Elizabeth

Standing on the steps of her childhood friend’s home, Lady Elizabeth Harrow’s heart raced at the prospect of seeing him again. Surely he would forgive her silence these past several years when he learned it had not been her choice.

The door opened and there he stood, tall and at attention, formally waiting to receive his guests. His dark hair was still short, trimmed, and polished. The suit he wore with casual grace couldn’t hide his lean muscled frame. He had definitely grown stronger by the look of him, standing there all tense.

As his eyes fell on her, she pulled her shoulders back. He bowed stiffly, unsmiling. “Welcome Lady Elizabeth. Please excuse me, I have work to do.” He turned to leave.

“Jameson?” She called out in shock before hastily correcting herself. “Forgive me, Your Highness.” His cold greeting astounded her. He paused at the sound of his name in his retreat before continuing his hasty escape.

She shuddered. It appeared that her best friend now abhorred the thought of being in the same room as her. 

Elizabeth had no time to dwell on this new development as her mother bustled into the room. “Ah, Elizabeth. Come. We must get you ready.” And as quickly as she came in, her mother hustled off continuing to talk even as she walked away, expecting Elizabeth to simply follow and listen. “Now, I filled your dance card with the men you are to seriously consider.”

Elizabeth continued to stare in the direction Jameson had stalked out.

“Elizabeth!” Her mother called. Reluctantly Elizabeth followed.

The frenzied hours of preparation that followed grated on her exhausted nerves. She silently endured, lost in thought over Jameson’s harsh greeting. Elizabeth braced herself for a long night. Her mother had provided the dress for the evening and Elizabeth cringed. They did not share the same taste. It was a pale pink confection that made her waist appear skinny but did nothing for her complexion or anything else.

As she descended the front stairs, she had to pause and shake off all the memories of the times she had skipped down those same stairs to meet up with Jameson. 

Her mother had certainly filled in every available moment of her night, as well as her dance card. Elizabeth was beginning to wonder if she could make it. After dancing without any rest for several dances, she was reeling but desperately fought to maintain her outward composure. None of her dance partners seemed to notice her discomfiture and whisked her out onto the dance floor before she could protest. As the night went on, she fought to not stumble or break down in tears. She felt alone, in pain, exhausted, and starving with no hope for relief.

Dances blurred and Elizabeth stopped paying attention, focusing only on staying upright. When her next partner moved her away from the dance floor instead of onto it she didn’t notice until the cool outside air hit her face. Abruptly she struggled to alertness and looked up into a familiar face. “Jameson?” She whispered. Her feelings vacillated between relief and hurt. Yet she couldn’t relax, remembering once again how he had so carelessly brushed her aside that morning.

Jameson politely inclined his head. “Lady Elizabeth, you appeared to need a bit of a rest.”

Elizabeth leaned up against the cold stone wall behind her. “How is it you can’t stand to be in the same room as me for more than a few seconds and yet you are the only one to notice when I need help?” Her eyes closed as she struggled to recover from her nonstop evening. She missed his startled look. At his irritated huff she forced herself to look at him. All she could see was how phenomenal he was looking. 

“You left.” He growled.

Startled, she attempted to hide behind cool indifference. “I did. Do you honestly believe I did it by choice?” 

His guilty glance to the floor made it obvious that he had thought exactly that and still did.

“Jameson. My mother told me we were going for a ride together. She didn’t inform me that I would be going to finishing school until I was at the gates. I wrote you. So many times. To explain. I never heard back from you.”

She laid her hand on his arm when what she really wanted to do was force him to give her the huge hug she had been craving since before she’d arrived.

When he didn’t speak she tilted her head to catch his gaze, “Is that why you had other business when I came home?”

His nod gave her hope. He glanced away, and when he looked back into her eyes she saw a wisp of sadness. “I missed you Liz.” She had no warning. He went from not touching her at all to enveloping her in one of his hugs. She collapsed into his arms. 

Instinctively he held her up. “What’s wrong?”

All the stress, the emotions, and even her mother’s good intentions overwhelmed the firm control she had been clinging to. Tears threatening, she moaned. “My feet hurt Jay. And I haven’t sat down since hours before the ball. My mother wouldn’t let me eat to make sure I fit into this stupid dress.” 

His eyes raked hotly over her dress. “You definitely look good in it. Even when I was making it a point to not look your way, I noticed. Is your mother still husband hunting for you?”

“Yes. Apparently you let her know that you were not interested in marriage with me so I’ve been ordered to not talk to you.” She admitted. 

“I told her that the day before you left because I didn’t want you to be forced to be with me. I wanted you to choose for yourself.” He pulled her tighter to him as he whispered in her ear, “When you left so suddenly I thought that you were giving me my answer.”

“Jay.” She smacked his arm but stayed nestled in close. She had missed him far too much for proper distance.

“I never received any letters.” He sighed, hugging her tightly once more. 

They broke apart as they heard footsteps clicking closer to them. Within moments a footman appeared. With a cough he turned to the prince. “Prince Jameson. Your mother is looking for you. Apparently you have missed the last three promised dances with her friend’s daughters.”

“Thank you. I will be in momentarily to soothe the ruffled egos in the room.” He bowed to Elizabeth. “It may not have been a long enough break for your feet but I don’t intend for you to dance with anyone else tonight as I will require my fiance by my side for the rest of the evening.”

“You have a fiance?” Elizabeth struggled to support herself on pained feet. “Since when?”

His boyish mischievous grin caught her by surprise. “Hopefully since right now?” He knelt down in front of her. “Will you marry me Liz?”