Essence Of The Heart (The Royal Tutor) by Daris Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

above. She glowered up through her drenched locks in
time to see Alexander dart back into the shadows. Enraged, she flew up the
stairs, leaving Elizabeth and Marina behind, only to find a flustered cleaning
woman. The frightened woman said Alexander had asked her to retrieve
something he had forgotten, and, when she returned, she found him gone
and her water bucket empty.
     
          Louise was about to take her rage out on the poor woman when
Alexander came to the woman's rescue. Eyeing Louise's dripping
appearance, he smiled mischievously at her. "My, my," he chided, "how a
person won't dress for a banquet when they want a little attention."
     
          The confused servant was forgotten as Louise flew at Alexander,
scratching and kicking, only to have Duke Reginald, Lady Margaret, and her
own parents appear. She was so embarrassed that she wished the earth
would just open up and swallow her.
     
          Her father, humiliated and enraged, commanded her to stand forth,
and she did so, dripping and dirty.
     
          "Louise, you will go to your room, and stay there the whole evening.
You can just forget about your banquet and royal ball."
     
          It was then that Alexander's actions shocked her. Knowing full well
what punishment would surely befall him, he knelt and begged in Louise's
behalf.
     
          "Your Majesty, the fault is mine, not the princess's. I provoked her
and it is my fault she is wet. I beg you not to lay the blame on her, but the
punishment should be mine alone."
     
          Suddenly, Louise was frightened for Alexander. The feeling stunned
her. She was surprised that she cared. But she knew her father would
surely order him to be whipped. She was so frightened she couldn't move
or speak.
     
           The anger shown in her father's face. "How dare you disrespect the
princess! You shall be whi...."
     
          As her father started to give the command that Alexander was to be
whipped, Louise's mother grabbed his arm and beckoned him aside. With
the moment's reprieve, Louise's mind was reeling. She had never seen
anyone stand up with such courage to her father, and especially not for her.
What would she do if Alexander was whipped? Many men never fully
recovered from a whipping, and some even died. She knew that she was at
least as much to blame as he was.
     
          She tried again and again to tell herself that he deserved it, but, for
the first time, her heart refused to accept her lie. She prayed that her mother
could prevail with her father. She saw the concern on Duke Reginald's
face, and could hear Lady Margaret crying. They both feared the inevitable.
     
          After several agonizing minutes, her father stepped forward. Trying
to hold back his anger, he announced, "We are not going to delay the
banquet for the recklessness and brashness of youth. It is not the fault of the
guests, and the dinner must go forward. Knowing my daughter's
temperament, I will not hold you fully responsible, nor will I have you
whipped, but that does not excuse such behavior. You will escort her back
to her chamber, and escort her back to the ball after she is appropriately
attired. And you can go hungry until after it is all over."
     
          Alexander bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
     
          "From now on, you had better understand that she
is
the princess and
treat her as such; and you had better learn your place, or I will more than
have you whipped. Is that understood?"
     
          "Yes, Your Majesty."
     
          The king waved his hand. "Escort her to her room now, before I
change my mind!"
     
          Alexander rose to escort Louise back to her room. Louise looked at
her mother's tear-stained face. She knew her mother liked Alexander, and
she could only imagine how she must have begged in his behalf. As they
turned to