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*****

"How long do you think he'll take to propose to you?"

It had been the question on my mind since the moment I'd closed the front door behind the prince on the second night of the masquerade ball.

"Xavier, my answer isn't going to change no matter how many times you ask me," I sighed, staring out the carriage window, "I don't know!"

"Judging by the budget he'd set us, I'd say sooner rather than later," my brother said, still fascinated by the fine new clothes we'd acquired during our weeklong getaway to Paris.

Once Andrew had left our house the night of the second masquerade, we'd received word that we'd be travelling to Paris for new wardrobes before the start of the winter Season. Hardly able to refuse our newfound benefactor, Xavier and I had gone willingly. The palace had sent along a valet and a ladies' maid, who'd carted us around the city, stopping at boutique after boutique. Xavier had attempted to refuse when he'd discovered exactly how much Andrew had intended to spend on our new wardrobes, but none of the tailors, seamstresses, milliners, or cobblers would listen.

As if he'd expected us to refuse, Andrew had ensured that tickets to all the grand museums and operas would be waiting for us in our hotel suite. Xavier was cowed by the promise of seeing the Mona Lisa, while I was all too keen to accompany him in an attempt to increase my appreciation of art.

In short, it had been the trip of a lifetime, but far too much time spent away from my prince.

"I suppose I'm expected to remain at the palace as well?" Xavier continued, as I watched us roll through the palace gates.

"Perhaps you could simply contain your curiosity for the next few minutes and find out when we arrive," I said. He made a face at me, his excitement so potent it was nearly contagious. I was already far too giddy to think properly, so I looked back out the window in an attempt to calm my nerves.

The trip, while wonderful, had seemed like an eternity. Andrew had been at the palace, concluding his first Season and preparing for his second while I was away. I couldn't quite shake the tension that had built steadily within me each day we were apart. In the short time that he'd pulled together our trip, he had also managed to insert incredibly thoughtful details here and there, which had only helped me to miss him more. It was all I could do not to throw myself out of the carriage and sprint into the palace in search of him.

When we finally pulled up to the same carriage block I'd dismounted on during my first stay at the palace, I grinned inwardly at how much had changed in a matter of months. Instead of wearing a shabby old uniform dress and hanging out the carriage window, here I was richly attired in Paris' best, demurely taking Xavier's hand to help me out. I couldn't shake the ridiculous feeling that I was returning home, even as I surveyed the far too opulent palace before me.

"Their Highnesses are currently taking tea in the dining room," one of the palace maids said, as a passel of footmen hurried to unload the mass of trunks and hatboxes Xavier and I had accumulated in Paris.

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Xavier said with a grin, offering me his elbow.

We climbed the steps and my heart took to hammering in my chest. Sounds of conversation and laughter echoed through the hall. It was no secret that this Season would be massive, since both Princess Anne and Prince Thomas were now also participating. As such, a number of extra places had opened up. The gossip in Paris said that as many as twenty debutantes had been invited this time around.

That gossip turned out to be very close to the truth, for when the butler pulled open the dining room door to usher Xavier and me in, the room was filled with strange faces in fine clothes.

I only had eyes for one person, however.

Sitting across the room, smiling as he chatted with a table of ladies, was my prince. He looked up as we arrived, continuing with his story, but shooting me that lopsided grin and a wink. Upon noticing his wink, one of the new debutantes turned around to look at us. She was yet another sunny blonde, with hazel-green eyes and delicate features. The look she gave me, strangely, wasn't loaded with hostility but rather curiosity.

"You're back!" Anne exclaimed, bounding over to seize my shoulders to air-kiss me in greeting, "How was Paris?"

"It was wonderful," I said, "Princess Anne, may I present my brother Xavier Marks-Whelan,"

"Enchanted to meet you, your Highness," Xavier said, bowing to the princess.

"If you're anything like Libby, I'm certain I am as well," she smiled, before turning back to me, "Come, let's get you both introduced,"

We circled the room and it became a blur of new faces and names. The old guard was still present, huddled together in a corner. I relished Ella's double take as Anne led me past them. My cousin's jaw popped open as she followed us with her eyes, colour creeping into her cheeks.

"Seems like Ella's thrilled to see you," Xavier leaned in to whisper in my ear. I stifled a grin as we both waved at her in unison. She flushed bright red and turned away. Noticing her reaction, Ashley followed her gaze and drew herself up upon seeing me. Her eyes flicked between me and the princess, unbridled rage within their blue depths.

"And you must already know Georgina Courtenay, she was a lady-in-waiting last Season too," Anne said. I whipped my head around from where I'd been staring Ashley down, only to nearly walk smack into Georgina.

"You're a debutante?" I exclaimed, throwing my arms around her in greeting, heedless of appearances. She laughed, giving me a squeeze before releasing me for the sake of propriety.

"I am! The family was granted a second spot and by some turn of luck or politics, it was given to me instead of Emmie's sister," she said, "We'd all thought you'd fallen ill!"

"Is that the story they'd spun?" I asked. Anne was still hovering, watching our exchange with a curious look.

"Rumours only. Ella was decidedly tight-lipped about it," she said, "Either way, I'm thrilled you're a debutante too!"

"As much as I hate to interrupt, there are a number more introductions to be made. Perhaps Xavier would like to take his tea with Georgina?" Anne said, her eyes watching each of us in turn to gauge our reactions.

My brother looked at the princess, his eyebrows hopping upwards in surprise. Georgina smiled politely, blinking as she shot a tentative glance at Xavier.

"You survived the ballet intermission with her father, you should be fine for tea with Georgie," I said to Xavier. Georgina gasped, swatting me playfully with her fan as I giggled. She'd blushed at my use of her nickname, but was still smiling.

"I'm sure you'll soon discover that my manners are much more polished than my sister's," Xavier said, shooting me a look as he offered Georgina his arm, "My apologies, Miss Courtenay,"

"Well I'll be, have you so suddenly sprouted such manners?" I asked, rolling my eyes as they turned to find a table, "Mind yourself with that one, Georgie!"

The pair of them ignored me and I grinned, following Anne when she gestured for me to follow.

"There's one last debutante I'd love for you to meet," Anne said as she smiled and nodded in greeting at a passing Sarah Thornbury, "I think the two of you will get along splendidly,"

"Oh?" I said, looking around for who it could be. When my eyes landed on the hazel-eyed blonde, my heartbeat picked up. She was still talking with Andrew as Anne led us towards her. I could feel the tension building within me as we approached the prince's table.

"Libby, this is Adelaide Winters," she said. Adelaide turned her eyes towards me and smiled as she rose from her seat across from Andrew.

"Oh Libby, I'm so glad to put a face to the name," she said, without a hint of the bitter jealousy I'd grown accustomed to among the debutantes, "I've heard ever so much about you from Andrew,"

My hackles rose as she said his name so informally, but neither Anne nor Andrew corrected her. I swallowed as Adelaide invited us to sit, Anne gesturing for me to take the seat next to Andrew.

All thoughts of Adelaide were swept from my head as I turned towards Andrew, the look on his face setting my heart to racing as he stood to pull my chair out for me.

"Paris looks exquisite on you," he whispered as he pushed my chair in while I sat. I didn't miss the way his fingers brushed the nape of my neck as he resumed his seat. I fought to keep from shivering with delight, my nerves strung taut at being so close to him after spending so much time apart. I didn't care to participate in the vapid conversation or drink the too-hot tea, all I really wanted to do was kiss him hello and thank him for all he'd done for us.

"Anne tells me you've been in Paris for the past few weeks," Adelaide said, daintily sipping her tea.

"Yes, it was lovely," I managed, hoping my smile didn't seem too forced. A servant poured tea for Anne and me, refreshing the triple-tiered platter of tea sandwiches and scones. For once, my appetite was entirely stifled thanks to the proximity of the man sitting next to me.

"Addie's parents spent a season there last year," Anne said, smiling over at the blonde. I wished it wouldn't be entirely improper for me to ask why they were all so familiar with one another.

"We did and I dream of going back," Adelaide said, shaking her head wistfully, "Not just for the dresses, but for the art!"

"Libby is quite a fan of the arts as well," Andrew said, reaching for a scone. I shot him a look, but he was grinning that lopsided, troublemaking smile of his as he took a bite.

"Oh? Tell me, what did you think of Jacques-Louis David's Coronation of Napoleon?" Adelaide asked. It irked me that she pronounced the artist's name with a flawless French accent.

"I thought it was small, much like Napoleon himself," I said. Andrew was the first to laugh, breaking the uneasy silence that had descended as Anne blinked at me while Adelaide politely sipped her tea.

"I should have warned you, Addie," Andrew said, once he'd gotten his laughter under control, "Libby has the most wonderful sense of humour,"

"So it would seem," Adelaide said, smiling kindly. I wished she would stop being so nice since every instinct in my body was bristling at her familiarity with my prince. She hadn't said or done one threatening thing and yet I still felt like I needed to keep a guard up around her. I took a sip of my own tea to give me a moment to gather my thoughts.

I had barely taken a second sip when a tinkling bell echoed through the room. The noise in the room rose as the debutantes and inductees stood, apparently responding to a signal I wasn't yet familiar with. Adelaide and Anne rose, exchanging parting pleasantries.

"The little library, meet me there," Andrew whispered once again, as he helped me pull my chair back. He offered a hand to help me stand and when our skin touched, my breath caught. He had felt whatever had passed between us as well, those green eyes finding mine with a hunger in them I'd never seen before. I'd lost my words, so I nodded.

"Come Libby, I can't wait to show you your new room!" Anne said, snapping me out of the daze that had befallen me at Andrew's touch. His fingers lingered over mine before he released my hand, my heart pounding in my chest as I turned to follow the princess.

When I looked her way, I noticed Adelaide's intent gaze on where Andrew's hand had been touching mine.