Disclaimer: Do not own EE... do not sue please.

Chapter 14

Daria wandered the gardens, picking flowers, then casting them behind her, leaving a trail of sad flower heads to be trampled on. She looked at the wall, remembering a time when El would clamber over it to talk to her. She looked at the sky, and saw El's tower room looming overhead.

Everywhere she looked she could see reminders of what she had done to El. What she had caused her to lose.

"Daria?"

She jumped at the male voice.

"Prince Jerrold."

"Just Jerrold."

She smiled.

"Jerrold. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you?" A small smile tugged at his lips. Daria suddenly felt foolish.

"Ah." she mumbled. "I see." She turned away from him, and back to the tree where she had spent so many hours under, chatting to El.

"Don't be embarrassed." Jerrold told her. "I've come to talk toyou. So I canknow you better."

Daria's head flew up.

"You intend to go trough with the engagement?" She asked incredulously. Jerrold frowned.

"Of course I do. A prince must always keep his word."

"His word?" Daria felt torn, not knowing whether to pursue the "What about El?" questions that were running through her head, or the indignation she felt. "So that's all I am to you? Just a promise?"

Jerrold wiped the sweat from his brow.

"For now, yes. But hopefully that will change as I get to know you better." He added, looking at her hopefully.

"What… what about El?" Daria asked as her flare of anger died. She felt a pang of guilt and jealousy as Jerrold glanced away, wincing.

"El is married. There is nothing I can do about it now. Unless I wait for her to become a widow. And my parents would prefer me to marry soon. I doubt that Sir Peter will die anytime soon." He said fixing his gaze stoically on a rosebush. But he could not hide the bitterness and hurt that were so evident in his words.

Daria glanced away, not sure how to reply.

"Don't reply." Jerrold said, almost as if he were reading her thoughts. "There's no real need to."

He turned back to her, and she could see his expression change so rapidly.

"Would you like to go riding with me?" Jerrold asked distantly. Daria considered her options.

"Not when you're like this, sir. Come back when you want to ride with me, instead of wanting a mere distraction. Good day to you, sir." With a cols curtsey, she turned around and stalked back into the manor.

Jerrold stared after her for a moment, then recovered his wits. He sprang up and stood in front of her.

"My day is all yours, madam." He said gallantly. Daria looked at him steadfastly for a split second, then smiled.

"I'll send for my horse." She giggled.

As she left, Jerrold closed his eyes. El was a chapter in his book he needed to close. There was no point in harping over it anymore. And Daria seemed a nice girl – if a little giggly. He could probably get along with her – and even come to love her eventually.

But he knew, deep down inside, that El would always have a part of his heart.