The heat from the fireplace kept Victoria’s guest chamber as warm as any in the palace. Even so, the couple made love under a layer of fine linens, blanket and coverlet; all overlain with a large ornamented canopy attached to the featherbed. To Ewan, being with her in this place was nothing short of heaven on earth. The two of them were lucky if they were able to manage a few rendezvous in a year. This moment became even more special in light of the tragedy of the past week, which he slowly grew more and more oblivious to in her arms. Ewan found himself almost deliriously happy as their entwined bodies moved the mass of blankets rhythmically in the glow of the crackling fire.<br/><br/>Then there was the knock at the door. All movement under the blankets froze in place and Ewan held his breath. This wasn’t the first time they had been nearly caught, and he suspected Victoria would simply usher them away without un-bolting the door. Then, without a word of warning or explanation the door opened with a loud creak. Ewan closed his eyes in disbelief.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">She didn’t bolt the door,</span>the Prince thought to himself as he shook his head.<br/><br/>"Mother, I am sorry to-", the young female voice said. Without looking Ewan realized it had to be Katherine, Victoria’s 13-year old daughter. Ewan knew that the child was old enough to understand what was happening, especially in light of seeing two bodies under the covers and men’s clothes strewn around the chamber. He looked at Victoria in the half-light under the covers with a resigned expression and disengaged. As she spoke to her daughter Ewan rolled on his side to face the wall, hoping to hide his identity if at all possible.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">This is bad.</span><br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: gray;background:gray;"/></div><br/><br/>“And I you, my lord,” Allena replied in a whisper to Alexander. “Now please, you must try to be a little quieter!” she said, bringing her mouth to his ear. While she spoke she could feel the warmth from his cheek right next to hers, and the sensation became almost dizzying for the young maiden. She blushed but then instantly put herself in check by moving away. She continued to hold his hand, however, and began to drag him behind her. “This way!” she whispered as they went.<br/><br/>She lead him into a small grove of trees in the garden that took up one corner of the courtyard. It was very dark there and much less likely for them to be discovered at that late hour. She brought him to a bench and sat down beside him, gathering up her worn and somewhat threadbare skirts with her free hand so that they could sit close together. Her attentive eyes shined in the moonlight as she looked at him again with a warm smile. Her heart nearly beat itself out of her chest.<br/><br/>“My lord, I have treasured each and every letter you have sent me,” she said, squeezing his hand with hers. “Pray tell me again how much you love me, and how you want us to be together?” she asked with a playful expression of mock pleading. Allena had never been alone with a boy before and she wasn’t exactly sure what to say to him. All she knew was that this was exactly where she wanted to be, and she hoped against hope that he was as good and decent a person as he seemed in his letters.