I lowered the letter onto the writing desk where my piles of sums and calculations lay ignored and forgotten, looking up at Williams. His face was red from his hard ride. "Thank you for bringing this to me so quickly, Williams," I said with a tremor in my voice. "How close is he?"

"Oh, I don't know ma'am. Must be three or four days ride behind me."

I stood up and walked out of the library. "I need some fresh air," I called over my shoulder as I hurried to my bedchamber to fetch my shawl and umbrella. I thought it was ridiculous for me to take an umbrella but a 'princess does not let her face get freckled in the sun.' I rang for a maidservant.

The air was crisp with a promise of fall. The maid followed me, holding the umbrella above my head, to the main gates. Even though I knew he was three days away from the castle, I stood by the gate and scanned the horizon for any possible sign of my Prince. Of course, there was none.

I must have been standing there a long time, for suddenly I heard, "You are looking a bit pale, Your Majesty. Would you like to find a nice bench to sit on in the gardens?"

With one last sweeping glance, I nodded my head and we turned towards the palace gardens, which were around the back of the castle. We walked along the cobblestone path. I stopped to smell flowers, or to smile at passing birds. We rounded an ivy covered corner and I stopped dead in my tracks. The king sat on a stone bench with a large book of some sort propped up on his knees. I curtsied deeply, as I had been taught. "Your Royal Highness," I murmured respectfully.

"Ah! Well, if it isn't the beautiful Cinderella! The lady who captured the heart of my boy with a waltz."

I smiled, still dipped in a curtsy. "Pardon me, Your Grace, but it's Katie-Beth. Cinderella is an old nick name given to me by my step-sisters."

The king laughed. "Well, Katie-Beth, will you come and sit with me?"

Surprised as I was at the king's kindness, I sat beside him. The book he was holding was actually a portrait album. He began to describe each picture excitedly, and I listened, smiling and nodding in the right places.

Quite suddenly, he stopped talking. "I'm getting old, Katie-Beth."

"You're not-"

"Don't be silly, girl. Look at me. I'm very old." He sighed. "And I'm afraid that I am dying."

I dismissed the maid who was holding my umbrella and turned back to the king, ready to listen to anything he had to say.

"There are many reasons I wanted Greg to get married. One reason was, I knew he needed a woman in his life. He needed someone who could tell him what to do without him feeling like it came from his stuffy old father. But the main reason is that I love children. I want to hear their laughing voices again. I want to see them grow. I know it's a silly reason for me to want my son to marry but-"

"Katie-Beth is with child, Father."

I spun around as fast as lightening. Greg was standing there! All my princess training in grace and poise slipped away as I jumped into his arms. He held me close, both of us laughing and crying as he twirled me around. Behind me, somewhere, the king was clapping his hands and singing his congratulations but he seemed to be a world away.

"You're home," I sobbed into Greg's shoulder. "You're home." My feet dangled a few inches above the ground, but my heart soared higher. Greg set me down gently, keeping his arms around my waist firmly, and nodded to his father.

"Father, would you like me to report-"

The king interrupted. "No need for that. That can wait until tomorrow. If you'll excuse me I have some…. things to take care of." I heard his retreating steps fade quickly.

Greg led me to the bench and knelt next to me. "Are you well?" he asked.

I stroked his dirt smudged face with the tip of my thumb. "I am now," I said tenderly. "You must be so tired. Williams just told me, not an hour ago, that you wouldn't be home for another few days."

"I couldn't wait for my men any longer. They're still trekking across the countryside, but I wanted to get to you as soon as I could. I followed Williams home." He came up on the bench beside me. "You're so beautiful."

He leaned forward and closed the space between us with a kiss.