I curse silently as I stare at the serving boy. My mind concocting a thousand different escape routes. I settle on the idea of fainting if I must. Frederick straightens, giving Alexander a sullen shrug. They stare at each other. Alexander looks bewildered, confused, angry. Frederick looks nonchalant as he turns his gaze to me.

His shirt is open a little at the neck, I ignore the pleasant feeling the sight gives me. He looks even more powerful than he did last night. I look back to Alexander and it strikes me that they look similar. Alexander stands straighter, his shoulders broader, in this moment he is oozing authority as he stares at the man before him. Alexanders blue eyes glisten brighter than Fredericks, it seems as though they are both puffing out their chests. Neither say anything.

Could it be they somehow recognise each other as rivals? Have I given off some sort of scent that has allowed Alexander to know what took place last night?

We stand in a triangle in silence. I'm tense as I look between the two, a standoff between preying animals. I almost shiver as I realise I am the prey. My nerves tingle as my eyes dart from blue-eyes, to bluer-eyes. Alexanders stare is so intense his eyes almost seem to glow, my knees feel unusually weak as I take him in.

When it all becomes too overwhelming, I blurt out, "Are you two acquainted?" My voice is light and airy but I really want to demand.

"You could say that," Alexander says dryly. "Though, I rather thought my younger brother had taken some time to travel. It transpires he's been in hiding not far from home at all."

My knees really do feel like they're going to give out as I look between the two, "Your brother?"

Alexanders head whips around to look at me, "You are acquainted?"

Frederick walks towards me. For a brief moment I fear he's going to put his arms around me and declare myself as his. Instead he stops short, keeping a respectable distance.

He looks solemn as he says, "She knows me as nothing more than her serving boy."

"That is because you are my serving boy." I spit, my tone too sharp. Alexander is frowning at us.

Frederick grins, "I was hired, so what you say is true. But I must confess that I am also his younger brother."

I balk at him. A Prince. He's a Prince. Not just any Prince, but the brother of a Prince I am set to be wed to. I feel as though I may vomit. My stomach twists and churns. The air beings to vibrate. The ground begins to swell.

Everything becomes dark.

***

When I come to and open my eyes, there are two very distinctive faces hovering above me.

"Are you well?" Alexander says, his brows knitted together in worry.

Frederick is trying not to laugh, though I fail in every way to see any humour in this. I really did faint.

I slowly nod and start to sit up.

"I think you should wait for-" Alexander begins.

"Nonsense." Frederick cuts him off and pulls on my arm to help aid me up. Knowing it is too late to wait for a doctor or nurse, Alexander places a gentle hand on my back. Where Frederick is rough, Alexander is gentle. Two complete opposites, yet they look so alike. 

Any lady should simply perish with the embarrassment bestowed upon her from events like today, yet I am not awarded that grace.

His brother! This whole time Frederick knew. This is how he could get in to the ball, why he knew his way around the house the ball took place in. The way he walks; talks; acts, none of that is akin to a serving boy. Oh! I have been a complete fool! I'm no better then the country idiot! I knew he was more, but the brother of my betrothed is something no one could be prepared for.

They both crouch over me, awaiting for me to instruct on my next move.

"I would like to stand." I tell the men, they both nod. With one on each arm they gently ease me to my feet, releasing me when I am upright.

Alexander checks me over, his hands held out like stabilisers. Frederick takes a step back from me, folding his arms against his chest. I do not know what I appreicate more, the space Frederick allows or the caution Alexander takes.

When I have had a moment, and we are all certain that I will not allow my face and the floor to become more accquainted, both men turn to me expectently.

I look to Alexander, "Would it be incredibly rude if I ask to speak to your brother alone?"

"Yes." Alexander grunts. "I am certain that what you would like to say to him can be said while I am present."

I shake my head, "It cannot."

"Then you cannot say it."

Frederick rolls his eyes, "Do you not want a happy intended wife? You can go over there"- Frederick nods a pillar a few feet away from us- "and watch whilst I answer whatever questions she has for me."

Alexander does not move. "I would like to know why she has questions for you."

Frederick shrugs, "I imagine it is because I am a Prince who has been acting as her serving boy."

My temper, which has always been a little too short, flares. "I can speak for myself!" I turn to Alexander. "I am going to speak to your brother, and once I am finished we can continue our walk and put this foolery behind us."

Alexander looks like he is going to argue, but something on my face dissuades him. Without another word, Alexander spins on his heel and walks towards the exact pillar Frederic nodded to.

Now I am semi-alone with Frederick, my temper flashes hot. I fight to keep my tone even, but my hands clench and unclench besides me as words fall from my mouth, "I would like to be perfectly clear, your majesty; what happened last night shall never happen again. I do not know how you have ended up as a serving boy on my estate, but I imagine it was much to do with your brothers betrothal to me."

Frederick, at least, looks sheepish. "You are correct. Initially it was to play a hoax on my brother and family. I was not expecting his betrothed to be you. To be as beautiful. To make me feel so strongly."

His words fall into the air but I do not hear them. Last night they would have made my heart thrum, my knees week, my soul yearn. Today, his words are met with stillness. Nothing he can say will ever make me trust him.

"I do not care for your words." I all but snap. "You have made me a fool."

Frederick shrugs, "You simply would have traded one Prince for another."

I throw my hands up in exasperation, "I never said I wanted to marry a Prince! I did not know your brother until last night; after you and I spoke. Do you truly think your family would have welcomed me with open arms if I betrayed your brother? For someone I believed to be a serving boy? That happened to be one of their other sons? You would have allowed me to bring shame on both our families, for a hoax."

Frederick looks saddened by my words. I almost want to run to him, throw my arms around him and tell him I do not mean it. But I do. Oh, how this could have ruined us all!

"Courting you was never my intention," He mutters.

"Yet you did it anyway." I shoot back.

"I am truly sorry," he says. I believe him. But it does not matter. I do not see what purpose his taking up a role here could have served, except to ruin me. What else could have been his plan?

"This," I point between he and I, "will never happen."

"I understand," he says. But something in his voice stops me from turning away.

Suddenly, I know he is not going to let this end quietly. I do not think he will ever tell anyone what happened between us, but I do not think this is the end either. I almost turn to make my point, shout until I am blue in the face; but I am very aware that Alexander has began tapping his foot, impatiently waiting.

I glare at Frederick for a second longer before I beckon Alexander back over.

"I trust he answered your questions adequately?" Alexander asks as he reaches us.

Frederick grins, "Of course." Then he suddenly appears serious. "I suppose I shall tell the head of the house my services will no longer be needed. You can finish your walk."

Before either of us can stop him, Frederick strides off, leaving us both to stare after him.