A/N – Thanks for the reviews! Kikimoo – Well it's good cause it makes it official but in order to get physical contact, they will still be sneaking around. Emily and Liz's plan is still on. Liasonisthebomb – lol very true!

Chapter 9 – Let the Festivities Begin

Long after her parents had taken to their beds, Emily started to moan.

A guard rushed in. "What is the matter Lady Emily?"

"My stomach hurts." She said rather pathetically.

He rushed off to get help.

Elizabeth heard a lot of running around and when it was quiet, she ran down the hallway and rushed down the back stairs. Quietly, she crept until she reached the back door.

She could see him standing there in the moonlight and she moved to join him.

"Ella, what are you doing here?"

"Do you really have to ask that?" She asked coyly.

Jason smirked. "You two have lost your minds."

"Maybe."

Jason grabbed her hand and moved further back into the gardens, far from any roving eyes.

He pulled her into him. "You are so beautiful." He said before sweeping his lips across hers. Elizabeth clasped her hands around his neck as Jason kissed her thoroughly.

"We really shouldn't be doing this." Jason said softly. "It would be frowned upon."

"Are you sorry that you kissed me?"

"No. It's all I've wanted to do since the last time I kissed you."

"Then let's not waste time."

Jason slipped his tongue into her mouth and savored how sweet she tasted. They both got carried away until they had to come up for air. Jason leaned his forehead against hers. "You make me want to lose all control."

Liz smiled. "That seems like it would be hard to do."

He moved back so she could see the want in his eyes and she bit her lip which made him want her more.

"I must go before I do something that I cannot take back."

Liz nodded. She watched him walk away and then slipped back into the castle. Realizing someone was coming, she went into the study and lit a lantern. Grabbing a book, she sat down and pretended to read.

"Lady Ella, why aren't you in bed?" Queen Monica asked. "We've been looking all over for you."

Ella frowned. "I couldn't sleep so I came down to get a book. Is something wrong?"

"Come on. You can take it up to your room."

Liz nodded and put out the lantern. She followed the Queen to the stairs.

"Why is everyone rushing about?"

"Princess Emily is a little under the weather. It's probably just something she ate."

Elizabeth nodded. "I can see myself from here. Goodnight." She said walking up the stairs.

Monica shook her head. She had seen the wet grass in front of the study that Liz had tracked in from the garden. Keeping the two of them supervised was going to be much harder than she originally thought.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

A week went by and the Duke still had not found his daughter. Dejected, he went home to re-group.

"Is she here?" He asked walking into the house.

"No sir, I'm afraid not." Ruby said softly.

"I'll be in my study. Have Alfred unpack the carriage. I do not wish to be disturbed."

"As you wish." Ruby said watching him walk away.

He walked into the study and looked at a few letters that were scattered about. He saw one was from the King and Queen and he opened it.

Sighing he threw it aside. A party was the last thing that he needed. But, he knew he had no choice. He had something the King wanted. Ignoring the invitation would be seen as an affront. It was a day's journey to the castle. He had a few days to prepare before he had to leave.

He looked up at the painting of Elizabeth and sighed. "I will find you my child." He said softly before looking at his other mail.

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A week had gone by and Jason made his way back to the marketplace. He went to Nikolas's booth and to his surprise, he wasn't there. After making a few inquiries, he discovered that Nikolas had simply disappeared the night before.

He hoped that Nikolas hadn't met with any ill will and he and Johnny went back to the castle.

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Nikolas urged the horses along. He knew leaving was the right thing to do and he really didn't want to put Jason in the middle of it. He loved Emily with all of his heart but he couldn't let that love destroy her. She was too special for that. This was the only thing he could to do save her even if it meant letting her go.

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It was the day before the party. It was a festive mood around the castle and Emily and Liz travelled to the market place to pick up a few things for the Queen.

They purchased her things first and then Emily walked towards the back to catch a glimpse of Nikolas.

Her breath caught in her throat as she realized he wasn't there.

"Where could he be?" She said walking back towards the carriage. "He's always there. He must be ill or something bad has happened." Emily said as her emotions started to build.

"You mustn't assume the worse. Maybe he had other business to take care of. You know that everyone is getting ready for the party. He probably is just tending to his crops and horses."

Emily had a bad feeling and she just couldn't shake it. They rode in silence the entire way home as Emily tried to make sense of it.

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The chambermaids helped Elizabeth prepare for the party. She was beyond excited. Such an event was always celebrated as it brought extra money to the people who worked there.

"Suck in your breath more milady." Her chambermaid said as she struggled to close Liz's corset.

Liz held her breath until she got dizzy.

"There." The younger woman said turning her around so she could see herself.

She grinned. It was a fabulous dress and she knew Jason would like it.

She heard the trumpets blare and she knew it was time to go to the ballroom. She scurried down the hallway and met Emily at the landing.

"I'm so excited." She said to Emily who smiled but clearly was not in a good mood.

Liz understood and tried to keep her outbursts to a minimum.

They descended with a room full of people watching them, one of which was Jason. He took in her beauty and wondered how he had ever gotten so lucky when he had found her.

They were announced and strolled into the room.

Emily tried to shake her mood and be social but she was having a hard time.

They looked up as Courtney and AJ came down the stairs. Courtney had this ridiculously garish dress on and Emily and Liz just looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

Everyone ventured into the ballroom and the King and Queen were announced.

There were so many people there that Liz thought the room was going to burst. A lively song came on and a gentleman asked her to dance. She obliged and saw Emily was following behind her with another gent. They immediately got into the spirit of the song and happily danced around each other.

Jason and AJ chuckled as they watched them.