The Princess and I

Chapter XLIII: Sue's confession

Christina keeps true to her word and comes by for tea the next day instead of going to Mrs. Maxwell's acquaintances. Since Liam has accompanied his aunt, Elias sees no reason to stay at home and after making a few significant – and frankly very basely – allusions to his intentions, he leaves the house to buy the engagement ring. Christina is quite flustered and my mother apologizes extensively for her son's inappropriate behaviour.

'It's all right,' she says politely, but I see in her eyes that it definitely is not all right. 'He's in love.'

'And are you as well?' Naomi counters and Christina chokes in her tea. I give my sister a venomous look, but my mother intervenes by boxing Naomi's ears.

'Naomi, please behave yourself. Don't act like your big brother does. I am sorry, Princess. I don't know what gets into these two sometimes.'

'It's all right, really. And I have no secrets whatsoever. So, yes, I am in love. Desperately in love.' She takes another sip of tea and our eyes meet for a split second. Since I feel the blood creeping into my cheeks I swiftly take out my fan and wave some coolness to my overheated skin.

'With my brother?'

My mother actually curses. 'Naomi, if you can't ask the Princess normal questions, you may excuse yourself. I will not stand for this indecent behaviour.'

Naomi keeps quiet, but I can see the triumphant shine in her eyes. I grumble and my mother turns to me. 'How about you, dear? Made any progressions with the Duke?'

I don't know what to say, but Christina is quite enjoying herself. 'Well, actually he has found her a beautiful engagement ring, which she has already carried for a while. Of course, to see if it fits well. You liked it very much, didn't you, love?'

I look up at her with a big smile. 'I definitely did. It was the most beautiful ring I ever saw. Liam has a nice taste. I especially was quite fond of the sapphire, which was the same colour of his eyes.'

My mother claps her hands enthusiastically, while Christina is barely hiding a triumphant smile herself. To hide it, she takes another gulp of tea. Naomi is not done with us yet though. 'Must be quite complicated. Elizabeth is in love with your brother. You are in love with ours. And then still looking after your friendship. Quite an entanglement you've got yourselves there.'

Christina is actually so bold as to take my hand, while saying: 'We will manage, won't we, love?'

'Always.'

It seems my sister is out of questions, but she keeps examining us like a vulture, who's about to strike. We don't show any other affections for one another, though my body is yearning to continue our passionate adventure from the cottage. Except for a few

knowing glances we keep it as normal as we can. I don't think that anybody would suspect us of anything other than being good friends. My mother surely does not. She keeps on tattering about my courtship with Liam and Christina's with Elias. She actually dares to talk about a possible wedding for the both of us. I am quite annoyed with it all, since we both haven't been proposed to. Once again she is ahead of things.

That's why I rise after my second cup of tea and I ask my mother if we can go to White Rose. 'I bet the Princess wants to see that her birthday present is well taken care of.'

'I will join you as well,' Naomi says. 'It is such a beautiful day outside.' My face looks as if it had just swallowed a lemon and my mother also says: 'I don't think that prudent after your indecent behaviour of late, Naomi. God knows what you will ask the Princess as soon as I stay behind here.'