The London Affair

Chapter Five: Confessions

Chapter Five: Confessions

"Prime Minister what in God's name are you doing here," cried Maria locking eyes with Peter. Upon this the head butler of Gray manor Andrew Crane, a former thief that was given a second chance also appeared in the room. He had always had a soft spot for Maria. "My apologies my Lady, I tried to stop him."

"Crane, it's fine," Maria said as tears appeared in her eyes.

"No it's not, I demand to know why you are here Prime Minister," interjected Robert.

"Robbie, please," Maria grabbed his arm!

"That is between Maria and I, General," Peter snapped.

"Not sure if you read the papers Prime Minister but Lady Maria and I are to be married today, so it does concern me."

"Robert you do not own me and if you keep talking like that we will not be married'

Peter smiled a smug smile, " actually General your lovely bride to be invited me to witness your wedding when she told me of your engagement," he declared! Maria drew a hard breath, was Peter going to tell Robert her secret, about their passionate night together? No he wouldn't. He was a good man she resolved. She then remembered when she told Peter of her engagement to Robert.

It was a few months back, she, Robert and her family were all attending the ball celebrating Peter's elevation as Prime Minister. Robert and Maria were newly betrothed, however the news wasn't publicly known yet. But their courtship was well known! Maria could see herself enter the ballroom with Robert at her side, she espied her father talking with Peter, Lord Grey was now trying to get Peter to marry his second oldest daughter Ginevra. However, as soon as he saw Maria he excused himself from Lord Grey and went to Maria, "Lady Maria, you look ravishing tonight, care to dance," he asked ignoring Robert all together?

"Excuse me," Robert cried?

"Robert," shot back Maria.

"Oh General please the old notions are going away, Maria's not your property, that wouldn't even be so if you were betrothed like Maria and I once were!"

"The choice is yours darling, go if you want," stated Robert sourly.

"Wise words dearest, I'll be back shortly," she replied as she kissed Robert on the cheek and walked off with Peter.

"Look at you, you just stood up to the golden boy, I bet he loves that!"

"Robert's a wonderful man Peter, can we speak in your study?"

"Yes of course," he led her to his study. "What is it?"

"Peter, Robert and I are engaged, we are going to announce our engagement next week! I would like you at the wedding." A grieved look went over Peter's face he was crushed. He knew this was his doing, that he pushed her away by ending their engagement. But she would never be happy with him now that she knew he had a secret. A secret he couldn't bear to tell her!

Seeing the look resting upon his face Maria cried, "come off it, don't seem so surprised, you were the one that ended our engagement!"

"I understand that," declared Peter as slight tears began to well in his big blue eyes. "I ended our engagement because I wanted you to be happy. That's all I ever wanted for you was for you to be happy and live your life the way you see fit!" It was with these poetic words that Maria, though she had just told him she was engaged to another, realized she was no longer falling in love with Peter, she was in love with him. He was putting his happiness over hers.