An excerpt from a future book

An excerpt from a future book

He sat next to me, staring into my Georgia-brown eyes. The longing in his eyes grew fierce, and he slowly leaned forward, his right hand creeping up to brush my cheek, and his left hand settling on my hip, his thumb tracing circles on my skin under my skirt. His lips pressed firmly against mine, and my very heart wanted to cry out with my love for him. Why did we have to wait to be together - just one more year until he could propose anyway, if I could get my parents to like him.

As we kissed, my mind swirled, but I realized that we were in the middle of the servants' kitchen, and that it was too risky to be exposing ourselves like this. Too late I realized that Lisa, our kitchen maid, was walking in. I jerked away from him like he was poison, and stuck my head haughtily in the air.

"I've been waiting on my breakfast, Lisa!" I snapped, terrified that she may have seen, and already knowing she had. As I looked up for her reply, the look of disapproval and shame in her eyes scared me. She told me it would be a few more minutes, and I ordered her to have Bridget bring it to my room when it was ready.

At that, I marched out the door and down the secluded hallway to my room, with him following behind. "Linia?" I heard my father bellow. He sounded furious. I could only hope that this was about the royal jewels and dresses I had snuck from my mother's room, and not something else.

"Stay here!" I ordered him, pointing to a dark corner where he was unlikely to be seen. "Don't move unless you have to - I'll be right back to help you escape!" I started to hurry away, but he questioned, "So soon? But I have barely seen you-"

"Shhhhhhhhhhh!!!" I hushed, and rushed away as quickly as I could be dignified. I reached my father at the mouth of the hallway, and my step hesitated at the fury in his eyes. Sure, borrowing my mother's stuff was a legal offense, but hey, my dad was the king. Besides, she was on a business trip, and she never wore this stuff anyway. I had been so desperate to look nice for his visit, it hadn't seemed like a big deal at the time. In fact, I hadn't thought it was this serious…

"Yes, father?" I answered respectfully, but inwardly I was quaking.

He frowned. "It has come to my attention by word of the palace maids that you have been having an affair with a gentleman of unknown origin." He scrutinized my calm face. "If this is true, I want you to confess right now and DO NOT LIE!" he thundered.

I gulped. "Father, I've been meaning to tell you of an acquaintance I have made, but I have not had - an affair - with him. However- " I didn't get to finish for my father broke in, clearly enraged.

"Young lady!! Do NOT lie to your father! I know you have been acting shamefully with him, and you will be punished!" I shuttered, hating where this was going. "And furthermore, when I find this young man, I will have him tortured and hung for treason to the

throne!"

I gasped, horrified at how this had played out. My father began to walk away, knowing I would follow him for my "royal punishment" and bellowing for a search to be made for my suitor. Instead, I turned and fled silently back down the hallway to my room. It would be a few seconds before my father noticed I was gone, and then he'd start looking for me. I had to do something. I wouldn't let him be taken now, not after all we'd been through.

My slippered feet padded silently against the cold floor as I rushed to his hiding place. I clutched his arm and put my finger to his lips, already running.

"He knows you're here. Someone saw us in the kitchen." I explained as we ran towards my room. He ran faster - we both knew the penalty for our mistake. I made a split-second decision.

"We're leaving." I said simply, wondering how in the world I would pull this off.

He looked at me hopefully, his eyes full of love. "Really?" he asked, but then shook his head. "You shouldn't leave your future."

I sighed, my heart breaking at the thought of leaving all I knew, everyone I loved. Then I turned to him and smiled. "I don't have one without you."

Before he could respond, I heard more voices. "This way, their both down this way!"

It was the castle guards, and a lot of them. They knew where we were, and we'd never make it all the way to my room and out of the castle grounds without getting caught, not now that the guards were involved.

"Go away!" I called to them loudly, "It's just me, Linia; I had to fix my hair!"

He looked at me like I was crazy. "Linia, love, what are you doing?"

"I'm saving your neck, my dearest." I stopped running and turned to him, grasping his face in my hands. "If you'll wait for me in two weeks outside of the castle, I'll come for you. I will never leave you." I brought his face to mine and kissed him hard, for what may be the last time. "Now run to my room and use the horse tied outside my window." I whispered in his ear, turning away.