"I am unashamed to admit that it took every ounce of my willpower to keep my hands off of you today," Andrew said, as I sat nestled under his arm on the love seat. When we'd finally caught up on missed kisses from the weeks I'd been away, he'd taken one look at my short-sleeved day dress before sweeping off his dinner jacket and throwing it around my shivering shoulders, ushering me to the spot by the fire. The crackling warmth from the hearth was welcome, especially as all my blood appeared to have rushed out of my extremities and into my heart.

"And yet you were still able to deliver that art jab during afternoon tea," I said, poking him in the ribs. He laughed, crushing me against him to stop my attack.

"You do realize that David's Napoleon painting is the size of the entrance hall, don't you?" he chuckled. I made a face.

"There were no dogs by which I could judge the artist's talent, so I was disinclined to spend much time viewing it," I fired back. Andrew pressed a kiss onto the top of my head.

"I finally feel like I can breathe again," he said, "I haven't been able to tease anyone like this for weeks."

"How lovely for you," I replied, "Here I was thinking it was my irresistible personality you'd missed, not my ability to withstand your torment."

Andrew's free hand tipped my chin up so I would face him instead of staring off into the fire.

"I meant what I said about missing you. It was all I could do to pretend to be interested in anything the others had to say while you were away," he said, running his eyes over my face.

I wanted so badly to say, "Even Adelaide?" but it sounded so petty and jealous in my head that, for once, I was able to hold my tongue.

"Don't you dare run away again," Andrew said when I didn't reply.

"I wouldn't dream of it," I said, my stomach twirling as his eyes dropped to my lips again.

"I'd be forced to hunt you down and lock you up," he continued.

"We wouldn't want that, would we?" I said, leaning closer to him to whisper conspiratorially, "I'll have you know that I'm excellent at hiding."

"It just so happens I'm excellent at seeking," he said, his fingers finding their way to the sapphire necklace around my neck, "I'd have to confiscate this though, it's much too fine for a fugitive."

"I'd never let you, it's my souvenir," I breathed. His green eyes found mine again, crinkling with that special smile as he pulled me towards him. The world vanished save for Andrew and the giddy relief flooding my chest as he kissed me.

"As much as I could kiss you all night," Andrew said, running his thumb along my cheek, "I didn't only ask you here for that."

"A girl can dream," I sighed, leaning back under his arm so we could have a proper conversation. Andrew's lips curved into that smile I loved as he looked down at me.

"I had to make some concessions to secure your spot," he said, "One of them being that my mother has a say in who I ask for the first dance tomorrow at the ball."

"Shall I hazard a guess that I'm not among her choices?" I asked, listening to the rumble of his chest as he chuckled.

"To be fair, she doesn't know you all that well yet," he replied. I looked up at him, eyebrows lifted.

"She knows that I go on secret rides with your sister and return to the palace covered in mud," I offered.

"I'm rather hoping that she's forgotten that incident," he said, his hand absently stroking my hair, "Regardless, I'll have to choose from one of the debutantes she proposes for my first dance tomorrow, but I wanted you to know that if the choice had been left to me, I'd be choosing you."

"Is Adelaide one of her choices?" I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. Andrew's hand paused on my hair.

"I don't know yet," he said as I arced my neck back to look at him, hoping I hadn't angered him. My stomach sank when instead of being angry, he looked troubled.

"I had a feeling you'd ask me about her," he said, staring at the fire. I pushed off him to sit upright.

"Andrew..." I started, but when he turned to look and saw the worry in my eyes, he cupped my cheek with his hand.

"You don't have to worry about her, silly goose," he said, his eyes softening, "In fact I'm hoping the two of you can become friends."

I didn't quite manage to school my face before it twisted into an expression of distaste. Andrew threw his head back, laughing.

"How am I supposed to be friends with perfection incarnate? And while she's drooling all over you, no less!" I said, giving him a little shove. He kept laughing as he drew me towards him.

"While she may be intimidating, she's far from perfection incarnate," he said, pressing a kiss onto my forehead, "You are perfection incarnate."

"Now I know you're lying," I laughed, trying to push him away as a very stupid grin slipped onto my face. I couldn't help but drink in the way his green eyes danced at the effect his words had on me.

"I wouldn't dream of it," he said, grinning as he looked down at me.

"Liar," I said, kissing the tip of his nose. He retaliated by pressing a quick kiss onto my lips.

"She's the daughter of one of my mother's closest friends," Andrew said, "But she's always been so...Addie. I can't help but yawn just thinking about her."

"Then stop thinking about her," I said, running a hand along his face, "I don't think you quite appreciate the trouble I went to in order to get here. Perhaps you could think about that."

He laughed again, laying a hand over mine.

"I was concerned that Paris had dulled your spark," he said, his eyes dancing, "It seems that I needn't have worried."

"No, Paris was lovely! It's the tedium and gossip back here in Highcastle that I'm worried about," I said, nestling back under his arm, "I do so wish I had that old uniform dress back."

"You got rid of it?" Andrew asked, surprised.

"Brenna did when I couldn't give her a logical argument for keeping it," I replied.

"What about, 'I use it to sneak around the service corridors and wreak havoc?' Seems logical enough to me," he said. I rolled my eyes at him.

"I told her it had sentimental value, to which she replied that it was far too shabby for a debutante, sentimental or not," I said, "But it wouldn't have helped in any case. My service door is locked, hence my extremely risky arrival via the main hallways."

"Well we can't have you feeling like a caged animal, now can we?" Andrew said, humming pensively.

"No, we can't. I'll keep you to your word, you know," I said, the butterflies soaring in my stomach as I thought back to one of our conversations in that very same room, "That you'd never cage me."

"Heaven help the person who tries," he chuckled. We sat in companionable silence, staring at the fire. My eyelids were drooping shut when the grandfather clock in the corner struck midnight, stirring the both of us. I sat up, blinking in an attempt to fight off the fatigue while Andrew yawned.

"Are your maids still in your room?" he asked, offering me a hand to rise.

"No, why?" I replied. He'd started tucking a few strands of loose hair behind my ears as he smiled.

"Because your hair is an absolute mess," he grinned. I reached up to feel that the hasty bun I'd pinned was in frightful disarray.

"Wipe that cheeky grin off your face," I laughed as I attempted to fix it, "You know as well as I do that it's no one's fault but your own. Besides, you shouldn't be one to talk - your collar's mussed too, you wicked prince."

"Wicked prince, I like that," he said, leaning forward to kiss me as he straightened his collar. When we were both satisfied that the other didn't look too disheveled, Andrew reached for my hand and led me towards the service door.

"Will you promise to save me a dance tomorrow?" I asked, hesitating before he ushered me into the darkness of the service corridor. Once we were inside, we couldn't risk talking in anything but whispers for fear of being overheard.

"If you look half as magnificent as you did at dinner tonight, I'll be hard pressed to remember to dance with anyone else," he said, winding his arms around me, "As soon as I've appeased mother, the night will be ours."

"Your mother needs appeasing? Beyond just the first dance?" I asked, leaning back to look at him.

"Like I'd said, I had to make some concessions to ensure that the Season was opened up to more debutantes," he said, toying with the lapel of his jacket that was still around my shoulders. I didn't like the way his hesitation was stirring up something murky in my gut.

"Is that why Thomas gave me his invitation to the opera?" I asked, "Will you be forced to give yours to one of her choices as well?"

I knew I'd struck a nerve when Andrew's jaw set to pulsing, something that looked dangerously like a wince flitting across his face before he composed himself.

"Yes and no," he said, entwining his hands with mine, "Thomas asked you on his own and mother has yet to make demands for anything other than the inaugural ball."

"But you think she will?" I pressed again. He looked at me with a sigh.

"I do," he admitted, his green eyes searching mine, "But there may be a way around that."

"Which is?" I prompted.

"Give me time to work out the details," he said, lifting my hands to kiss them.

"It sounds like you're plotting something," I said. He smiled, his green eyes softening as he looked at me.

"Aren't I always?" he asked, a hint of that cheeky grin returning, "I want you in the royal box at the opera, so if I can't give you my mine then you're taking Thomas' invitation."

I swallowed, not liking the fact that he was hinting that his invitation might have to go to someone else despite whatever plan he was cooking up. He gestured for me to precede him through the service door and this time I went willingly. He navigated the darkened corridors with ease, locating my suite's service door and easing it open to check for Brenna or Elspeth. Before he ushered me through, he drew me towards him again, his hands on either side of my face as he kissed me.

"I'm so happy you've returned," he whispered.

"And I'm so happy we stole this moment," I replied. He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in the moonlight.

"One more thing before you go," he whispered, digging into his pocket to pull out a handkerchief. He wadded it into the latch mechanism of the service door, twisting the handle to engage it.

"If I can't promise you the first dance tomorrow, I can promise to make it up to you and this is a good place to start," he said, testing the door, "I haven't quite figured out a way to keep these unlocked yet, so this will have to do for now."

"It's perfect," I replied. Satisfied that he'd jammed the lock, he planted a quick, sweet parting kiss on my lips.

"Don't get yourself into too much trouble," he said, removing his jacket from around my shoulders. The cool night air kissed my skin and I shivered, wishing I didn't have to exchange his jacket for the cold sheets of my bed.

"I'll do my very best," I grinned at him. His green eyes held mine for a moment before he smiled that special lopsided smile of his.

"Good night, Libby," he said.

"Good night, Andrew," I replied as he closed the door.