Part 4
"Michael Guerin," she heard the man next to her say and she sighed in relief.
"I have not seen you before." The suspicion was evident in her father's voice. "You are not part of the royal court."
"No, Your Highness. I travel much, and tend to stay away from royal circles."
"And, Mr. Guerin, do you intend to wed my daughter for love, or simply for power and wealth?"
Elizabeth gasped at the less-than-tactful words from her father.
"I love her dearly, your Highness." Michael said, pulling her closer. She winced as she felt his hand tighten almost painfully on her elbow. Nobody could survive being interrogated by her father, so she would need to do a lot of fast talking to convince him to stay and help her.
"Against my wishes, I have to approve this marriage," her father said. Standing from his throne, King Parker ordered silence in the already hushed ballroom. "Ladies and Gentlemen," he boomed in a loud, commanding voice, "I would like to announce the engagement of my only child, Princess Elizabeth, to Mr. Michael Guerin. The wedding will take place in a week. Let us hope that this union will be blessed enough to produce an heir."
A cheer went up around the room, but the rumours that could be heard circulating, were more shocked than excited that Princess Elizabeth could be finally getting married.
A stunned Elizabeth turned to her father. "A week? You said I would be married on my birthday."
"I thought that as you and your fiance are so very much in love, you would want to be married as soon as possible. Or isn't that the case?"
"Oh, no. It is. I was just a little surprised." For some reason, Elizabeth was disappointed that her contact with Michael would end so much sooner than she had first thought.
END PART 4