Chapter 4

"Really?" Laurent breathed, hardly daring to believe he'd heard what he thought he'd just heard.

"Yes. Nothing would make me happier than to marry you, Prince Laurent de Sainte-Marie." He looked up at her with wonder in his eyes.

"Elizabeth, you have just made me the happiest man in the universe," he whispered pulling her towards him. He placed a soft kiss on her lips just as his father walked in.

"Laurent?" the older Prince asked as he opened the door. A movement caught his eye over near the fire and he saw his son and one of the American au pairs sharing a kiss. He smiled, he had told Laurent to follow his heart like he wanted to, and hopefully everything had turned out well for his son. At least it looked that way.

"Laurent?" he asked again, a little louder this time. The couple pulled apart and turned to him. "Excuse me mademoiselle," he smiled, "but I'm afraid I will have to steal my son away from you for just a moment." The girl blushed and smiled; standing up so that his son could get out of the chair he was sitting in. Smiling like the schoolboy he really was, Laurent looked at his beautiful American and walked over to his father.

"Yes father?" Laurent asked. The prince looked at Elizabeth who was standing facing the fire and asked,

"Everything went well I trust?" he asked in French

"Yes. Elizabeth said yes."

"Good," the Prince smiled, "Your stepmother would like to meet the girl you were willing to risk everything for. And you and I have some things to discuss. When you have finished here would you both come up to the Chateau for dinner? Tell your Elizabeth that her sister has agreed to look after the children this evening."

"Yes father I will." Laurent went to turn away but his father placed a hand on his shoulder,

"And Laurent," he said, "Don't rush her into anything. She is only 16."

She is only 16. The words echoed around Laurent's mind as he walked away from his father and over to his fiancée. In the tumult of emotions he'd been feeling over the past few weeks, he'd forgotten that his Elizabeth was only a teenager. She seemed so much older, so much more mature. She probably wasn't even out of school yet. He steeled himself as she turned from the fire to face him. He'd told her he would wait for as long as necessary and he would stand by that promise. It would be up to her.

"What did your father want?" she asked quietly looking up at him.

"My father and stepmother would like for you to join them for dinner tonight. They want to meet you." Elizabeth paled at the thought of dining with the older members of the royal family.

"What about the children," she asked, "It's my turn to look after them tonight."

"Jessica has promised to take your shift tonight. Don't worry, you won't be alone, I'll be there as well." Elizabeth smiled, reassured at the thought of Laurent being with her. Laurent took her hands in his, "We need to talk my love."

"What about?" she asked, looking up at him. Laurent took a deep breath. He knew she wanted to marry him but he wasn't sure whether this reminder of her youth would change her mind.

"You haven't finished school yet have you?"