Heturnedwithabitofastartandstaredintohereyes,asifhecouldnotbelieveshewasthere.

"Elizabeth,"hebreathed.

Chapter9.

CranbourneLodgeNormangarden E lizabeth.

ArumblinglikethethunderofadistantstormshookthroughSumnerashisgazemetElizabeth'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,ormaybeitwashiswillthatwaslacking.

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,shininginthemoonlight.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.

Thesoftfingersofbothherhandsmovedacrosshischeekstheneasedbackoverhistemplesandwriggledthroughhisthickhair.

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,buthereyesquicklyshiftedtothewardrobesituatedacrossthechamber,andshescurriedtoit.

"Oh,quiteright."Elizabethfeltlikesuchagoose.Certainlynoonewouldbeawakeatthisearlyhourb.u.t.thehousestaffwhowerecompelledtodoso-and,ofcourse,oneovereagerlady'scompanion.

WhentheyoungwomanturnedaroundagaintofaceElizabeth,shewasblushingfiercely.

"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,twoshirtlessmen,theirbodiesgleamingwithsweat,swungswordsateachother.

LeopoldandLordWhitevale.

Thea.s.saulthaltedthemomentthen.o.blemenbeheldher.Thentheyloweredtheirbroadswords.

Sheblinkedinastonishment.SumnermustbeWhitevale'sgivenname.Certainlythisisso.Howoddthatshehadn'trecognizedthevoiceshehadheard.b.u.t.then,theywereinthemidstofswordplay.Strainandexertionwaslikelythecauseforhisalteredtone.Certainly,thatwasthereason.