The Reluctant Princess - a Novella

Chapter 3 - In Vino veritas

Lavinia gripped her sister's elbow, as the dinner guests mingled in the garden, champagne flutes in hand.

"What is the matter? You look... ehm... belligerent."

"I'm going to be imprisoned for crimes against the crown before this night is over, sister," Elizabeth muttered with a good dose of malice, and swiftly downed the contents of her glass.

Lavinia glared at her sister's lack of manners.

"Care to explain before we go in for dinner?"

"I wish I could explain, Lavinia, but I really don't know where to begin, and I'm afraid you are the last person I should be telling my tale to."

Lavinia looked puzzled and Elizabeth sighed, wishing she did not have a sister who had chosen to live the rest of her life married to God. She was supposed to be the one person she could go to and talk about womanly things, damn her eyes.

"All I will say is that earlier today I had an unfortunate encounter with my betrothed... and his... uh..." she fumbled for the right word. She supposed penis was the correct, scientific term, but saying the word seemed plain wrong in the presence of her pious sister. She therefore made a vague, awkward, wave-like gesture in the general area of her middle, blushing furiously.

Had Lavinia been drinking champagne, she might have choked on it, but thankfully, she did not indulge in spirits. She did look, however, aghast.

"I beg your pardon...?"

Elizabeth shook her head, turning her attention to the other side of the terrace, where the king and queen were calling their guests' attention. This was not the time, nor the place to divulge any further details.

"Well, speak of the devil..." Elizabeth muttered, snatching another glass of champagne from a nearby valet.

Elizabeth's eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of Henry who had joined the other guests. The man surely commanded attention, she thought, draining her glass in one gulp, and suddenly feeling quite light-headed. He had shaved off his rakish stubble and wore all black, safe for a crisp white shirt that accentuated his golden skin. His eyes twinkled with mischief as they caught hers and his movements were smooth and graceful as he made his way towards her. His advance was halted by a tall, willowy auburn-haired beauty dressed in a deep violet gown that matched her eyes and a beguiling smile on her painted lips.

Elizabeth felt her body stiffen as Henry turned his attention to the newcomer and, with a gallant bow, greeted her, then offered her his arm and moved a few steps forward to greet Elizabeth and her sister.

"Darling!" he said to Elizabeth, then to Lavinia "Miss Crawley," and took one step away from the red-haired woman who made it a point to look reluctant in releasing Henry's arm.

Elizabeth and Lavinia curtsied and murmured a greeting in unison.

"May I present you Lady Melinda Ross, one of my mother's ladies in waiting," he said, observing the women before him with a barely repressed amused expression.

Elizabeth made herself smile her best smile before greeting the woman herself.

"Lady Ross, I am pleased to make your acquaintance, I'm sure."

"The pleasure is all mine, miss Crawley" said the other woman with a serene, harmless countenance that unsettled Elizabeth for no good reason at all.

Henry then surprised her when he excused himself to Lady Ross and suddenly took Elizabeth's gloved hand in his and just barely brushed his lips over her curled knuckles, his eyes fixed on her flushing face.