The King's Bride

his head, as though listening for silent music in the air. Lizzie held her breath, sure that she knew the thought that had come to him. She was certain of it when he added, ‘If you don’t feed those dogs, nobody does. So their lives are in your hands.’

The children nodded eagerly and raced off. But when they’d gone Daniel frowned, saying, ‘Why did I say that? Of course they haven’t got time to-’

‘Yes, they have,’ Lizzie said, clasping his hand. ‘You did the right thing. Perhaps we’d better get back.’

‘Yes, we don’t want any more little spies,’ he said, moving off, still with her hand in his.

That evening she dined with Daniel and the children. It was a happy party, with everyone more relaxed than Lizzie had ever seen them. They kept to safe topics, like dog care, and to Lizzie’s surprise Daniel proved an expert.

‘I had to care for my own dog when I was a child,’ he explained.

‘But suppose you had to be away, sir?’ Felix asked, frowning.

Daniel winced. ‘I’d rather you didn’t call me sir.’

‘But you’ve never said anything before,’ Sandor pointed out.

He looked surprised. ‘I’ve never noticed before.’

‘But what shall we say instead?’ Elsa wanted to know.

That confused them, making Lizzie realise that the next step was still a big one.

‘Let’s sort it out later,’ she said quickly. ‘Felix wants to know what you did about the puppy when you were away.’

‘Then I could delegate someone to do it for me, but it was my job to pick them and explain everything.’

‘Father!’ Sandor said suddenly. ‘Or Poppa. Or Papa.’

‘Dad? Daddy?’ Lizzie said, then cunningly corrected herself, ‘No, I shouldn’t have said that. They’re much too informal. Quite improper.’

‘Not at all,’ Daniel said at once.

They finally settled on Dad for the boys and Daddy for Elsa. Daniel’s eyes met Lizzie’s across the table, silently smiling, telling her he understood her little trick.

When the youngsters had gone to bed Daniel said, ‘Did you get what I left you?’

‘The rest of the letters? Yes, thank you. It was wonderful of you.’

‘Did you make anything of them?’

‘A good deal, and I think you did too.’

He shrugged. ‘I must confess I haven’t read them all in detail, just well enough for a general idea of what they were.’

‘I think you noticed more than you realise.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Come with me and I’ll show you.’

In her room she unlocked the drawer where she kept all the letters, and took out one of the first. ‘Tell me about the dog you looked after,’ she said.

‘He was called Tiger. A stupid name because he was just a scruffy mongrel who wandered in one day and attached himself to me. You should have heard the commotion. Only a pedigree animal was suitable for the Crown Prince. But my grandfather let me keep him. He said-’

‘Yes?’ Lizzie asked.

Speaking as in a dream, Daniel replied, ‘He said, “He’s your responsibility. If you don’t feed him, nobody else will. His life is in your hands.” So that’s why-today, when I said those words-’

‘You were remembering when you last heard them.’

‘Yes, I see that, but what does this have to do with a letter?’

‘Look at that,’ she said, holding one out to him. ‘Halfway down the page.’

And there it was, in Liz’s words.

You talk about teaching Daniel responsibility, but you mean lectures and theory. Give the poor child a dog and let him choose it for himself. He will learn more about responsibility from a creature he loves, and who depends on him entirely, than from all the lessons in books.

‘So that was why he did it,’ Daniel said, sitting slowly on the bed, his attention riveted on the paper in his hand. ‘It came from her. Then I’m in her debt for years of happiness. And she was right, of course. It was all here, but when I first glanced over this letter I missed it.’

‘You weren’t ready. Not like now.’

‘I really hope Liz is your great-aunt. Not that there’s any real doubt of it, but I’m beginning to understand so much-how he depended on her. She must have been the most important person in his life, just as you-’ He stopped and looked at her. ‘Lizzie, darling, I’m not imagining this, am I?’

‘Imagination?’ she teased. ‘You?’

‘No, I haven’t much. So I couldn’t have imagined that you feel for me as I feel for you. Could I?’ He was pleading.

‘No,’ she said seriously, ‘you didn’t imagine that.’

He dropped the letter so that it fell, unheeded, to the floor. He seized her against him like a man just released from prison. His kisses too had the desperation of sudden freedom,

shot through with dread lest the precious gift be snatched away. And behind that lay the eagerness of a boy exploring love, almost as a new adventure. She kissed him back in reassurance, but gradually that gave way to the thrills that were coursing through her. He was the man she loved, but he was also the most sexually attractive male animal that it had ever been her privilege to encounter. She’d sensed that at the ball, when she’d first felt his arms about her, and everything since then had been a matter of waiting to tie up the loose ends.

Suddenly he stopped, holding her face between his two hands, whispering, ‘Are you sure? Are you quite sure, Lizzie? Don’t feel you have to just because I-because of this place and all the trappings.’

She loved him for his doubts. In the past he’d shown her the arrogance of power. Now he trusted her with the humility deep inside him.

‘Are you sure?’ he repeated again. ‘It has to be me, for myself alone. I don’t want it any other way.’

‘Just you,’ she promised. ‘There’s nobody else in my heart, and there never will be again.’

She slipped out of her robe and nightdress so that he could see all the beauty she brought him. She knew her nakedness was magnificent, but at this moment she only cared for it as a gift for the lonely, doubt-ridden man who’d taken refuge in her heart.

And it would be a true refuge for him, she vowed as he lay down beside her on the bed. Whatever the future held, whatever price she had to pay for loving him-and it might be a great one-she would say it was all worth it if she could give him any happiness.

From the way he made love she could tell that the last of

his doubts still lingered. There was about him a serious intentness that was beautiful here and now. But far back in her mind she made a note that in future she must teach him how to be a little light-hearted.

No woman could have asked for a more tender or considerate loving, but beneath it she could sense the vigour, sternly leashed back for her sake. The knowledge was a new excitement, a promise for the future. Next time they made love he wouldn’t hold it back; she would see to that. But for now they were getting introduced, delighting in what they found, joyful in each other. Only at the last moment did his passion slip beyond his control, and he claimed her with a fierceness that she willingly matched.

There was a long silence then, broken only by breathing and the soft sound of their heartbeats fading. Daniel kissed her and drew her close.

‘Thank you,’ he murmured.

She gave a chuckle, full of pleasure and satisfaction. ‘I think I should be thanking you. That was the nicest thing that’s ever happened to me.’

‘I want to toast you in champagne.’

‘So let’s send for some.’

‘You mean I should make the call from your room? That would really give them something to talk about.’

‘No, I will.’ She lifted the house phone and made the order. ‘You stay here while I wait for it in the sitting room.’