Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 17

"ThoughnowthatPrinnyunderstandsherultimatum,IdonotthinkIamincorrectinmyprediction."LeopoldwalkedacirclearoundSumner,examininghisattire."Adarkblueslipper,"hesaidtothevalet,"nottheblack.Itisday.WhatdoEnglishmenknowofdressingwell?Iaskyouthat."

SumnercaughtaglimpseoftheglarecastfromthevaletatthetruePrinceLeopold,anditwasallhecoulddonottolaugh.

CarltonHouseThegarden Atthreeoftheclock,ElizabethandLadyUppertonwereusheredintothelushgardenascantmomentbeforethePrinceRegentandtheroyalfamilyarrived.

RollsoffleshwereplainlyvisiblebeneathPrinny'sclothing,andhewasastartlingsightwithouttheaidofstays.Still,helenthisarmtothequeenandledtherestoftheroyalfamily,includingPrincessCharlotte,intothegarden.

AsElizabethfollowedthequeen'sprogressacrossthelawn-thewomanwhomayhavehadherandhersistersleftfordeadupontheirbirth-shecaughtsightofLadyUppertongazingruefullyather.

"Iknowthisdayisdifficultforyou,dearone,butpleasedonotmakeitharderbydwellingonthedistantpastandwhatmayormaynothaveoccurred."LadyUppertonreachedoutandsqueezedElizabeth'shand.

"Untilthequeenarrived,IwouldhavesaidthatIlookedforwardtothisdayfromthemomentIreceivedtheinvitationtoattend."ElizabethshookoffthedarkimageofthequeenandLadyJerseyfromhermind."ForIwillseeSumner,andFatewillseetotherest."

LadyUppertonsigheddisappointedly,butdidnotpressElizabethtosetherdreamaside."Itislovelyhere,youmustagree."

"Indeed,Ido."Elizabethdrewinarefres.h.i.+ngbreathandimmediatelyfeltherspiritslifthigh.TheCarltonHousegardenwasasbeautifulasitwas.e.xtensive.Hugetreesandglossygreeneryweresetoffbycl.u.s.tersofbrightlycoloredflowers.

Ladieswereinfulldress,withfeathers,diamonds,andgowns,exactlyasiftheywereattendingadrawingroom.Thegentlemenwerewearingfittedcoatsandformalwhitekneebreechesandbuckles.Itwasaspectacletobehold.

Tentshadbeenerectedhereandthere,andbeneaththem,tablesofsumptuousfoodanddrinkcouldbefound.Atoneendofthegardenanorchestrahadbeena.s.sembled,anddancinghadjustcommencedonthelawn.

ElizabethroseupuponhertoestosearchforSumner,butLadyUppertongraspedherarmandpulledherbackdownintoherslippers.

"Heishere,somewhere,"Elizabethmutteredtoherself."Surely,hewouldhavearrivedbeforetheroyalfamily."

LadyUppertonliftedherlorgnettetohereyes."There.Heisstandingbeforetheorchestra."Shegesturedwithaflickofherivoryhandledeyepiece.

InaninstantElizabethspiedSumner,andherbreathcollapsedinherlungs.OnhisarmwasPrincessCharlotte,herheadproudanderectasheledhertothecenterofthedancingground.

Elizabethtestedherwill,tryingtolookaway,butshecouldnotremovehereyesfromtheroyalcoupleastheydancedaspiritedScotchdance.

Shestared,herheartfeelingasthoughitwerebreakinga.s.sumnergiftedCharlottewiththesamekneeweakeninggazeashe'dgivenher,theoneheclaimedtolove,attheDruryLaneTheatre.

"Heisaguestinherfather'shouse.Iamsurethatiswhytheyaredancing,"LadyUppertonoffered.

Elizabethstoodsilentlywatchingtheprinceandprincessdance.Thosestandingatthedancingground'sperimeterwerecaptivatedbythesightofthetwohandsomeroyalsdancinggracefullyinaheavenlygarden.

Itwasavisionstraightoutofafairytale.

ToElizabethitwasahorridnightmare.

Hereyesbegantoheat,andbeforeasingletearcouldbeshed,shefumbledinsideherreticuleforahandkerchief.Butbeforeshecouldwithdrawit,LordWhitevale,theprince'sstrikingcousin,caughtherhandandwithoutaskingpermissioninanywayledhertothedancingground.

"Todayisnotoneforworryandtear,MissRoyle,"Whitevaletoldher."Itisadayformakingmerry."Hespunheraround,smilingatherallthewhile.

ThemusichummedinsideofElizabeth,b.u.t.trya.s.shemight,shecouldnotfocusonthedance.NotwithSumnersoclose-andyetsofaraway.

Thoughshecouldnotremovehergazefromhim,Sumnerdidnotevenglanceherwayonceduringthedance,evenwhentheywerecalledupontocha.s.searoundoneanother.

Herthroatfeltthickandeverybreathbecameasmuchach.o.r.easremainingonthedancegroundamomentlonger.

Astheorchestraplayedthefinalnote,andthedancersandaudienceclappedtheirapproval,ElizabethsearchedthecrowdforLadyUpperton.Shehadtofindherfortheymustleaveatonce.Thiswasjusttoodifficulttoendure.

WhyhadMercerbeensoinsistentthatshecome,whenshehadtohaveknownthiswouldhappen?

Perhapsthatwasthereasonshehadbeeninvited.Soshecouldseeforherself,understand,thechoicethatPrinceLeopoldhadmadeforthegoodofSaxeCoburg.

ElizabethhoistedthemostauthenticsmileshecouldmusterandthankedLordWhitevaleforthedance.Afterdroppingacurtsy,sheturnedtoleavethedancingground,butWhitevalecaughtherwaistandspunheraround-directlyintotheprince.

Herheadjerkedupandtheirgazesmetforonelongmeaningfulmoment.Hishandreachedoutandsteadiedher.Themomenthisfingerstouchedherarm,adullacheformedinherbellyandheatbegantopoolbetweenherlegs.

Everythingaboutthismomentwa.s.sowrong.Wrong.

Hehadundoubtedlymadehischoice.Theonlyonehecouldhaveevermade.Whatshewasfeeling,withnomoreprovocationthananinnocenttouch,wasnothinglessthansinful.

Hisfingersfelthotuponherarm,andsheknewifshedidnotleaveatonce,shemightdosomethingrash,somethingtopersuadehimtoslipawayforashortwhiletoa.s.suagehercravingforhim.

Herlipsallbutburnedforhiskiss.Herarmslongedtoholdhim.

PrinceCharlotte,hercheeksallaglow,movedbetweentheprinceandhiscousin,andgracedElizabethwithasmile."Iamsogladyoucouldattendthefete,MissRoyle.Iconsiderthisasecretcelebration,yousee,formyfatherhasconsentedtoconsideramarriagebetweenmyselfandtheLeowithalldueseriousness."

Elizabethforcedasmile,butshecouldnotmaintainitanditwitheredonherlips.

"Mygrandmotheradmits,however,thatmyfatherwillgivehisblessingsoonenough.Heonlyrequiresenoughtimetobegiventheimpressionthattheideawas.h.i.+sown."PrincessCharlottebegantolaugh."Idonotmindabit,aslongashegives.h.i.+sconsentbeforeIamtooagedtoenjoybeingmarriedtosuchahandsomeman."

LordWhitevale,likelyfeelingasawkwardasElizabethdidattheintimatecoursetheconversationhadtaken,blanched.Theorchestrastruckachordagain,andcouplesscurriedontothedancingground.

LordWhitevalebowedtotheprincess."Doyouthinkitpermissiblethatwedance,YourRoyalHighness?"

PrincessCharlotte,neverbeingastrictmonitorofprotocol,laughedquiteloudly."Whatadearmanyouare.Come,letusdance.Whatargumentcouldmyfatherpossiblyhaveagainstmydancingwithyou?"

Elizabethwasn'tsurewhattodo.Shecertainlydidn'ttrustherself.Herprincewashere,directlyinfrontofher.Shewasliabletosayordoanythingtoholdhimtoher.

"Elizabeth,"hesaid,insuchalowtoneherearsbarelyregisteredthesound."ThereissomethingImusttellyou.ButIcannotdoithere.Notnow."

"IdonotknowwhatyoumighttellmethathasnotalreadybeensaidbythePrincessofWales."Herwordssoundedreedthinandjustasbrittle.

"Ihavemuchtosay.Muchtoconfess."

Elizabeths.h.i.+fteduneasilyfromoneslipperedfoottotheother.Shedidnotmuchcarefortheterm"confess."Itimplieddeliberatewrongdoing.

Sheturnedhergazeupandlookedintohisgrayeyes.Inthesunlight,theringofbluearoundthemwasasbrightandvibrantastheceruleanskyabovethegarden.Shecoulddenyhimnothing."Whenthenshallwespeak?"

"Intwodays'time."Heappearedquiteearnest."Atsunset.Youknowwhere."

"w.i.l.l.youtrulycome?"Elizabethhadnotmeanttosaythewordsaloud.Theyhadsimplyslippedfromherlipsunbidden.

Sumnerappearedhurtbythatcomment."Iwillcome."Heloweredthetoneofhisvoiceagainandleanedclosesoonlyshecouldhearhim."Iswearitonmyloveforyou."

Herheartthumpeddoubletime,andshefeltthesuddenurgetoturnherfaceuptohim,wis.h.i.+nghewouldkissher.Tomakeherknow,trulyknow,thatswearingontheirlovewouldmakeitso.Nomatterthecirc.u.mstances.

Agroupofcuriousladiessaunterednear,anditwasevidenttheyweretryingtohearwhattheprincehadtosaytotheoutrageousmissfromCornwall."Intwodays'time,"sherepeatedsoftly,notknowingwhatelsetosay.

"Itwaswonderfultoseeyouagain,MissRoyle.AndIdothankyouforyourpromptattentionatthetheatre."Itwasapparentthathefeltthepresenceofthegaggleofgossipersbehindhim,buthismovementsgavenohinthewasawareofthem.Helookedsteadily,pa.s.sionately,intoElizabeth'seyes,andallthewhilemadeappropriateconversation."Imightnothavesurvivedhadyounotactedsoquicklyandsecuredaphysiciantotendtomywound.Youaretobecommended,mygoodlady."

Elizabethbowedherheaddemurelyanddroppedalowcurtsy.

Sumnerbowedtoher,thenglancedoverhisshouldertowhereCharlotteandhiscousindancedonthelawn.

"Goodday,MissRoyle.PleasesendLadyUppertonmywellwishes,"hesaid.

"Ishall,YourRoyalHighness."Sumner.

Asheturned,hetouchedhislipsandcastasecretkisstoheroncemore.

Elizabethdidn'tknowwhatshewasfeelingatthatmoment.Hiseyestoldherthatnothinghadchanged.Thathelovedhera.s.shedidhim.Buthismentionofneedingtoconfesssomethingpetrifiedher.

Atthatmoment,sherealizedshewaslookingblindlythroughcrowd.Focusingherattention,andtryingthebestshecouldtopenheremotions,ElizabethlookedaboutuntilshesawLadyUppertonstandingonthetipsofhertoestoseewhatdelicaciesmightbefoundtowardthebackofabountifullystockedtable.

Elizabethplottedapaththroughtheundulatingcrowdtomeethersponsor.Everystepwasaneffort,foritwasmovingfartherawayfromherprince,but.i.twouldnotbeforever,shetoldherself.

She'dbewithhimagain.

Intwodays'time.

Chapter17.

BerkeleySquare T hefrontdoorflewopenwithsuchforcethat.i.tnearlybrokefromits.h.i.+nges."Elizabeth,whereareyou?"Anneshouteddownthepa.s.sage.

Elizabethleaptupfromthetableinthekitchen,whereshehadbeensitting,reviewingMrs.Polkshank'slistforthebutcher.Shewhippedherheadaroundandlookedatthestaircasethroughthekitchendoorway."Anne?"shecalledback."Issomethingamiss?"

Allatonceitsoundedlikeaherdofoxenwerebeingdrivendownthestairtreadsandintothekitchen.ShewasgreatlyrelievedwhenshesawitwasonlyAnne.

"Lizzy,haveyoureadthenewspaperthisday?"Annewasgaspingforbreath,shovingacopyoftheTimestowardher.HadElizabethnotknownbetter,shewouldhavethoughthersisterhadrunallthewayfromc.o.c.kspurStreettoBerkeleySquaretohandittoher.

"Ihavenothadasparemomentallmorning."ElizabethtookthenewspaperfromAnne,thengaveMrs.Polkshankaconfusedglance.

Cookshruggedhershoulders,appearingascluelessastothereasonforAnne'ssurprisevisita.s.she.

Elizabethsatdownatthetableandunfoldedthenewspaper.

Annegrabbeditfromherhands,slappedittothetable,andranherindexfingerdownthefrontpage."There.Readthis."

Elizabethpickedupthenewspaperandraisedthearticletohereyes.AgainAnnegrabbedtheTimesfromherhands.

"Oh,Icannotwaitforyoutoreadtheentirearticle."Shedrewinadeepbreaththenshookherhandsasthoughdryingthemintheair."HeisleavingforParis-today!"

"Whois,miss?"Mrs.Polkshankasked.

AnneturnedherheadatCook,thenbackatElizabeth."PrinceLeopold.Today.Didyouhearme?HeisleavingforParistoday."

Elizabethwasbewildered."No,thatcannotbe.Ijustspokewithhimyesterday."

Annepokedherfingeratthenewspaper."Itsaysasmuchrightthere.Readit."

Elizabethbentherheadandlookedatthearticle,butAnneslammedherpalmuponit.

"No,don'treadit,"hersistercriedoutwithfrustration."Youdonothavetime!"

"IamsureIdohavetime.PrinceLeopoldisnotgoinganywhere.Wearetomeettomorroweveningatthe-"Elizabethcaughtherself."At...the...well,Iamnotatlibertytosay.Safetyprecautions,youknow."

"Lizzy,theprinceisleavingCarltonHouseatnoontoday."Annewaitedforaresponse,butcontinuedwhenElizabethmerelysatandlistened."Amole,insidecourt,hasitongoodauthoritythatthePrinceofWaleshasaskedPrinceLeopoldtoconferwithhisCoburgfamilyaboutthedesirabilityofamarriagebetweentheirtwofamilies.OncehehasreceivedconfirmationthattheCoburgfamilysupportssuchaunion,hewillgiveconsent-ifhisdaughterisstillunmarriedatthattime."

Elizabethcrinkledherbrow."Andso..."

"SotheprinceisreturningtoParis,toresumehismilitaryduties,whilesendingurgentdispatchestohisbrotherandfamily.Or,soclaimsthissource."Annefranticallyshookherhandsagain.

No.Itwasn'ttrue.ShehadseenthelookinSumner'seyes.HelovedherandwouldbeattheSerpentinetomorrowatsunset.Shewasascertainofita.s.shewasthatthesunwouldriseinthemorning.

"Comewithme.Ifweleavenow,youmaybeabletospeakwithhim."AnnecaughtElizabeth'swristandtuggedather.

"Whydon'tyougo,MissElizabeth,"Mrs.Polkshanksaid."ProvethatmouseinCarltonHousewrong."Cookfoldedherarmsoverheramplechestandgaveherheadafirmnod.

"Itwasamole,"Annesnapped."Notamouse."

"Idon'tcarewhatsortofverminitis,"Mrs.Polkshankrepliedsmartly."Ilearnedalongtimeagothatyoucan'ttrustaratnomatterwhathecalls.h.i.+mself."

Elizabethpushedupfromthetable."IagreewithCook,andIshallaccompanyyouforthereasonshesuggested.Noother.ForIdonotbelieveforoneinstantthattheprinceisleavingEnglandtoday."

CarltonHouse AnnebadehercarriagedrivertohandthemdownatthefarendofthegatewaytoCarltonHouse,thenreturntoherhomeonc.o.c.kspurStreettowait.

"Thatway,ifPrinceLeopoldspiesus,fromawindowaboveor...possiblyfromacarriage..."Annepauseda.s.shesteppedtothestreet."...wecanclaimwewerereturningfromshoppingonPallMallandwalkingtomyhome."

"Aren'tyouthecleverone?Youhavethoughtofeverything."Elizabethsighedasthefootmanhandedherdownfromthetowncarriagetojoinhersister.

"Thereisnoneedtobeangrywithme.IdidnotpenthearticleintheTimes!"Anne'sspineseemedtostiffentosuchanextentthatElizabethwonderedhowshemanagedtowalk.

"Iamnotangrywithyou,dear,IamfuriouswithmyselfforcomingtoCarltonHouseatnoon."Elizabethglancedatthehighwindowsjustbelowtherooftop.Once,shehadlookedupattheseverysamewindowswonderingifthePrinceofWales,hernaturalfatherinallpossibility,waslookingdownatheratthesamemoment.Nowshewonderedifherprince,herfuturehusband,wasgazingthroughoneofthosemanywindows.Howafewweeksmadesuchadifference.

Shesighed.Sheshouldnothavecome.