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

adore her, to admire her, to
recognize her nobility, but the one person that now mattered the most to her
wouldn't even raise his eyes to look at her. She forced a smile at Sir Phillip
as they danced. She looked at her father. He smiled approvingly.
     
          Sir Phillip was a man more than twice her age. His first wife had
died. He was perhaps the greatest of all the royalty, next to her own father,
and, by far, the most wealthy. Even though Phillip was in his late thirties,
he was still a handsome man. She had even mused once what it would be
like to be his wife. Everyone quite expected it. It would give her even
greater nobility. At one time she had thought she would like the prestige
and honor that would come with marrying the man of highest title. But
now, as she stole glances at Alexander, her heart trembled. She knew what
she wanted, and a greater title was not it.
     
          The night dragged on forever as she danced with one nobleman after
another. Alexander's always constant, always pleasant smile was gone. He
never moved, never left the side of his parents, never asked any lady to
dance, though Louise knew there were many ladies of nobility who would
have loved to dance with him. Alexander was tall, strong, and good-looking, and she knew he could easily find a good wife.
     
          That thought made her feelings hurt all the more. He didn't need
her. Why should he give her another chance when he had already given her
so many? All she had ever done was mock and belittle him. She felt a
desperation growing deep within her. If he walked from this ball as he now
felt, he would surely always try to avoid her, and any hope of changing
things back to the way they were would be gone.
     
          As the ball was drawing to a close in the early hours of the morning,
she saw her father call Alexander over. Alexander knelt before him. Her
father spoke sternly to him. Alexander bowed and arose. What had her
father said to him? She looked at her mother and Lady Margaret for clues.
By the look on their faces, she knew it was not good.
     
          Alexander talked with his mother. She was crying now. He turned
to leave the hall. Louise wanted to leave the dance floor - to run to him, to
stop him. Lady Margaret grabbed Alexander's arm. She shook her head,
and he obediently returned to stand by his parents' side. But his face was so
downcast that Louise thought her heart would break within her.
     
          All eyes turned to her when the last dance of the ball was
announced. By custom, this was the one time
she
was allowed to select her
partner. This was the time for her to show who was the man of her choice,
or she could choose no one at all. If she chose someone, that man could
then be her escort.
     
          Sir Phillip stood conspicuously near her parents, sure that she would
come to him. She knew who she wanted to dance with, but she feared how
he might respond. Had his heart been so battered that he would have
difficulty reacting positively to her? What would her father think? What
would everyone think? Wouldn't it just be easier to choose no one? But
choosing no one was still a choice.
     
          She thought of Alexander taking her father's anger in her stead.
Then, for no explainable reason, her mind wandered back to that day on the
mountain. She could almost feel Nell's arms around her neck and the kiss
on her cheek. She remembered Alexander and the children. She thought of
him giving her his food and going hungry himself, as he was even now.
Suddenly, tears came to her eyes, and she didn't care what anyone else
thought. She walked right past Sir Phillip, whose smile quickly faded. She
proceeded right past her shocked father and past her mother. She boldly
passed Duke Reginald and Lady Margaret and stopped in front of
Alexander. There was an audible gasp in the hall, and a groan from