Don't Forget to Dream (20 page)

“
Oh
, my boy, you were always
the charming one when you set your mind to it. Heaven help the
lass who tries
to turn you away with your silver tongue,
”
Lady Emelia said patting his hand with her free one but also glancing to Rhyla before meeting his eyes again.
“
Did you meet any problems on the road?
”
she asked with a feigned curiosity.

“
If you mean the bandits, t
hen no, there was no sign of them on the roads or in the villages we passed. It seems they remain in the hills to the north,
”
Prince Callum said reassuring his grandmother but once again looking to Rhyla who met his
gaze this time with a careful
neutral expression.

The silent exchange had not been missed by Lady Emelia. Her eyesight may be generally fading but she was not completely blind. Watching her grandson and the young companion she had become very fond of, she considered the desire and love she could so clearly see before her and the possibility of a meaningful future. There was the chance of failure with any young love, of pain and regret, but she had a sense that Callum and Rhyla were destined to more than their current lives. Neither of them
was
fulfilling
their potential and neither of them
was
truly happy. The closes
t she had seen either of them
to real happiness was when they were together. Weighing up the risks of her actions she turned to Callum.

“
It is so wonderful to see you safe and well again my boy,
”
she said pressing the back of his hand to her cheek.
“
But I must ask to continue our reunion a little later. The day has left me a little weary.
”

Rhyla started to scramble to her feet as Prince Callum spoke,
“
I shall assist you inside Grandmamma.
”

“
That won
’
t be necessary,
”
she said raising her free hand to forestall them both.
“
I wish to make the most of this lovely day and intend to stay right here.
”

“
Then I shall excuse myself and return to the Palace,
”
Prince Callum said with a brief nod.

“
No my boy,
I have a request to make of you,
”
she said looking to
Rhyla.H
e
followed her gaze.

“
What would you require of me?
”
he said turning back to her.

“
Rhyla has spent too long within the Palace. A country girl needs time amongst the trees in the f
resh air. Would you escort her o
n a tour of the gardens?
”
Lade Emelia requested knowing neither could or would refuse.

“
Of course Grandmamma,
I would be delighted,
”
he said with a slight incline of his head as he released her hand.

“
Oh no, do not concern yourselves my lady, Prince Callum. I will be fine sitting here by your side my lady, you may have need of me,
”
Rhyla insisted.

“”
Don
’
t be silly my dear. What on earth could happen to me sitting here? You need to walk, not sit around while I dose,
”
Lady Emelia affirmed.

“
The walk would do me good after days in the saddle,
”
Prince Callum said offering her his arm as he stepped closer to her. At her further hesitation he produced the wry g
rin she loved, and hated!
“
Your mistress did say for me to escort
you, and she is my grandmother.
I don
’
t think either of us can refuse so simple a request,
”
he quipped.

“
But I am no lady,
”
Rhyla said softly, apologetically as she looked from his hand to his face.

Prince Callum
’
s grin faded,
“
Does that truly matter for a stroll around the gardens?
”
he pressed earnestly.

Rhyla looked from the Prince
to her mistress and back again.
Neither
seemed perturbed by the irregularity of the situation. They were both calm and expectant, so used to everyone doing exactly as they asked. Controlling the racing of her heart with a deep breath she placed her hand in his. The feel of it was just as she had remembered from the day they had danced in the Great Hall, strong and warm, firm with the calluses of a swordsman but at the same time gentle with the security she craved. As he stepped to her side and looped her arm through his she sighed to release her held breath.

“
Take your time, I shall be here,
”
Lady Emelia said contentedly smiling at them with a gentle dismissive wave of her hand.

Arm in arm they strolled silently along the path by the pond. The spring blossoms were just past their best in the flowerbeds flanking their route. The warm breeze, bright sunshine and delicate fragrances of the rose garden and the lavender hedges created the most romantic setting Rhyla could have ever dreamt of. Through the light cotton of his shirt she could feel the tension within his arm, the steel of the muscles beneath the warmth of his skin. She was torn
between relishing such a precious stolen moment and fleeing the man she knew she could never have. Were these times she spent with him a godsend or a torture, she could not decide, but neither could she actually imagine walking away from them, even if it would mean crying herself to sleep at the thought of him belonging to another.

Continuing off the pathway Prince Callum led Rhyla through the grove
,
shimmering green with new leaves. They were completely alone with no chance of being overheard or seen, yet overshadowing their every thought and contemplated action were the rules and protocols they lived by.

The trees thinned as they came upon the quiet back corner of the gardens. The encircling walls stood high, buffering the sound of daily life from the streets of Lestran and the Palace not very far away. Prince Callum released her ar
m only to hold her hand instead.
The
extra space between them helped to clear her befuddled thoughts but the intimacy of his fingers interlaced with hers made her pulse race. He paused beneath the last tree, reaching up with his free hand to grasp the branch above. His intake of bre
ath made Rhyla turn to face him.
He
kept looking at the patch of grass and wild flowers before them. She knew she should release his hand, but it felt
so warm and secure, she couldn
’
t be
the one to let go first.

“
I used to come here as a lad,
”
he began softly, as though this were a secret location.
“
It was my favourite hiding place when there were chores, lessons or formal events to avoid, in particular foreign dignitary visits. They would bore me so, having to stand around and be quite, listening to some person talk about things that didn
’
t interest me, especially when I knew Martin and the other lads were somewhere else. Mar
tin used to come here with me. W
e would use fallen branches as swords and battle away for hours under these trees.
”
He paused to look around with a half smile full of boyhood memories. Rhyla followed his gaze and easily imagined the two lads playing amongs
t such majestic boughs;
the carefree joy of youth. Callum continued,
“
This is still a place of solitude for me, a peaceful moment away from the
constant pace and noise of the Palace. I am not sure how many chances I will get to come here over the coming months, what with the Bandits to deal with soon. I hope you will be able to appreciate it even when I can
’
t.
”

Th
ey turned to look at each other.
He
had only just returned and already knew he was to leave again within weeks, but without knowing how long he would be gone.

“
I can understand your attachment to this spot. It is very tranquil. It reminds me of the woods not far from my home,
”
Rhyla said before she had to glance away as memories of her parents
with her in the woods
surfaced.

Releasing the branch
,
he reached up to gently cup her chin between his forefinger and thumb so he could turn her to face him once again. His concern made her smile weakly at him.

“
I
’
m sorry, I did not bring you here to
cause
you pain Rhyla.
”

She tried to be more reassuring as she responded,
“
No it
’
s not your fault. The grief catches me unexpectedly at times.
”

“
It is good to know that you loved your parents so much,
”
he said tenderly.

“
I was gettin
g used to mother being gone.
We
had seen her wasting so quickly.
It
was not a surprise when she died, but father,
”
her breath caught in her throat as she struggled to control the sob clenching her chest. Callum pulled her into his embrace, holding her closely against him, her head tucked perfectly beneath his chin. The unwelcome surge of emotion soon passed with only a few tears shed upon his fine shirt.
“
I am sorry,
”
she began, starting to push away from him while wiping her cheeks with the other hand.
“
You shouldn
’
t have to see me like this.
”

Callum ducked his head to look at her but did not relax his arms.
“
Don
’
t be silly Rhyla. I
’
m glad I was here for you. You can
’
t go through things like this without someone being there for you.
”

For a moment Rhyla smiled warmly at him and he returned her expression while he pulled her against him once more. Her heart began racing, her hands against his chest and their lips only a few inches apart. She gazed into his blue eyes and longed to feel his lips against her
s once again. Just as
he  began
to lean
towards her
, Rhyla remembered
the courier and the gossi
p of the Palace Halls. She pulled
away from him.

“
Please don
’
t,
”
she whispered,
but
at the same time she couldn
’
t force
herself to break his embrace completely.

“
I
’
m sorry,
”
a puzzled Callum replied.
“
I
know I promised not to do this again. I just can
’
t seem to stop. Every time I see you I have to hold you. Every mile I rode I thought of little but you, remembering every moment we have had.
”
Rhyla stopped him with a tender index finger upon his lips.

“
Please, don
’
t say anything more, I don
’
t think I could take it,
”
she paused to summon what little strength she could before continuing.
“
Hearing more would be further daggers to my heart. How can I love you knowing that arrangements are being made to betroth you to another?
”

Callum
’
s joy c
rumbled to despair at her words.
He
paled and physically stumbled back from her to collide with the tree
. He leant
against its trunk for support. She followed
,
placing her hands about his waist to steady him. Rhyla had not expected such a
reaction;
she assumed he would have been told. She waited patiently as his colour returned.

“
I am to marry?
”
he struggled to say.

Rhyla nodded slowly. 
“
So Princess Sophia believes. She has talked of little else since a courier arrived with a letter for your mother from Queen Monique,
”
Rhyla told him simply.