A Prince for Aunt Hetty by Kimberly Truesdale

gaze rested: the children. She watched them, too, trying to see what he saw when he looked at them.
    But she knew so little of the man. He did not even want to tell her about how he had learned to make a cup of tea. And unlike most of the men she had ever met, he seemed very reluctant to share anything about himself. Hetty was used to society gentlemen sharing their most insignificant thoughts, counting on her to care about them. And she did make an effort, especially if she thought the man might be a suitor for one of her nieces. Most of those men she found utterly tedious. But Rupert Henderson intrigued her... she wanted to know what he was thinking and where he had come from.
    Her thoughts and questions calmed as she watched the simple joy of the children. Perhaps that was what he saw. Perhaps he saw the same thing that she did. No matter how little they knew of each other, perhaps they both saw the simple joy that a group of brothers and sisters was taking in the first snowfall of the new year. Perhaps they both saw the silliness of the dance they were doing as they tried to gather the tiny snowflakes on their tongues or the rejoicing when they caught one. Perhaps they both saw the way the older children helped the younger ones and the way all fighting was forgotten for a time while they concentrated on their simple task. Perhaps...
    Hetty realized that the pressure she had felt to speak was gone, replaced by a sense of peace within the silence. They were simply two people looking out over a scene of pure joy. As she had done before, Hetty drew in a deep breath of the cold air and let it out again. The awareness of Rupert by her side did not make her anxious now. He was there and she was there. Together.
    The peace was soon disturbed by young Harriet, who came running up to the door in breathless glee and begged the two adults to come play with them. Before Hetty could turn around, Rupert was at her side with her coat in his hands. She slipped her arms into it and buttoned up the front as she stepped outside. Rupert followed, still not speaking.
    For nearly an hour they all played, romping around the garden on quests set out by Rupert or running the hedge maze again. All the time, the snow continued to fall, coming down more and more as they played.
    Growing colder by the moment, Hetty called out, “Children, I think it's time we had something to eat and drink. Let's all go inside now.”
    “Yes, I do think it might be just about time for cake!” Rupert spoke excitedly. He had uttered the magic word. All of the children zoomed past them and headed into the house. Rupert drew up alongside of her as they walked across the garden.
    “I think you have won your way forever into their hearts,” Hetty said, looking up at their host. “They will never forget their afternoon at the castle.”
    Rupert looked at her in a way that made her blood rush faster through her body. For a moment, she felt disoriented and her limbs stopped working. She stumbled over a slick spot in the gathering snow. Hetty's arms flailed outward in an attempt to steady herself. She found Rupert's hand and grabbed tightly. He spun quickly to grab her elbow and keep her upright.
    Hetty stood where she was, startled by her near-fall and his rescue. She breathed heavily as the anxiety coursed through her body. For a moment, she focused only on finding her balance and steadying her breathing. But it hitched again when she discovered that he still held her. Then it was something else that coursed through her blood.
    “Are you all right, Hetty?” He asked quietly, much nearer than he should be.
    She dared not look up at him. “I believe so. I seem to have slipped on some ice. Silly me.” She gave a half-hearted laugh to diminish her embarrassment. She knew she wasn't fooling either of them.
    “Are you game to continue?”
    “Of course,” Hetty replied. She took a confident step forward and he followed. They walked toward the house, not speaking to each