A/N – Thanks for the reviews! Kikimoo – Well it's good cause it makes it official but 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 inside when she suddenly let out an ungodly sound. "What is the matter, Lady Emily?"
"My stomach hurts."
He rushed off to get help.
Elizabeth heard a lot of running around and when it was quiet again, 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, so she quickly joined him.
"Ella, what are you doing here?"
"Do you really have to ask that?"
Jason smirked. "You two have lost your minds."
"Maybe..."
Jason grabbed her hand and moved further into the gardens; far from any roving eyes.
He tugged her against him. "You are so beautiful." When his lips swept across hers, Elizabeth clasped her hands around his neck as he kissed her thoroughly.
"We shouldn't be doing this," Jason said regretfully. "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 quickly got carried away until they had to come up for air. He 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 backward 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 and her heart leaped in her chest as he walked away. The things his kisses do to her would be considered scandalous. When he had disappeared inside, she slipped back into the house, but is quickly on alert and slipped into the study to avoid whoever was lurking and lit a lantern. Grabbing a book, she sat 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 before following 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 hurried up the staircase.
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 is going to be much harder than she originally thought.
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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 before retreating.
He entered his study and sighed. So many times, he would find her sitting on the couch reading. He misses her so. Sitting at his desk, he perused a few letters that were scattered about. When he recognized a scroll and realized it was from the King and Queen, he immediately took interest and opened it.
Sighing as he threw it aside, he dreaded the occasion. A party is the last thing that he needs, but he has no choice. He has something the King wants. Ignoring the invitation would be perceived as an affront. It is a days' journey to the castle, so he has a few days to prepare before he must take leave.
Gazing at a painting of Elizabeth, his heart ached. "I will find you, my child," he said softly before returning to his stack of mail.
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A week had gone by, so Jason made his way back to the marketplace. He went to Nikolas's booth, and to his surprise, he wasn't there. He made a few inquiries and found out that Nikolas had simply disappeared the night before.
He hoped that the man hadn't met with any ill will. After taking one last look around, he and Johnny headed back to the castle.
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Nikolas urged the horses along. Leaving was the right thing to do. He didn't want to put Jason in the middle of it, so it was best that he decided on his own. He loves Emily with all of his heart, but he can't let that love destroy her. She is 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 is the day before the party. The mood is festive around the castle. Emily and Liz traveled to the marketplace to pick up a few things for the Queen in preparation.
They purchased her things first and then Emily walked towards the back to catch a glimpse of Nikolas.
Her breath caught in her throat when she realized he isn't there.
"Where could he be?" She strode toward the carriage. "He's always there. He must be ill or something bad has happened." Her emotions began as a sick feeling edged into the deepest part of her stomach.
"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 can't shake her foreboding feelings. They rode in silence the entire way home as she tried to make sense of it.
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The chambermaids helped Elizabeth prepare for the party. She is beyond excited. Such an event is 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.
She grinned. It is a fabulous dress which she hopes Jason will appreciate.
She heard the trumpets blare and she lit up knowing it's time to head 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 is 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 to find her.
They were announced and strolled into the room.
Emily tried to shake her mood and be social, but she is having a hard time.
She looked up to find AJ escorting Courtney down the stairs. She is wearing a ridiculously garish dress that made Emily and Liz roll their eyes.
Everyone ventured into the ballroom where the King and Queen were announced.
There are so many people gathered that Liz thought the room was going to burst. A lively song begins to play, and a gentleman asked her to dance. She obliged and is pleased when she spotted Emily 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 observed.