Kathryn_Caskie.

How_toPropose_toaPrince.

Chapter1.

A RoyleWedding.

I twasraining...abit.

Onlyabit,hersisterhadsaid.

ElizabethRoylelookeddownatthedrippingembroideredskirtofherjaconetmuslinwalkingfrockandbecameinstantlynauseous.Itwa.s.surelyruined.

SheandAnnehadonlybeenwalkingfortwominutesandalreadyshewa.s.soakedtoherknees.Theumbrellatheysharedhaddonenothingtoprotectherdressorazurec.r.a.pemantlefromthewhitesheetsofrainsweepingdownPallMall.

HerBourbonwalkingensemblewouldneverbethesame.

Ever.

HadhersisterAnnenotbeenleavingforherhoneymooninBrightononthemorrow,Elizabethwouldhaveneveragreedtoshopwithherforafewsartorialessentialsonsuchahorriddayasthis.

Butshewellunderstoodhersister'sneedforthepropertravelingattire.Elizabethhadlongagolearnedthegreatimportanceofappearingimpeccablygroomedandclothedatalltimes.

Why,acarefullychosenbonnet,forinstance,couldnotonlycamouflageama.s.soflessthanfashionableredhair,butprotectbonewhiteskinfromthesunandstaveoffthesprinklingoffrecklesacrossthenoseandcheeksthatwouldinevitablyfollowanyaccidentalpinkingoftheskin.

So,whobetterthanshecouldappreciatethevalueofawardrobespecificallyselectedtohighlightphysicalattributeswhiledistractingtheeyefromotherlessthandesirablefeatures?

Atleasttheoutingthisdayhadaffordedhertheopportunity,beforeAnneleftonherjourney,tobegintotellhersisteraboutthemansheintendedtomarry.

Afterall,itwaspossiblethatAnnewouldwishtodelayherhoneymooninordertoattendthenuptials.Though,Anne'spostponingherjourneywouldprobablybemorelikelyifElizabethhadadateforthewedding.

Or,atleast,herfiance'sname.

"Oh,heavens,Lizzy,thatmeansnothing.Itwasjustadream,"Annesaid,rollingherambereyes.

"Noitwasn't.Itwasfarmore."Elizabethstoppedabruptly,causinganannoyedcoupletounexpectedlyveeroffthedamppaversintothesquishymudedgingthestreet.

"Howso?"Anne'stoneliftedwithfalseinterest,andsheseemedtobetryingeversohardtoextendthelimitsofherpatience.

Elizabethshovedaloosecopperlockthatdangledbeforehereyeoverherear."Isweartoyou,Anne,lastnightIwrappedasliverofyourweddingcakeandput.i.tundermypillow,exactlyasMrs.Polkshankhadadvised,anditworked-Idreamedofhim,themanIwouldmarry."

Frustrated,Annepeeledamistdampenedcurlofhergoldenhairfromherbrow,thengrabbedhersister'sarmandstartedherdownPallMallagain."Andhewasa...prince?"

HeatsurgedintoElizabeth'scheeks."Well...yes."

"Doyounotseehowpreposterousthisnotionis?Howareyousosureheisroyalty?Whatdidyouseeinyourdream?"Anneraisedacynicaleyebrowatherastheywalked,butonlywaitedamomentforareplybeforeprattlingon."And,Imustremindyou,itwasjustadream-adream,Lizzy."

"I-Ididnotseeanythingtoindicatehisroyalstanding.Ijust...felt.i.t,"Elizabethtriedtoexplain.HowcouldshemakeAnneunderstandwhensheherselfdidnot?Shejustknew.

"Whatdidyousee,then?Itisentirelypossibleyouareonlymisinterpretingwhatyousaw,youknow."Annehadobviouslynotedherembarra.s.smentandsoughttoplacateher.

"Thatheisgloriouslyhandsome,thoughthereisanairofcontrolledstrengthabouthim.Icouldseeitinthepurposefulwayhemoved.Thewayothersmovedabouthim,deferredtohim."Asmiletouchedherlips.

"Whatabouthishair,hisface?Hashegotalongnose,amolewithahairjuttingfromit,oraweakchin-somefeaturethatmighthelpyouidentifyhiminacrowd?"Annegrinnedimpishly.

"Hisfaceisbeautiful.Perfect."ShescowledatAnne."AndIwouldrecognizehimanywhere.Hiseyesaresounusual."Elizabethbentandglancedupward,pastthedrippingbrimoftheumbrella."Theyareasleadengrayasthissky,butathinringofsummerbluesurroundsthem.Ihaveneverseeneyeslikethat-exceptinmydream."

Elizabethdriftedoff,lostinthememoryofthosehauntingeyes.Instinctively,sheturnedtothesoundofateamofhorsescloppingpast.Shestrainedhereyes,butintherainandthethickfogrisingupfromthestreet,shecouldseenothingbutahugeshadowslowlypa.s.singthemby.

"Lizzy!Keepwalking.We'renearlytothedraper'sshop."AnnesqueezedElizabeth'sarmandurgedheralong,chatteringastheywalked."Tellmemoreaboutyourgentleman."

"Ifyouinsist."Shegrinned."Hishairisthick,darkandwavy,andhisskinisalmostgolden,asthoughhe'dspentagoodlyamountoftimeoutofdoors."

"Well,it'sclearthen."Annelaughedteasingly."Youaretomarryafarmer."Shepausedforamoment,thenfashionedanexpressionofmockconcern."Oh,dear,Lizzy.Yourguardianwon'tmuchlikethat."

"Anne-"ThiswasnotamusingtoElizabethatall.

"GallantineandtheOldRakesofMarylebonewillacceptnothinglessthanapeeroftherealmfortheonlyunwedsecretdaughterofthePrinceofWales."Shefeignedamournfulsigh."But...ifyoudreamedofmarryingafarmer,Isupposeitmustbetrue."ThisearnedAnne'sarmahardpinchfromElizabeth.

"Pleasedonotteasemeaboutthis.And,Itoldyou,heisaprince,soIwillbeaprincess.Iamquitesureofit.Allmygrandestwishesareabouttocometrue."

AbarelyconcealedsmirktwitchedatAnne'slips."Aprincess,hmm?Becarefulwhatyouwishfor,Lizzy.Idaresay,aprincess'slifeisnotallb.a.l.l.sandbaubles."

"Iamnottakingthispremonitionlightly,sister."

"Oh,it'sapremonitionnow,isit?"Annechuckled,obviouslynotunderstandinghowvividthispresentimenthadbeentoElizabeth."Please,promiseyouwillnotplaceallyourhopesonthisonedream."

"Mydreamsdocometopa.s.s...frequently,too."Elizabethflickedaneyebrowupwardinannoyance.

"Yes,theydo,butonlyhalfofthetime.Andeventhen,youusuallygethalfofwhatyouseewrong.You'ddoaswellflippingapennytodetermineyourfuture."

Bah!HersisterwasonlyrepeatingwhatMary,theeldest(bymereminutes)oftheRoyletripletssaid."Well,continuetodoubtmeifyoumust.Butwon'tyoubeapluckedgoosewhenanofferismadeandImarrybeforethesummerends."

"Beforethesummer...thissummer?Oh,Elizabeth,youhaven'tevenmetyourhusbandtobeyet.Thereisnopossiblewayyouwillfindaweddingringonyourfingerinjusttwomonths."

"Whynot?Youdid,andMaryaswell,andnowsheandthedukealreadyhavehadababy."

"Oh,sweeting,pleasedonotsetyourheartonthiscourse,"Annepleaded."Youwillonlybedisappointed."

Elizabethsuddenlystopped,yankinghersistertoahaltalongwithher."Gorblimey.Anne,it's...him.Rightthere."

SheraisedherreticulebeforehertoconcealthefingershepokedinthedirectionofafogdrapedgentlemansteppingdownfromthegrandestcarriageElizabethhadeverseen.

Buthelookedevenfinerthanthegiltcarriage.Braidedgoldepauletsadornedtheshouldersofhiskerseymerecoat.Severalmilitarymedalswerepinnedtoaredsatinsashthatsweptdashinglyacrosshisbroadchesttohisleanhip.Tworegimentalstraightlinesofgleamingb.u.t.tons,toobrillianttobemerebra.s.s,randownhisdarkbluecoat.

"Surelyyoudonotmeanthatn.o.bleman?"Anneblinkedtherainfromhereyesandthenstaredasifa.s.sessinghim.Clearly,shedisbelievedthatthismanwastheoneElizabethwouldmarry.

"Surely,Ido.Iamcertainofit."Elizabethtippedherheadinhisdirection."Heismyfuturehusband."

"Well,hisskinisrathersunkissed,I'llgiveyouthatmuch,butheisclearlynotafarmer."AbreathychuckleslippedoutfrombetweenAnne'slips.

Elizabethgloweredathersister."Yousaidhewasafarmer,notI!"

"Ivow,Ithinkweneedacloserlooktoverifyhisident.i.tyasyourfuturehusband."Annewasmakingagameofthis."Comeon,Lizzy,let'sfollowhim."

"Yes,let's."Hersister'struemotivationforfollowingthegentlemandidnotmatterabittoElizabeth.Sheknewforcertainthatifshecouldonlyobservehimmoreclosely,shewouldbecompletelysure,andconvinceAnneofthevalidityofherdream.

WhenElizabethturnedtopeerathimagain,however,hewasgone."Oh,lud!Nowwe'velosthim."

"No,wehaven't."AnneinclinedherheadtotheshopjustfourdoorsdownPallMall."HewentintoHamiltonandCompany,justthere."

Elizabethwidenedhereyestoseethroughthefogandrain,andjustglimpsedtwoliveriedfootmenenteringashop.

"Ah,JewelertotheCrownbyRoyalAppointment,"Anneadded,hereyesgleamingmischievously."Heisdefinitelynotafarmer."

ElizabethpaidAnne'sribbingnomind.Shehastenedherstep,haulinghersisteralongwithher."Mayhaphehasgoneinsidetochoosearingforme."Shegavehersisteraplayfulwink."Haveyouconsideredthat,Anne?"

ThebrightnessinAnne'seyesdulledquitesuddenlyandhercountenancebecamesober."Notatall-andyoushouldnot,either."SheexhaledasherfrustrationwithElizabethgrew."Nonetheless,Ishouldliketotakeshelterfromtherain,soletusgoinside."

ButElizabethpausedbeforetheshopdoor.AsteadystreamofwaterpouredfromtheHamiltonandCompanysignabove,poundingtheumbrellasheandAnnehuddledbeneathlikearoaringwaterfall.

Annetuggedatherarm."Elizabeth,wearebeingdrenched.Whydoyoudelay?Heisrightinside.Comealong."

Elizabethtrembled.Ifherpremonitionwastrue,herfuturelayjustbeyond,andyet,shecouldnotseemtostepoverthethreshold.

Whatif,likeAnneclaimed,itwasonlyadream-avisionsheonlyhadhalfright?

Beforeshecouldworryoveritamomentlonger,hersisterpresseddownthebra.s.slatchandtheshopdooropened.AbellsoundedoverheadasAnnedraggedherthroughthedoor,noisilyheraldingtheirentrancetothestartledshopkeeper.

Theebonyhairedgentlemantheypursuedlookedupfromtheglitteringpieceofjewelryhewasholdinginhishandandwhirledaroundaswell.HisgrayeyesinstantlylockedwithElizabeth's.

Anneleanedcloseandwhispered."Pity,it'sadiamondandrubybroochhe'sconsidering,Lizzy,notaringforyou."Sheexhaled."Doyouknow,Ican'trecallifyoulikedrubiesoremeralds.Whichdoyouprefer?"

Elizabethdidn'tanswer.Didn'tsayaword.Shecouldnot.Itwashe.

Herprince.

TheshopkeepersmiledupatAnne."Goodafternoon,LadyMacLaren,MissRoyle."

"Goodafternoon,sir,"Annereplieddistractedly."Iseeyouareoccupied,butworrynot.MysisterandIareinnohurrytobeserved.Intruth,wewouldbemostcontentbrowsingyourcasesandshelves."

"Absolutely,LadyMacLaren."Theshopkeeperbobbedaquickbow."ButIshallhavemysonBertrumattendtoyourneedspresently."

Elizabethwrenchedhergazefromherintendedandstaredblindlyintothegla.s.scaseatapairof amberdropearbobs,butshecouldfeeltheheatofhiseyesstilluponher.

"Come,Lizzy.Lookatthesetiaras.Why,theyarefitforaprincess.Stunning,simplystunning."

Tiaras?Hercheekswereblazingnowandshehurriedtocatchuptohersister,whohadwandered acrossthedeep,narrowshopandwasnearlypressinghernoseagainstthegla.s.sforabetterlook.

"Endthesegamesatonce,Anne,"Elizabethwhisperedhotlyintohersister'sear."Youarenottheleastamusingandyouranticsareembarra.s.singme."

"Iamonlyjesting,Lizzy."Annegrinnedupather,butwhenhergazemetElizabeth'sfretfuleyes, sherealizedtheextentofhersister'sunease.

"Please,cease."Elizabeth'schesttightenedlikecorsetbindingsashernervesfrayedfurther.

"Iapologize.Really,Ido.Though...thesetiarasarelovely,aren'tthey?"Sheturnedandglanced overhershouldermomentarily,thensmiledbrightlyandspokequietlythroughherteeth."Isithim?"

Elizabethsuckedherlipsintohermouthandgaveherheadanod.

"Areyousure?"

"Yes."Sheclaspedhersister'swristanddrewhercloser."Oh,G.o.d.WhatshallIdo?"

Anneglancedatthegentlemanagain,andElizabethhesitantlyfollowedhergaze.Nowhewas examininganecklacedrippingwithgraduateddropletsofverdantemeraldsandsnowypearls."First,removeyourwiltedhat."AnnewhiskedthesoggyBourbonbonnet,withitsdrippingwhite feather,fromElizabeth'sheadandshoveditunderherownarm.

"Anne,you'recrushingit,"Elizabethgroundoutbetweenherteeth."Andhe'llseemyawfulhair."

Annedidn'treply.Hereyesmomentarilyshotinthehandsomegentleman'sdirectionagain,andthen shequicklypluckedfourhairpinsfromElizabeth'shair,sendingacascadeofredcurlstumblingdownherback.

BeforeElizabethcouldprotest,Annehadshovedherfingersthroughthebonnetmattedhairathercrowntorestorethefullnessofherbrightcurlyhair."Wellnow,muchbetter."

Elizabethpushedhersister'shandsawayandreachedforhersoakedhat,butAnneturnedsoshecouldnotretrieveit.

"Iamonlytryingtohelp.Youwanttopresentwell,Lizzy,doyounot?"

Atwitteringmalevoicecalledoutfromtherearoftheshop."Oh,dearLadyMacLarenandMissRoyle.Howlovelyyoucametoourhumbleestablishmentthisday."

Startledbytheintrusion,Elizabethsnappedherheadaroundtoseeayoungmaninaclosefittingbluecoatandtighterstillcharcoalhuedpantaloonshurryingtowardthem,wavinghishands.e.xcitedlyintheair."Iamcomingtoyourservice,mygoodladies.Donotfret!"

Elizabethangledherheadtowardhersister."Howdotheshopkeepersknowournames?"

"TheyprobablyreadthemintheTimes,"repliedarich,resonantmalevoicecomingfromdirectlybehindher.

Elizabeth'seyeswidened.Gorblimey.Sheknewwhowa.s.standingthere,soclosethatshecouldfeeltheheatradiatingfromhisbody.

AnnecovertlysunkanelbowintoElizabeth'sside."Turnaround,"shewhisperedalmostundetectably.

Slowly,Elizabethswiveledherheadinhisdirection,followingitsmomentumwithherbodyascantsecondlater,untilshefacedhimfullyandmethispiercinggaze.

Shecouldnothelpbutstare.

Lud,fromsuchcloseproximityshecouldseearingofclearblueedgingthesilverygrayofhiseyes.Shegaspedandashuddershookthroughher.Anydoubtastohisident.i.tyevaporatedinthatinstant.