Her passionate response was all that the Prince needed. Now with her willing consent, Ewan allowed his emotions to take control. Their kissing became deeper and more passionate until he stood up from the table and slipped his hands under her bottom so that he could lift her off of her feet. Ewan stepped to the bed, continuing to kiss her as he carried Victoria in his embrace the entire way.<br/><br/>Laying her down gently, he paused his affections long enough to whisper a few words in her ear as he began the process of slowly drawing up her nightgown.<br/><br/>“I knew seeing you would make all the difference. I suddenly feel content – speaking to you has calmed my mind once again. I will take your advice – tomorrow I will grieve my widow as I would have you, my love.”<br/><br/>Next, it took two both of them to remove Ewan’s formal garments, which were of significant complexity both in layers and numbers of buttons. The delay only heightened the sense of expectation the Prince was feeling in that moment. As they worked he continued to explain his revelation.<br/><br/>“It struck me just now that life does not differentiate – between sinners nor saints. My wife died from my actions and I feel no shame or guilt. Instead of a curse – this is a blessing. It means that I can remove anyone else who stands in the way of our happiness… of our destiny. Anyone.”<br/><br/>Panting from the sheer effort of undressing from the prone position, the Prince smiled down on the love of his life with an expression of liberation – from both his clothing as well as any notion of morality and ethics that chained lesser men to their lot in life. No, their fate was greater than anything God or man could possibly have in store for him. Together with this woman that he loved, he decided, anything would be possible for him. The world was theirs for the taking – and they would do just that.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: gray;background:gray;"/></div><br/><br/>Allena hid in the shadows with her heart beating out of her chest, both in expectation and out of nervousness. Needless to say that if she were caught in the courtyard in the middle of the night it would mean a thrashing for sure. Being an orphan servant girl made her particularly venerable to the disposition of the chefs and the older women who managed the kitchens. Be that as it may, there was no way she was going to miss a meeting with Alexander.<br/><br/>Not only was he handsome and kind, but he was also from a wealthy family. She was young enough to believe that love might somehow trump the class structure that required Alex marry a woman of his station. At least, she chose to believe it anyway.<br/><br/>And there he was – lost, roaming the courtyard. In a fit of playfulness she decided to sneak up behind him and tap him on the shoulder to see how he would respond. When he spun he would find her smiling mischievously in the near darkness, her long blond hair blowing slightly in the breeze. Her eyes shone in the moonlight with a gleam that was unmistakable; Allena was in love.