Royle - How To Propose To A Prince - BestLightNovel.com
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Heturnedwithabitofastartandstaredintohereyes,asifhecouldnotbelieveshewasthere.
"Elizabeth,"hebreathed.
Chapter9.
CranbourneLodgeNormangarden E lizabeth.
ArumblinglikethethunderofadistantstormshookthroughSumneras.h.i.+sgazemetElizabeth'sglitteringeyes.Hishandsjerked,needingtoreachout,todrawhertohim.Hislipsquiveredwithwantoffeelingthewarmthofhermouthonhis.
Butashadalwaysbeenhisway,hismindtampeddownhisphysicalneedsandwants.Hisdutysteeledhisbodyagainsther.
Ifonlyitcoulddothesamewithhisheart.
"Iwishedtobealone."Sumnertookhershouldersinhishands,andthoughhefelthersoftenandleanintohim,hestraightenedhisarms,forcinghertostepback."Please,gobackinsideandrejointheothers.Youmaytellmycousin,ifitwashewhosentyou,thatIamwellandthat...thatIdonotneedapointedreminderthatmydesirescomesecond.Iknowmyduty."Helethishandsfallawayandsettleathissides.
"Knowyour...duty?"Elizabeth,notconceding,steppedtowardhimagain."Idonotknowwhatthatmeans.Yourcousindidaskmetostandwithyou.IcamebecauseIwishedtobewithyou.I...Ineededtobehere.Withyou.Can'tyouunderstandthis?"
TherumblinginsideofSumnertransformedfromasteadytattootoathunderouspoundinginsidehischest."Nowisnotthetime.Please,leaveme,Elizabeth."
"Nowisthetime."Shetookyetanotherstepcloser.Hecouldfeeltheheatofherbodya.s.sheneared.Hehadnotthetimetoretreattohermovement,ormaybeitwas.h.i.+swillthatwaslacking.
Shereachedonesmallhandupandslowlycaressedhischeek.Herrighthandsettledatophisheart.
SomethinginsideofSumnerbrokeatthatmoment.Hehadnotbeenpreparedforhertenderness-forhertouchoftrueaffection,thatsortthatfillstheheart'sdark,hollows.p.a.ceslikeahealingsalve.
Heatp.r.i.c.kedinthebacksofhiseyes,surprisingandshaminghimatonce.HisdutywastoLeopold.She,andwhatshemadehimfeel,wasaliability.OnehecouldnotaffordwhenLeopold'slifewasatstake.
Hetriedtotellheragain,toexplain,buthiswordsburstforthharshlyinstead."Ihavemyduty.Go!"
Shetrembledagainsthimandlurchedbackwardapace.Hehadn'tmeanttofrightenher,tohurther.
Hishandroseupfromhisside,reachingforher,butheforceditdown.
Elizabethdidn'tknow...shehadcometooclose.Heneededhertoomuch.
But...hisdutywastoLeopold.HecouldnotlethisweaknessforElizabethjeopardizetheprince's safetyorhisstrategicunionwithPrincessCharlotte.
Hereyesbecameglossyandwet,s.h.i.+ninginthemoonlight.Herchinquivered,butshestoodstrong,facinghim,holdingherpositionfirm."DoyouthinkIhavenotheardthatthehandsomePrinceLeopoldis inLondontosecretlycourtPrincessCharlotte?Thathemeanstomarryher?"
Sumneropenedhismouthtoreply,butnowordscame.Howcouldherespondtothistruth?
Sheraisedafingertohim."Youcallityourduty-yourdutytowhat,SaxeCoburg?"
Hewa.s.stunned,andturnedhisheadawayfromher.Hecouldn'tlookather.Notnow,whenhe knewanythinghewouldsaytoaidinhiscausewouldhurther.Helookedoutatthecarpetofwhiteflowersilluminatedbythebrightmoonlight.
"Whycannotyourfirstdutybetoyourself?"sheasked.Therewasdesperatenessinhervoice."Iknowourkissmeantsomethingtoyou.AndIcanseebyyourreactionsthatPrincessCharlottedoesnot."
Sumnerheardthesolesofherslippersonthegravelbeforeshereachedhim.Whirlingaround,hegrabbedherandpulledheragainsthim.Hetiltedherheadtowardhisandclaimedhermouthhungrilywithhisown.
Thesoftfingersofbothherhandsmovedacross.h.i.+scheekstheneasedbackoverhistemplesandwriggledthroughhisthickhair.
Hefelthisbodyhardentoher,felthiswantofher.
Yourduty.
Thissingularthoughtrevivedhissenses.
Hecaughtherhandsandpulledthemfromhishair."Don'tyouunderstand,Elizabeth?Ihavemyduty.Thiscannotbe."Heshookherhandsinhis,andthenreleasedthem."Wecannotbe!"
Whathehadexpectedherreactiontobe,hedidnotknow,but.i.twasn'tthesmileonherface.Itwasnotanexpressionoffalsecourage.Itwasn'taplastertopreventagushofstrangledemotions.Itwasasmile.
"Thatiswhereyouarewrong.Wecanbe,"shetoldhim."Andnomatterwhatyoudo,oryourdutydemands,wewillbetogether."Shebroughtherhandstoherheartandpressedthemthere."Ifeelit-here...andsodoyou.Iknowyoudo."
Hewasonvulnerablegroundjustnow.Anywordhespoke,anyforwardmovehemade,wouldbewrong.Andsohedidwhathehadbeentrainednevertodo.Heturnedandstartedforthestablesinretreat.
"Fatehasdecided,"shecalledafterhim."YouandIaremeanttobetogether.Andsoitshallbe."
Sumnerlengthenedhisstrides,buthecouldnotoutpaceherwords.
Fatehasdecided.
Howhewishedhecouldbelieveit.Howhelongedforafuturewiththisbeautiful,compa.s.sionatewoman.
Ifonlyitwerepossible.
Butheknewitwasnot.
HeowedhisveryexistencetoLeopold'sfather.Hewouldnotlettheprinceorhisfamilydown.
Ever.
Insteadofreturningdirectlytothelodge,ElizabethwalkeddeeperintothewildlyovergrownNormangarden,whereshefoundasmallmarblebenchtositupon.Settlingherhandsbehindher,sheleanedbackandstaredupatthehuge,brilliantmooninthesky.
Shewa.s.stillsmiling...forFatehadindeeddecided.Sheandthatman-thatstubborn,beautifulman-weretobetogether.Forever.
Iftherehadbeenanydoubt,itdisappearedthemomenthegrabbedherandkissedherwithapa.s.sionthatevennowmadeherkneesfeelweakandlimp,likeacandlelefttoolonginasunnywindow.
Elizabethraisedahandandtouchedherlipswithherfingertips.Hermouthwa.s.stilltender,andslightlyswollenperhapsfromthefervorwithwhichhehadclaimeditwithhisown.Sheranhertongueacrossherfulllowerlip.Shecouldstilltastehimabit.Shesuckedherlipsslightlyintohermouth.Saltywithjustahintofwine.
Sheloweredherhandandflashedafullgrinatthemoon.Andhewantedher.Thatwasquiteevident,too.
Hishardness,pressedsointimatelyagainsther,hadstartledheratfirst-untilsherealizedjustexactlywhat.i.tmeanthewasfeelingforher.Thenherownbodyresponded,heatpoolingbelow,makingherwishforthingsmaidensshouldnotevenconsider...eveninthemoonlightwithaprince.
Leaningforward,Elizabethrestedherelbowsonherkneesandherchininherhands.Itwouldallbesoeasyforthemboth,shethought,ifitwasn'tforhisardentbeliefinhissocalledduty.
Shesighed.Thoughsheknewthattheirfeelingsofattractionwouldgrowintoloveandintheendtheirlovewouldblossomandprevail,shealsoknewthat,drat.i.tall,hetrulybelievedhehadaduty-tomarryPrincessCharlotteforthebenefitofSaxeCoburgandEngland.
Elizabethstraightenedherlegsandstood.ShehadquiteaHerculeantaskbeforeher.
Whatcouldshepossiblyproposetoaprincethatwouldconvincehimtomarryher,acommonerfromthewildsofCornwall...insteadofawomanwhowouldonedaybeQueenofEngland?
Shewanderedthroughthegardenponderingthisveryquestionuntilsheclimbedaslightriseandcameuponalabyrinthpavedwithcrushedwhiteoystersh.e.l.ls.
Elizabethglancedupatthemoon,andthenatthecircularlabyrinthbeforeher.Itwasasifthemoonandringedwebofpathsweremirrorimagesofeachother-withonenotabledifference:whileshecouldsimplystareupattheglowingcelestialbodyandweighdifferentoptionsforwinningtheprinceinhermind,thelabyrinthwasmeanttobewalkedwhilemeditating.
Andsoshesetonefootbeforetheothera.s.sheponderedthequestionofwhatshecouldpossiblydotowintheprince.Aroundandaroundtheturnsofthehugelabyrinthshepaced,movingeverclosertothecenterandsureillumination.
Atlastshefinallyreachedthecoreofthelabyrinth.Sheraisedherhandsouttohersidesandtiltedherheadbacktocatchthemoonlight,patientlywaitingforenlightenment-whichwa.s.suretocomeafterwalkingincirclessomanytimesthatherheadspun.
Shedrewinaheartybreathandclosedhereyes.Andwaitedawhilelonger.Andthenafewminutesmore."Showmetheway,"shewhisperedintothenight."Please."
Afterstandingthereatleastaquarterofanhour,herarmswereachingandhermusclesquiveredasviolentlyasifshe'dbeenpracticingarcheryallday.Sheletherarmsfalllimplytohersides.
Theirdestinywasfated.She'dseenitinherdreams.Felt.i.tinhiskiss.Whywouldn'ttheanswercometoher?Sheshouldknowthis.Sheshould!
Shepeeredupatthemoonandfocusedonthedarkmarringonitsglowingsurface.
Suddenly,Elizabethrealizedthatshealreadyknewtheanswer-fate.
Ofcourse.Itwa.s.socleartohernow!
Anythingshedidfromthismomentforwardwasmeanttohappen-becausetheywouldbemarriedbeforethesummerended.Shehadseenit.
Shewhiskedherhandstohermouthtosquelchthelaughofrealizationwellingupinherthroat.
Therewasnoneedtoworryatall.
Noneedtodoubtthatanycourseofactionshechosewouldnotbetherightone-becauseitwouldbe.Ithadtobe.
Hereveryaction,everyword,wasalreadyfatedtobringtheprincetoher.
Elizabethbouncedonhertoeswithexcitement,thenracedfromthelabyrinthanddashedtowardthelodge.Shehadtogetsomesleep,afterall.
Shehadaprincetowoointhemorning.
Chapter10.
O nherfirstmorningatCranbourneLodge,Elizabethawokebeforethesunhadfullyrisen.Thoughshetriedtostayinherbed,shecouldnot.Shewasfartooexcitedtolearnwhatherdutiesasalady'scompanionwouldbe,andhowtheywoulddifferfromthatoftheprincess'sgovernesses.
Themomentshestirredfromhertesterbed,thechamberdoorswungopenandaprettygoldenhairedlady'smaidhurriedinwithaewerofsteamingwater,cloths,andtowels,andsetaboutpreparingtoa.s.sistElizabethwithhermorningministrations.
"Hastheprincessarisen?"sheaskedthemaida.s.shetoweledherfacedry.
"Ohno,miss.She'llnotriseforseveralhoursmore."HergazeflittedoverElizabeth,buthereyesquicklys.h.i.+ftedtothewardrobesituatedacrossthechamber,andshescurriedtoit.
"Oh,quiteright."Elizabethfeltlikesuchagoose.Certainlynoonewouldbeawakeatthisearlyhourb.u.t.thehousestaffwhowerecompelledtodoso-and,ofcourse,oneovereagerlady'scompanion.
WhentheyoungwomanturnedaroundagaintofaceElizabeth,shewasblus.h.i.+ngfiercely.
"Issomethingamiss?"Elizabethasked,wonderingif,eventhoughshehadonlybeenoutofbedfortwominutes,shehadalreadydonesomethingwrong.
"Ohno,miss."Themaid'sgazedroppedlow.
Thoughhercoloringappearedp.r.o.nounced,Elizabethdecidedthattoavoidaboutofunnecessaryworryshewoulda.s.sumethattheflushwasjustthereflectionofthenewlypinkmorningskyonthemaid'scheeksandnothingmore.
"Therosemorningdress,miss?"themaidasked,holdingoutoneofMadameDevy'snewconfections.
"Areyouquiteserious-thatgown?"Elizabeththoughttheredgownmoresuitedforamusicaleorsoiree.La,thesleevesdidnotevenextendtotheelbow,andthenecklinewas...well,nottheleastbitdemure.
Shesighedinwardly,supposingthathere,inthecompanyofthePrincessofWales,therulesofproperdresswereonanentirelydifferentplane.Shegaveanenthusiasticnod,surethatthemaidcertainlyknewbetterthanshewhatwouldbeappropriateforthemorningof...well,somesortofcompanionduties...atCranbourneLodge.
Sincenooneelsewasaboutafterherhairandformweredressed,Elizabethtookalightbreakfastoffruitandteainherbedchamber,andthendecidedtotakeawalktoviewthegardeninthedaylight.
Thoughshequestionedthewisdomofwearingsuchadaringgownforwalkinginthecoolmorningair,sheknewthathermantlewouldcoverwhatherfrockdidnotandshewouldbequitecomfortable, evenifshedidfeelamiteoverdressedforastroll.
a.s.shewalkedthroughtheopeningintheruinofwhathadobviouslyoncebeenahighstonewallandintothegarden,shecouldnothelpbutgaspat.i.tssimplebeauty.Themorningdewstillsparkledinthegra.s.sandonthefadingpurple,white,andpinkblossomsoffoxglovethatstoodasnaturalgatekeepersjustinsidetheNormangarden.Atfirstshealmostthoughtshecouldhearthebellshapedflowersringingintheday,b.u.t.then,a.s.shemovedthroughthegarden,thefaintjinglingofbells.m.u.tatedintoclinking.
Sheclutchedhergowninherfist,toprotectherhemfromthewetgra.s.s,andhastenedtowardthelabyrinth,wherethesoundsseemedtoemanate.
Inthedistanceahead,sheheardtheshufflingofboots,lowgroansandgruntsmingledwiththehighpitchedreverberationsofmetalviolentlycrossingmetal.
"d.a.m.nyoutoh.e.l.l,Sumner!You'refartooquickformanyoursize,"cameaman'slaughingvoicejustasElizabethbroachedtheriseandcameuponthelabyrinth.
There,beforeher,twos.h.i.+rtlessmen,theirbodiesgleamingwithsweat,swungswordsateachother.
LeopoldandLordWhitevale.
Thea.s.saulthaltedthemomentthen.o.blemenbeheldher.Thentheyloweredtheirbroadswords.
Sheblinkedinastonishment.SumnermustbeWhitevale'sgivenname.Certainlythisisso.Howoddthatshehadn'trecognizedthevoiceshehadheard.b.u.t.then,theywereinthemidstofswordplay.Strainandexertionwaslikelythecauseforhisalteredtone.Certainly,thatwasthereason.
