A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you are enjoying it! Jason and his family are royalty and should be cautious. Yes he was worried because she was unconscious for so long, but it wasn't like she was awake to answer any questions. He had no way of knowing her motivations. And to have her wake up and not remember who she was threw in another mysterious caveat. That is what threw them all for a loop. Liason4220 – Welcome and Thank you!
Sunday will probably be a late post because I have an overnight work Christmas party so won't post til the afternoon (PST).
Chapter 4 – A Friendly Face
Jason had to fight from groaning.
"Courtney, I thought you were resting." AJ said with a hint of disappointment.
Courtney plopped down into a chair. "I was but I was restless and missed you." She said grabbing a piece of bread. She turned and frowned. "Who are you?" She asked looking at Elizabeth.
"I'm Ella."
"Ella is staying with us for a while." AJ said. He wasn't quite sure what to make of Elizabeth.
"Oh. Well, I'm Courtney." She said smiling.
"It's nice to make your acquaintance." Elizabeth said smiling back.
Alan looked over at Jason. "I agreed to put off the party. You have one month."
Jason closed his eyes for a moment. "Thank you father." He was really hoping for longer.
"What party?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"My parents wanted to arrange a marriage for me. But, they settled on throwing me in a room with every available woman they can find." Jason said before taking a drink of wine.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Arranged marriages are barbaric and infringe on the free will of both the parties involved. It's not even remotely romantic or fair." Elizabeth said quickly. Shocked at her own outburst, she covered her mouth and said, "Oops."
Jason grinned. "I couldn't have said it any better Ella."
"My apologies Your Majesty, I meant no disrespect."
Alan fought his urge to smile. He rather liked Ella. "No apologies necessary. I will never object to intelligent conversation at my table. Please speak freely when you are in my presence." Alan said smiling.
Elizabeth bowed her head and smiled.
"AJ and I were brought together due to an arranged married and we're perfectly happy, aren't we darling?" She said smiling.
Jason choked on his drink and AJ pounded him on the back as Elizabeth tried to bury her smile with her napkin.
"Ella, there is a play later if you would like to attend with me." Courtney said smiling.
Jason cleared his throat. "Actually, Ella is coming with me and AJ tonight."
Courtney frowned. "Fine."
Elizabeth wasn't quite sure why Jason had stepped in but she didn't say a word.
Monica looked over at Alan and then squeezed his hand under the table. They were both thinking that maybe Ella was the best thing that had happened to them in a long time. She did seem like a breath of fresh air.
They finished eating and soon Jason and Elizabeth were alone at the table.
"Why didn't you want me to go with Courtney?" She asked curiously.
"Because you would have been not only bored out of your mind, but you would have wanted to jump off a parapet in order to get away from her." He said sitting back in his chair. "Therefore, you owe me for saving your life not once, but twice."
Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you. So, where are we going to tonight?"
"A friend of Johnny's is having a get together. Are you game?" He asked.
"Surely. Where will it be held?"
"In the forest." He said waiting to see what her reaction would be.
"Really?" Liz said frowning. She finally just shrugged her shoulders. "Okay."
Jason stood up. "I will fetch you at sundown."
Liz nodded and watched him walk off. She got up and started walking aimlessly around the castle. She ended up in the throne room. "Incredible." She said under her breath. There were gorgeous murals that were painted onto the wall.
"Like what you see?" AJ said walking towards her.
She looked over at him. "It's very beautiful." She said stepping back from the wall.
AJ shrugged. "If you like that sort of thing..."
"And you don't?"
"I really don't think about it much." He said walking up behind her as he watched her closely. "I want you to know that I'm on to you." He said gruffly. AJ just wanted to see what her reaction would be.
Elizabeth whirled around. "What?" She said loudly.
Jason had heard voices and stood right outside the door listening.
"You heard me. I know you're faking." He said testing her.
"I have no idea what you're blathering on about. I have no reason at all to do that." She said exasperated by the lack of trust everyone there had.
"If you hurt my family in any way…." AJ said grabbing her arm.
"What is wrong with you?" Liz said struggling to get away.
"If I find out that you're lying, I will make sure that you are severely punished." AJ said sternly before letting go of her arm.
Jason backed away and left. He would have a talk with his brother later.
Elizabeth was so done. She raced from the room and ran up the stairs. Throwing herself onto her bed, she began to sob.
A voice called out to her. "You there, why are you crying?"
Liz turned over and looked up at the doorway. There was a girl around her age standing there. "Who are you?" Liz asked.
"I might ask the same of you. This is my palace after all." Emily said striding into the room.
Liz wiped her face. "I'm Ella; at least that is what everyone is calling me." She said softly.
"I'm Princess Emily. I just came back from a sojourn." She said smiling. "It's nice to meet you."
Liz attempted to smile. "Thanks."
"So, you still haven't told me who made you cry."
"Prince AJ."
Emily almost growled. "What did that neanderthal say this time?" She asked.
"You see, I have no memory of who I am or from whence I came. Your brother Prince Jason found me knocked unconscious and brought me here. Prince AJ doesn't believe me. He thinks I'm lying."
"Are you?" Emily asked studying her.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Of course I am not. I may not remember who I am but I can soundly tell you that I am no liar."
Emily smiled. "Okay. Come on." She said holding out her hand. "Let's go to my room."
Liz smiled and grabbed her hand. It was good to have another girl to talk to. They ran to another wing and went into her quarters.
"Wow, it's beautiful in here." Liz said admiring her furnishings.
"Thank you. Have you met Courtney yet?"
Liz nodded. "She asked me to accompany her to a play tonight but your brother stepped in and informed her that I was going out with him and Prince AJ."
"Did he say where?"
"He mentioned something about Johnny's friend."
Emily looked alarmed. "He can't take you there. It is no place for a lady."
Liz chuckled. "How do you know?"
Emily grinned. "Because I followed them one night. They never want me to accompany them anywhere. It's quite frustrating."
"And what happened?" Liz asked curiously.
"AJ got really drunk and was kissing some trollop. Jason got into a fight. And I met the man of my dreams."
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. "Do tell."
"His name is Nikolas." Emily whispered. "But you can't tell anyone because he is not royalty."
Elizabeth nodded. "Does he live nearby?"
"The next town over, he owns a farm."
"And you're parents wouldn't approve?"
Emily's eyes grew big. "Put it this way, if my parent's found out, he'd be thrown in the dungeon and left for dead."
Liz frowned. "I do not understand why people put such limits on love. The whole foundation of love is based on abandon and the deepest expression of one's soul. How can one put a limit on that really or even contain it?"
Emily smiled. "I love the way you think Ella. I think we will be very good friends."
Liz smiled. "I'm glad you're here. The testosterone was getting to be a bit much."
"So what do you think of Jason?" Emily asked curiously. "You said he saved you."
Elizabeth shrugged. "He was a bit aloof at first. But, he's been a little more cordial since then. He definitely is handsome." Liz said smiling.
"Jason seems to run from love. He says that he just hasn't found his true love, but honestly, he's never looking around long enough to find her. It's quite perplexing actually. He has a lot to offer."
"You love your brother very much, I can tell." Liz said warmly.
"I do. He's always been there for me. And he never makes me feel foolish."
"Emily." A voice yelled out.
"Oh my, it's him…..hide…" She said pulling Liz off the bed and pushing her into her changing area.
Liz hid behind a panel and tried to be quiet. She wasn't sure why Emily wanted her to hide. But, she decided to play along.
