END

"That man looked... respectable," Edward tried to race his stuttering mind.

"Oh, he's more than respectable, you'll see. There's more to the story; more complication that worries me. He loves her but he has an ego. Delilah rejected him brutally and I fear he will not return. But he loves her. I am sure of it," Cecilia babbled.

It was safe to say Edward was as lost throughout the picnic as his sister. He only came out of his stupor when on the way back home they took a detour through the town. Their parents had taken their own carriage back while leaving their older children in the barouche.

"Stop, stop, stop now," Cecilia hollered causing the driver to pull the reigns of the horses ferociously. It was a miracle the baby hadn't been jostled awake.

"Cissy, what now? I refuse to stop for more ribbons," Delilah growled, terribly annoyed.

"Look at the fountain," Was all Cecilia had to say and both the grey eyed Winsham siblings lost the blood in their already pale faces.

"Why, haven't you seen those busts before? When my father took me to the capital for my coming out Prince Damian's busts were everywhere," Zartashia's sweet voice broke the shocked silence, "I even bought a knitted cushion and teapot with his face on it. He does have a handsome face."

"When was that constructed?" Cecilia leaned out from her open carriage and asked a bystander.

"They brought the final pieces up yesterday," He answered with a shrug.

"What I must know why this statue goes up now," The red head asked urgently.

"Haven't you heard? The Prince means to re-construct the east bound road..."

"Oh, really, Damian's coming back!" Cecilia couldn't control her glee, "Err I mean the Prince, the Royal Highness, That most esteemed fellow."

"It's time they did something about that road. The state of it is tragic," Ed's wife continued to be oblivious. The bystander back peddled away as fast as he could from the crazy nobles.

"Yes, tragic, indeed," Edward could not stop staring at his sister's trembling form.

As soon as they arrived home Delilah jumped off the carriage and ran off into the garden. Zartashia's two maids huddled around her with warm woollen blankets and took the mother and child inside.

"Edward, say something!" Cecilia poked her cousin as he watched the retreating back of his sister.

"I have no words left," Edward shook his head and hissed, "That was the Royal Highness, Prince Damian!"

"Yes, Of course, I've been leaving clues everywhere. Didn't the name catch your attention?"

"Ever since the Prince was born so many nobles have imitated that name to garner royal favour and I can hardly keep up with all of them. And you know I only went to the capital when I was thirteen. The Prince certainly didn't have his face mounted on every round about then," Edward got up to dismount but remained stationary on the carriage.

"Yes, Ed, I know of your powers of observation," Cecilia replied tartly.

"He- My sister-" Edward sat down again. The poor footman waiting next to the carriage was vexed by the peculiar behaviour, "I remember what happened three years ago and he rejected her so why now."

"Because he didn't know he rejected her. He just didn't want to get married. And the Queen loved her and now so does he and that's the complication I was talking about."

"I am a father to a little girl with two insane aunts," Edward sighed into his own hands.

_____________

"I promise," The man murmured in her ear like smooth honey and she suppressed a shudder, "I'll be back."

"No, you won't, Damian," Delilah put her head in her lap. She was hiding near the pond in her gardens not in the mood to get ready to attend another social event in the village.

All this time she had assumed she did not want to meet him again. She was sure he would cruel and curt and smash her heart with the heel of his boot. The guilt of judging him unfairly was incredibly suffocating but it wasn't until the day she saw the statute that she realized she wanted to see him too. Which made the whole situation worse.

She wanted to talk to him and for him to smile at her as he done before and make silly jokes that made her laugh at his absurdity. She wanted for things to go back to the way they were but she had ruined everything and the loss of his companionship hurt even more than when she had thought her heart had been broken three years ago. Her pain had been nothing in comparison to what she felt now. The realness of her mourning pricked her like a thousand thorns.

A finger poked her hunched figure and she looked up to find Zartashia smiling down at her.

"You are thinking about someone. I can sense that. And so do your other partners in crime," She nudged Delilah softly with her shoulder as she sat down next to her, "Your eyes are searching for someone. I do not understand why you look so fraught with worry. Love should take all your worries away not burden you further."

"I once thought love was meant to feel as light as a snow flake but instead it feels like a battle I am doomed to lose."

"Some battles are worth the effort," Zartashia smiled encouragingly, "Now, get ready. The Bonfire's tonight and the whole family will be departing soon. Your mother's getting worked up as it is."

The bonfire was lit high when they arrived and it was in its initial phases so people were standing away waiting for the orange flames to die down. The musicians had already begun and the girls were busy getting their dancing card filled by their male peers. The people were seated in semi circular chairs though a lot of the young villagers were sitting on the ground enjoying the local sherry being distributed.

They all looked up at the disturbance at the informal entrance to the grounds.

"Is that?" Cecilia stood on her toes to see the new arrivals. It seemed a lot of people had turned up but on close inspection they seemed to be soldiers surrounding another guest. The haze caused by the grand fire blocked her view.

And in he walked, back straight, hair fashionably tousled with his blue cape fluttering behind him. His piercing blue eyes surveyed the grounds where the bonfire was being held.

The silence that followed was broken by a collective gasp.

The circle of merchants and farmers closest to the Prince got down on their knees and like dominos each of the semi circles of men and women replicated the act. One by one each able bodied person hit the ground until only the Baron and his family were left on their feet. The nobility had no such protocol and enjoyed a more elevated standing.

Delilah clutched onto her cousin's hand in trepidation.

The family herald announced the Prince in a proud yet quivering voice. And the whole family bowed and curtsied almost in unison.

Delilah's eyes were fixed on the ground due to a mixture of shock and timidity. She didn't even need to look up to know he was looking at her. And she raised her gaze from the ground to meet his, feeling completely lost. His eyes revealed nothing.

"He came for you," Cecilia squirmed in her place.

"Hush!"

"No, I am not going to sit through this quietly. He is finally here. This stupid war can end and we shall be triumphant when true love wins," Cecilia cackled under her breath.

"What are you talking about?" What war?" Delilah was baffled enough to let her guard down.

"Oh, the one that you feel for him and him most certainly feels for you but you two fight it. A man does not return to the rescue for the woman who hurts him if he ceases to love her."

"Cecilia, No," Delilah hissed but she was ignored and Cecilia broke away from her to get to the Prince. She smiled vibrantly feeling genuine joy.

"A familiar face, finally," Damian whispered huskily with a returning grin equally as wide.

"But I know mine is the not the face you are searching for," Cecilia continued to beam at him.

"How did you guess?" Damian mock whispered.

"Please," Cecilia rolled her eyes just as her uncle moved forward to greet the guest.

"Lady Cecilia, thank you for your hospitality," The Prince nodded remembering his manners and the gaping townsfolk, "Baron Winsham I have heard much about the town from her. I count her a true friend and so is Lady Delilah."

"We met at the Ball and he was a delightful host," Cecilia added with an unrepentant smirk. Her mother was clutching her forehead in the background.

"And they met again when he saved their lives, Prince Damian," Edward nodded with approval as he trailed behind his father. He had informed his father as soon as he found out about the identity of the mysterious saviour.

"It is a great mark of respect that our dear town has been given the opportunity to host such esteemed company. You have our collective devotion and my own personal gratitude. What you did for our girls is not something any man could do."

"You are all kindness but it is the company I have obtained today that does me the honour," Damian spoke earnestly. His eyes wandered towards Delilah and then back to her father.

"We were about to conduct the festivities. It would be our pleasure if you could join us to watch the proceedings."

"Why just watch?" Damian grinned," Will you do me the honours Lady Delilah? I hope your dancing card isn't full. With your permission, of course, Lord Winsham."

"Ah, my lovely Delilah was the chaperone at your ball. I think she was free from asking for any permission a long time ago," Her father spoke proudly.

Damian nodded and then bowed in front of her, back bent, hair falling over his face and it was only when she heard the murmuring of the crowd that she realized what he had done. The man never bowed, not once in front of anyone other than his own parents. Even foreign royalty was beneath such gestures. And to bow in front of a minor Baron's daughter was not something she had ever expected him to do.

"You do not... need... such formality is hardly necessary," She blurted out.

"I have to know if the lady is willing." And at that moment she knew she could reject him. Cruelly and soundly, turn him away and gain back any honour she lost in front of her people. He was showing her enough vulnerability to make any rejections hurt tenfold. And in her heart she knew she couldn't turn him away. Ever.

"Yes," Delilah exhaled.

"That's more like it," He laughed masking his nervousness and took her closer to the flames of the bonfire. It was hot but the couple barely noticed, "Did you think I would leave you?"

"There are so many diverting girls all over the kingdom," Delilah answered faintly.

"There is no one I want. I did promise you I would come back," He pulled her closer not caring how everyone was still gaping at them.

"Why me?" she added after a long pause.

"I want to be with you. I do not know if I can live without you," He answered passionately.

"You still do not know me enough so your conviction at this stage is odd."

"You like candy floss, you love roots, and you abhor horses and dislike waking up late. As much as you like long walks the sun is not your friend, you would live in the library if you could and you were in love once with a man you did not know. Can I not persuade you fall in love with him again?" He cocked his head with hopefulness glinting in his eyes.

"Fine, you are one who wants the challenge. I know I cannot dissuade you," Delilah answered, relaxing into his embrace.

"No, you cannot," Damian replied tartly.

"So, confident of your chances," Her mouth formed a smile of its own accord.

"Have you not seen this beautiful face," He pointed towards himself prompting a gush of mirth from Delilah. She let out the loud laugh feeling like the burden of the last few weeks had disappeared.

"Does by any chance your mother look like you," The Prince asked abruptly looking over her shoulders, "Dark hair, pale eyes."

"Why?" She asked, confused.

"I think she just fainted."

"Oh, Lord," Delilah tried to turn away, "What?"

He took her hand and kissed it before she could run off, "I love you."

Now Delilah was torn between her mother and the Prince but he ushered her to a more private setting behind a tree. There was onlookers wandering about but the fierce blaze of the bonfire created a shadow of the tree where they stood.

"I- " The Lady cleared her throat. It was there on top of her tongue, the words she could feel beating in her heart. She was almost ready to let her bruised and beaten heart out from its shell when he placed a finger on her lips.

"I do not wish to hear anything from you. Not now, not so soon," The Prince whispered almost reverently as his eyes trailed all over her face, "I want to earn it all over again."

"Why not? Did you not wish for reciprocation? Is that not how it goes?" The Lady asked, meeting his eyes bashfully.

"I would not know since I've never uttered anything similar to anyone."

"Surely all those girls in the capital..." Delilah trailed off in confusion forgetting her embarrassment.

"Never," Damian replied with confident smile and his eyes bulged out, "What girls? What are you talking about?"

"But I have heard much about your lady admirers and flirtations," The Prince's companion pointed out.

"My mother would kill me if even one word of inappropriateness reached her ears. She would have locked me in the dungeon till I was fifty. We have enough bastards in our family, thank you very much."

Delilah tried to stifle it but she could not contain it much longer and let out a peal of laughter she would have reprimanded Cecilia for only a couple of days ago for. Damian tried to pout indignantly but soon joined in.

All the tension flew away from her shoulders and it was then she knew it was silly that Damian wanted to woo her all over again. Her heart was already his.