Don't Forget to Dream (43 page)

Flutterin
g open his heavy, gritty
eyes
,
Callum realised the room was nearly in total darkness. A faint glow from a candle crept around the door and soft moonlight filtered through his window where the curtains hung partially open. Callum blinked several times as his vision cleared and adjusted to the low light. The Palace was silent around him.

Easing his back with a gentle twist of his shoulder
Callum contemplated sitting up.
His
wounds and muscles ached but he expected no less. Pulling his hands back he was startled to realise he was not
alone;
someone gently cradled his right hand. The room was too dark for him to see clearly but he could make out the outline of a woman seated beside him with her head resting upon his bed. Cautiously he rolled over onto his right shoulder so he could brush away the hair that had fallen across her face. A smile filled his face and his heart beat a little faster as his hopes of seeing Rhyla again came true. He had asked after her the moment he had awakened
back in his own rooms and had received
brief updates.

The fight had taken all his strength. He had fought on
. He had been
wounded several times before but
not with an
arrow imbedded in his shoulder.
Never
had he fought with such a passion and absolute determination. Rhyla had to be kept safe. He had been just as shocked to see her stand ready with that blade as he had to feel the stabbing pain as the arrow impacted. For all t
he trading of blows and
attention
needed of him during the combat,
he had managed to see a little of her blade work. Tracing the line of her chin as she slept he was so proud, so in awe of how she had fought. He
remembered lying in her arms. He
had been
so cold but strangely at peace.
He
knew she would get him back safely to the Palace.

The difficulty now would be in letting her go, but how could he k
eep her? He had no right to her.
She
could not be a part of his life. S
he could not be his wi
fe. How was he to let her go? L
ying there watching her sleep
,
Callum
worked through his emotions and raw logic time and time again. Someho
w he had to learn to let her go.
How
many times could they go through this?

Eventually he fell asleep with his right hand still between hers and his left behind her head where he had been stroking her hair. Exhaustion
had overwhelmed
him as his thoughts churned and conflicted within
.

A gentle pressure on
her shoulder started to drag Rhyla
from the depths of sleep. She ached all over and battled against the intrusion in a desire to remain aloof and
at ease, escaping from the pain both
physical and emotional that awaited in consciousness. Slowly a soft whisper added to the physical touch, a gentle shake increasing the urgency and dragging her from her slumber.

“
Rhyla. Rhyla you have to wake up.
”
It was Lady Emelia;
her soft rich voice so familiar.

Rhyla stirred, yawned and slowly sat
up. As her eyes opened she let out a small yelp as she realised where she was. Callum slept on in his bed beside where she sat, but he was starting to stir. She slowly removed her hands from his as she started rapidly to apologise.

“
Oh, my lady, I am so sorry. I shouldn
’
t be here.
”
She attempted to get out of her chair quickly but the blood rushed from her head forcing her to sit with a t
hump. Her addled thoughts made
her stumble over her words.
“
I... I just wanted to see that he was recovering. I didn
’
t mean to stay. I am so sorry.
”

“
Calm down Rhyla, it
’
s alright, you are not in trouble. But I think it is probably time for you to return to your room,
”
Lady Emelia said gently.

“
Yes, yes my lady, of course.
”
Before attempting to rise again Rhyla glanced once more at the now stirring Prince. His eyes fluttered opened,
seeking hers immediately and instantly smiling.
“
I must go,
”
she said anxiously, forcing herself to her feet.

“
Wait, Rhyla,
”
Callum said
as he pushed
himself up with obvious effort,
at the same time
catching her hand and forcing her to stop.
“
Don
’
t go, not yet,
”
he said pleadingly.

“
I have stayed much longer than I should have Prince Callum. I have to go,
”
she replied
,
desperately trying not to offend
, at the same time
knowing she had to get away from him before anyone else saw her there. But it was already too late. Turning from him, even as he held her hand, Rhyla realised what an audience they had. Lady Emelia knew of her turmoil but now, standing before King Liam, Queen Aletta, Prince Edwin and Princess Sophia her shame, her private suffering was clear for all to see.

“
Rhyla we have to talk,
”
Callum said softly behind her.

Struggling to contain the burning tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks once again, she dragged words from her clenched throat.
“
We have nothing to say Callum, Prince Callum. Nothing has changed. Please don
’
t make this any harder than it already is.
”

“
But Rhyla, t
ell me how
we go on? Tell me how to forget you?
”
he pleaded as she refused to look at him.

“
J
us
t
like we did before. Forget me.
Look
to your young Gayndarian Princess and learn to love her. She is your future, not me,
”
she added firmly as the tears began to spill. How could he start this conversation with his entire family looking
on?
Queen Aletta and Princess
Sophia clearly showed sympathy.
They
clearly knew much more than she had hoped they did. Prince Edwin was staring
with his mouth slightly hanging open,
stunned by the
exchange. But it was the deep frown on the King
’
s face that had Rhyla concerned. His gaze was directed at his youngest son but surely she would be the one to suffer, to be put out of the Palace. She turned to Lady Emelia.
“
Perhaps I
can go back to the Black Swan E
states. If I am away from here you can forget me. Please
my lady, send me to Dratton.
I will work the fields if that is the only position open to me.
”

“
Hush child. Calm yourself,
”
Lady Emelia said gently taking her hand from Callum and throwing a brief frown at her grandson.
“
Return to your room, or my sunroom if you prefer, and rest. You still need time to heal before any thoughts of leaving the Palace are even contemplated. Once you a
re well we can think on it then, b
ut not before
. N
ot now.
”

Rhyla bowed her head in acquiescence,
“
As you say my lady.
”
She dropped a small curtsy, uncertain she could manage more in her current state,
“
If you will excuse me.
”
Keeping her head down she made her way hastily from the room,
she paused
to curtsy once again, this time to the King and Queen, before fleeing as fast as her stiff limbs could manage.

As usual the hallways were intermi
ttently occupied with maids busy with
their chores, serving men carrying the heavier bundles and the various servitors, Lords and Ladies who had business at the Palace. After
scurrying as fast as she could along
a few corridors
,
none could know exactly where she had come from but a couple of maids dusting and the guardsmen escorting the King
had clearly witnessed her leave Prince Callum
’
s rooms
No doubt someone else would know what time she had gone to his chambers, even if she could trust Elsie not to speak out of turn. They would only add to the rumours she knew would be circula
ting that she was a light skirt -
the Princes
’
mistress. What could she do but leave? How could she possibly remain in the Palace longer than absolutely necessary
? She determined to stay only until she was
fit enough
to escape; but where would she go?
Surely
Lady Emelia
would let her go. Maybe she would
find another position for her. Her virtue was in tatters when she had done nothing but fall in love.

Navigating the halls as quickly as she could Rhyla returned to the private sanctuary of her room. Elsie had left a breakfast tray for her but the tea was cold and she could only pick at the food. For a while she stood looking out their little window over the courtyard, cursing her
self for foolishly visiting he prince. She was d
oubly angry with herself for falling asleep and opening herself to this disaster, and in front of his entire family. What was she to do now?

The Prince
’
s chamber remained silent long after Rhyla had fled. Callum flopped back against his pillows and covered his face with his hands. He was so fool
ish;
a naive boy speaking as he had. No wonder she had run. What was he thinking exclaiming his heart like that? He kn
ew there was no future for this foolish love.
They
h
ad been over this so many times.
Why
couldn
’
t he just let it go?

A soft rustle of skirts, the creak of the wooden chair and a gentle sigh told him his grandmother had taken the seat Rhyla had just vacated. He had an idea of the lecture he was about to receive so lowered his hands, accepting his fate. The expressions fixed upon him varied widely. His mother and gran
dmother showed pity and concern.
He
expected it from his grandmother but was surprised to realise that his mother clearly knew more than he thought. Edwin was clearly shocked
.
His
mouth
remained hanging open idiotically. Any
other time he would have joked at his brother
’
s ridiculous expression. Sophia was attempting to suppress a
grin;
she would have days, weeks of gossip with her ladies now, at his and Rhyla
’
s expense. Finally he looked at his father, kno
wing he would have a lot to say.
He
didn
’
t have to wait long as the thunderhead crashed in his rooms.

“
You have a lot of explaining to do
,
my boy,
”
his fat
her growled as his face flushed.
His restrained anger erupted,
“
If you have done anything to that young woman there will be hell to pay. You know I don
’
t abide that sort of behaviour. If you have made promises you can
’
t keep or charmed your way into her affections for your own selfish reasons you will have me to answer to. Some so called nobles get away with carrying on with the servants but I raised you to higher standards. I expect you to have more respect for people
,
no matter their station.
”

Callum finally interrupted.
“
Father
stop
,
”
he yelled, pausing as another flush of anger coloured his father
’
s face and his mother raised her eyebrows. He continued more reasonably,
“
you don
’
t know what you are talking about. I haven
’
t done anything to Rhyla but shared a few kisses. I do respect
her;
I respect her a great deal. She is the only woman who knows me,
”
he emphasised by pointing to his own chest,
“
she understands me. I relax around her, laugh with her and am myself with no
sign of pretension
. That is the problem.
”