Page 75 - RotalTutor

be where she could observe without being seen. She saw Alexander with Captain Matthew Johnson and his first officer Lieutenant Jason Richins of the Royal Guard, preparing for departure. They obviously were to escort Alexander to the military training camp. Louise liked Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Richins. They were both kind men and very loyal to her family. Though they were very professional, neither one was beyond stopping to visit with her. The cook came out with some food for the men that were leaving, and what Louise was sure was a bag of candy. Many members of the court were there. The people were visibly upset as the three men mounted. It was obvious how much they loved Alexander. Instead of making her hate him, as it would have before, she found that her heart grew tender. As the men reined their horses toward the gate she felt panic strike her heart. Where was the messenger from her father? What if he had changed his mind? What if he had seen right through her? It wasn’t as if everything she had said wasn’t true, because it was. She hoped she had successfully hidden her feelings for Alexander from her father. But her mother wasn’t fooled. What if her father hadn’t been fooled either? Surely, if they were really leaving, Duke Reginald, or at least Lady Margaret, would be there to bid farewell. But what if her father had forbidden them from being there. Maybe Alexander had thought it would be too hard to have them there. Her mind 73