Forbidden Love

Chapter 10

James helps me out of the carriage and I take his arm.

This looked worlds away from the city I lived in. Things looked much more dull. Children begged on the street. The people were covered in dirt and the streets smelled.

"Do you still feel the need to complain?"

I glance to him and frown. I walk over to the children begging on the corner and crouch toward them.

"Are you a Princess, Miss?" The little girl smiles

"I am. What are your names?"

"I am Marina and this is my brother, John"

"Beautiful names" I nod. "Are you hungry?"

They nod and I open my bag to get my pocket money. "Have you something to eat with this? Yes?"

They excitedly nod and run away to their mama.

"You see? You take for granted what you have. The dresses you receive from the modiste cost more pounds than these people will ever lay their eyes on"

My eyes meet his and he offers his arm. "We shall return before someone notices we are missing"

He helps me back into the carriage and takes a seat on the opposite side. I wanted to ask about breaking our fast, but I felt rather guilty.

My stomach grumbled loudly and James chuckled quietly. "I am quite sure we will make it in time to eat"

~

"Where were you this morning?" My father asks

"Spending time with the woman, I am being forced to marry."

"Has she accepted your hand?"

"She has not. She has declared that she will never marry me."

"She will change her mind or perhaps you will change it for her?"

"I will not force her to marry me. She will decide on her own what she would like to do with herself"

"We shall see"

~

Florence POV:

I sat in the drawing room reading the most adventurous book when I heard footsteps walking down the hall.

"James? Will you care to join me?" I smile, not taking my eyes from my book.

"Whoever is James?"

I snap my head over and jump into his arms. "Brother!? We were not expecting you back so soon!"

"Have you grown taller?"

"Perhaps I have" I smile

"How has my favorite sister been?"

"Well. Mama has been suffocating me about finding a husband" I sigh

"Florence, would you like to go for a stroll?" James asks, walking into the drawing room.

"Is this..?" My brother asks

"It is" I nod

The Prince glances confused to my brother.

"James, this is my brother Henry. Henry, this is the man courting me"

"Oh!" He shakes his hand and glances at me. "Flo, why is he staying here?"

"He lives far away from here and mama insists for us to marry"

"Sounds like her. Seems as if she has you hounded" He chuckles.