonthenewgra.s.s.

Alreadyithadoccurredtoherthattimemovedatadreadfullyslowpacehere.

Tooccupyherself,sheworkedalongsidealady'smaidtounpackhertrunksandshakehernew gownsfromtheirtravelfolds.Shefidgetedwiththecoiledlocksofhairconcealingherscabbedoverwound,andthenlaidoutherpowders,perfume,pins,andbrushesonthedressingtable.

Then,withnothingelsetodo,Elizabethdecidedtoventuredowntothestablesandborrowahorsefromoneofthegrooms.Itwouldbemostdivertingtotakeashortridearoundthegroundsbeforethesunset.

Deerliftedtheirheadsfromthesoftgra.s.sandflickedtheirtailsnervouslyasElizabeth'sbaytrotteddownthepackedearthenroadleadingawayfromCranbourneLodge.

ForseveralminutesthethoughtofridingallthewaybacktoLondonnaggedatherbrain.Butsheknewthatdoingsuchanirresponsiblethingwouldflingherintotheroleofsocialoutcast,andthen,weresheevertomeetherprinceagain,afuturebetweenthemwouldbeimpossible.AndsoshebuckedherselfupandresignedherselftohertemporarydutiesfortheCrown.

Theairwaswarmerthanshehadexpecteditwouldbeatthishouroftheafternoon.Shereinedinherhorseforamomenttountieherfichu.Whiskingitoff,shewaveditbeforeherface.b.u.t.thecirculationofwarmairprovidednorespitefromthecloseheat.

Thepoundingofhoovesontheroaddrewherattention,andsheyankedthereinsandguidedherhorseunderthecoveroftrees.There,inthedistance,advancedayoungmanatopahugeblackgelding.

Asheneared,shesawthatheworenoneckcloth.Hislawns.h.i.+rtbillowedopen,revealingthemuscledmoundsofhisfirmchest.

BeadsofnervousperspirationeruptedatElizabeth'shairlineas.h.i.+shorsegallopedcloser,andshedabbedherforeheadwithherlacefichua.s.shestudiedthegentleman'sform.Hisveryfamiliarform.

Hedidnotwearacoatinthewarmthofthesummerevening,nordidgoldepauletsflutterintheairwitheachriseandfallofhisgelding'shoofs.Noscarletsashdrapedoverhisshouldertoreachdownandacrosstohisleanhip.

Butstill,thoughhewasgarbedliketheveriestcountryfarmer,sheknewhim.

Hewasherprince.

Whattrickoflightisthis?

Sumnerreinedhisma.s.sivehorsetoahalt.Heraisedhishandagainsttheglareofthelowhangingsunandsquintedhiseyesatthefigurenearlyhiddeninthedappledsunlightbeneathamatureoaktree.

Atremorpulsedthroughhismuscles.He'dfeltthesensationmanytimesbefore.Theexcitementwhenthefirstcannonfired.Whenthefirstriflesounded,sendinghisbodyintomotion.Whenthedrumsof.a.grandmilitaryprocessionpounded.

Butneveratthesightofawoman.

"MissRoyle?"Hisvoiceshook,thoughhethoughthehadcontrolledhisentirelytoovisceralreactiontoher."Canitbe?"

Shenudgedherbayforward,leaningoverthepommela.s.shepa.s.sedbeneathacl.u.s.terofleafybranches.Ashermountfullyemergedintothesunlight,MissRoylestraightenedherbackandsmiled.Hercheekswereflushedwithrosinessandwereglowing,fromtheheatofthedayorperhapsfromavigorousride,hedidnotknow,b.u.t.thesightofherstirredsomethingdeepwithinhim.

"Areyouwell?"Shelookedconcernedatfirst,b.u.t.thenraisedherhandandcoveredhermouthas shelaughedsoftly."Whatadaftquestion.Lookatyou.Youareglorious."Herhorsesteppedforwardandsheloweredherhandandclutchedthereinstightly.Thesmileevaporatedfromherlipsallatonce."Doforgiveme,YourRoyalHighness.Ididnotmean...thatistosay...youappeartobeinglorioushealth."

"Asdoyou,MissRoyle."Thatwasanunderstatement.Shelookedbeautiful.Evenintheheatofthesummer,afteraride,shewasravis.h.i.+ng.Perfect.

Shelookedawayandmutteredsomethingthatsoundedalotlike"glorious"underherbreath.Whenshemethisgazeagain,thecurvetoherlipswasmanufactured,clearlybornofembarra.s.sment."Thankyou,YourRoyalHighness."

Thereitwasagain-YourRoyalHighness.Atwingeofguiltstabbeddeeplyathisconscience.Hewantedtogotoher,toconfessandexplainhisreasonsbehindthecharade.Buthecouldn'tnow.HeandLeopoldhadagreedonthispoint.Ithadtobethisway.Forthetimebeing,anyway,forLeopold'ssafetyaswellasMissRoyle's.

Instinctively,Sumnertightenedhislegs'griponhishorse,anditmovedforwarduntiltheirhorses'headswhereparallel."Whatforcefromtheheavenscouldhavebroughtforthsuchajoyfulhappenstanceasmeetingyouontheroad?"

Aquickbreezestirredupdrycloudsofearthendustaroundthem,butratherthancloseherlidsagainsttheburst,shemethisgaze,hereyessparklinglikeglitteringemeraldsintheafternoonsun."Idonotknowwhethertheheavenshadanythingtodowiththishappyturnofevents,"shesaid,ahintofmirthliftinghervoice,"thoughIbelievewecanperhapsthankMissElphinstoneforthefortuitouscoincidenceofourpresenceatWindsor."

Sumner'seyebrowsdrewclose."Whatdoyoumean,MissRoyle?"

Sheconvenientlysidesteppedhisquestionmomentarilyandinsteadposedherown."Haveyoutakenlodgingatthecastle?"Sheseemedoddlydiscomfitedbytheveryquestionsheposed,butwasevidentlysomehowcompelledtoaskit.

"No,ofcoursenot.Ourpresencehere..."Heloweredhishead,andfocusedridiculouslyonastonenearhismount'srighthoof,wis.h.i.+nghecouldsimplytellher."...isacloselyguardedsecret."

"Notsoclose,"sheinterjected,"forIstumbledacrossyou,didInot?Isyourcousinabout?"

Leopold?Whywouldsheaskabouthim?Hischesttightened."Whyareyouhere,MissRoyle?"Heleanedupinhissaddleandglancedaroundher."Iseenoothers,nohamperoffoodtoindicateanafternoonsojourntothecountry."

Hisgelding'sbitandbridlejingled,andhelookeddowntoseehishorsenuzzlingtheneckofMissRoyle'sbay.Hefeltstrangelyembarra.s.sedbythis.OrperhapsheonlywishedtheridersweredoingthesamedownbytheThamesonablanket,withoutacarebetweenthem.ButproprietyandhisneedtofocusonLeopold'ssafetypreventedit.

"Thereisn.o.basket;noothers."Sheturnedandglanceduptheroad."IaminresidenceatCranbourneLodge.Asoftoday,IamoneofPrincessCharlotte'slady'scompanions."

"YouareatCranbourne?"Sumnerfeltthatoddjoltofexcitementagain.

"Yes,YourRoyalHighness,Iam."

Sumnerfeltagrinofantic.i.p.ationonhislips."ThenIshallseeyouthisverynight."

MissRoyleliftedhereyebrowsinapparentsurprise."My,my,youareaveryconfidentman,aren't you?"

"Doforgiveme,MissRoyle.ImeantIwouldseeyou...atdinner."Thatbeguilingblushfilledhercheeksagain,andforaninstanthewishedhehadbeenrakishenough,justthen,tomeanwhatshehadsupposed.