Two Worlds

Chapter Four

The heels of her riding boots clicked and clacked upon the marble floors of the King's private chambers, the soft, muffled footsteps of D following close behind. Mr. Pitts, as he asked he be called by everyone, had been skimpy on the details of this impromptu visit. All they knew was that the King needed to see his daughter and he needed to see her now.

"Father?" she asked when they entered his private study. Books lined the walls of the room. Sue could remember spending hours surrounded by these walls, reading every word in every book from fairytales, to mysteries, to romance, and horror. This room was her safe haven away from the political pressures. She remembered when she wasn't even old enough to read. Her father would put her on his knee and read to her the classic tales depicted in the words. In this room, she could be herself.

King Edward lifted his head from the ledger before him, his eyes lighting up in a handsome smile as they set upon the beautiful young woman he was proud to call his daughter. "Susan," he whispered while standing up from his desk. Before walking over to her, he glanced to his side where Mr. Pitts stood, a long list in his hand with a pen poised right above the parchment. "That will be all for now, Randall. I wish to speak to my daughter in private," he said with a dismissing tone.

Nodding to His Majesty, Randy bowed his head stiffly and with his nose high in the air, he strolled out of the room, passing by Dimitrius as he did so. "The King wishes to be alone with his daughter," he informed the guard. D only nodded with a quirky little smile on his lips. "That means that you have to leave as well."

"That's where you're wrong, Randy," he crinkled his nose in amusement when the balding man with glasses cringed at the use of the nickname. "You are the King's Advisor; I am the Princess's Personal Guard. I outrank you and that means you have to leave while I stay here." His lips curled in a Cheshire cat grin as he closed the heavy wooden doors on the obnoxious man.

"Was that really necessary?" His Majesty asked with a tone of amusement in his voice.

D shrugged. "It made me feel better," he joked.

"And I suppose that's all the matters, right?" Edward chuckled with a shake of his head before setting his focus upon his daughter. Taking her by the hand, he led her over to his favorite chair; it was large enough for the both of them to sit on it with enough room to spare. "I'm sorry for interrupting your morning ride, sweetheart. I hope Lord Leland wasn't too upset?"

The smile that graced her lips told him more than her words ever could. "Somehow, I think he'll get over it." She shrugged her shoulders as she curled up beside him on the oversized chair.

"And your birthday gift?" He glanced at D to make sure she had received it. He was given a nod as his silent answer that she had.

"She's beautiful. I love her." If only she'd gotten the chance to actually ride her, she frowned.

"I figured you would do a great deal of riding once you were married." It was one thing she and her mother had in common. It had been Carla's retreat from her queenly duties as well and he was quite certain that Sue would take after her in that department. He didn't miss her light snort of a laugh or the roll of her eyes. "You knew this time would eventually come."

She nodded. "Yes, but I always thought I'd have a choice in the matter." So much for being an independent thinker, like he'd always wanted her to be.

Sighing heavily, he pulled her close and allowed her to rest her head upon his shoulder. He angled his chin so she would still be able to read his lips. "Finding love is very important to you, isn't it?"

She nodded again. She wanted more that just marriage and a mutual friendship with her husband. She wanted the man she married to sweep her off her feet and to take her to places unknown. She wanted to feel the passion of love and desire and to know what true love felt like. "I do."

Sighing again, he brushed a stray tendril of hair out of her eyes as they met his similar ones. "I'll tell you what. If you happen to find this man of your dreams tonight, I will have no objections."

Her eyes grew alight with wonder as her head shot up in surprise. "Really?"

As he nodded in affirmation, her hands quickly wrapped themselves around his neck in a tight hug. The warmth in his heart was great and he knew he'd made the right decision. She was to be Queen one day and the man-who-would-be-king would have to stand beside her through the best and worst times. Only someone who truly loved her with all his heart would be brave enough to stand beside a woman so different.

His lower lip quivered slightly as he pulled away, but it stopped as soon as her eyes set upon his lips. "But, if you don't, then I will choose for you." She nodded in acceptance even before his statement was finished. "Are we clear?"

"Perfectly," she agreed as her lips curled in a bright smile she couldn't keep at bay. This was the greatest gift he ever could have given her.

"Good," he said as he opened his arms wide and allowed her one last hug to seal the deal. He let her fold herself into his arms like she would when she was little. "Now, you'd best get ready for tonight." She placed a light kiss upon his cheek as she wriggled out of the chair and crossed the room to the chamber doors. She smiled kindly to D who'd opened the door for her and added his own wink as a response to her smile.

He made to follow her, but stopped to glance at His Majesty one last time. Edward stood from his chair, straightening his waist coat as he did so. He didn't even have to turn his gaze to the other man to know those dark brown eyes were set upon him. "Don't look at me like that, Dimitrius. You have a daughter of your own. Just you wait until she reaches that age."

"That's what I'm afraid of, Sire," D smirked before exiting the room as well.