I clutched my book tightly to my chest as thoughit could hold the line between me and the crowded streets around me. No oneseemed to notice I was there as they hurried past me on their way.

Despite the busy streets, filled with people, vendors, musicians, artists, and so many others, I felt all alone.

What am I doing here? I thought dejectedly as I looked around the marketplace. All I wanted was to spend the afternoon with the prince, was that so much to ask? Even as the thought struck me, I found it ridiculous. I sighed and continued forcing my way through the crowds until I broke through into an emptier, quieter street.

I wandered up the street, still not quite sure where I was going. Though, I wasn't quite ready to go home yet either. I thought about Prince William, who was probably currently talking with Alice, probably falling in love with her. It was always easy for people to fall in love with Alice. I supposed she was just easy to love.

I turned a corner and began walking in the direction of the palace. It wasn't too far from here and I had to at least tell Prince William why I hadn't been able to meet him. After only a couple minutes of walking, I realized it was a lot farther than I had originally anticipated. Especially since I didn't usually walk there anyway.

With a heavy sigh, I flagged down a hansom cab and directed the driver to take me to the palace. The sun was beginning to set as we reached the palace gates. It was still pleasantly warm, but early enough in the season that once the sun set, it would get cold quickly.

I took a deep breath to steady my nerves as the driver pulled open the door. I paid him and stepped out. "Thank you," I said to the driver.

"Any time, Miss," he replied with a wave before driving away.

I brushed the wrinkles out of my gown and walked down the path toward the gates, scanning the area as I went. No sign of Prince William anywhere. My heart sank as I reached the gates and found the Willow tree standing all alone, no Prince William beneath it.

"Can I help you, My Lady?" A sentry posted at the gate asked.

I shook my head quickly. "Oh, no, I don't think so. Thank you." I turned and began walking back down the path. I didn't get very far, however, before I changed my mind. He was probably just inside. Would it be wrong of me to go looking for him? I would feel terrible having made him wait for me and then not even give him an explanation. I turned back toward the gate and walked past the sentries to the palace.

Inside, it was lively and bustling with activity. People hurried down the halls and through the corridors, children ran about, servants passed carrying trays of food and drink, mops and brooms. It was chaotic, to be sure, but there was something rather lovely about it too.

I steeled my nerves and walked down through the winding hallways, up a set of stairs, past room after room, with no sign of the prince anywhere. I was beginning to lose hope. The palace was big, I'd only explored one wing of it and there were several more, there were so many people that even if the prince were among them, I might not even know it was him.

Feeling rather dejected, I began the long walk back to the palace entrance. I wandered back down the hall, through more corridors down more sets of stairs, past several more rooms. Though, instead of the palace getting livelier the closer I got to the entrance, it only seemed to grow quieter, more abandoned. I thought back through all the turns I'd taken, but I wasn't sure I was going the right direction anymore. Had I missed a turn or taken a wrong one?

I turned around and began trying to trace my steps back to the beginning. I didn't know how long I'd been wandering through the palace, but it soon became apparent that I was utterly lost, with absolutely no idea how to get back.

Dread knotted my stomach as I wandered around. Was it possible to never be found? Would I die here, alone in an abandoned corridor? I swallowed against the sudden tightness in my throat. My feet had begun to hurt from all the walking and panic was beginning to set in. This was ridiculous. How had I not run into a single soul since I'd been lost? Where was everybody?

In my panic, I did not hear footsteps approach. "Lady Lovet?" A familiar voice said from behind me.

I let out a scream and nearly jumped out of my skin. When I landed, I caught the hem of my dress underfoot, stumbled backward, and landed flat on my back.

"Oh, dear," Prince William said, hurrying toward me. "I'm so sorry. I did not mean to frighten you. Are you all right?"

I sat up quickly, brushing the hair out of my eyes. "Your Highness," I said breathlessly. "I . . . didn't see you there."

His eyes sparkled with amusement, even as his face remained a picture of concern. "I noticed that." He reached out a hand and I took it gratefully, allowing him to pull me to my feet. "Are you all right?" He asked again.

"Quite all right," I said, the surprise already receding. "Just startled."

"I truly did not mean to startle you," he said and then paused, raising an eyebrow. "Though, I must ask. What are you doing in a disused part of the palace when it's getting late?"

Heat burned my face and I ducked my head. "Would you believe that I got lost?"

He laughed quietly. "You know, I could believe that, actually. This palace is a labyrinth. Terrible design, actually. So confusing."

I couldn't help but laugh as well. "An awful layout."

"How long have you been trying to find your way back?" His eyes widened. "Is this why you couldn't meet me? Have you been trapped in here for hours?"

I winced and shook my head. "No, I'm afraid not. I'm so very sorry for missing our meeting earlier. Because my sister came to meet you instead, I wasn't able to. I didn't want her or my mother to know."

"Your sister was here to see me? She said she was supposed to have tea with my mother."

I hesitated. "Oh . . . I mean, erm . . ." There was no point in lying about it, I supposed. "That's untrue. She was here to see you."

Prince William, still looking shocked and mildly uncomfortable, nodded slowly. "I see . . ."

My shoulders drooped and I stared hard at the floor. "I'm sorry, again, Your Highness. I understand if you do not want to meet with me again."

"Well, actually, I would very much like to see you again, since I don't think today really counts."

I looked up at him incredulously. "Really?"

He nodded, smiling slightly. "Absolutely. Perhaps a walk through the gardens? If you are still free this evening?"

My heart beat a little faster, but for an entirely different reason than before. I smiled at him. "I would love that."

We began walking back down the hall in the actual direction of the entrance, hopefully. All the hallways seemed exactly the same and I marveled at the fact that he seemed to know where to go. I supposed, having been raised here, that I shouldn't be all that surprised.

I was so curious to find out what he and Alice talked about, but it was none of my business. Curiosity warred with propriety and I resisted the urge to ask. Thankfully, propriety won and I refrained.

Though, before I could think of anything to ask instead, Prince William spoke up. "Have you read any good books lately?"

I smiled, suddenly excited. My favorite question. "Oh, yes. I recently finished Wuthering Heights, It's a romance, so I'm not sure you'd like it. I quite enjoyed it though."

"I've read it, actually," he replied, smiling sheepishly. "I really enjoyed it too. 'Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same,'" he quoted, eyes drifting skyward as he did.

My face warmed and I looked away quickly. "One day, I want to know what that feels like."

"It seems rare, I think, to find love like that."

I nodded. "But all the more precious for it."

He turned to me, smiling a faraway smile. "Indeed."

Finally, the palace began to look familiar again. I was both pleased and disappointed at that, since my time with the prince was almost up, but at least we had gotten more time than I had thought we would.

"I know it's getting late, but would you still want to go for a walk in the gardens?"

I smiled, my face warming. I'd almost forgot. "Yes, that would be lovely." We walked past the entryway and down a corridor and out into the gardens. Evening sunlight shone off the trees and hedges, turned the water in the fountain to gold.

"Is this a place you come to read?" I asked.

"Sometimes, but not often. It's very public and often if people see me out here, they stop to talk to me, which I don't really care for when I'm really into a book. Instead, I'll read in the library, or my bedroom, or any other empty room I come across."

"I see. How do you decide which room to read in that day?"

"I guess it depends on my mood or what feels like the right place to read on that day. Maybe the next time you stop by, I can show you the different places."

"Oh, yes, I would really like that, Your Highness."

"William," he said quickly.

I turned to him, startled. "I'm sorry?"

His cheeks reddened slightly and he ducked his head sheepishly. "It's just that . . . I mean, everyone calls me 'Your Highness,' or 'Prince William,' but I would like it if you just called me William."

I bit my lip, uncertain. We hardly know each other. He's royalty. And he is telling me to call him William? I wasn't so sure. "But I hardly know you. Won't people get the wrong idea?"

"I don't care about that," he said.

I hesitated for a second, but the way he was looking at me, the earnestness in his gaze, convinced me. "All right, William."

The smile he gave me in return was further reassurance that I had made the right choice. My heart twisted in my chest at how beautiful he was.

He tilted his head, his gaze turning amused. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh," I said, surprised. I hadn't even realized I'd just been staring at him. How embarrassing! "I was just thinking."

"What were you thinking about?"

"You can't just ask a lady what she's thinking about! What if it's private and she doesn't want to tell you?"

"Well, she doesn't have to tell me if she doesn't want to."

"But it would be rude to simply say, 'I don't want to tell you.' How would that make her look?"

"Fine, I'm sorry," he said, laughing. "In all honesty, you're the first lady I've ever asked that question to, anyway."

My eyes widened. "Really? Well, now I'm thinking how special I must be that the prince might want to know my thoughts," I teased.

He laughed, but his face reddened again. "Indeed."

We walked through the garden, chatting like we'd been friends for a long time. We talked about books we liked and didn't like, authors, hobbies, pastimes. Before long, the chapel bell chimed nine times and I winced. "I must be getting home."

"Oh," I was a little bit pleased to hear disappointment in that one word. "Of course, I didn't realize how late it had gotten."

"I hadn't either. Would you like to . . . er . . . meet again?" I asked awkwardly.

He laughed softly and nodded. "Yes, I would. Tomorrow at three again?"

"That will work."

"Excellent. Until tomorrow, then," he said.

I smiled. "Until tomorrow."