Burning for Love (Kindred Tales)

At last she pulled away, panting, her lips feeling bruised and tender from the passion of the kiss.

“James,” she whispered, looking up at him. “I know it isn’t right but I can’t help it—I love you.”

“Oh, sweetheart…” He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “I…I have never experienced this emotion before, but I believe I love you too,” he murmured and kissed her again.

Rissa felt as though her heart might swell until it burst.

He loves me! He does have emotions and they are all for me!! a little voice sang joyfully in her head over and over.

And then someone behind her exclaimed,

“What is the meaning of this? Unhand the Princess at once!”

40

Gentle Reader,

Who could have predicted the mayhem and confusion of the past few days? Duke Grabbington—of whom this author has never been particularly fond—has been shot in a duel. Well—a sort of duel, anyway. It is rather hard to sort out the fact from the fiction and there appear to be many different accounts of the process—often contradictory to each other. At any rate, we know that the Duke is not dead, thanks to his own treacherous and cowardly behavior. But there is much to discuss in regards to the duel, its origins and its consequences.

Some say that the Duke attacked our dear Princess Ka’rissa and so her guard and Companion, Sir Robot, called him out for a duel. Others, however, maintain that it was Sir Robot who offended the Princess’s modesty and so the Duke called him out for it. Obviously both cannot be true, but it is difficult to know which account is accurate.

Another bone of contention is the duel itself. Some are saying that the Duke fired before the count of ten and shot Sir Robot in the back. But this author has also heard it said that Sir Robot only pretended to be deceased and then turned when Duke Grabbington was close enough and shot him right in the chest! Either way, it is a scandal of the highest magnitude which had the entire Court in an uproar! How can one be sure of anything nowadays?

At any rate, the bullet intended for Duke Grabbington apparently bounced off the chest shield His Grace was wearing and hit the hapless Lord Flobberton, who had agreed to serve as his second in the duel. Lord Flobberton survived, but has lost part of his left lung as a consequence and swears he will never see the Duke again—and who can blame him?

But then again, it seems that none of us is destined to see His Grace again. Duke Grabbington has apparently fled to The Second Court to avoid scandal here. To this news, this author can only say, “Good riddance to bad rubbish!” The Duke has never been a favorite of anyone at Court and now that he is gone, we may all breathe a collective sigh of relief.

But though Duke Grabbington is gone, the Steward is most seriously displeased with the whole business, which cast rather a shade upon our poor Princess Ka’rissa’s heretofore unsullied reputation. It is said that he has rescinded Sir Robot’s status as the Princess’s Constant Companion and given the spot back to the long-suffering Lady Mildew. Sir Robot is now only her guard, without access to her rooms or her Royal person and that, presumably, is how things will remain until she is married.

The Steward has yet to name a new suitor for our Princess—indeed, there is little interest in the post since the Princess turned the first two down and the third had fled in infamy. But it is expected that she must and will name the next man named to the post as her Royal Consort. Her Heat Cycle continues apace and her points have been seen giving off a tell-tale glow once more. She will have little choice but to accept the very next suitor who is proposes to her—unless she wishes to go up in flames, just like her dear, lamented Mama.

Continue to follow my Crumbs for more on these developing scandals!

Your humble servant,

Lady TittleTattle

Rissa was rereading the last issue of the Breadcrumbs for what felt like the tenth time when she noticed that droplets of moisture were wetting the printed page. Reaching up, she felt her cheeks and realized that the droplets were tears, pattering down on the parchment like rain.

She crumpled it up and tossed it away from her, wincing as she did so because the sudden motion caused her new Chastity Device to dig into her.

“Oh James,” she whispered, swiping at her face, which was as hot and miserable on the outside as she felt on the inside. “Oh, James—I miss you so!”

After the ill-fated duel and the forbidden kiss she had shared with the big Kindred, gossip had torn through the Court like an unchecked wildfire. And while most of it was detrimental to Duke Grabbington, enough of it cast Rissa herself in a questionable light that her Uncle, the Steward, was exceedingly displeased.