Prince Thomas met him in the corridor, so that he wouldn’t have to search room by room again. They both entered the room the prince had been standing outside, and the prince took him over to the window. It must have been the window he had been watching from, and it had a good view of the part of the grounds Markus and Alexis had been in just minutes previously.

“Well, how did it go?” the Crown Prince asked cheerfully.

“I’m afraid I couldn’t convince him, your highness, and he wouldn’t state his reasons either.”

The prince sighed dramatically. “And I had so hoped he would be more reasonable. It did look as if he was listening to you. Ah well. I’ll let you into a secret. He hasn’t said anything to the King and Queen, but he did tell me a little of his reasons yesterday. It seems my mother was right: he does indeed love someone, and he doesn’t want to tell us who. Isn’t it a shame that he won’t confide in me, or even in you?”

“Ah… yes… Indeed it is.”

The prince gave a satisfied smile. “I’m afraid I wasn’t entirely honest. My brother hasn’t said a word more about it since I last spoke to you, except to refuse again. I do hope you’ll forgive me. But then, you haven’t exactly been honest either, have you? Your look of confusion just now proved that.”

“I do forgive you, and I beg of you to do the same. However, it was not my place to divulge Prince Alexis’ secrets.”

“Nor is it ‘your place’ to receive them, but it seems my brother trusts you more than any of us. He doesn’t get attached easily, you know. I don’t think a few meetings would be enough to capture his heart. Therefore, I tried to think about who he knows well, and my thoughts kept coming back to you. Servants, being servants, will tend to gossip, and they have often remarked how friendly the two of you are. Even with me, you soon forget the ‘your highness’s – which isn’t a complaint, merely an observation – so I thought little of it. But now I’m not so sure. Have you anything to say to this?”

“I’m not sure what you want me to say, your highness.”

“Is that so? In that case, I’ll ask you more bluntly. Are you the reason my brother refuses to marry?”

“I cannot account for someone else’s actions, your highness.”

“Then does he… no, perhaps that’s the wrong thing to ask. Do you… love Alexis?”

“I… Well, that is… Yes… I do. But that is irrelevant to-”

“It is perfectly relevant,” Prince Thomas cut in, sounding light-hearted, even a little excited. “You see, it is clear now that Alexis cares for you, but if you did not reciprocate his feelings then I would certainly not tolerate you. But as it is… I suppose I could put in a good word for you.”

Markus was taken aback. “You mean you’ll support us? You won’t banish me or something like that? But why?”

“A few generations ago, I wouldn’t have been allowed to marry Daisy, the woman I fell in love with, because she was a servant. But now, because my parents are kind, understanding people, I can spend my life with her. To be denied such a thing, simply because she isn’t ‘suitable’ for a prince, would make me more miserable than I can say. I don’t want my brother to suffer that kind of misery. Besides, I rather like you. You’re bold for a servant, and you don’t treat me or my brother like royalty, but like people. I think it’s admirable – although if all the palace staff were like you, we’d certainly have a hard time getting them to do their work. Now, what do you say you, me and Alexis work together to convince my parents?”

“To convince them of what, though?”

“To let you marry, of course! Don’t tell me you only wanted to ensure he wouldn’t have to marry someone else? Isn’t it better if you can be bound together properly, and not have to keep your love secret – as romantic as that may sound?”

Markus thought about this, and realised that he was right. “Yes,” he said with determination. “And if you help us, we may just manage it.”