Chapter Forty-Four

                                    

                                          
"Are you scared, Princess?" Bertie asked with big blue eyes trained on Ayo, pacing the floor before her father's office. 
                          
Ayo stopped, clenching her fist at her side, "No, why do you ask?" 
                          
Bertie sat in the lavishly decorated hallway, wiping the sweat from her brow. King Tau's severe look always made her silly with fear. Yet, at the moment, she was afeard for her mistress. She loved the girl but the love-match with the St. John boy would see her destitute and likely disowned. 
                          
"King Tau is still madder than a wet hen because Jacqueline Morgan tried to kill ye. If I know anything of history, it is that terrible things happen to princes. Ye know he asked King William for Jacqueline's head? But, that old king could not give it. I can near guarantee ye it's because of her connections in some very high circles. But take heart, she'll trouble you no more. She's become the newest resident in Bedlam, under the kind supervision of her torturers." She gave a curt nodded feeling that some justice had been served. 
                          
Bertie's face was melancholy as she started again, "Oh, Lord St. John, the poor lamb. I hear he's poorly after being shot." Her sympathetic look quickly changed into something stern, "And If you go running away with 'im again I don't know what King Tau will do. Don't you go in there guns ablazing or King Tau will see us both on the streets." 
                          
With an annoyed sigh and slow eye roll, Ayo said, "I know." 
                          
"Ye catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, Princess. I hope you'll recall that."  
                          
The door opened and valet announced her inside. Tau sat at his desk, his face a stony mask. She knew he was angry still over what happened at the ball. But she knew his anger was just a mask for fear. Her father loved her despite his authoritative approach to parenting. 
                          
"Father," She came around the desk and squeezed her arms about his neck. He kissed her cheek. Then holding her hands in his he kissed them both in tandem. Deep circles were set around his eyes. His lips were dry and cracked. His face looked more gaunt and lean. Her father was neglecting himself because of her. A pang of guilt tugged at her. But if she gave up Elijah they would both be miserable. 
                          
"Father, you don't look well," She smoothed her hand over his cheek. 
                          
"Do not worry over me daughter. I am still capable of caring for myself. I called you in to tell you that I have set a date for your wedding to Remington." He said with a faint hopeful smile. 
                          
"Father, I can not marry, Remington," She said letting go of his hand. 
                          
"Whyever not?"Tau asked, already knowing the answer but wanted confirmation nonetheless.
                          
"I am already married to Elijah St. John, in every sense of the word," She raised the tenor of her voice and stood back. 
                          
"Yes, married. In a scandalously patched up ceremony that could have been written off as if it never existed. The matter was not handled at all as it should have been. There is a difference, Ayo, between being married and being bedmates," His steely countence betraying nothing he felt. The sting of his words reminded, Ayo, that sometimes his love felt like cruelty. 
                          
Tears threaten to spill, but Ayo blinked them back. A prince would never be pushed to his breaking point. Nor would he allow himself to be handled the manner she was and she wouldn't have it either.
                          
"I shall not marry, Remington, Father, and there is no one on the Goddess' earth who can force me to do so," She stated in a calm but firm voice. She spunned on her heeled foot and made quick steps towards the door. She stopped suddenly and marched back to the desk to face her father. 
                          
"I have been through things that would have broken most people. I love and respect you father but I am no longer a child. I refuse to be bought and sold twice in my life. Hence forth, I will decide where I go and I will decide what I do." She held his eyes in her own.
                          
Tau's lips pressed into a thin line seething with rage, "You surpass yourself, Ayo."
                          
"I have yet to begin, Father." She stamped out the his private office, shouting for Bertie at the top of her lungs. 
                          
Returned to her rooms under armed guard, Ayo began to formulate a plan. She turned to Bertie as she helped her disrobe, "Bertie, I need you to hire a hack. We are going to Elijah and Charlotte's townhouse. We will need to bring a chest."
                          
Ill-at-ease, Bertie began, "Princess, the King will have me killed if I help you."
                          
Ayo cleeked Bertie's hands between her own, "Then, Bertie, you are my friend first and my servant, not his."
                          
Bertie nodded quietly and solemnly, "But, the soldiers, Princess."
                          
The corners of her lips turning up into a churlish grin, Ayo said, "You can leave them to me."
                          
A loud banging on the front door roused the residents of the townhouse from their beds. The staff jumped to attention from respite, meeting Elijah, Charlotte and Thomas, in the hall before the front door. When the butler threw open the doors, a half drenched, Ayo, stood shivering in the rain. 

                          
"Ayo," Elijah said in alarm, before racing forward and pulling her into the hall, directly to his arms. 
                          
"Elijah, I thought you were poorly," She stepped away from him to avoid soaking him. She looked him over as Bertie followed gingerly behind.
                          
"I've been on the mend since the day before. I am much improved. It was but a flesh wound nothing for your to be worried over, particularly at this time of night." He placed Ayo's hand in his own. Bertie skirted passed them in the crowded hallway.
                          
"Evening Lords and Ladies." She announced removing her wet coat, "Apologies for the lateness of the hour, but according to the Princess, it could not wait," Bertie's accusing eye fell on her. 
                          
"Never you mind, Bertie, we know her haugtiness well enough," Charlotte pulled Ayo into a brief hug. 
                          
"Yes, Bertie, please see yourself warmed by the fire. Will you have refreshment? Everyone please to the parlor," Thomas offered, after greeting Ayo. 
                          
"Wouldn't mind at all, Milord." She made her way ahead with Charlotte and Thomas, leaving Ayo and Elijah time to converse alone.
                          
Elijah glanced side to side, ensuring no eyes would witness his next move. He pulled Ayo flush against him and pressed a steamy kiss to her lips. She moaned in response. He was hard almost immediately.
                          
"I don't know why you've come but I'll be damned if I let you go again." He whispered huskily against her ear. His hands wandered boldly over her curves. 
                          
"I came, Elijah, to ask you to be my lawfully wedded husband," Elijah pulled his lips from her neck and she gave a conspiring grin. 
                          
"You mean we are for Scottland?"He asked excitedly
                          
"I'm afraid we no other choice."