"Is she really a governess?" I asked Anne, riding next to her while Miss Claridge rode behind. We drew stares as we crossed Highcastle, three women riding astride through the city. I didn't much care, especially since the alternative was a wailing serenade in the queen's salon.

"Among other things," the princess replied as we rode through Highcastle's North Gate, "In this case, she's our chaperone. Now come along, we're already running late as it is,"

Once we'd crossed the drawbridge, she kicked her horse into a gallop, Miss Claridge passing me as hers did the same. I urged my own mare into a gallop and followed the princess as she thundered across the open field. The wind tore my hair from the bun Rosanna had scraped it into that morning and I savored the feel of it whipping around my face.

The princess disappeared into the trees, slowing her pace as she followed a narrow deer track partially hidden behind a massive conifer. I came up behind Miss Claridge, leaning out of my saddle to see where we were going. I saw nothing before us but forest, so I settled back in my seat and relaxed, enjoying the birdsong and sunlight dappling the forest floor around us.

"It's about time!"

The voice carried through the woods just as the trees started to thin out, the princess slowing her horse even more as we emerged into a clearing. I nearly fell out of the saddle when I set eyes on the trio waiting for us.

"Calm down Thomas," Anne sighed, halting her horse in front of her brother's, "You should have seen the torture Mother had planned for us. I only lasted through one song before we made our escape,"

"One song? How bad could it have been?" Prince Andrew asked, approaching on his horse with James Amberly behind him, "Good morning, Libby,"

"Good morning your Hi-" I started, but he cocked an eyebrow.

"...Andrew" I finished, while Prince Thomas ran an interested eye over me.

"Let's get on then, if we're in such a big rush," the princess said, steering her horse between me and the men. Her grey mare trotted off through the clearing to another deer track, Miss Claridge close on her heels.

"How many words did old Bessie utter this morning?" Prince Thomas asked me, sidling his horse up next to mine, "She's never that verbose, especially with newcomers,"

"Bessie?" I asked, as Andrew's horse stamped the ground, dancing in front of my mare.

"Anne's chaperone. Or body guard more like. She's used to disappearing on her own, so our parents insisted she have someone accompany her whenever she leaves the palace,"

"She hasn't said a word," I replied thoughtfully, realizing that the chaperone and I hadn't exchanged a single one.

"We'd best get on if we want to get there for luncheon," James called from across the clearing, where he was hovering near the deer track.

"Race?" Thomas asked, his glittering eyes finding his brother's. The two of them exchanged a smirk and Andrew wheeled his horse around.

"Get ready Libby, for Thomas is a dreadfully sore loser and-" Andrew started, only for Thomas to take off towards James before he could finish his sentence. Andrew swore with a laugh, spurring his horse on. I followed, the shock of somehow being invited to accompany the royal siblings on a ride finally washing over me.

The track through the forest was short this time, emerging into a rolling green field dotted with sheep. Thomas was thundering across it, his horse sailing across the farm fence with ease. He'd overtaken James, who was also now galloping. Anne and Miss Claridge appeared as they crested a hill in the distance, moving so quickly they must have been galloping as well.

"You'll have to jump it!" Andrew shouted, as he looked over at me when I finally caught up with him. I did nothing but smile in anticipation, leaning down in the saddle as the fence approached. The brown mare didn't hesitate, sailing over it as Andrew's dark stallion did the same. His laugh was whipped away on the breeze as I turned to look at him, grinning like a giddy schoolgirl. The wind was tearing at my hair again but I didn't care a whit because for the first time in years, I was finally having so much fun my cheeks were sore from smiling. Andrew was grinning at me in turn, urging his horse forward. Not one to back down from the competition, I spurred mine on as well, racing him over the hilltop.

We stampeded down the other side, cresting another fence at the top of the next hill. Andrew pulled ahead of me as we crested the next hill, pulling his horse around to stop mine.

"This is my favorite view in the kingdom," he said, looking out over the landscape. Before us, the hill trundled down to a cliff which dropped off onto yet more rolling hills and dense forests, smoke rising from the chimneys of hamlets and villages that dotted the hills before us. I pulled my mare up next to him, mindful to keep my jaw from dropping as I surveyed the sweeping vista. I pushed my hair out of my face as the wind whipped it around.

"This is so much better than an opera singer," I said. Andrew laughed.

"Let's go sit, James and I brought a picnic," he said, watching me with a smile as he gestured for me to accompany him down the hill towards where Anne, Miss Claridge, James, and Thomas had already dismounted.

"Silly fellow, I thought we were racing!" Thomas teased as we approached. Andrew rolled his eyes, sliding easily off his horse to help me down off mine. I could feel the warmth of his hands despite his riding gloves, his hands lingering on my waist once he'd handed me down.

"Please let's eat," Princess Anne was saying, as Miss Claridge helped her spread out a picnic blanket beneath a tree with a view out over the clifftop vista.

"You don't have to ask me twice," Andrew said, unpacking a few saddlebags of food from James' horse.

We all took a seat on the blanket, Prince Andrew sitting down next to where I'd perched myself on a corner. James was helping Anne unpack the food while Miss Claridge ensured the horses weren't about to run off anywhere. Prince Thomas stretched himself out on Andrew's other side, reaching for a handful of grapes before Anne could manage to completely unwrap them.

"Tell me, Libby, how is it that none of the other debutantes ever eat a proper breakfast?" Thomas asked, stuffing grapes into his mouth. I laughed aloud despite myself.

"Because they're all extremely proper ladies, it wouldn't do to stuff one's face in front of royalty," I said. Thomas responded by stuffing his face full of grapes while Anne gave him an almighty shove, telling him to save some for her.

"Honestly, you'll need to learn some manners before you join the Season," the princess huffed, taking a dainty bite of her cucumber sandwich.

"Thomas won't need manners, he's charming enough that the ladies won't notice him slurp his soup," Andrew joked, ruffling Thomas' hair. The younger prince yelped, scooting out of the way with a scowl. Andrew laughed anew, reaching over to offer me a paper-wrapped sandwich. I accepted it with a smile, still too spellbound by the view before us.

"You're just worried I'll be competition," Thomas joked, chucking a grape at Andrew, "Libby, you'll be around for my inaugural Season next year, won't you?"

"It's not really her decision now is it," Anne quipped, seizing the grapes from her brother, "It's up to Ella Canterbury's family and everyone knows Ella's sister's next in line,"

"I'm sure they could make an exception," Thomas said, shooting me a devious half-grin. I couldn't help but grin in return until I noticed Andrew watching me. I stifled my grin by taking a large bite from the sandwich.

"Shouldn't you be fencing?" Anne snapped at Thomas, leaning over to poke James who was engrossed in conversation with Miss Claridge, "James, go teach Thomas to fence. He's pestering Libby,"

"I was not!" Thomas protested, as James excused himself from his conversation.

"Gentlemen don't pester ladies," James said, bracing himself on Thomas' shoulder as he rose, "And I do believe I was under strict orders from your father to run you through your training in exchange for allowing you to join us,"

"Isn't it wonderful when you aren't of age yet?" Andrew teased with a grin as he leaned a little closer to me as he taunted his brother. Thomas scowled as he followed James back towards the horses, the two of them stripping off their riding jackets so they were in shirtsleeves and breeches. James tossed a practice saber to Thomas as they swung their arms out in a warm up.

"Which reminds me, Princess," Miss Claridge said, taking advantage of the sudden silence, "We have to practice your French,"

"French," Anne said, making a face as Miss Claridge pulled a book from one of the saddlebags. Anne accepted it grudgingly, moving to sit next to her governess as she read aloud from a book of French poetry.

"And then there were two," Andrew said, sighing as he leaned back onto the tree trunk and stretched out next to me, "I'm very glad Anne sneaked you away,"

"As am I, otherwise I'm fairly certain I'd have lost some hearing by now. And it's such a lovely day out for a ride," I said, resisting the temptation to stretch out as well. Instead, I kept my legs folded beneath me as demure young ladies were supposed to.

"How come I haven't seen you at any grand gatherings?" Andrew asked, reaching over to grab a napkin full of shortbread biscuits and offering me one. I gratefully accepted, savoring the buttery sweetness as it melted on my tongue.

"I fear I've fallen out of Ella's favor," I said once I'd chewed and swallowed, "That biscuit was marvellous!"

"Yes, they're the cook's specialty," Andrew said, offering me another which I obviously didn't refuse, "And how have you managed to fall out of Ella's favour after all the attention I've given her?"

"It seems she finds me more useful and less troublesome if I'm tasked with fetching her dresses and setting her hair rather than attending to her at balls and outings," I replied.

"So she's demoted you to a ladies' maid. How fortunate that you already have the proper uniform," Andrew joked. I leaned over to elbow him without even realizing what I was doing. I jerked my arm back as if burned, horrified that I'd just elbowed a royal as if he was my brother. But Andrew was laughing, massaging the place I'd hit him.

"I'm sorry, I-" I started, feeling the heat creep into my face. Of all the things to do to someone who'd snuck me out of the palace for a sunny picnic. And a prince no less! To hide my embarrassment, I turned my attention to where James and Thomas were sparring, parrying back and forth across the grassy meadow.

"Don't be, I deserved it," Andrew laughed, "But as your punishment I'm confiscating these shortbreads,"

"Please, just one last one!" I said, reaching over to grab at them where he was holding them away from me.

"Sorry, but it's by royal decree that biscuits are henceforth for princes only," he said, popping one into his mouth. I made a face at him, crossing my arms. He laughed through his mouthful.

"I suppose I should stop your cousin's special treatment then," Andrew mused, once he'd relented and allowed me another biscuit.

"Oh please don't, then she'll really and truly send me home," I said, "Besides, you've been favoring her for awhile now, surely it can't all be because of the favor I'd asked you?"

"I was under the impression you were holding out on that dance you owed me just so I would keep favoring your cousin," Andrew said, grinning sidelong at me. I shook my head with an exasperated sigh.

"It's not as if I enjoy spending my evenings in a library while everyone else is out dancing and enjoying themselves," I grumbled.

"I was hoping you were the one poring through the little library's books," Andrew said, "You did see my note, yes?"

"Of course," I replied, smiling inwardly that he'd intentionally left me a note, "How did you manage to sneak it in?"

"I have a confession," he said, "I didn't. I've discovered that the second I set foot in the debutantes' wing, I'm liable to be accosted at every turn. I'd tried looking for you there on Monday, but Emmie cornered me in the entrance hall before I could make a proper escape. She was so quick about it, it was almost as if she was tracking me!"

"You're the crown prince, of course they're tracking you!" I laughed, a foreign, dizzy little feeling spinning in the pit of my stomach when he'd admitted to looking for me.

"Needless to say, I asked a butler to leave the note for me. It seems that ever since I pulled Mary aside, the other girls are all itching for a moment alone," he admitted.

"Then I'll ask another favor of you," I said, finally succumbing to the urge and leaning back against the tree next to Andrew. He looked down at me, a smile tugging the corners of his lips.

"Name it," he said.

"Don't you dare entertain anyone else in my library," I said, tilting my chin up in mock haughtiness.

"Your library, is it now?" he laughed.

"Yes it is," I said, still mockingly aloof, "And I'll not have you barging in to interrupt my evenings,"

"When you put it that way, I wouldn't dream of it," he chucked, "Consider it done, except for one tiny little catch,"

"Oh?" I asked, looking up at him again.

"Now you'll owe me two dances," he said, shooting me a sidelong grin. I fought to keep from elbowing him again, instead choosing to cross my arms.

"If I must!" I sighed dramatically, rolling my eyes heavenward. He laughed, knitting his hands behind his head.

"I know I'm repeating myself, but I'm very glad Anne brought you today," he said.

"As am I," I replied. I couldn't tear my eyes from his green ones as we smiled at each other, that same fuzzy feeling swirling around my stomach again.