Free Princess in Love by Julianne MacLean Page B

here.”
    “But you came home as soon as you learned of it, and I am certain he must have been
     pleased by what you accomplished in England. He was proud of you. That was obvious
     to everyone.” He paused. “He was a great king. He will never be forgotten.”
    The sentiment brought her comfort, and she thanked him.
    “How is your mother?” she asked as they circled around to the other side of the room.
     “It’s been too long since I’ve seen her. Please tell her that she would be most welcome
     at court.”
    “I will convey your message,” he replied, “but you know my mother. She hates to leave
     the country. She loves her gardens too much.”
    “She has such a gift with flowers. Thank her for the beautiful bouquet she sent. It
     was the loveliest of them all.”
    “She will be pleased to hear it.”
    They danced in silence for a moment or two, and Rose was relieved they were keeping
     to polite conversation. There was no obvious awkwardness or tension, though she had
     not yet conquered the butterflies in her belly.
    As the dance continued they chatted about the summer heat but stopped talking as the
     music reached a crescendo. He held her steady in his arms and swept her lightly around
     the room until her cheeks were flushed and her blood was racing at a swift and exuberant
     pace.
    She was pleased they had danced. It took away some of the fear she had felt about
     seeing him again.
    Everything would be fine, she told herself. All would be well.
    When the dance came to an end, however, she was sorry for it. She did not wish to
     take her hand off his shoulder.
    “Thank you, Rose,” he said in that appealing husky voice as he escorted to the edge
     of the room.
    As they walked together, she glanced up at him. “It is I who must thank you for such
     a delightful few minutes on the dance floor. It has lifted my spirits.”
    They found a quiet corner to watch a number of guests gather for a quadrille.
    “Look,” Leopold said. “Nicholas has escorted the queen onto the floor. She seems to
     be adapting well to her new life here, and you have a sister now. So much about the
     world has changed in recent months, has it not?”
    Rose watched her brother dance with Alexandra and wondered what they were saying to
     each other. There had been some tension between them since Nicholas learned Alexandra
     was a Tremaine, for she had kept that secret from Randolph during their courtship
     in England.
    “That is very true,” Rose replied. “And how are things in your world, Leopold? The
     last time we spoke, you told me about your engagement. Did you finally meet your intended
     in England?”
    He kept his eyes fixed on the dancers. “I regret to say it has not worked out quite
     as everyone expected. As it happens, she fell in love with another fellow and is now
     happily married to him. It was a good match for her. I can hardly blame the woman,
     so there are no hard feelings.” He paused and looked down at Rose. “I am now a free
     man, released from my obligations.”
    Rose swallowed hard over a sudden wave of astonishment. “I am sorry to hear it did
     not work out.”
    He spoke with a hint of bitterness. “Well. There is nothing to be done about it now.
     I will begin anew and endeavor not to nurse too many regrets.”
    A footman came by just then. Rose picked up a glass of champagne.
    “It is frustrating sometimes,” she said, “how life does not unfold the way we plan.
     Just when we think we know which way we are headed, the path takes a turn or splits
     in two directions, and one must choose.”
    He considered that. “Yes, although sometimes one does not have a choice. Sometimes
     one is pushed to the left, when the right is much more desirable.”
    “I know the feeling, exactly.”
    She had become quite familiar with it when she was forced to forget the man she loved
     and move on with her life. She didn’t even want to consider the possibility that the
     path was again diverging before her.