I awoke the following morning to a knock at my door. I looked around, surprised to find that I was no longer sitting in a chair by the fire; I was lying in bed, alone. William was nowhere to be seen. I went to the door and unlocked it.

Agnes strode in, eyes sparkling as she smiled at me. "Good morning, Miss," she said, setting down my breakfast tray on my bed.

"Good morning, Agnes," I replied, smiling, a little surprised by her enthusiastic countenance. She was usually quiet and timid.

She curtsied to me and exited so that I could eat my breakfast. After breakfast, I bathed and dressed in a simple pale-blue gown and a servant tied my hair back to keep it out of my eyes.

I went to the library for my lessons, where Miss Grimoult droned on while I struggled to stay awake. She smacked my wrist a few times for dozing off, even. It was so boring, anyone would have trouble staying awake.

I stopped paying attention partway through and stared out the window, at the dust swirling through streams of sunlight.

"Erika Lovet," Miss Grimoult snapped, sharply enough that I did not think that was the first time she had tried to get my attention. "Have you heard anything I've said?"

I looked up at her, wincing. "Not really, Miss Grimoult," I said truthfully.

"Well, since you are not listening in the least, this is a waste of time. You are dismissed." She shooed me toward the door.

I apologized and thanked her for her time before I hurried out of the library. I ate my midday meal in the kitchen, watching everyone work. The meal was a small platter of soft cheeses, fresh bread, and fruit.

I had a lovely conversation with Chef Louis as he prepared our dinner. He talked quite a lot about his home life in Renwick—a country just North of Belhaven. He talked quickly and amicably about his life in Renwick as he kneaded bread dough, seasoned the pork roast, and chopped vegetables, pausing only briefly to direct servants every so often.

Louis talked with me for some time before one of the younger house servants entered the kitchen. "Miss Lovet," she said, her voice soft. "Your mother is asking for you in the ballroom. She will not wait long."

I'd completely forgotten about my dance lessons! I stood so quickly I nearly knocked my lunch off the table. "Thank you," I said quickly. I thanked Louis and hurried out of the kitchens.

Mother and Monsieur Dupont were waiting for me when I entered the ballroom. Mother glared at me when I entered, arms crossed over her chest, looking very cross. "You are late. Where have you been, Erika?"

"I am terribly sorry for being late," I said breathlessly. "I was in the kitchens." I turned to Monsieur Dupont. "Good afternoon, Monsieur."

He nodded curtly at me, his eyes narrowed. "Good afternoon, Lady Erika."

And so when my dance lessons. I had to admit, I was much better than I had been at my first lesson several weeks ago. Now, I only stepped on his feet when I was not paying attention. But this dance, I hardly made any mistakes, besides an occasional misstep.

Mother watched me dance, her eyes narrowed, lips pursed in a thin line. When the musicians finished playing the song, I turned toward her, proud of my improvements. "What did you think, Mother?" I asked eagerly.

"You need more practice," was all she said.

My shoulders drooped a little, my smile sliding off my face.

Then, her eyes lit up. "Ah, Alice, there you are."

Alice entered the room, looking mildly annoyed. "You called for me, Mother?"

"Yes, I did. I want you to dance with Monsieur Dupont to show Erika how to do it. Or, rather, how to do it correctly," said Mother, smiling fondly at her eldest daughter.

"Of course, Mother," Alice said and strode over to Monsieur Dupont.

The musicians started up again and Alice danced a waltz with Monsieur Dupont. They were excellent—graceful and poised, gliding across the floor as though they were floating.

He spun her and she flowed with it, her dress swirling around her ankles. Neither of them smiled, nor looked anywhere but at each other. This was strictly a professional thing. They were not having fun or doing it for entertainment. Why would one dance, even if they were quite good, but were not enjoying it?

Finally, the music stopped and Alice and Monsieur Dupont pulled away. After bowing and curtsying to each other, Alice walked over to where Mother and I stood, her eyes cold. "Is that all?"

I looked at Mother, who was not quite smiling, but whose eyes glowed with pride. "That is how one dances, Erika. Do not ask me how you've done until you can dance like her."

Alice curtsied derisively, a mocking smile finding its way to her lips. "I'm sure you will get there eventually, Sister," she said softly.

My lip quivered slightly, but I forced a smile anyway. "Perhaps, one day, Alice. Thank you for showing me how it is done."

Her smile faded, replaced by a faint scowl. She really looked like Mother when she made that face. I was almost unnerved by it. Clearly, she was not expecting my reaction and was rather displeased by it. I could not help but be happy about that.

"Of course, I am always happy to be of service." But the tone of her voice said otherwise. And, with that, she curtsied once more to Monsieur Dupont and then Mother, before striding out of the room.

I turned to Mother who was still staring after Alice, looking pensive. "Keep dancing," she snapped without even glancing in my direction and then following Alice out of the room. To my great displeasure, I was left alone with Monsieur Dupont.

#

I decided I would go see William later that night. I locked the door to my bedroom and tiptoed down to the front door, watching for creaky floorboards or furniture I might bump into. I found our footman waiting by the door.

"What are you doing out here at this hour, Howard?" I asked, as it was long after he should have been off duty.

"Good evening, Miss Lovet. And where might you be off to?" He asked pleasantly, ignoring my own question.

The realization struck me. He was standing there at this hour to make sure I would not be leaving the house. "I just thought I would go for a walk," I said warily. I pulled out three gold coins and handed them to Howard. "Just because I know you've been working so hard lately."

He smiled faintly, his eyes glinting at the coins now in his hand. "As far as I've seen, you have not left your room all evening, Miss."

Howard opened the door and I stepped out into the cold and the door shut firmly behind me. I wondered briefly about whether I should be concerned that our staff could be bought so easily, but the thought soon left my mind as I made my way toward the palace.

When I arrived at the palace, I was saddened that William was not waiting for me under the willow tree, as he always did. But, of course, I hadn't expected him to, because he did not know I was coming.

William's friend, Commander Gabriel, stood before the palace gates, his stance rigid, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword.

"Commander," I said softly, and immediately, swords were drawn and aimed at me.

I froze, sucking in a breath sharply.

"At ease," Gabriel said as he walked toward me, recognition lighting his eyes. "Lady Lovet," he said, sounding a little surprised as he walked toward me. "I would ask what brought you to the palace, but I'm quite sure I already know."

I smiled sheepishly at him. "Thank you for keeping your men from cutting my head off."

He laughed, a sound I had not heard from him before. He looked much younger when he laughed, truly like the twenty-two year old he was, and much more attractive, as well. For the past several week, he had escorted William and me to my house nearly every night, and in that time, I had seen him smile very little and I did not even realize he could laugh. "They would not have slice your head off—these swords are not great for that. They merely would have run you through, if anything."

I swallowed a little nervously. "Well, erm, thank you, then, for not letting your men run me through."

"It was my pleasure, My Lady. I shall take you to see His Highness, then."

I thanked him and followed him up the path to the palace doors. He led me down the long corridor, up the stairs, down another long corridor, before we wound up in front of William's bedroom doors. I was pleased to find that the route to his room looked familiar now, and I probably could have found it myself if I'd had to.

I thanked him again for his escorting me to William's room , and he bowed to me before he hurried back down the hall the way we'd come.

There were two guards standing on either side of William's bedroom doors, as usual, and they stepped out of my way as I knocked on the door.

I heard movement from inside the room, and then a moment later, the door opened and William stood in the doorway, looking surprised. He really had not been expecting me, for he was wearing only black trousers and a white dress shirt that was unbuttoned completely—suggesting he most likely had thrown it on hurriedly—which displayed the muscular plains of his chest and stomach.

My face heated up and I turned my eyes down to the floor, finding that he was barefoot. Forgetting that he was partially naked, I found his being barefoot was somehow much more intimate. I looked up at him and opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I was utterly speechless and more embarrassed than I had ever been in my life.

His cheeks reddened slightly and he stared at me, looking just as shocked as I felt. "Erika," he said slowly. "Good evening."

"I am terribly sorry I showed up unannounced. I did not realize you would be sleeping . . ." I swallowed hard, my eyes finding their way to his taut stomach.

"I . . . er . . . wasn't sleeping . . ." He said slowly, his own face turning scarlet. He began buttoning his shirt, his fingers fumbling clumsily as he spoke. "I was just reading, and, well, I'm sure you know—"

"Ah, yes, it is a beginner's mistake to pick up a new book right before bed," I said distractedly, my eyes fastened to the buttons on his shirt. In his haste, he had misaligned them, leaving gaps in the fabric and one side of his shirt was longer than the other.

His eyes followed my line of sight down to his shirt and let out an exasperated sigh. "Christ," he hissed as he began trying to fix the buttons. His hands stilled and his eyes shot back up to mine, looking startled. "I'm terribly sorry," he said. "I did not mean to curse in front of a lady—I mean in front of you—well, of course, you are a lady—"

I had made a mistake in showing up unannounced. That much was clear. "It's all right," I said quickly, cutting him off before he could finish digging his own grave. "I apologize, again, for my intrusion. I did not realize my being here would cause quite a fuss. For you." I winced at that last part. It did not sound the way I'd meant. "I mean, well, for both of us. I should go. Perhaps we can . . . plan something next time . . . to meet up, that is." I took a step back. I felt like my face my burst into flame. I wanted to sink through the floor and disappear because of the embarrassment.

"No," he said, putting a hand up, as though to stop me. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, exhaled. When his eyes opened, some of the frantic light had left them and he looked a little less flustered. "I'm sorry. I did not expect you to come tonight, that's all. But, of course, I am happy that you came to seem me. I'm sorry," he repeated.

I offered him a reluctant smile. "May I come in?"

His eyes widened and he quickly stepped out of the doorway. "Yes, of course. I'm sorry. I should have invited you in already."

I stepped inside and he shut the door behind me. "You have no reason to apologize. It is all right, really." Distantly, I wondered what the guards thought of our exchange. They had not broken their facade at all, though, I could not help but wonder if, later, they would sit around a table with friends and discuss the train wreck they'd witnessed this evening. It was not a pleasant thought.

His apartments looked much the same as the last time I'd been in here. Relatively neat and tidy, bookshelves full to bursting with books, his bed slightly rumpled as though he'd been lying on top of it when I'd knocked. An open book rested on his pillow, though, from here, I could not tell what book it was.

I took a deep breath and turned to him. He was watching me, no longer looking frantic in the least, just, perhaps, expectant, his eyes glinting in the firelight. "You go to many balls and events, you eat a lot of expensive food, drink a lot, and yet, you have muscles . . . how is that possible?" I demanded.

He tilted his head, giving me a strange look. "No one has ever asked me that before. What an odd questions." He raised his eyes skyward as he appeared to think. "I train with Gabriel and his men often. I, um, dance quite a lot, which, I think, helps." He said awkwardly. "Perhaps that is why? I cannot say I've thought about it before. But, thank you, for the . . . erm . . . compliment?"

It was not a compliment, so much as an observation, but I refrained from saying as much. I nodded curtly, feeling a little embarrassed to have asked, but content with his answer.

"I see," I replied. Unsure what else we might say on the subject, I turned away from him again and marched over to his bookshelf. I picked a book without even glancing at the title, sat in a chair before the fire, and began to read. William, still looking bewildered, returned to his bed to read, as well.