Royle - How To Propose To A Prince Part 2

"Forthesakeofargument,letussaythatthegentlemanyoumetwas,infact,PrinceLeopold,"LadyUppertonbegan.

"Hewas!"Elizabethblurted.

"Now,now,doletmefinish."Hersponsorraisedahand,promptingElizabethtoclosehermouth."Sowewilla.s.sumethatthemanwasLeopold.WereyouawarethatthePrinceRegenthasensconcedhisdaughterinCranbourneLodgeinWindsor...whichisnotsodistantfromLondon,asyouwellknow."LadyUppertoncrossedherarmsandwaitedforElizabeth'sreaction.

"CCranbourneLodgeinWindsor?"Sheswallowedthelumpthathadrisenintoherthroat.

"IfIamnotmistaken-b.u.t.then,Iamoldandmymemorysometimesfailsme..."LadyUppertonstraightenedherbackandhergazebecameaskeenasarazorfreshfromthesharpeningleather."...thatthetiara,theveryonethemansetuponyourhead,wastobedeliveredtoCranbourneLodge?"

"YYes,itwas,"Elizabethstammereda.s.shenervouslyscratchedthesideofherneck.Thisbitofnewsdidcomplicatematters.

Justalittle.

Gallantine,whohadseatedhimself,adjustedhisauburnwiguponhishead."NowthatyouunderstandthattheprincelikelyintendstomarryCharlotte,andnotyou,maywegetonwiththebusinessoffindingyouapropermatch?"

Elizabethloweredherheadandpeeredatthetealeavesswirlinginthebottomofhercup.Despitemountingevidencetothecontrary,sheknewshehaddreamtthefuture.Howcouldshebeexpectedtosimplyignoreherpropheticdreamandseekamatchwithanother?Itwasanimpossibility.

ThetimbreofGallantine'svoicechanged,andbelatedlyElizabethrealizedthathewa.s.stilladdressingher.

"ThereisaprivateballatAlmack'stomorrowevening,"hewa.s.saying."TheguestlistisquitethetalkofMayfair,youknow."

Elizabethglancedupfromherteacupandnodded."Weareattending.Iremember.LadyUppertonhasalreadyselectedtheemeraldsatingownformetowearfortheoccasion.MadameDevypromisedtohaveitdeliveredonthemorrow."

Gallantineslappedhishandstohisk.n.o.bbyoldkneesandpusheduponthemwhileleaningforwardforthemomentumtostandupright."Perfect.ThereissomeoneLordLotharian,Lilywhite,andIwouldlikeforyoutomeet."

Elizabethglanceddownagainandfocusedonthecurlsofsteamrisingfromhercupa.s.sherolledhereyes.Goodheavens.Shehadtoldthemhercoursewasclear.Shewouldmarrytheprince.Therewasnodoubtinhermind.

Whydotheypersistwiththissenselessmatchmaking?HaveInotmademyfutureperfectlyplain?

Evidentlynot.

ShelookedatLordGallantine,whoseemedquitepleasedwithhimselfatthatmoment,proudatwhatevermatchhe,LordLotharian,andLilywhitehadplanned,nodoubtwiththehelpLadyUpperton,theirfemalecohortinthisconstantmatchmakingmadness.

Well,theymighthavesucceededinorchestratingperfectlypropermatchesforhersisters,butFatewasonherside.Andtherewasnopossiblewayshewasgoingtoletthemeddlingquartetinterfere.Shewouldnotgowillinglyalongwithit.Andshewouldtellthemso...inherownway.

"However,"Elizabethcoughedintoaballedfist,"IthoughtImightretirequietlyathomeratherthanattendtheball."

"Whatisthisnonsense,Elizabeth?"LordGallantinenarrowedhiseyesather.

Elizabeth'sgazefelltothefloorandremainedthere."Well,sir,itisonlythatIhavefeltdreadfullyfatiguedsinceIwasdrenchedintherainstormearlier...andIfearImayalreadyhaveacolduponmychest."

SheliftedherheadandhergazedartedtoGallantine'seyes,searchingforanyhintthatthisstorymightearnherleavefromtheevent-andanymatchmakingheandtherestoftheOldRakesofMarylebonehadplannedforher.

Gallantinelurchedbackawayfromher."Youareill?"Worrypinchedthecrinkledskinaroundhiseyes,makinghimlookfarolderthanhisseventytwoyears.

Oh,sheshouldnothavementionedillness,sinceitwasnottrue.ButsheknewailmentsofanykindcausedGallantineasmuch,ifnotmore,anxietythanbooks...o...b..ingalignedperfectlyonth.e.s.h.elf,aslipofthreadonhislapel,orclutteronatabletop.Itwascruelofhertousehisnatureagainsthim,terrible,butshecouldthinkofnothingelsejustthenand,lud,shehadherentirefuturetoconsider.

"Well,ifyouareill..."LadyUppertonpausedforamomentandpeeredsuspiciouslyatElizabeth."...trulyill,thenyoushouldnotattendtheball."

Oh,blast.Hersponsorknew,somehow,thatshewasonlycraftingtheslapdashtaletoexcuseherselffromthesocialobligation.Shecouldseeitintheoldwoman'seyes.Elizabethfeltherbodycontractandshecringedintothecus.h.i.+onofthesettee.

LordGallantinetippedhisheadinagreement,causingthewigtoslipdownfromhishairlinetothebridgeofhisnose.HeshoveditbackintoplaceandthenlookedpointedlyatElizabeth."Pityyoucannotattend,deargel.OnceIheardaboutyourpremonition,IwouldhavethoughtyouwouldswimacrosstheThamestoattendthisparticularball."Heturnedwithaloudsighandstartedbacktowardthesecretdoorinthewallofbookcases.

Whatisthis?Afterhearingmypremonition,hethinksIwouldwishtoattendtheballatAlmack's?

"Wait,SirGallantine.Please!"Elizabeth'shandshotfortheteatable,andsheabruptlydroppedherdishoftea,sendingitclatteringdownuponthepolishedsurface.

"Oh!"LadyUppertonjumpedatthesoundandslappedacalminghandtoherchest."Gallantine,youhavestirredhertoogreatly.Docomebackandsitdown."

Elizabethleaptupanddashedafterhim."Please,comebackandexplainwhatyoumean?"

Gallantinestoppedwalkingthemomentshetappedhisshoulderwithherfingers.Hepulledhisarmaway,staringattheplacewhereshehadtouchedhim,thenturnedslowlytofaceher.

"I-Iapologize,LordGallantine,"Elizabethhidherhandsbehindherback,"Ishouldnothavelaidmyhanduponyourarmgivenmypossible...yetunlikelyillness."Sheslidherfootbackwardapacetocalmhim."Ionlywishedtoknowwhatyoumeantbyyourcomment.WhymightIwishtoventuretothisparticularball?"

"IttookLadyUppertonquiteagoodlyamountofdoingtoseeyournameontothelistofveryprestigiousguests."GallantinegaveLadyUppertonanodofacknowledgment,agesturetowhichsheresponded.i.n.kind.

"Ididnotknow."Elizabethturnedanddroppedacurtsytohersponsor."Mythanks,LadyUpperton.Youareverygoodtome."WhenLadyUppertontippedherheadinreply,Elizabethreturnedherattentiontothegentlemanandwaitedforhimtoanswerthequestionshehadposed.

Ittookseverallongmomentsbeforehedeignedtoobligeher."Why,Ithoughtyouhadheard."WhenheglancedacrossthelibrarytoLadyUppertononceagain,Elizabethchasedhisgazewithherown.

LadyUppertonshookherheaddolefully."Isay,Gallantine,shemustn'tknow.ThoughIdonotseewhatbenefitthereistotellinghernow.Sheistooilltoattend,afterall."

"Please.Imustknow."Theyweretoyingwithher,andshewasfullyawareofthisfact.Someoneofgreatimportanceandstandingmustbeattending."Please,tellme."Elizabethwrungherhands.

Maybeeven...him.

Oh,G.o.d,coulditbetrue?

Unabletorestrainherburgeoningexcitement,shetookahastysteptowardGallantine.

"No,no."Thetall,leanviscountshookhishead,sendinghiswigpivotingtotheleft,thentheright,untilitsataskewonhisbaldpate."LadyUppertoniscorrectaboutthis.Ifyouareill,tellingyouthatPrinceLeopoldisrumoredtobeinattendanceattheballwouldonlydisappointyou,child."

"Oh,Gallantine,"LadyUppertonsnapped."Youmightaswelltellhereverything."Shewavedherhanddismissivelyintheair.You'vealreadyslippedupandtoldherPrinceLeopoldwastobeatAlmack's."

"DidI?"Heslippedhisindexfingerbeneathhiswigandscratched,thenrightedtheauburnmonstrosityuponhishead."Idon'tseemtorecall..."hemutteredtohimself.

"Youdid."Sheexhaledalongbreath,andthenshruggedhershouldersasifdefeated."Nowshewillsitinherbedandsulkaboutnotbeingabletoreacquaintherselfwithhersupposedfuturehusband.b.u.t.thatcannotbehelped."ShefocusedhergazeuponElizabeth."Becauseyouaretooill.Iamdreadfullysorry,sweeting."

Elizabeth'sheadswungbackandforthbetweenLadyUppertonandGallantineasifitwereaffixedtoamesmerist'schain."PerhapsIwillfeelbetteronthemorrow.Yes,IamsureifIonlyhadenoughrestthisevening,andanuneventfuldaytomorrow,Iwillberightasraincometimetoleavefortheball."

Gallantineraisedhiseyebrows,andsheknewhewouldprotestheridea.So,clutchingupahandfulofherwalkingskirt,shestartedhurryingtowardthedoortotheentryhall.

Shelookedbackoverhershouldera.s.sherushedfromthelibrary."Goodeve,LadyUpperton,SirGallantine."

LadyUppertonpulledtheleveronthesideofthesetteeandasmallfootstoolshotoutfrombeneathit.ThediminutiveolderwomansteppeddownfromthesetteeandstartedforElizabeth."Mydear,wehavenotyetfinishedourtea.Whereareyougoingwithsuchurgency?"

"HometoBerkeleySquare."Elizabeth'seyeswerefixedontheopendoor.ShedidnotlookbackforfearshewouldseeLadyUppertonbeckoningherbacktothesettee."IfIamtoattendtheballtomorrow,Ioughttoadjourntomybed-withoutdelay!"

WithinminutesshewasoutthedoorandinsideahackneyheadedforBerkeleySquare.

Tomorrow.La,shefeltpositivelygiddyinsideatthethought.Tomorrowshewouldmeetherprinceattheballandprovetoeveryonethatherdreamwouldcometrue.

BerkeleySquareAnhourlater "Youcan'tdothis,Lizzy."Annenervouslytwistedherweddingringaroundandaroundherfinger."Please."

ElizabethlookedatAnnea.s.shestoodinthecenteroftheirgreatauntPrudence'sparlor,hersisterlookingbackatherasthoughshewasquitemad,orattheveryleastnottobetrusted."IamsureIdonotknowwhatyoumean,Anne."Eagertoavoidhersister'sattention,sheallowedhergazetoflitlightlyoverherwhitehairedgreataunt,whodozedpeacefullyinthehearthsidechair,adropletofdroolstretchingfromherlipdowntowardhershoulder.

"Ihaveabetterideatooccupyyourtime."Annerushedtothebookcaseandwithdrewthedoc.u.mentboxtheirfatherhadleftthemuponhisdeath.

"Notthat,Anne."Elizabethsighed."Please,notnow."

Buthersisterignoredherwordsandsettheboxonthetable.Shereachedinsideandwithdrewabra.s.skey.

"Anne,please."Elizabethrolledhereyesashersistertwistedoffthekey'sornateovalgriptorevealahexagonaldriver,thenusedittoreleasethefalsebottomofthebox.

Fromit,Anneremovedtwosmallamberlaudanumbottlesand,allowingthemtoclinktogether,handedthemtoElizabeth,whoexhaledslowlyandheldthebottlesbeforehereyes.

"Twobottleslabeled'laudanum'withacrosshatchbelow.Nonumberlistedafterthecrosshatch,noinitials.Wehavebothstudiedtheseforcluesforhours-thelastbitsoffather'ssocalledevidence-butwefoundnothing.Theyoffernoproofabouttheeventsofourbirth."

Annesighed.ItwascleartoElizabeththathersisterwasnotgoingtogiveinsoeasily."LothariantoldusthatFathersaidthelaudanumhadbeenused,byLadyJerseyoreventhequeen,todrugMrs.Fitzherbertduringourbirth...orshortlyafterward.Andthatthelaudanumhadnotbeensuppliedbyourfather."

Elizabeths.n.a.t.c.hedupAnne'shandandforcefullypressedthebottlesbackintothem,notcaringifthegla.s.sbrokeintheprocess."Evenifweknewwhosuppliedthelaudanum,itwouldn'tprovewhetherwearethetruedaughtersofthePrinceofWalesandhissecretwife!Itwouldonlyprove,ifthestoryistrueatall,thatanothersurgeonwasinvolvedinconcealingourbirth.So,thissupposedproofdoesnotmatteratall."ElizabethwalkedtothehearthbeforefacingAnneagain."IhaveresignedmyselftothefactthatwemayneverhaveenoughevidencetoprovewearedaughtersofthePrinceofWales."

Annelookedupatherpeevishly,andthenreturnedthebottlestotheirhidingplaceinsidethebox."Ionlythoughtthatyoumightamuseyourself,whileIamaway,bytryingtolearnmoreaboutthebottles.Youaresoclever.Iamsureyoucanfindthemeaningofthebottles."

"Stop,Anne.Please,stopnow."Shebroughtherfingerstohertemplesandrubbedthemtosoothetheachethere.SheturnedhereyestowardAnne."YouandMaryhaveseeminglygivenupprovingFather'sstoryofourbirth.Whyshouldn'tI?WhyshouldInotoccupymyselfwithpursuingmyownfuture-asyouandMaryhave?"

Annestoodonhertoesandsettheboxhighonth.e.s.h.elf.Whensheturnedaround,Elizabethsawthathercheeksweregrowingredwithfrustration."LairdandIareleavingonthemorrow,Lizzy.Itistobeourhoneymoon.Please,promisemeyouwillnotapproachPrinceLeopoldattheballanddoorsayanythingnonsensical.Youmustdismissthisnotionthatheisyourfuturehusband."

Elizabethfoldedherarmsacrossherchest."Iknowbetter,Anne,"shesaidfirmly.

"Lizzy,allofLondonisabuzzwithrumorsthathemeanstomarryPrincessCharlottetheveryinstanthehasthebackingofParliamentandtheRegent."

"Becausehewishesit,orisrumoredtowis.h.i.+t,doesnotmeanhewillmarrytheprincess."Elizabethunfoldedherarmsandsetherhandsonherhips.

"Perhapsnot,but.i.tdoesnotmeanhewillwedyou,either!"Anneexpelledagrowlofabreath."Berealisticaboutthis,Lizzy!"

"IknowwhatIsawinmydream,Anne."Yes,sheknewallofthismustsoundutterlymadtotherestoftheworld,but.i.tshouldnottoAnne.Herdreamswereprophetic,andbothofhersistershadpersonalproofofthis.NotonlyhadshedreamtthathersisterMarywouldfallinloveandmarrytheDukeofBlackstone,despiteherclaimsthatsheloathedhimaboveothers,butherdreamsalsocorrectlyforetoldthatAnnewouldmarryLordMacLaren,eventhoughheclaimedtodesireanother!WhywouldAnnenotlistentohernow?

AnnemovedforwardandgraspedElizabeth'shands."Haveyouconsideredthat.i.tmighthavebeenPrincessCharlotteyousawmarryingLeopoldandnotyouatall?Ifthestoryofourbirthistrue,shemaybeourhalfsister.ThatwouldmakeusalldaughtersofthePrinceRegent."

Elizabeththoughtabouthersister'swords,b.u.t.theydidnotswayher.Inherdreamshewasgazingdeeplyintohiseyes.Holdinghishandashepressedagoldenringontoherfinger.Shewaslookingthroughherowneyes,not.w.a.tchingthemarriageofanother.Notatall.

"No,Anne.Iamthebride.OfthatIamsure."

"Butdon'tyouunderstand?Yourdreamsareusuallyonlyhalfright."Anne'sfrustrationwaspalpable."Mightthehalfyouhavewrongbethatthebrideissomeoneelse-perhapsevenyourhalfsister?"

ElizabethbrokeAnne'sholdonherandwalkedovertoGreatauntPrudence,whoseeyelidswerenowwideopen.Bythelookofintrigueinhereyes,Elizabethwouldwagershe'dbeenwatchingandlisteningtotheentireexchangewithoutlettinganyoneknowshewaseavesdropping,a.s.shewaswonttodowheneveraconversationturneddownaninterestingpath.

Cherie,thesilentmaidofallwork,quietlyslippedintotheparlorandpa.s.sedbetweenherandAnnewithagla.s.sofclaretforGreatauntPrudence.Itwasuncanny.Cheriehaddoneitagain-she'dsensedaneedbeforeithadbeenrealizedbyanyone.ThisincredibleabilityoftheFrenchmaid'sneverceasedtoamazeElizabeth,hersisters,orguestsinGreatauntPrudence'sBerkeleySquarehome.

GreatauntPrudence'slipsliftedatthesightoftheclaretandsheraisedherhandfromherlaptograspthesmallcrystalgoblet.Shetookasipandthentippedthegla.s.sbackandgulpedsomeclaretdown.Shedrewherlipsintohermouthandsuckedanyremainingclaretfromthem,thenpinnedElizabethwithhergaze."ThisLordWhitevalemayormaynotbeaprince,Lizzy,butwhetherhechoosesyouorCharlotte,hewillbemarryingabloodprincessonewayortheother,eh?"Shechuckledmerrilythen.

ElizabethsmiledattheoldwomanandkneltdownbeforehertoadjustthecoverletonGreatauntPrudence'slap."LetushopeheallowsFatetochoosehismate,insteadofPrinny."Shewinkedathergreataunt,wholaughedheartilyatherwords,sendingherwholebodyshakingandnearlycausinghertospillwhatlittleclaretshehadleftontoElizabeth'sarm.

ElizabethleanedupandkissedGreatauntPrudence'scheek.Evennowherelderlyauntwasalovelywomanwhocouldeasilypa.s.sfortenyearsyoungerthantheseventyfiveyearssheclaimedtobe.

Prudencewasadearifoccasionallyaddledwoman,andElizabethhadthought.i.tsuchapitythattheyhadnotknownofherexistenceuntilaftertheirfatherpa.s.sedawayandtheRoylesistersweresenttolivewithherinLondon.Itwouldhavebeenwonderfulforherandhersisterstoknowtheirextendedfamilywhentheywereyounger.

"Please,Lizzy,swearyouwillnotpursuePrinceLeopoldwhilstLairdandIareawayinBrighton,"Annepleaded.Herbrowpinchedatthebridgeofhernoseandthreerowsofworrywrinklesappeareduponherforehead."IamcertainIwillnotbeabletosleepawinkwhileIamawayifImustconstantlyworryaboutyoumakingagrandcakeofyourselfinpublic."

"Dear,Anne,IsincerelyhopeyoudonotsleepawinkwhileinBrighton,elseIfearyourhoneymoonwillbedreadfullydisappointingforbothyouandLaird."Elizabethlookedfromherfretfulsistertohergreatauntagain."Don'tyouagree,Prudence?"Shegrinned,b.u.t.themerrimentdissolvedfromherlips.GreatauntPrudencehadalreadyfallenasleepagain.Orwaspretendingtobeasleep.

Withasigh,Elizabethdroppeddownupontheotherchairbesidethefire."Fearnot,sister,Iwillnotpursuetheprinceattheball.NorwillImarryhim,evenheifasks."Aslysmileinchedacrossherlips."Thatis,untilyouandyourdearearlhavereturnedtowitnessmydreamcometrue.Forwhatwouldmyweddingbewithoutbothofmysistersandtheirhandsomehusbandsinattendance?"

"Youareincorrigible,Lizzy,"Anneallbuthissed.

"Ihavegivenyoumyword."Elizabetharchedherruddyhuedbrowsandwidenedhergreeneyesinnocently.

Annelookedatherwithgrowingsuspicion,butElizabethmaintainedaserenecountenance,knowingshewasnotlying.

ShewouldnotpursuePrinceLeopoldattheballtomorrowevening.Shewouldn'thaveto.Allsheneededtodowasplaceherselfinhisdirectpath,andshewouldnotbepursuinghim.Hewouldbecomingtoher.

Justasfatehadintended.

Chapter3.

Thenextmorning T hesunhadrisen,changingtheskyfromasombergraytoceruleanblue,b.u.t.theairhadnotyetbeenwarmedbyitsglow,andthedaystillfeltascrispasanautumnmorn.

Theasheshadbeenrakedfromthehearthandthekitchenfirerelitfortheday'scooking,b.u.t.thenight'schillstillhoveredintheroom.

Elizabethwrappedadamaskshawltighteraroundhera.s.shesatbeforetheworktableinthekitchen,scrutinizingMrs.Polkshank'smarketlist,tryingnottofallasleep.Closinghereyelids,sherubbedherfingertipsoverthem,hopingtoreviveherself.Shehadn'tsleptwellaftertheworrisomedreamshehadlastnight.Buthowcouldshe?Tellingherselfitwasonlyadreamwouldhavedonenogood.Herdreamsweren'tlikeordinarydreams-hersoftcametrue,andlastnight'snocturnalvisionpromisednaughtbuthorrorinhernearfuture.

Inthedream,shewaswearinganemeraldballgown,theonesheandLadyUppertonhadfas.h.i.+oned,withthemodisteMadameDevy,preciselytotheirspecifications.Suddenly,somethingstruckher,knockingtheairfromherlungs.Slowlyshelookeddownandsawredliquidtricklingdownherbodice.Andwiththatmomentcameafeelingofforebodingsoheinous,shefeltsickenedbyit.

Evennow,justthethoughtofherdreamleftherbodyachingandchilledtothebone.

Shetriedtoshakeoffthedreadfulfeelingbyshakingherheadandshoulders,asonemightdotoshakesnowfromtheirhatandcoatbeforegoinginside,but.i.twasnouse.Andso,shetrieddistractingherselfbyquizzingMrs.Polkshankaboutthemarketlist."Therearen'tsomanyofusnow,Cook,dowereallyrequiresomuchmutton?"

"Alegofmuttonisaleg.Ican'tverywellgoinandaskforaknee,nowcanI?"Mrs.Polkshankcrossedherarmsoverherlargeb.r.e.a.s.t.sandhuffedherdispleasureatthenewmistressofthehouse-thethirdintwoyears.