Itwasonlyawasteoftime.

Atransgressionagainsttrust.

Inthedistance,aclocksoundedthenoonhour.Withoutmeaningto,Elizabethheldherbreathand waitedforthebelltowertostriketwelvetimes.

Eight...nine...ten,andstillnocarriagepa.s.sedthroughthegates.

Eleven...twelve.

Nothing.

Shereleasedherpentbreathandsmirkedathersisterastheynearedtheguardedgate."Itoldyou, Anne,heisnotleavingLondon."

"Mustyoualwaystakeeverythingsoliterally?"Annestoppedbesidethegatesandpretendedtofishforsomethinginsideherreticule."Whenapersonsays'noon'theyarereferringtosometimearoundtwelveoftheclock.Notexactlytwelve."

ElizabethleanedagainstthegatewhileAnneprattledon,quiteobviouslystallingfortimetoprove theratinsideCarltonHousehadtherightofitallalong.

Suddenly,thegatebegantorumbleandsheleaptawayfromit.

"Standaside,miss!"theguardyelled."Standaside."

AnnerushedupandstoodbesideElizabethasthePrinceofWales'sglitteringclosedcarriagerolled toahaltattheguardstand.Astheteamofsixprancedinplace,Elizabethignoredtheguard'swarningandtookastepforwardtolookinsidethecarriage.Shecouldnothelpherself.Shehadtobesure.

Achillascoldandbitingasiceranupherspineandthroughherheart.There,insidethecarriage,wasPrincessCharlotte,andacrossfromhertheprinceandhiscousin.

"Stepaside,miss!"

Thewarningcalloftheguardsmandrewthenoticeofthoseinside.Theprince'seyesgrewlargeandroundashesawElizabethstandingthere.

Ruefully,shetouchedherfingerstoherlipsandthenopenedherhandfullyandreleasedherkiss.

PrincessCharlottelookedfromElizabethtotheprinceandsaidsomething.TheprincenoddedonceinElizabeth'sdirectionandthenthecarriagedrovethroughthegatesanddownPallMall.

Elizabeth'sheartpoundedlikeakettledruminherearsandherskinbecamecoldanddamp.

"Lizzy?"Annetookherarm.ShepressedhermouthtoElizabeth'sear."Stayonyourfeet,sister.Dignity,remember?Justaminutemore,that'sall,andhewillbegonefromsight."

Elizabethwavereda.s.shenumblywatchedthecarriagemovedownthestreetuntilitturnedanddisappearedontoSt.James.

"Takemehome,Anne."

"Toofar.We'llgotomyhome."AnneslippedherarmaroundElizabeth'swaist."It'sjustaroundthecorner.Notfar.Justashortwalk..."Annewasclearlyworriedabouther.Shealwayschatteredwhen shewastiredorhernerveswerestressed.

"Icanmanage."Elizabethpulledawayfromhersister'sarmandconcentratedfullyonwalking."Iamperfectlyfine."

Hewillcomeback.

Hewill.

BerkeleySquareThenextday GreatauntPrudencedidnotleaveherroomthatmorning.Insteadshesatbeforethesmallwritingdeskinherbedchamberscribblingnotesanddrawingpicturesthatsherefusedtoallowanyone,exceptCherie,tosee.

ElizabethworriedaboutherelderlygreatauntwhenPrudencedidnotcomedowntojoinherfortheirnoonmeal.Andsoshewaited,sincenoon,accordingtoAnne,wasnotaprecisetime.

Butathalfpastthehour,worriedthatsomethingwaswrongwithheragedgreataunt,shestartedupthestairstoinquirehowPrudencewasfeeling.

CheriewasjustleavingPrudence'sbedchamberandgesturedtoElizabeththathergreatauntwa.s.sleeping.

"Isshewell?ShallIcallforaphysician?"Elizabethasked.

Cherieshookherheadvigorously,thenwavedoffherconcernswithasillysmile.

"Youwillcallformeifyouhaveanyconcernsabouther,won'tyou,Cherie?"Shewasnotleavingthepa.s.sageuntilshehadsomea.s.surancefromthesilentmaid.

Cherienodded,thenturnedElizabetharoundandgaveheragoodnaturedpushdownthepa.s.sage.

"Allright,allright."Elizabethgrinned,anda.s.shedescendedthestairsrealizedthat.i.twasthefirsttimeshe'dsmiledsinceyesterdaynoon.

Shehadpurposelykeptherselfbusyallmorning,andhadevenattemptedtojoinMrs.Polkshanka.s.shedepartedforthebutcher-althoughCooktoldherthata.s.sistancewasnotnecessary.ThenMrs.Polkshankaddedthatifshedidnottrusthertopurchasethebeef,maybesheoughttohaulthebutcherhomewithhertoreviewthepriceperpoundoffleshwithMissCan'ttrustanyone.ItwasthenthatElizabethdecidedtostayathome.

Now,however,shewasrunninglowonwaystoengagehermindandhandsuntilsunset.Alreadythesmallhousestaffwasgrowingquiteexasperatedwithherandshecouldnotseemtooccupyherselfwithreadingorwritingletters.Andresortingtosleeptopa.s.shertimewasnotanoption."Tosleep,perchancetodream-ay,there'stherub."SheshouldhavelistenedtoShakespeare,too,foradreamhadcursedherwithaheartrentintwo.

Roundingthenewelpostatthebottomofthestaircase,Elizabethhadjustturnedfortheparlorwhenthebra.s.shammercamedownuponthefrontdoor.

InsteadofwaitingforMacTavish,whowasnodoubthidingfromhisannoyingmistressinthekitchenwithMrs.Polkshank,Elizabethwenttothedoorandopenedit.

Herkneesweresuddenlytransformedtomeltedbeeswaxandshefoundherselfsittinguponthefloor-lookingupattheprince.

SumnerstaredatElizabeth,whowa.s.sittingontheentrywayfloor,herarmstillraised,herhandtightlyholdingthedoorhandle.

Hebentandscoopedherup,butshemadenomovetosettleherfeetonthefloorandstand.Shesaidnothing,butstaredupathim,hermouthfullyagape.

"Icouldnotwaituntilsunsettoseeyou,"hesaidtoherashereacheddownandremovedherhandfromthedoorhandle,thenkickedthedoorclosedbehindhim.

Elizabethliftedherfingerandpointed,mutely,totheparlor.

"Thisway?"heasked.

Shenodded,andsohecarriedherintotheparlor,settledhergentlyuponthesettee,andthenreturnedtoclosethedooropeningtothepa.s.sage.Heturnedthekeyinthelock."Icannotaffordanotherinterruption,ifyoudonotmind."

Finallyshefoundhervoice."Ican'tbelieveyouarehere."Hereyeswelledsuddenly."Ithought-thenewspaperreportedthatyoudepartedforParisyesterday."

"IpromisedIwouldcomebackforyou."

Hesatbesideher,unconsciouslytappinghispocketwhereasmallemeraldringlayinwait.

"Elizabeth,Itoldyouthattherewa.s.somethingImustIconfess,andImustdosonow."

Sheraisedherhandfeebly."IdonotknowthatIcanbearaconfessionthisday.Seeingyoustandingatmyfrontdoor,afterIhadwatchedyouleaveCarltonHouseforwhat.i.thoughtwas...forever,isaboutthelimitofsurpriseIcanmanageinoneday."

Sumnerbowedhishead.Hewaswickedtoallowhertosufferthewayshehad.ButLeopoldhadsafelydepartedLondonandwasonhiswaytoParis.

NowwasthetimetoadmiteverythingtoElizabeth.

Heopenedhismouthtobegin,butatonceshewasinhisarms,herlipspressedagainsthis.No.No,hehadtotellher.Hepulledback."Elizabeth,please.Imustconfess."

"Ican'thearit.Notnow.Justletmepretendforalittlewhilelonger.Please."Shereachedoutforhim,buthecaughtherwristsandheldthem.

"Pretend?"Sumnerloweredhishead."Thereisnoneedtopretend.IamnotgoingtomarryPrincessCharlotte."Hecouldseeshedidnotbelievehim,andafterwhathadcometopa.s.s,hedidnotfaulther.

"PrincessCharlottesaidherfatherwouldconsent."Elizabethtuggedagainsthim,visiblyneedinganendtoanytalkofthissubjectthatpainedherso."TheTimesreportedthatyouwerereturningtoParistoresumeyourdutyandtopet.i.tionyourfamilyforsupportofaunion."

Thetearsbatteredthewallofherlashes,threateningtospill.Shestruggledfeeblytopullawayfromhim,butSumnerknewthatifhereleasedher,shewouldrun,andhewouldfaceanotherdelaytoadmittingwhathemusttoendherpain.

"Youhavetohearme,Elizabeth.Ineedsomuchforyoutounderstand."

"Icannot."Heremeraldeyesflashedandshethrewherweightforwardtobreakhisgrip,butheheldfastandtheybothtumbledontothethickrug.

Shetriedtorollaway,buthethrewherontoherbackandleanedhisbodyagainsthers,holdingherprisonertohiscomingwords.

"Inevermeanttodeceiveyou,Elizabeth.Inevermeanttohurtyou,orcauseanypain."Heliftedaheavycoppercurlfromhershoulderasheleanedcloseandkissedhercalmingly."ButbeforeIsaywhatImust,knowthatIloveyou,andIwantnothingmorethantobewithyou."

Atearslippedfromthecornerofhereyesandtrickledoverhertemple,whereitdisappearedintoherlong,thickhair."Please,donotlinger.Tellmewhatyoumustandthenletmegrieve."

"Therewillbenogrieving.Thereisnoneed,forIwillnotmarryPrincessCharlotte..."Hedrewinadeep,fortifyingbreath."...becauseIamnotPrinceLeopold."

Elizabethblinkedseveraltimesinsuccession,releasinghertearsinsteadystreamsdownthesideofherface."Whatdidsay?Ivow,Imustnothaveunderstoodyou.Icouldnothave."

"Youdid,butIwillsayitagainsoyoumaybecertain.IamnotLeopold."

Confusionwasplaininhereyesa.s.shestaredathim,asifshewa.s.seeinghimforthefirsttime.

"WhenIfirstmetyouandyoursisterinthejewelryshop,IwasonanerrandforPrinceLeopold,mycousin.IintroducedmyselfasLansdowne,theMarquessofWhitevale.Iamhe.SumnerLansdowne,LordWhitevale."

Perplexedeyespeeredupathim."ButIsawyou-everyoneknewyoutobePrinceLeopold.Howcanwhatyousaypossiblybetrue?"

"NoteveryoneknewmetobePrinceLeopold.PrincessCharlotte,Mercer,andofcoursethePrinceofWaleshimselfallknewmeasLeopold'scousin,hisconfidant,andhisguard."

Elizabethhadlongstoppedstrugglingagainsthim,butholdingherthiswayastheytalkedwasfarpreferabletothewayhehadimaginedthismoment,withherhuggingherselfforcomfortagainstthecoldrailoftheSerpentinebridge.

"HHisguard?"Shefurrowedherbrow,butasthemomentspa.s.sed,gradualunderstandingsmoothedherfeatures."AreyoutellingmethatyouposedasLeopold...todrawofftheattacksfromyourcousin?"

"Yes."Sumner'sresponsecameasarelievedsigh.Heclosedhiseyesbrieflyandthencontinued."OnourfirstdayinLondon,ashotwasfiredfromacrowd.Wecouldn'tbesureitwasmeantfortheprince,buthehadreceivedlettersinParis,beforewejourneyedhere,warningLeopoldthatifhepersistedinhisquestforPrincessCharlotte'shandtherewerethosewhowouldensurehewouldneverbesuccessful."

Hereyeswerelargeandround."ThebackersofWilliam.o.f.orange?"

"Yes."Sumnerfeltthefacetedemeraldintheringinhispocketpressingbetweenthem,distractinghim."b.u.t.therewerenofurtherletters.Nowordsofwarning.Still,forthesakeofSaxeCoburg,PrinceLeopold'ssafetybecamemyonlypriorityinLondon."

Elizabethloweredhereyesfromhis.

"UntilImetyou,"headded.

Hergreeneyessweptuptohis,andheknewatlastthatshewouldforgivehim.

Chapter18.

E lizabethsqueezedhereyestightlyclosed,inadvertentlypressingfromherdamplashesasingleremnanttear.

Thiswasadream.Ithadtobe.

Inherboredom,shehadfallenasleeponthesettee-andnowshewasdreaming.But...once,shehadbeentoldthatifyourealizeyouaredreaming,thedreamendsatthatmoment.Asfara.s.sheknew,however,ithadn't.ShecouldfeelSumner'swarmbodyagainsthersevennow.

Sheopenedhereyesquicklytobesure,knowingthatifthiswasjustadream,Sumnerwouldbegoneandshe'dlikelyfindMrs.Polkshank'shuge,marmaladecatsleepingagainsther,sharinghisfurrywarmth.

ButSumnerwasn'tgone.

Hewasleaningoverher,kissinghersoftly,pa.s.sionately.Shefelthimnudgeherbodyasheslidhishandbetweenherbackandthecarpet,andthenpressedhispalmagainstthesmallofherback,pullingherbodyfirmlyagainsthim.

Hebroketheirkissthen,andthoughshehungrilypursuedhismouthwithherown,heescapedherandinsteadswepthislipsacrosshercheekandthendownherthroattotheshallowhollowbeneathhershoulderbone.

Shesighedashismouthmovedlowerstill,tantalizingherwithhisachinglyslowprogressiona.s.sherealizedhisultimatedestination.

Sumnerliftedhisheadtoseeashepulledatthethinsatinribbonthatcinchedherbodiceclosed.Shecouldn'tendurethisanylonger.Shecouldnot.

Elizabethslidherfingersthroughhisthick,darkhair,thencuppedherhandsbehindhisheadandstruggledtourgehismouthbacktohers."Kissme,"shewhispereda.s.shepressedherlipstohis.

Shefelthimsmilingagainsthermouthashisfingersatlastreleasedherribboncinchandhersimplecambricgownopenedtohistouch.

Hishandswereroughbutwarmagainstherskinasheloweredherchemiseandaslightchillofpleasuredrewgooseb.u.mpsacrosstheskinhehadbared.Hernippleshardenedinherantic.i.p.ation.

Beingslenderofform,sherarelyworeacorsetforadayathome,andnow,ashislipsmovedovertheswellsofherb.r.e.a.s.t.s,shewasgratefultherewasnotanotherlayerofclothingbetweenherandhismoist,searchinglips.

Layingherhandsonthemuscledslopeofhisshoulders,Elizabethblindlytrailedherpalmsdownhischestandfumbledbetweenthemtocatchthelapels,hopingtocoaxhiscoat,andmore,fromhisbody.

Sumnerreceivedhersilentmessageandleaneduptoshrughiscoatfromhisbroadshoulders.Hisdesireforherpresseduphardagainsthisbreeches,formingatautlydrawntent.Herbodyrespondedwitharushofheatbetweenherthighs.

b.u.t.then,tohergreatsurprise,givenhisardorandobviousstateofarousal,hecarefullyfoldedhiscoatandplaceditonthesetteebesidethem.

Hedidnotshowsuchcarewithhiscravat,norwithhiswaistcoatortheshirtheverynearlytorefromhisform.Itwasasifhecouldnotpeelthelayersfromhisbodyfastenough.