"Excuse me, Evelyn."

"Elizabeth! Where have you been?"

"Uhm, preoccupied, Lady."

"Preoccupied? How so?"

I glanced behind her as a Scottish Earl hurried by.

"Elizabeth!"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I do hope you know I shall be accompanying you."

"Who was that?" I asked.

"Who?" Her flushed cheeks grew redder as she attempted to avoid the question.

"That was the Earl of Buchan. John Stewart."

I crossed my arms and tapped my toe at her.

"Stop it, Evelyn. I am old enough to marry."

"Elizabeth..."

She put a hand up to cut me off. "Where are we going?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"How do you expect to defeat the Guild if you aren't even sure where they are?"

"Draco is finding out."

She shook her head and crossed the room. "Evelyn, this is going to be dangerous."

"I already know. My mother has discussed this with me quite extensively. She's alright with this, not to mention I won't be alone. I'll have James, Elizabeth, and you."

She sat on my bed and stared out the window. A forlorn and distracted look crossed her face. Something bothered Charlene and I wasn't sure what. The thought of me going to battle couldn't have affected her in such a way. She always stood by my side and vowed to aid me whenever she could.

"What's wrong, dear friend?"

"Is this such a good idea? Do you remember what happened when you went to them? When they kept you in that castle? You were gone for such a long while. I don't want anything to happen to you, Evelyn. I know I'm not, but I love you like a sister. You're part of me. The thought of possibly never hearing your voice again is torturous."

"Fret not! I shall be fine. We all shall be."

"I suppose." She stood and strode to the connecting door. "I am tired. Goodnight, your majesties."

"Sleep well, Elizabeth."

After the door clicked shut James wrapped me in his arms and pulled me close to his body. He was warm and smelled heavenly. Inhaling his scent deeply sent a shudder of ecstasy down my spine.

"Don't leave," I whispered.

"Never."

"I'm serious. Stay with me tonight."

"In the same room?"

I laughed lightly at his surprise. "Of course in the same room."

"Isn't that inappropriate?"

"What about our relationship has been appropriate thus far, James? How often do princesses go riding off into the forest with a man and no chaperon?"

"Not often I venture to guess."

"No, not often at all." I held tightly to his midsection, fearful that if I let go he would vanish. "Stay. I want you to stay."

Kissing the top of my forehead, he tangled his fingers in my hair. "I shall stay."

James walked to the bed, sitting on the soft mattress. Ducking behind my changing screen, I removed the heavy gown and put on a night dress. The pins that held my curls in place came out of my hair rather easily. My curls fell about my shoulders, cascading down my back. My heart felt as though it would leap forth from my chest as I stepped around the screen. James stood; his jaw slacked only slightly, and his chest heaved beneath the tunic he wore. My cheeks burned as his eyes roved over my body.

"I've never been so undressed before a man before," I whispered.

"You look amazing. Your hair is so beautiful." He strode across the room, placing one hand on the small of my back while the other ran through the curls.

My body instinctively shivered beneath his touch. His fingers felt so much nicer closer to my skin. The layers of the gown were a burdensome obstacle that I learned quickly to not like.

"James..."

"Shh, Evelyn."

He walked me to the bed, gently laying me down. James stood over me, the firelight behind him illuminating the thin fabric of his shirt. The silhouette of his frame sent delicious shivers coursing through my nether bits. His warm fingers trailed up my calves to my thighs, pausing below he'd touch me where nobody else ever has.

"James, I've never done something so scandalous before."

"Do you wish me to stop?"

"No, but I feel you must. My honor cannot be ruined before my wedding night."

Sighing heavily he sat up. "Very well."

He stood and walked toward the door. My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach at the thought of him leaving me for even a moment.

"Don't go."

"You want me to stay? After I did something so villainous as want to take your maidenhead before we wed?"

"It was not a villainous act, James. It is perfectly reasonable for a man to want to lie with a woman, and we shall. Once we marry we shall every night."

A smile crept over his face as he returned to the bed, letting his trousers drop to the cold floor below. I pulled back the blankets and lay against the mounds of pillows. He crawled beside me, wrapping his large arms around my body, holding me tight as the moon made her nightly travels across the sky. My dreams filled with adventure as I saw our travels across the mighty ocean.

A soft rapping sometime the following morning stirred me from my slumber. Stretching my arms, I accidentally hit James in the face. He yelped, leaping off the bed.

"Oh!" I squealed. "I'm so sorry!"

The doors to my chamber flew open as Charlene, Elizabeth, and two guards ran in with swords drawn in.

"Evelyn!" Elizabeth yelped.

"It's about time," Charlene added, throwing her arms in the air.

"What's wrong, majesties?" One of the guards asked.

"For the love of all things! We're fine! Get, get!" I shouted at the group who barged into my personal rooms.

"Beg your pardon, Evelyn, but it is nearly ten in the morning and you are still in bed. Not alone, might I add."

"I am very well aware that I am not alone, Elizabeth. Do you mind?"

James sat down sheepishly on the bed looking from face to face, his own cheeks flushed an adorable shade of embarrassed rouge.

"I should go to my own chambers before more of the household ends up in here."

I nodded as he hurried from the room with his two guards close behind.

"What was the prince doing here so early?" Mother looked after the half-naked James as he darted down the hall.

"He must have heard me scream at the mouse that scurried across the floor."

"A mouse? Really now."

"It was a large mouse that I did not expect to see, mother."

She pursed her lips and arched one of her lovely eyebrows at me. "Has Draco brought word?"

"Not yet. I do not expect him for some time though. Perhaps by this evening, we shall hear news."

She nodded and quickly turned from the room.

I fell back against the pillows and kicked my legs about, wanting to let out a scream.

"What happened last night?" Elizabeth sat beside me, picking up one of my pillows.

"Well, nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No. He respects my maidenhead. We simply slept."

"You slept?" she queried incredulously.

"Yes. Our limbs entwined like old lovers, but we slept."

"How romantic!" Charlene gushed, flopping onto the bed next to me.

I could feel my entire face burning as they watched me. "Oh, it was. The fire crackled as we drifted to sleep not saying a word."

"You are so lucky, Ellie. I wish I had someone even a tenth as wonderful as James."

"You shall find him, Charlene. When I first met James I didn't think he'd ever be a good match. Oh, I'm so glad things are different."

Elizabeth went about pulling out a lovely purple day gown.

"What about you, dear Elizabeth?"

"Hmm? What about me?"

"Do tell about the Earl of Buchan."

"Nothing to tell, nebby ones."

"He hurried away quickly."

"Who?" Charlene asked.

"John Stewart, the Earl of Buchan."

"Elizabeth, you are having an affair with the earl?"

"He's not married. It is not an affair. He has made his intentions quite clear." She held up a lovely golden oval.

The crest of the earl adorned the front in beautifully intricate designs. Upon opening it she revealed a rather magnificent miniature of the earl.

"Oh my!"

"He has been sending me gifts for some time now. Since before we came here."

"When?" I asked.

"Remember the jousting tournament you father held for your mother's birthday during the summer?"

"Yes."

"Since then. He even wore my favor!"

"Oh, Elizabeth!"

"Are you two to marry?" Charlene asked, gazing upon the beautiful trinket about Charlene's neck.

"I am unsure as of now. With the way things have been thus far, I don't see why not. A proposal must be drawing near."

The three of us wrapped each other in hugs while jumping about squealing as though we were mere children again. The worries of the world disappearing, even if for a moment. The Guild did not matter. We were happy. We could be normal.

Even if for a moment.