"Ithinkitfairlyobviousthat.i.t'sinEngland'sbestinteresttosecurethemostadvantageousunionfortheprincess.ThesupportforSillyBillyhasalwaysbeenstrong-evenyoumustbeawareofthat.ThePrinceofWaleshimselfisevenreportedtobackamarriagebetweenPrincessCharlotteandtheDutchman."Annesighed."IamafraidEnglandwillnotgainmuchfromamarriagebetweenPrincessCharlotteandPrinceLeopold-thoughtheprincewillstandtogainmuch."

"Youmean,itishisdutytomakeadvantageousmarriageforthegoodofSaxeCoburg."Elizabethsniffled,notwantinghersistertoconfirmherstatement.

"Ididnotsaythat,butnorcanIdenyit."Annehuggedhersistertoher."Lizzy,Iamsosorryaboutwhathasbeenhappeningwhilewewereaway.WereturnedfromBrightonthemomentIsawyournameprintedinthenewspaper.YoucanimaginehowfrightenedIwasthatsomethinghadhappenedtoyouaswell,b.u.t.that.i.twasnotreportedbecauseofthehighstandingoftheothersinvolved."

"Iknowyou,Anne.AndIamsorryyoufelttheneedtoreturnfromyourhoneymoonbecauseofme.Youdidaskmenottopursuetheprince."TheedgesofElizabeth'slipsturneddownward."Ishouldhavelistenedtothespiritofyourwarning,ratherthantheimperativeIheardinyourwords.Andnow,seewhathappenedtotheprince.Allbecauseofme."

AnnetookElizabeth'sshouldersandturnedthemsothatshefacedher."Whathappenedtotheprincewasnotyourfault."

Elizabethbegantosobharder."Yes,itwas.Hewouldnothavebeenaloneinthedarknesshaditnotbeenforme."

"Whatareyouprattlingonabout,Lizzy?"Annesqueezedhershouldersasiftoforceareply."Idon'tunderstandwhatyoumean."

"Ihadbeenwithhimonlyamomentbeforeithappened.Hewascalmingmedown,kissingme,andtellingmethathelovedme."SheburiedhereyesonAnne'sshoulder."Itisallmyfault."

"Lizzy."AnnemovedElizabethawayandfocusedaconcernedgazeonher."IthinkyoumusttellmeaboutwhathappenedwhileIwasgone.Everything."

Andsoforthenexttwohours,whileGreatauntPrudencesleptsoundlyinherchair,Elizabethconfessedeverything,fromAlmack's,toCranbourneLodgeandtherivertrail,toSirHenry'sghoulishdinnerparty,thecrosshatchinsignia,andtheDruryLaneTheatre.Sheleftnothingout,thougha.s.sherecountedtheoutrageouseventsofdayspastandwitnessedAnne'sincreasinglyshockedexpressions,shewishedshe'domittedoneortwothings.

Whenshewasfinished,Elizabethfeltcompletelydrainedinbothbodyandspirit.

Anneblewalongbreaththroughpursedlips."I-Ihardlyknowwhattosay,Lizzy."

"Justtellmewhattodo.Please,"Elizabethbeseechedher.

"That,Icannotdo.Fromwhatyoutellme,helovesyou-b.u.t.thatevenheclaimsthathisdutymustcomefirst."AnnesqueezedElizabeth'shandandstood."Logictellsmethathemustmarrytheprincessifherfatherconsentstothematch.Itisforthegreatergood."

"Butwhatdoesyourhearttellyou?"

Annegaveasadsmile."Thatsometimesyourdreamsdocometrue...andthatthisdreamdeservesalittlemoretime.Waitforhim,Lizzy.Talktohim.Youwillknowwhattodowhenthetimetoactcomes."

MinuteslaterElizabethwatchedthroughthewindowashersisterwalkedouttothepaversandsteppedintothegleamingtowncarriagethatawaitedher.

Wait,Annehadsaid.Ifonlyitwerethateasy.

ThreedayslaterElizabethdecidedshehadwaitedlongenough.Herpatiencewa.s.spent.Afterall,afullfortnighthadpa.s.sedandsurelytheprincecouldreceiveavisitorbynow.

ShedressedinawhitecambricwalkingdresstrimmedatthehemwithtrebleflouncesofFrenchworkthatswishednicelywhenshewalked.Onherhead,sheplacedawhitesatinbonnet,toppedwithwhiteplume,thattiedprettilywithacelestialblueribbon.

Itwasnocoincidencethatthedressshechosegavethefaintestimpressionofbridalinnocence,b.u.t.tomutetheeffect,shedrapedaroundhershouldersabluesilktwillmantlewithliliesofthevalleyembroideredateachendwithshadedsilks.

Luckseemedtobeonhersidethatday,forahackneyhaddroppedapa.s.sengernotthreedoorsfromhergreataunt'shouse,andshewasabletosecurethedriver'sservicewithouteverriskingaspeckofdustonhersplendidensemble.

WhenthehackneyreachedCurzonStreet,sheaskedthedrivertowait,intheeventtheprincewasunabletoreceiveher,butwhensheinquiredabouttheprince'sconditionatthefrontdoor,SirHenry'sbutlerledherdirectlyintotheparlortowait.

Only,itwasnottheprincewhogreetedher.AloomingshadowfelloverElizabeth,givingherafreshsenseofforeboding.ItwasnoneotherthanSirHenryhimself.

"Iamsopleasedyouhavecometocall,MissRoyle,"hesaid,movingquicklyacrosstheparlortowardher.

Elizabethsatupstraight,realizingtoolatetherewasnoretreatforher.Hestooddirectlyoverher,toocloseforhertostand."SirHenry.Ihavecometoinquireaboutthehealthoftheprince.Ishewell?"

"WhenIlastsawhim,aweekago,hewasdoingverywell.Therewasnoinfection,andthewoundwasbindingnicely."

Elizabethblinkedupatthebaronet."Excuseme,butdidyousay...aweekago?"

"Idid."SirHenrycondescendedtostepbackfromheratlast,b.u.t.thechangeinpositionwasnotforthebetterbecausehetookhisseatnexttoheronthesettee."HeandWhitevalewereinstalledatCarltonHouserecently.Youdidnotknow?"

"Obviously,sir,Ididnot,elseIwouldnothavedisturbedyou."ElizabethglancedaroundSirHenry,plottingherescape.

"Iamgladyoudid,MissRoyle,forIshouldliketotalkmorewithyou...aboutyourfatherandsomeunbelievabletalesI'veheardoflate."

Elizabeth'sstomachclenched.Shehadtoextractwhatinformationshecouldfromthebaronet,thengoawaya.s.soonaspossible."YoudidsaythattheprinceandWhitevalewereinstalledatCarltonHouse...attheinvitationofthePrinceofWales,Ia.s.sume?"

"Oh,mydearMissRoyle.Thenyoutrulyhavenotheard."Hegrinnedc.o.c.kily."Aftertheattackontheprince,PrincessCharlotteimmediatelychargedthePrimeMinisterwithanultimatumtobecommunicatedtoherfather."

"Anultimatum-tothePrinceRegent?"Elizabethdidnotwishtohearanymore,butshehadtostay,intheeventthereportwasnotasd.a.m.ningtoherfatea.s.sheantic.i.p.ated.

"Oh,yes.ShewasquiteemboldenedbythethreattoLeopold'slife.AsIamsureyou,yourself,understandalltoowell."

Elizabethfoughtoffadaggeredglare."Please,SirHenry.Tellmeabouttheultimatum."

"Verywell,dear.LordLiverpoolwastoadvisePrinnythattheattemptonPrinceLeopold'slifewasbelievedtobemadebysupportersofaunionbetweenherandWilliam.o.f.orange-acausetheRegenthimselfopenlybacked.Therefore,inconsiderationofPrinceLeopold'ssafety,theprincessdemandedthatthePrimeMinisteradviseherfatherthatsheha.s.selectedPrinceLeopoldasherhusband.IfthePrinceRegentrejectedhisname,shewouldnotconsideranother,andwillremainforallheryearsaspinster."

Elizabethswallowedhard."AndhowdidtheRegentrespondtothis...ultimatum?"

"Nooneknowsforcertain,ofcourse.ThoughthePrinceofWalesdidcommandthattheprincebemovedtoCarltonHouseuntilPrinceLeopoldreturnstoParis."Inaveryboldandillmanneredgesture,hepattedElizabeth'sknee,completelydisregardinghersquealofdisapproval."Now,perhapshedidthistoensuretheprince'ssafety.PerhapstheRegentsimplywishedtobecomemorefamiliarwiththen.o.blemanwhomaysomedaymarryhisdaughter.Eitherway,theprincehastheRegent'sinterestnow,doesn'the?IbelieveaweddingbetweenPrincessCharlotteandPrinceLeopoldisinevitable.Doyounotagree,MissRoyle?"

Elizabethleaptfromthesettee,meaningtoquitSirHenry'spresenceimmediately,buthewastooquickandcaughtherwrist.

Shetuggedagainsthim."Doreleaseme,SirHenry."

"Iwouldn'tdreamofyouleavingsosoon,mydearMissRoyle,notwhenwehavesomuchmoretodiscuss."

"Ihavenothingtodiscusswithyou."Elizabethtwistedherwristbutcouldnotfreeherself.

"Thatiswherewedisagree,wehavemuchtotalkabout...beginningwithyourmentionoflaudanumbottlesyourfatherhadandyourbeliefthatIhadsomeconnectiontothem."

"Lethergo,sir."Mr.Mantonstoodinthedoorway."Theladywishestoleave."

"Manton.Ididn'texpectyoubacksosoon."SirHenryreleasedElizabeth'sarmandshejettisonedtowardthedoorway,whereMr.Mantonstood.

Mr.MantonliftedElizabeth'swristandpeereddownat.i.t."Areyouinjuredatall,MissRoyle?"

Sheshookherheadvigorously."No,notatall.Ijust...mustleavenow."

"Pleaseallowmetoaccompanyyouhome,"hesaidgallantly.

ElizabethgaveahuntedglanceoverhershoulderatSirHenrybeforereplyingtoMr.Manton."Ithankyoukindly,Mr.Manton,butIhaveahackneydriverawaitingmyreturn.Goodday,Mr.Manton."Shesmiledattheyoungmana.s.shecurtsied,thenwithdrewherhandfromhisgentlegrip.Turningquickly,shedashedintotheentryhallandboltedthroughthefrontdoor,ignoringSirHenryentirely.

Chapter16.

Whenshereachedthestreet,drat.i.tall,thehackneywasnowheretobeseen.Elizabethhadn'treallyexpectedthat.i.twouldbe,b.u.t.thecommenthadenabledhertoextricateherselffromMr.Manton.

SheglancedbackatthedoorandhurrieddownthefootpathbeforehergallantMr.Mantoncouldcometoherrescueonceagain,foratthismomentshecouldn'tendurehavinghiscompa.s.sionateeyesuponher.Norcouldshereturnhome,forthesamereason.Shewouldsimplydissolveintotears.

ThePrinceofWaleswouldcertainlygiveaunionbetweenPrincessCharlotteandPrinceLeopoldhisblessingnow.

Tearsalreadywelled,unshed,inhereyes.Annewouldunderstand.Howshewishedshecouldgotoher.Buthersister'shomeonc.o.c.kspurStreetwasbutastone'sthrowfromWarwickHouse,wherePrincessCharlottewasnowlodged,andCarltonHouseaswell,whereherprincehadbeeninstalled.

IfshewenttoAnne,shecouldnotbear,evenforamoment,knowingthatthemanshelovedwasbutafewstepsaway-possiblybeinginterviewedbythePrinceRegentinconsiderationofmarryingtheprincess.

Shesimplycouldnotendureit.

Andsoshewalkedandwalked,pastshopsandsquares,lawnsofgreen,untilshefoundherselfatthegatesofHydeParkandtheSerpentinebeyond.

Tearsbuddedinhereyesa.s.sherealizedwherehertroubledhearthadledher.TotheplacewheresheandSumnerweretomeettheverynightofthefatefuleventthatwouldscarherlifeforever.

Slowlyshewalkedtothebridgeandstoodattherailinitscenter,staringdownintothedepthsoftheSerpentine.

Elizabeththoughtabouthergreatauntasayoungwomanexactlyherage,whendutyhadrobbedherofherhusband.Prudencehadwarnedher.Hadtoldherthatintheend,dutywouldalwayscomefirstforaman.

Sheshouldhavelistenedtohergreataunt,shetoldherself,andsparedherselftheheartacheoflosingthemansheloved.

SheshouldhavelistenedtoAnne,whocouldnotdenythatLeopoldwouldonedaymarryPrincessCharlotteoutofdutytoSaxeCoburg.

SheshouldhavelistenedtoMercer,whotoldher,innouncertainwords,thatCharlottehadsethercapatPrinceLeopoldandmeanttomarryhim.

SheshouldhavelistenedtoPrincessCharlotteherself,whenshereturnedvictoriousaftersecuringParliament'ssupportforaunionbetweenherandPrinceLeopold.

Butshedidnot.

Instead,shelistenedtoherdreams.Shelistenedtoherownheart.

Andwherehadthatgottenher?Standingalone,staringdownatthewelcomingswirlsoftheSerpentinebelow.

ElizabeththoughtbacktothemorningnotsomanydaysagowhenshefellfromtherivertrailintotheThames.Sherememberedthecoldwaterrushingoverherfaceandhowthebrightlightonthewater'ssurfacedimmeda.s.shesankdeeperanddeeperintotheriver'sdepths.

Onlynow,ifshefell,Sumnerwouldnotbetheretopullherfromthedepths.

Aheavytearrolleddownhercheekanddrippedfromherjawintotheswellsofwaterbelowthebridge.Itcaughtthelightasitfell,andforthebriefestinstant.i.tglistenedlikeadiamond,beforebeingswallowedupbytheblacknessoftheSerpentine.

Wait,Elizabeth.Anne'ssageadvicesuddenlyfilledhermind.

"Wait."Shehearditclearlynow.

"Wait."Thewordswerecomingfromherownlips."Hewillcomeback.Trusthim."

Elizabethsteppedbackfromtherailingandrubbedthetearsfromhercheeks.Hehadtoldherthathelovedherandthathe'dcomebackforher.

Andshebelievedhim.Despitelogic.Despitewhatotherstoldher.DespiteParliament-andthePrinceofWales.

ShebelievedinSumnerandwhathehadpromised.Shedid.

Elizabethgrabbedupherwalkingskirtinherhandandranfromthebridge.

Hewouldcomebackforher.

Andwhenhedid,shewouldbewaiting.

TwodayslaterCarltonHouse "Areyouwellenoughtoattendthefete,Sumner?"Leopoldaskedasthevaleta.s.signedtohimbrusheddownthebackofhiscoat.

"Ihavebeenfitfordays,andyettheguardswillnotallowmetoleavethegroundsorevensendamessageto...anyone."Sumnerallowedthevalettob.u.t.tonhisbluesatinwaistcoatshotwithgoldthreads,andeventoaccepta.s.sistancewithhiscoat,asaprincewouldpermit.Butwhenthevaletbegantopinrowafterrowofshinymedalsuponthebreastofhisdarkbluecoat,hecringedinpain,s.n.a.t.c.hedthesilvertrayofmedalsfromthedresserandset.i.taside.

"Amiteirritablethisday,cousin?"Leopoldglancedathissleekercoat,andsmiledapprovinglyathisownelegantreflection."Youneedn'tbe.ImanagedtosendamissivetoMercer,askinghertoensurethatMissRoyleattendsthefetethisday;thatsheshoulddowhateverisnecessarytogetherinsidetheCarltonHousegarden."

Beneathhiscoat,Sumner'sshoulderstighteneduncomfortably."Ididnotwishherheretoday."

"Butonlyamomentagoyouwerefrettingovernotbeingabletosendamessagetoher."Leopoldsatuponatuftedbenchandallowedthedressertocombhishairfashionablyaroundhisface."IsentforMissRoylebecauseIthoughtyouwouldwis.h.i.t."

"IdidnotwishheratCarltonHousebecauseifthereisanotherattack,Idonotwishtoriskherwellbeing."

"AndyoudonotwishhertoseeyoudancingwithPrincessCharlotte,"Leopoldadded.

"Andthereisthat."

"Youhavenottoldher-"Leopoldglancedatthenumerousvalets,footmen,andattendantsinthechamberanddidnotfinishhissentence.

"No,Ihaven't.IhadintendedtoexplaineverythingtoherthenightthatplanschangedandweattendedtheperformanceattheDruryLaneTheatre."Sumnershruggedagainsttheweaveofkerseymere.Theblastedcoatwastootight.Hecouldbarelybreathe."b.u.t.todayatthefeteisneitherthetimenortheplace."

"Cousin,youcannotsimplyignoreMissRoyle.Shewillbeinattendance."LeopoldrestedhispalmonSumner'sshoulder.

"Imust."WhenthedressercameatSumnerwithacomb,theprincesteppedaway.SumnerdroppeddownintoachairandbegrudginglyallowedhimtocoifhishairinLeopold'sstylishmode."Imust,forhersafety."

"ItislikelythatsincethePrinceofWalesishostingthisfete,andwillallowyou-asme-todancewithPrincessCharlotte,thattheWilliam.o.f.orangesupporterswillseetheircauseasdefeated.ForIbelieveithasbeen.ThePrinceRegentwillgranthisconsentintime.Iamsureofit."

"Imaybesafefromattack,inotherwords."

"Yes."

"b.u.t.then,youcouldbewrong.Ifyouweredead,Leopold,amarriagebetweenWilliamandCharlottewouldstillbepossible."