**A/N: I tried out another writing exercise this past weekend by writing an Andrew POV in first person. Once again, it's more of a bonus chapter that I'll probably re-write and get rid of in the final draft, but I figured that at such a time in the story his POV would be a welcome change for a chapter! I know it's short but I hope you all enjoy it!**

The council session dragged on as I drummed my fingers against the table. The Ardalonians were arguing us in circles, clearly unwilling to negotiate. I knew why, but I wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of confirming that Dulciana would be one of my top three choices. Not that it mattered, but father had insisted I grant one of my places to her. He'd be angry enough with me after the announcement that I owed him at least that one political boon.

My stomach wasn't the only one grumbling at the table as the sun sank in the sky. We'd been in the sealed council chamber since luncheon, the buffet table long since emptied. As I watched the dust motes swirl through the sunbeams falling on the heavy mahogany council table, my thoughts turned to Libby. They usually did, whenever I allowed my mind to wander. I wondered what she was doing now, hoping that she was somewhere outside with her friend, the Colonel's daughter, perhaps riding Juniper.

When the snow fell in earnest, I was going to take her back to that very same clifftop vista we'd visited earlier in the summer with Thomas and Anne. Our ride together had been the highlight of the entire Season for me and as soon as this top three business was settled, I planned on showing her how much more important than a silly court ritual she was. The frosty trees and frozen rolling hills would take her breath away, just as a cozy dinner for just the two of us at the inn in Harridon would take her mind off her courtly troubles. All I needed was the ring, which the jewellers had assured me would be ready by then.

"I daresay we've reached an impasse," Father said, shooting me a look that tore me from my reverie. I cleared my throat, blinking myself back into the present.

"An impasse only because you refuse to grant us any concessions as tokens of goodwill," Ambassador DeGallo said, with a pointed look in my direction. I met his stare calmly, quirking my mouth into the smallest of smiles. As expected, his own lips curled back into his trademark sneer as he looked towards my father.

It was no secret that DeGallo hated us. He was odd choice for an ambassador, but the Ardalonians were an odd people. They somehow thought the news of their internal strife and besiegement by anti-monarchy revolutionaries hadn't crossed beyond their borders. To add to it, Thomas and I were still attempting to puzzle out why, exactly, Dulciana had been sent to us when she could have married an Ardalonian and inherited her own throne. She was well-liked among her people, though now that I knew her, I had no idea why. Thomas liked to think that perhaps she was too stupid to understand her own laws, but I'd spent enough time with her to know that her doe-like brown eyes hid a coldly calculating mind. Naming her as one of my top three would prove troublesome as it would only encourage her, but I'd put an end to her plotting as soon as I talked my father around about Libby.

"She's after a crown, Andrew," he'd said dismissively over breakfast, "That much was clear when she danced with your brother so shortly after quarrelling with you. Forget about her and choose a queen, for your sake and mine."

I had to blink myself back to my senses as DeGallo prattled on, once again, about the need for a gesture of goodwill. The air in the room had grown stifling and thankfully I wasn't the only one slipping in and out of daydreams. One of DeGallo's junior assistants, Vasquez, had nodded off at least twice during the proceedings, his nodding head drawing multiple disapproving glances from a number of father's advisors.

"I move that we adjourn," Father said, his voice still calm and steady despite the weariness in his green eyes.

"I second," I said automatically, as eager for this to end as everyone else besides DeGallo. There was a general shuffling of papers and scraping of chairs as Father rose, the rest of us following suit. I fell in beside him, subtly stretching out my aching back. Something needed to be done about those chairs.

"What a mess," Father grumbled under his breath, "The least you could do is-"

"No," I said curtly, "No matter how many times you ask, my answer will not change. I refuse to promise them anything where Dulciana is concerned."

He made that displeased sound deep in his throat as he threw open the doors, only for a cacophony of shouts to halt us both in our tracks.

"...lying, manipulative bastard!" Thomas was yelling, while Mother folded her arms, hushing him. Behind her, Lord Fletcher was standing calmly, hands clasped behind his back while Dorian leaned against a column.

"I'll thank you not to address my son in such a manner," Lord Fletcher drawled. My hackles rose as father and son exchanged a look, Dorian barely able to hide his smirk behind a cough.

"Andrew, don't listen to them!" Thomas shouted, crossing the hallway in a few short bounds to grab my arm and drag me back towards the council chamber.

"He has a right to know," Mother called after us. Her blue eyes caught mine and my stomach twisted. They were lit up with pity.

"Right to know what?" I asked, planting my feet. Thomas swore so colourfully that Mother gasped.

"I'm begging you, Andrew, don't lis-" Thomas started urgently, grabbing me by the shoulders to look me in the eye.

"We've only just come to announce Dorian's engagement," Lord Fletcher said to Father, loud enough that I could hear.

"Andrew, you can't believe a word-" Thomas was saying, still attempting to wrestle me away.

"I hope there won't be any hard feelings," Dorian said, his ever-calculating eyes on me as he pushed off the column, "I know you and Elizabeth were so fond of one another, but it seems she's decided that court life just isn't for her. I'm sure you can understand, given her lust for travel and adventure..."

All at once, my blood chilled, the thundering of my heart the only sound I could hear. Thomas was shouting something, shaking me, while Mother covered her mouth with her hand, still watching me with that heart-wrenching look in her eyes. Dorian was grinning at me with that same, sick satisfaction as when he'd snubbed Anne at the inaugural ball, only this time he seemed to be taking far more pleasure in watching my jaw muscle twitch.

"How very lovely for you, congratulations," I managed, swallowing the bile that had risen into my throat. Thomas stopped struggling, blinking at me in horrified disbelief.

"Andrew..." he started, but I remained immobile, all my concentration focused on rooting myself in place. If I moved, I knew I'd kill Dorian with my bare hands and no one would be able to stop me.

"Happy news indeed," Father said, his hawklike eyes on me before he turned back to Lord Fletcher and gestured for him and mother to accompany him down the hallway, "I daresay it will do you and Dorian some good to have a lady present to run the house once again."

"And quite the lady she is, your Majesty," Dorian said, "She'll make me the happiest of husbands, I'm sure."

I felt my muscles tense to spring at the same time Thomas did.

"There's more to this," he hissed, his hands clamping my shoulders in place so I wouldn't lash out. Dorian tilted his head, taunting me with a self-satisfied grin as he turned on his heel to follow his father.

"No, there isn't," I said through my teeth.

I didn't want to admit it, but the truth had slammed me so hard in the gut I couldn't ignore it any longer. I'd known it from the moment she'd fought with me in the winter garden, but I'd glossed it over and pushed it away. That had been the beginning of the end, only I'd been too stubborn to believe it. Like a fool, I'd believed that if I gave her what she wanted, she'd come back to me. Instead, she'd intended to run away the whole time.

"You bloody thick-headed imbecile!" Thomas hissed, shoving me away when the foursome was safely out of earshot.

"You heard him, Tom! She couldn't stand it here and she chose Dorian!" I roared, only for him to push me backwards into the empty council chamber, slamming the door behind us.

"They bought her, you idiot!" Thomas shouted back, "Her parents did this, not Lib-"

"Am I supposed to believe that?" I demanded, anger sizzling through me to my very fingertips. Hate and longing crackled within my heart as it ripped in two. I hated her for doing this to me. I couldn't imagine a life without her. I should have seen it coming. But maybe Thomas was right? He had to be right. But then how did Dorian know so much about her?

I clutched my head between my hands, pacing.

"She stood no chance against them, you know that was well as I do," Thomas said, "You need to speak to her."

"Where is she?" I demanded, the need to see her forcing the words from my mouth before the anger could beat them back down.