His Majesty's Marriage

these years, this is his last message to you.’

The old woman’s voice was husky. ‘I can’t see-read it for me, please-’

Daniel moved very close to her and took one of her hands in his.

“‘My dearest love,’” he read, “‘always dearer to me than anyone else on earth, because you know everything about me, and love me in spite of the worst-my heart is heavy tonight because yesterday we parted. Perhaps it is only for a little while, and we may still hope for the next meeting, in a month, as we discussed. But as I grow older I fear that each parting may be the last, and I may never again have the chance to tell you what you are, and have been to me.

“‘And so I set it down, in the hope that when I can no longer say the words it will somehow reach you. Others see you occupying a lowly position, but to me you will always be a great, great lady: the woman who brought my heart to life and showed me what love could be. I lived encased in stone until you broke me free.’”

‘You sound-just like him,’ Bess murmured.

‘I was just like him,’ Daniel said softly. ‘Until my Lizzie came to me. Encased in stone, needing to be set free. But only if she wishes.’

Bess regarded Lizzie with eyes that saw everything. ‘Whatever he has done to offend you,’ she said shrewdly, ‘it is as nothing beside the love that you share. Throw the defences away, my dear. They have no place about your heart.’

‘Yes,’ Lizzie said with her eyes on Daniel. ‘I know that.’

‘Finish the letter for me,’ Bess pleaded.

‘There isn’t very much more,’ Daniel said, taking up the page again. “‘I do not know what the future holds,’” he read, “‘But I am certain that it must be a future together. If not in this world, then in another that we cannot even imagine. However long the wait, I shall watch for you with my arms open and my heart as much yours as on the day-’” He stopped. ‘That’s where it finishes.’

‘It is enough.’ Tears were streaming from Bess’s eyes. ‘He always promised not to leave me without a last message, and he was a man of his word. Oh, my dears, my dears-if only you could be as happy as I am-’

Two hours later Bess slipped quietly out of life. Daniel and Lizzie were with her as she fell asleep, still holding her beloved’s final letter. When they had both kissed her Lizzie took the paper gently from Bess’s fingers.

‘I’ll put it back before the funeral,’ she said. ‘And it can be buried with her.’

‘Would you like to have her taken to Voltavia and placed near him?’

After a moment’s hesitation Lizzie shook her head. ‘Thank you, but there’s no need. I believe that they’re together now, and that’s what matters.’

‘And what becomes of us?’

‘What do you want to become of us, my love?’

‘Be my wife, and keep me always in your heart, for only there will I be safe.’

Six weeks later King Daniel of Voltavia married Elizabeth Boothe in a small private ceremony, attended only by his children and a few trusted friends. His daughter was a bridesmaid, and his sons, following royal convention, shared the role of groom’s supporters.

There was much talk about the King’s wedding gift to his bride: a fabulous diamond set, including a tiara, necklace, bracelets and earrings. But nobody knew of his real gift to her: the complete correspondence between King Alphonse and ‘Liz’, with his permission to publish it as she pleased.

Nor did anybody know that she had thanked him and refused to publish-the first time in Voltavia’s history that the King’s bride had turned down his wedding gift and made her husband a happy man by doing so.

But Lizzie had one final gift for the man she loved and who loved her beyond anything he could express in words. On their wedding night they stood before the great open fire in his apartment and tossed the letters-every last one-into the flames, watching until there was nothing left.

He took her into his arms. ‘No regrets at depriving history?’

‘No regrets,’ she assured him lovingly. ‘We’ve done them justice. History would never have understood them as we do, and only the future matters now.’

***