Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 8

Sohelookedupathimwithfalsecoyness."SomayIa.s.sumeyouarelodging...secretly...nearby?""Youmayindeed,secretly,ofcourse,MissRoyle."MissRoyletippedherheadinadieu."Goodafternoon,YourRoyalHighness.Ihopeweshallspeak againverysoon."Sumnernoddedhisheadtoher,andwatchedMissRoyletugatthereinsandturnherbayinthe directionofCranbourneLodge."Weshall,MissRoyle.Ofthat,Iamcertain."Whenshedisappearedaroundthebendintheroad,hejerkedhisreinsandgallopedintotheforest.HehadtospeakwithLeopold.Atonce.

Chapter8.

CranbourneCottage WhenSumnerapproachedthethatchroofedgamekeeper'scottageattheedgeofWindsorForest,Leopoldwa.s.sittingonthewindowledgeoftheupperleveltotakeintheair.Despitetheheat,hewaswearingacrispwhitelawns.h.i.+rtandalooselytiedceruleanneckcloth,thoughhe'datleasthadthegoodsensetodispensewithhiscoat.

"Bitwarmforaneckcloth,Leopold,eh?"

PrinceLeopold,whowasalwaysasformalinhispublicattireaswithhismanner,wavedoffSumner'scomment."PrincessCharlotteisnear,"hiscousincalleddownfromthewindow."Iintendtobepresentableshouldshehonormewithhercompany."

Ayounggroomsmancamerunningtowardthecottage,shovinghisunruly,sweatdampened,b.u.t.tercoloredhairfromhiseyes.Sumnerswunghislegoverthehorseanddismounted,thenhandedoffthegeldingtotheyoungman.Thegroomsmanbowedsilently,neverraisinghiseyestoSumner-theprince-orsotheladobviouslybelieved.

Justasitmustbe.

Justasithadalwaysbeen-posingasanotherfortheprotectionofothers.ItwasasadtruththatonlytwoothersinthisworldeverknewSumner'strueident.i.ty...andneitheronewasLeopold.Eventothisday.Leopoldbelievedhimtobehiscousin,andthatwasthetruthSumnerlivedby.

Intheiryouth,theyweretraineda.s.soldierstogether.Leopoldstudiedstrategyandhistory,whilepain,brutality,andtrialsofwittestedSumner'sbodyandmindforhiseventualpositionasawarriorinthemilitary.b.u.t.theirpathsalwaysranparallel,andtheywereateachother'ssidesthroughcampaignsandbattles.

Astheyweretoday.

SumnerwaiteduntilthegroomsmanhadtrottedthehorseclearoftheyardbeforeherespondedtoLeopold."Sheshan'tevercometothecottage,despiteherpenchantfordisobedience.Tooriskyforher."Heduckedthroughtheentranceandbeforeheclosedtheplankdoorbehindhim,Leopoldhadappearedatthebottomofthestaircase."Donotlooksogriefstricken.ImetMissElphinstoneintheglenandalliswell.Wearetodinewiththeprincessandhercompanionsthisveryeve-insecret."

"Hercompanions?Whatisthisnonsense?"Leopoldpracticallysnarled.Hewalkedacrosstheroomandsatuponanoakbenchbesideafrontwindow,thrownwidetocatchanysmallbreezethatmightblessthecottageonthisstiflingday."Nooneissupposedtoknowwearehere.Itcouldbeamatteroflifeordeath-mine!"

"Ididsaythatthedinnerwillbeconductedinsecret.Onlyafewtrustedmembersofprincess'sstaff,MissElphinstone,andPrincessCharlotteknowwewereprovidedwithrefugehereatCranbourneLodge."Hepausedthen."Oh,andthereisoneother."HeliftedhiseyestopeeratLeopold.

Thetrueprincecametohisfeet."Whydoyoudelay?Whoisit?Shouldwebeconcerned?"

Sumnershookhishead."Ithinknot.ItisMissElizabethRoyle."

ThesurprisewasplainlyvisibleinLeopold'seyes.Hesaidnothingforsomemomentsbeforespeakingagain."Wasit...wisetoinformherofourpresence,Sumner?"

Sumnershruggedhisshoulders."Forhersake,Idonotknow.Foryoursake,Iwouldventuretosaythemissposesnothreat."

Leopoldbentatthekneesandsatdownagain.

"Butyoumaydecidethatforyourselftonight,cousin."

"Sheishere?"Leopoldsatverystillforseveralseconds,thenshookhisheadslowly."Whydidyouaskherhere?Youknowhowperilousitis.Shehasalreadybeenshotinthehead-simplybecauseofhera.s.sociationwithyou!"

Sumnerraisedhishandtohalttheprince'stirade."IdidnotaskhertoWindsor,andyetsheishere.ImetherontheroadtoCranbourneLodgeonlytwentyminutespast."

"Howthen?"Leopoldstretchedouthisarmandrestedinonthewindowsill.

"FromwhatIgather,shewasengagedbyyourdearfriend,Mercer,asalady'scompanionforPrincessCharlotte."

"MissRoyle-alady'scompanion?Oddchoice."Leopoldloweredhisarmandrestedhiselbowsonhisknees."ThedirectionsurelycamefromPrincessCharlotte.Noonewouldbeaskedtojointheprincess,andmostnotespeciallynowwhilewearehere,without.i.tbeingherexpressedroyalorder."

"OrthePrinceRegent's."Sumnerraisedhiseyebrows."ThoughIthinkweareinagreementthatifthePrinceRegentknewanythingaboutMissRoyle,orhersisters,hewouldnotallowheranywherenearhisheadstrongCharlotte."

Leopoldnodded,thenlookedquizzicallyupatSumner."DoyouthinkPrincessCharlotteknowsaboutherpossiblekins.h.i.+pwithMissRoyle?OrisitthatshemayhavesimplydetectedafondnessonyourpartforMissRoyleandwishedtoplaymatchmaker?"

"IdonotdoubtthatsheorMercermightbedrivenbyameasureofboredomandawishtoplayatmatchmaking."Sumnerrubbedhischinashethoughtabout.i.t."IthinkitmorelikelythatPrincessCharlotteknows.e.xactlywhoMissRoylemaybe,andthat,moreover,iswhyamerecommonerwasengagedascompaniontotheprincess."

LeopoldrestedhisheadinhishandsmomentarilyandappearedtoconsiderwhatSumnerhadtheorized.Henodded,slowlyatfirst,thenfasterashegraspedthenotionmoretightly."Ibelieveyouhavetherightofit,Sumner.Butmyquestiontoyouisthis-sinceIamnotknownbutbyaveryfewsoulsinLondon,otherthanbyname,veryfewpeopleinTownknowmebysight."

Sumneragreedandsankintoachairbesidethecoldhearth."EveryoneatAlmack'sseemedtobelieveIwasPrinceLeopold.EvenMissRoyle,whomIoriginallyintroducedmyselftoa.s.sumnerLansdowne,LordWhitevale,believesIam...well,you."

"Exactly."

"Sowhatisyourquestion,Leopold?"

Raisinghisindexfinger,hetappeditintheairseveraltimesinSumner'sdirectionbeforecontinuing."Whyisthat?"

"Whyiswhat?"SumnerwasbecomingincreasinglyexasperatedbyLeopold'sroundthetrackwayofaskingaquestion.

"Why,afterhearingfromyourownlipsthatyouarenotPrinceLeopold,doesshestillbelievethatyouare?"

Sumnerlethisgazefalltothecleanstonefloor."Idonotknowforcertain."HeliftedhiseyestoLeopold."AtAlmack's,sheaskedmewhyIpretendedtobeWhitevalewhenwefirstmetatthejewelers.Attheball,itwasevidentthatshebelievedIwasPrinceLeopold.So,Itoyedwithher,tellingherIhadbeen'incognito.'"

"Andyouwereincognito-attheball."Leopoldgrinnedabit."Notwhenyoufirstmet."

"Ihadtotellhersomethingtoquellhercuriosityandthankfullymyclaimserved.Whatshesawattheballwa.s.strongerthanwhatsheheardatthejewelers."Sumner'sjawtightened."Whatisyourpointinthisdiscussion?"

Leopoldsatquietly.

"DoyoususpectMissRoyleofsomething?"Sumner'smindwa.s.swirling.Hadhemissedsomething?Hadhisattractiontoher,hisemotions,cloudedhiscriticalthinkingandputPrinceLeopoldindanger?No.No.Hehadalwayshadakeensenseaboutpeople'snatures.Andhewa.s.sureofonething-thathecouldtrustMissRoylewithhislife.Shesaveditoncealready,afterall."Youarewrongabouther,Leopold."

"Isaidnothing."Leopoldroseslowlyandturnedtopeeroutofthewindow.

"ShebelievesIamtheprince,andIwillmaintainthisruseuntilwereturntoParisorIamconvincedyourlifeisnolongerindanger."Sumnerrealizedatthatmomentthathisbreathwascomingfast.Hiswordswereclipped.Histemperhadflared.

Hedrewinseveraldeepgulpsofairintohislungs.Hiscooldetachment,hiscontrol-whichhadalwaysallowedhimtomakecrucialdecisions,whetherinbattleorinensuringthesafetyofPrinceLeopold-hadalreadybeencompromisedbyhisemotions.

Thatwouldn'tdo.Wouldn'tdoatall.

"Youneedn'tfret,Leopold."Hetookanotherdeepbreath."Iwillnotallowmyfeelingstohaveaplaceinyourprotection.Iswearit."

Leopoldturnedandheadedforthefrontdoor.Ashepa.s.sedSumner,heclappedhimontheshoulder."Ineverhadanydoubt."

OnehouruntilmidnightCranbourneLodge AloudgrowlemanatedfromElizabeth'sstomach."Oh,dear.AretherewildcatsinWindsorForest?"Shelookedoverhershoulderinthedirectionofthewindow,andthenturnedtothethreeotherswhosatbeforetheexpansivetableinthelow,insufficientglowofonlytwoflickeringcandles.

PrincessCharlottecastabarelyconcealedgrininherconfidanteMercer'sdirection.Shehadonlyjustreturnedfromvisitinghergrandmotherandauntsatthecastle,whichnecessitatedthelatenessofthemeal."Yes,MissRoyle,Idobelievethereare.Haresandbadger,too,thoughIdaresayIhavenotheardapeepfromthemthisevening."

Mercer'sshouldersshookslightly,andElizabethrealizedshehadfoolednoone.Hercheeksheatedwithcolor.

"Iheardawildcatjustaswedrewupbeforethelodge,"theprince'scousinsaid."Didn'tyou,Leopold?"

Theprinceshowednoemotion,andyetheagreed."Ididindeed,cousin.Theremustbeagoodlynumberofthemintheforest."

Elizabethnervouslydabbedherserviettetoherlips.Shepeeredattheprince'scousin."Doforgiveme,butwithallofthegoingsonthenightoftheball,Ididnotregisteryourname,sir."

Theprince'sgazeflewtohiscousin.Thecousin'sgazeshottoPrincessCharlotte,whoturned,wideeyed,toMercer.

"Idoapologize,"Elizabethsaidwithnolittledegreeofsuspicionthatsomethingunknowntoherwasafoot."HaveIaskedsomethingIshouldnot?"Thethreeofthemcontinuedsilentlycastinggazesaskancetooneanother.

TheprincessfinallymetElizabeth'seyes.Shereachedoutandtookherhand."DearMissRoyle,theprince'scousinis...theMarquessofWhitevale."Sheraisedhersurprisedeyestotheprinceandthentothecousininwayofintroduction.

"LLordWhitevale?"Elizabethmuttered.Sheturnedinherchairtofacetheprince."But,YourRoyalHighness,youintroducedyourselfasWhitevalewhenwemetinHamiltonandCompany."

Highcolorskimmedtheprince'scheeks."AsItoldyouatthea.s.semblyrooms,MissRoyle-"

"Ah,yes,"sheinterrupted,"'incognito.'Iunderstand."

"MissRoyle,"MissMargaretMercerElphinstonebrokein,"-anddopleasecallmeMercer,everyonedoes,andnowthatyouareoneofus,soshallyou,Ihope.HowdoyoufindCranbourneLodge?"ShesmiledprettilyatElizabetha.s.sheposedherquestion.

MissMargaretMercerElphinstonewasastunninglybeautifulwoman,withsmoothpaleskin,wideeyes,andglossysablehair.Shepresentedherself,inbothmannerandappearance,asbeingseveralyearsolderthanboththeprincessandElizabeth.Orperhapsherpoise,polish,andsophisticationonlymadeherseemmoremature.FromwhatElizabethhadbeentoldbyLadyUpperton,MissMercerElphinstonewasquitewellrespectedinLondonsocietyandafavoriteatroutsandfetes,knownforhercharm,wideandvariedconnections,andquickwit.

"Ifinditquite..."Oh,lud,howdoesoneputthisnicely?"...conducivetothought."Elizabethsmiledatthecompletionofherstatement,quitepleasedshehadmanagedtoexpressherselfandhermeaningsogracefully.

Thatis,untilPrincessCharlotteandMercerbeganlaughingmerrilyatherreply,makingElizabethwonderifshe'dsteppedinsomethingsheoughtn'tagain.

"DearMissRoyle,howrefres.h.i.+ngyouare.Butweknewyouwouldbe,"PrincessCharlottetoldher,herwordspunctuatedwithmissishgiggles."Iamsogladyouhavecome.Youaresodifferentfrommydreadfullydullgovernesses."

"DarlingCharlotte,wherearetheoldjailkeepers?Haveyoupackedthemawaysomewhere-for whatachanceyouaretakinginbringingouresteemedgueststothelodgethisnight,"Mercersaidinallseriousness."Ifyourfatherwastohearofthis,he'dpopyoubackofftoWarwickandIwouldhavesuchatimeoftryingtoseeyou."

TheprinceandLordWhitevalepushedupfromthetableandmadetoleave,butbeforeeithercouldutteraword,PrincessCharlottehadleapttoherfeetandwasovertlygesturingforthegentlementobeseatedagain.

"Noneedtoconcernyourselves.ThoughIknowcirc.u.mstancesrequirethattheLeoandWhitevalemustresideintheprotectionoftheforestforatimefortheirownsafety,Iwillnothavemyfuture...my...theLeotakinghiseveningmealinagamekeeper'snookeverynight."CharlottelookedtoMercer,setherhandsproudlyuponherhipsandspreadherfeet,makingherappearverymuchlikeastrongwilledboy."Besides,noonewillbethewiser.Mygovernesseswereencouragedtoremainatthecastle,aftertheyenjoyedgobletaftergobletofprimeMadeiragiftedtomyfamilybyWellingtonhimself.Now,Iaskyouall,howcouldtheyrefuse?"PrincessCharlotteleanedbackherheadandlaughedheartily."I,myself,actuallymadeagameofplayingmother-butwithMadeiraratherthantea."Charlottesnortedamostunprincesslikelaugh.

"Youarewicked,Charlotte.Positivelywicked,"Mercersaid,withnopretenseofformalitywiththeprincessatall."WhichiswhyyouandIgetonsofamously."SheturnedherclevergazeonElizabeth."AndwhyIhaveasuspicionMissRoylewillbesuchaninterestingadditiontoournumber."

Uncomfortabledidnotquitedescribethewayshefeltattherealizationshehadbeenshoehornedintotheirintimategroupasacourtjestermeantfortheirentertainment.

Still,ElizabethturnedherheadtoleveeacheerfulsmileinPrincessCharlotte'sdirection.Butwhenshedid,shesawthattheprincess'sgazewasalreadywellfixedonher.Itwasanappraising,almostwarygaze.Onethatshenextdirectedupon"theLeo,"thesilly,toofamiliarwayshehadaddressedtheprincethisevening.

TheprincessrealizedElizabeth'sawarenessofherobservationalmostatonce."MissRoyle-"

"Oh,dopleasecallmeElizabeth,"shebeggedthemall."Afterall,wearetobefriends."Oh,la,thatsoundedtrulynauseating.Whataninanethingtosay!Idonotmeldwellwithroyalty.WhathadIbeenthinkingwhenIboardedthecarriagethismorn?Theblowtomyheadhasmademeentirelymad.

"Verywell,Elizabeth,"PrincessCharlottebeganagain."WhatdoyouthinkoftheLeo,here?"Sheinclinedherheadtowardtheprince,almostasthoughnudgingElizabeth'sattentiontohim.

Mercerleanedforwardinherchair,lickingherlowerlipinantic.i.p.ationoftheanswer.

Elizabethglancedattheprince.Hedidnotmeethergaze.Infactheseemedimmediatelyillateaseandpushedbackinhischair.

"I-Ithinktheprinceisverykind,verybrave...andstrong,"Elizabethstammered.Lud,wouldthisnightneverend?

"Heisveryhandsome,too,"Merceradded,"justlikehiscousin."Mercerflashedasly,covertgrininPrincessCharlotte'sdirectionbeforelookingbacktoElizabeth."Doyounotagree,Elizabeth?"

Elizabethfelthereyeswiden."I...I...well,yes.Hedoescutafineform."Whereisthatgunman?HereIam.Come,comeshootmenow.Anythingwaspreferabletothistorture!

Theprincesethishandsonthetableandstood."w.i.l.l.youpleaseexcuseme?IbelieveImusttakesomeair."HeglancedsidelongatElizabeth,thentippedabowtoeachoftheladiesbeforewalkingfromthediningroom.

Whitevaleshotaquick,almostimperceptiblescowlinMercer'sdirection.Ofcourse,hewouldnotdeigntocastsuchanexpressiontotheprincess,whoafterallwasthetruecauseoftheprince'suneasiness.NotMerceratall."Elizabeth..."Hegesturedinthedirectionofthedoorway."Ishouldnotwishhimtobealone.Wouldyoujoinhim,please?"

Elizabethshookherhead."Ibegyou,please,donotaskmetodosuchathing.Itisevidenttheprincewishestobealone."

WhitevalelookedupatPrincessCharlotte."Hemay,buthewasinjuredsorecently,Ishouldn'twishtoleavehimtohimself-andifIweretogo,hewouldaccusemeofcoddlinghim."

PrincessCharlottegrimacedandstood."Iwillgo,then."

Whitevale,hiscousin,shookhishead."Please,allowElizabeth,YourRoyalHighness."Hegrinnedather,andshegiggled."Iwouldliketodiscussthehuntingintheforestwithyou."

Charlottedrapedherarmoverthebackofthechair."Well,sir,youalreadyknowthereareplentyofwildcatsabout."Shemouthedasilentgrowlandpawedtheair,thengiggleduproariously.

Elizabethliftedherbrowatthedisplay.Thatwasit.TheprincesshadobviouslypartakenoftheMadeiraherself.La,shemightaswellfollowtheprinceoutintothenight.Tonight'sconversationwastooconvolutedforsuchasimplemissa.s.shetocomprehend.

"Doexcuse,me,"shesaid,risingfromherchairandpus.h.i.+ngitbackbeneaththetable."IbelieveIshallseetotheprinceafterall.Youarequitecorrect,LordWhitevale,heshouldnotbealone."

MercerwaggledhergracefullyarchedeyebrowsatPrincessCharlotte."AndIbelieveIshallretirefortheevening.Suchalongday."Sherose,anda.s.shepa.s.sedCharlotte,squeezedtheprincess'shand."Goodnight."

MercerloopedherarmaroundElizabeth's.Oddlyenough,theintimategesturefeltquitenatural,forMercerhadaneasywayaboutherthatmadeeveryonefeelcomfortable-even,itseemed,whenshewasbeingmischievous.Togethertheywalkedtowardtheentryhall.

"Dear,Elizabeth,"shesaidastheystrolled."YouareatCranbourneLodgeforareason,andthatreasonhasnothingtodowithme."

Elizabeth'seyebrowsdrewclose."Whatreasonmightthatbethen,Mercer?Please,shareitwithme."

"Thatisforyoutolearn,"Mercerreplieda.s.shedisengagedherhold,"b.u.t.thediscoveryofthatreasonwillbehalfthefun."AsElizabethstoodnearthefrontdoor,Mercerheadedforthegrandstaircase."MissRoyle,donotwastethisgift.Yourtimeisshorthere.Domakegooduseofwhatyouhave."

"I-I..."Elizabethstruggledfortherightwords,butbeforeshecouldseizethem,Mercerhaddisappearedupthedarkstaircase.

Anancient,liveriedfootmanopenedthedoorforElizabeth.Shebreathedinadeep,cleansingbreath,thensteppedintothenight.

Abouttwentypacesfromthedoor,theprincestoodinacolumnofbluemoonlight.Hisbackwastoherandhedidnotseemawareanyonehadcomefromthelodge.

Mercerwasright.Thiswasagift.Shethoughtshehadlosthimonce,butFatehadgiftedherwithanotherchance.

Shewouldnotchancelosinghimagain.Tomissedopportunities.OreventoPrincessCharlotte.Confidently,Elizabethliftedthehemofhergownfromthegroundandsilentlywalkedupbehind him.

Shegentlylaidherhanduponhisshoulder.