Prince Friedrich of Prussia

the faint blush on the woman’s cheeks deepened at the kind words of the man she had collided with. gathering her composure, she replied, “thank you for your understanding. i’m quite alright, just a little startled. I should have been more attentive to my surroundings.”

❝it is alright, we all have done that. sometimes i find myself thinking of a book or a piece of music i just heard and then i met the wall, in a most inelegant fashion i might add❞ he laughed a little. ❝what has got your mind so preoccupied? if i might ask.❞

yours — a simple word, much like many others that she heard today but nobody had said it quite like friedrich. she had never felt so pulled to another individual before. she could not determine how or why she felt this way, only that she wanted to follow the feeling. wherever it may take her. “i am truly honoured.” she held his gaze, unable to keep herself from smiling. merely looking at him caused her to feel giddy. “shall we promenade?”

it was him, who should be honored. edwina was beautiful, charming, clever, everything someone would want in a wife, where as he, a prince, would be nothing without his title. no, edwina sharma would be remarkable no matter what her station. ❝i would be delighted to.❞ he thought about it ❝do you wish to take a carriage? or walk there. i have mine with me❞ he offered. he did not mind either way, simply spending any amount of time with her felt wonderful and exciting. dear god, was he blushing? he could not recall the last time he’d done so. 

the moment friedrich had looked down and had spoken , alexandra knew exactly where this was all heading . it would seem that miss edwina sharma had enchanted her older brother , resulting in the awed male before her . “ are you planning on rectifying the situation with miss edwina ? ” the princess enquired curiously as she placed the paper to the side , “ could she be a potential candidate for future wife ? i do not believe i have ever seen a young lady affect you so . ”

friedrich paused ❝i want to, after all, i do not like the fact i feel as if i lied to her. that is not who i am❞ he looked at his sister. ❝now that i do not know. i did enjoy her company, and dancing with her. i have never met a finer young lady...❞ but he paused ❝you know as well as i do, being who we are is complicated, and i do not want her to accept my courtship simply because she feels as if she should, or her mother pushes her, or anything else. i do not know where to begin❞          

“ you would see , i am fiercely protective over my sister . i essentially aided in raising her from a very young age . even though you are the queen’s nephew and a prince in your own right , i must treat you as any young suitor expressing interest in edwina , ” kate found that there was no point beating around the bush when it came to prince friedrich . the eldest sharma had watched the two of them exchanging words at the ball , she had known in that exact moment that there was something between the prince prince and her sister . she had made a promise to mary that she would ensure anyone who stated their affections for edwina was good enough for her . “ it is your decision , your highness . you can either accompany me and return her handkerchief in person or you can go about your day . ” his answer would tell kate everything she needed to know .

the way the elder sharma defended her sister, made him smile. he liked that she wasn’t going to let his status influence her opinion. it rarely ever happened. in fact, this was the first time, probably in his life where, where he was treated as any other person, by someone who knew who he was. there was something so exciting about it. ❝i respect that miss sharma. truly, i would not want to court your sister, if you did not approve. i have sisters of my own. i would hate to think, if something were to come from this, that i would marry someone my sisters did not like. i respect their opinions, as i am sure you respect your sisters, and she respects you.❞ she swallowed feeling awkward. ❝i do wish to speak to her, to return the handkerchief, and to apologize for misleading her.❞ he was not a deceitful man, and this was what he had to do. even if no one thought he should. ❝did you come in a carriage? or walk? i have mine here we can take, or i can follow you if you have one❞ 

her gaze darted around the room as she tried to make sense of the scene. it truly felt like she had stepped into a dream. it was all too perfect, and the prince was much too dreamy for this to be her reality. when her eyes returned to friedrich, her smile grew even wider. it was truly a relief to have indirect confirmation that he felt similarly to her. the magic she felt between them the night of the masquerade was real. it simply had to be. “you are incredibly kind, your highness,” she replied with a slight nod, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. the fact that he did not reveal his identity to her did not give her pause. she could only imagine the kind of strain a title would put on someone. in any case, edwina did not care for status in the same way most others of the ton did. she wanted love, true love. despite having only spoken to the gentleman for one night, she couldn’t help but feel like she was on the precipice of achieving that very desire. “and, you are as charming as ever. i hope that your road to me was not a treacherous one.”

friedrich was used to compliments, but most were just there to make him feel better. half the time, he knew they would not say such things if he were just a regular man. however, there was something about the way miss edwina said it, that he felt it, in his soul, that she meant every last letter. ❝i’ve come to return this❞ he held out her handkerchief. ❝and i wanted to apologize. i did not wish to mislead you, about who i am. i was enjoying the conversation far to much to say who i was. it is not an excuse, and i have felt horrible about it. please accept my apology.❞ she could just be nice to him because he was a prince, although, much like he knew her words were true, he knew that her actions were true as well. still, he needed to know she was not upset with his deception, and if he heard the words, he’d be able to believe them. if nothing else, he owed her an apology.      

“ guten morgen , bruder , ” the youngest hohenzollern mused from behind the paper currently in her arms . she had been pleasantly surprised to see her older brother mentioned within the societal papers ; alexandra never thought friedrich would be the type to bring about gossip . “ so how was your evening with miss edwina sharma ? it would seem that you failed to give her your name . but do not worry , lady whistledown has rectified that for you . ” glancing over the top of the paper , amusement gleaming in her dark hues .

friedrich looked down, embarrassed. how to explain his actions? if he could not find the words to tell his own sister, how could he tell miss edwina? ❝it was wonderful❞ which seemed silly, because between meeting, and dancing, it was a couple of hours. still..it had been wonderful. she was lovely, smart, warm, and just being near her felt right. ❝do not start, i did not mean to with hold who i was, but in all honesty, she did not ask my name, nor i did her.❞ he had enjoyed talking to someone who did not know he was a prince. now he feared keeping it from her, would ruin any chance of getting her better. 

she’d wandered off long ago, finding a bench hidden from the eyes of all, tucked between some flower bushes along the promenade and once there she had been able to breathe again, she hadn’t expected to be stumbled upon, after all, the debutantes and their gentleman counterparts were along the waters edge with their mama’s trailing behind and this time last season, she would of been one of them. ❝ your highness. ❞ she starts at his voice, immediately recognising the male, standing from the bench to greet him appropriately. ❝ there is nothing to forgive, i myself was doing just that. ❞

he smiled warmly ❝it seems i am not the only one who needed a break❞ he waved off her being so formal.  ❝are you avoding anyone? or are you just enjoying the fresh air? england is very rainy, and i must admit, i never expect to see sun while i am here❞ he laughed a little. it wasn’t as if prussia was a tropical climate, but england was an island, and there fore more rain. ❝however i must say, when england has a sunny day, it is very beautiful.❞ perhaps it was because no one expected it, and when the gloom of the rain was gone, any bit of sunshine was welcomed. ❝i am sorry i did not catch your name❞

kate was certain that the prussian prince was not well skilled at hiding his emotions from his face as it was evident to anyone looking at him that edwina’s name sparked joy and excitement in the younger male . “ are you stating that i should take your word for it ? ” the eldest sharma jested but kept her face in a stoic look as she watched the way friedrich basically squirmed under her questions . she knew she should have more manners due to his title but edwina was her pride and joy and she would make sure that the person she married deserved her . “ though , i am reluctant to admit that that is something my dear sister would do . always so thoughtful and gracious . ” a slight pull from the corner of her mouth was her reluctance to smile at the prince . “ i was heading back to lady danbury’s house where i was going to take edwina on a picnic in the gardens . perhaps you would like to accompany me back to the house . ” she may allow for him to see edwina but she most certainly was not allowing the prince alone with her . “ i will be watching the entire time . ” her warning clear .

this would be where friedrich would attempt a joke, but sadly he couldn’t. he could see the women’s love and protection of her sister, and he did not know her well enough to attempt a joke. he did not want to seem as if he did not take it seriously. ❝i would say yes, but as you do not know me, i would not be shocked f you questioned everything said. however i promise its the truth, and your sister can confirm it❞ he could tell she was not one for insecurity or lies. he figured honesty would be the best, not that he often lied. in fact not telling miss edwina his name, was the first time he withheld any information. ❝yes she is, very kind.❞ he smiled a little, more to himself. suddenly he panicked ❝um.. would she want to see him? i did not share who i was, and even if it wasn’t really a lie, i feel terrible for misleading her. i would not be shocked or offended if she was upset.❞ there was a small part of him, hoping that the elder sharma was inviting him because miss edwina wanted to see him.