"Look at me, my love." she whispered.
Her caressing hand pulled him to the present. He sent his eyes to hers.
"I cannot live in the constant fear of our loss, and of what we seemingly cannot have," She said quietly.
Alexander exhaled, then he kissed her knuckles carefully. "Why is this journey so important to you?"
When he kissed eyes, one after the other, her cheeks coloured.
He smiled, slowly, knowingly. The realisation pleased him more than it should have, and he made no effort to deny himself the satisfaction.
He still affected her.
"It is not," she admitted. "But I was accorded an invitation. It would be wrong to set aside their regard for mine again. This is nearly my third year as queen and I ought to heed them. I believe now is as good a time as any." She paused. "Lady Carlisle has never once declined their invite, or any if memory serves me well."
"Ah," he murmured. There was a greater second reason. She insisted for the additional reason to see her sister.
