"UH! Why does it take women so damn long to get dressed?! Go find Betsy!"
"I'm sure she will be along shortly Sir. They are probably just finishing up her makeup or
something."
"Well I despise waiting. Get me another slice of pi-"
"My Prince and guests, I am pleased to introduce to you for the first time... Her Grace, Lady Betsy Harrigan, descendant daughter of the house of Daughtry and Irish King Niall of Inishowen, Ireland." I stood hearing Betsy had such a great title, and as she walked into the room proudly and confidently my breath was stolen from me.
"Mother..." All eyes in the room gazed upon this... Betsy, even the musicians had paused their
playing. As I looked back to her and our eyes locked there was no doubt this woman had
Royal blood. I was but a moth and she my flame, I did not even realize I had moved until I was
standing but feet from her. She tipped her head down slightly never letting her eyes leave mine.
"My Prince..." Although she spoke lightly the single word cut through me as if it were a sword. She was not happy with my demand that she stay at the masque. I had to show her she wasn't a prisoner but a welcome guest.
"My Lady..." It had been a long time, but I bowed as if bowing to my father. Following this
gesture came countless gasps and murmurs from the long forgotten people around us. "You
look... beautiful..." I stammered for words as I arose meeting those eyes once more. "I thought
I was, looking at my mother..." My eyes caught glint of something familiar atop her head, I
pursed my lips in displeasure and my eyes shifted sharply to Michael who shifted
uncomfortably off to the side.
"Sir...?" The captain of my guard and closest friend snapped me back to the moment.
"Yes, my apologies, I too have lost parents, the last not even a year ago." I looked at her
again. "My sympathies Sir."
"Thank you... My Lady."
"Perhaps a dance is in order Sir, this is after all a masque." Again the voice of Thomas pulled
me from Betsy's flaming gaze.
"Of course..." I held my hand out to Lady Betsy and tried my best to give her a welcoming
gaze. "My Lady, will you allow me the honor of your first dance as a Noble?" She shifted
slightly, probably unnoticeable to those around us but not to me.
"Perhaps something... slow." I gave her a slight knowing grin and I waved my left hand for the
music to start. She laid her hand atop mine in acceptance and I led her to the middle of the
hall. "I must admit, I have never danced at such a formal function before."
"That much is apparent, but not to worry, I am well practiced in dance." I took her waist and
she rested her hand on my shoulder then we began to move. "It seems you are not completely
unknowing however."
"I... watch a lot of movies, I've picked up a few things."
"Ah, is that where your hard stare and demanding presence come from?"
"No, the stare is just me, comes from raising my daughter I suppose. And the demanding
presence is just confidence, this took me many years to learn on my own. Learning to not care
what others think of me while remaining compassionate. Learning to be happy with who I am, despite my faults. Always aspiring to be a better person, not for others, but for my own sake because I want to be." I considered that.
"I think... I might need to take a few pages from that book."
"Just a few...?" I couldn't help but smile at that.
"Okay, perhaps the entire book." She smiled.
"Well perhaps if the Prince was willing to borrow instead of TAKE that book... I would be
willing to help him... if he asked nicely."
"Of course. Lady Betsy, would you be SO very kind to teach me in the ways of your
compassion, self acceptance, eagerness to better yourself, selflessness and regal ways?"
"If the Prince is truly asking from his heart and wants to change, I would... but it'll cost him." I
laughed. "Hey, I may have a title but nothing else that comes with it. I have to pay my bills
somehow and if my time to work is going to help you, is it not fair I receive compensation?"
"Very well, if fair compensation is what you seek for your services then return tomorrow and we
shall come to an agreement and draw up a contract."
"Tomorrow? Don't you have to get back to whatever country you're from?"
"This is my family's U.S. summer estate, you crashed our annual Summer Masque. I
shall remain here until the end of September then return to Liechtenstein."
"But it's only April, summer isn't for another two months."
"Yes... there was a small threat on the family, the court thought it best for me to leave for
the annual summer trip early."
"Hm, sounds like someone just trying to get you out of your country to me. For the court to
make the suggestion, the person after you is probably someone with power, possibly within the court itself. You see this sort of thing all through history." The song ended and we stepped towards to window to continue talking on the balcony. "I'd take a look at those closest to you with the most to gain by getting you out of there." I looked at her surprised.
"I... didn't consider that as a possibility, I shall certainly look into it, thank you for the advice." The cool air felt good on my heated face, I must have overexerted myself by dancing without even realizing it. This woman had a way of taking my mind off things.
"You're staring." I ripped my eyes from her and looked out over the water.
"My apologies, I did not mean too. And..." I looked at her again careful not to get stuck staring again. "...I am sorry for my rudeness when we first spoke. I thought you a commoner giving me attitude."
"Well I spent all my life being a commoner, a poor one. If you knew everything I've been
through you'd probably be wondering how I never gave up. I came close a few times, and
when things get especially tough the thought still pops up in my head, but I never do it."
"I get like that often, especially after mother and father. How do you get past it?"
"I tell myself two things. Your not in the hospital, jail or the ground, so it's not that bad, it could
be worse. And the second thing is that... Hell, I've made it this far, might as well keep going." I
smiled at that.
"Mind if I use that?"
"Go ahead, let me tell you, telling myself those things have gotten me through some of the
darkest times in my life. And what it hasn't, music has." I look at her confused.
"Music?" She smiled and nodded.
"Everyone needs somewhere to escape to sometimes, the place is different for everyone. For me, it was going out to see bands play live. When I lived in Southern California I made friends with all sorts of bands, I got pretty deep into the LA music scene. Never got into the drug part of it, but I could DRINK! It was just nice to get away from everything for a day or two,
sometimes three... You're lucky you have this place... I could sit here all night looking over the water." I knew I was staring again, but she was focused on the water and I just couldn't help
myself. "You're doing it again..." She said without looking at me.
"I'm sorry but, the way you feel about looking at the water is the way I feel about looking at
you..." She turned to me looking me deep in the eyes then sighed.
"Great... You're falling for me." I started to laugh but something about that statement hit home.
I looked out at the water now. Was I really falling for this woman? I glanced at her again.
"Yeah right." I said both to her and myself.
"Oh yeah? Acting the way you are right now is so out of character for you, I bet at least half the
people behind us are staring waiting to see if we kiss." I blink and turn catching almost all my
guests looking out at us. They immediately turn and break up seeing they've been caught. I
sigh looking back at her.
"Well, should we give them what they want?" She grinned turning to me and I moved closer.
"No. If I'm going to be teaching you how to better yourself, things between us need to remain platonic. We don't need to complicate things more than they have to be while we're working together." I admit, my heart dropped, her rejection hurt. But those last few words gave me hope.
"While we're working together... Okay." Oh crap, she is going to drive me crazy! "Well, shall we
go back in?"
"Actually, it's REALLY late. Can I please go home?" No, she can't go!
"Why not just stay here? We can get started first thing that way."
"I have animals at home that need to be fed and an older gentleman that I take care of and need to check on. I need a good night to sleep in wouldn't hurt either, it's been a long day." I bit my lip starting to panic, I had to think quickly.
"I'll send Michael to feed your animals and check on te gentleman, and you can sleep in as long as you want in one of my guestrooms." She sighed
with a laugh.
"Just let me go home, you can't get EVERYTHING you want. You're going to see me tomorrow, let that be enough." I sighed heavily and nodded.
"Thank you. By the way, should I call you Highness or-"
"Lichtenstein isn't a kingdom, it's run as a Princepality. My name is Alexander." She gasped and stared at me wide-eyed for a moment then stepped back.
"Alright, see you tomorrow then. Goodnight... Alex." She turned and mumbled as she walked back inside.
"What is it with me and guys named Alex...?" I'll have to ask her about that later.
"I could just arrest her and latch her to your bedposts Sir." I smiled at the idea but watched as
she walked down the hallway she had before to get dressed.
"She's going to undress right now, if I really wanted too, I could just follow her and take her right now... But it's not just her body I want." I had to admit it to myself, she was right about
everything. "I think I'm falling in love with that woman Thomas..." I looked at him. "...head over heels. Strange how quickly and deeply it hits you when it does." Thomas seemed shocked but nodded.
"Yes, I remember. It was the same with my wife and I." Feeling the way I do about Betsy
leaving and not seeing her until tomorrow makes me feel bad.
"How do you do it? Being away from her for such long periods?" He visibly swallowed.
"With much difficulty Sir."
"Send for her." He blinked in surprise.
"What?!"
"This feeling is torture, I can't imagine how it is for you, bring her here."
"We have kids, Sir."
"Bring them too. I want to catch her at her car to talk to her one more time before she leaves. I moved leaving a shocked Thomas behind as I walked quickly through the house.
