The sun had run a lazy arc across the sky, the grass cool and soft beneath my hands as I leaned on the tree next to Andrew. He'd pointed out the villages in the distance, keenly familiar with each of them to the point he could describe each of their unique features. There was Castlerock, the nearest, that was known for their excellent smithy, followed by Harridon, perched atop a hill with a magnificent church spire visible even from such a distance. When I watched Andrew talk about them, I caught glimpses of the king he would become, one that was genuinely interested in his people and his country. "Are you really boring her by talking about villages?" Thomas demanded, collapsing on the picnic blanket some time later, exhausted from sparring with James. It had been clear that James was the superior swordsman, as he had barely broken a sweat while Thomas appeared to have run his paces. The other noble had taken a seat near Anne and Miss Claridge, exchanging some quiet words with the governess. "I find it fascinating," I said, cutting Andrew off before he could reply. Thomas made a face. "Well I find it dreadfully dull," he said, casting a disinterested glance towards the villages in the distance, "Why must we even care that Boughton has the world's best treacle tart? Bravo for them, it's a pudding," I tried to stifle my laugh, but I wasn't quite fast enough. Thomas shot me an appreciative sidelong grin while Andrew harrumphed. "I think it's admirable when a town takes pride in something," Andrew said, clearly annoyed by his brother, "For instance-" "Just wait, he's about to mention the Castlerock smiths again," Thomas stage whispered to me. Andrew cut himself off with an exasperated sigh. "I suppose there was at least some luck that I'm the one to inherit the crown," Andrew fired back. But his words clearly didn't have the desired effect, as Thomas' grin simply widened. "Luck indeed, for while you're worrying about local puddings and blacksmiths and the contents of the royal treasury, I'll be courting ladies and travelling the world," Thomas said, watching me as if he was waiting for me to laugh. But I didn't laugh this time, because the picture the younger prince had just painted of his brother's life seemed a dull one indeed. I shot a look at Andrew, who was still scowling, and decided that I needed to lighten the mood. "I wonder which of us could climb a tree fastest," I said, springing to my feet. Both the princes looked up at me in surprise, Princess Anne pausing in her reading. "We're not permitted to climb trees," she said, "It's unseemly," "I'd thought you'd heard about me," I teased, "Unseemly activities are my specialty," I'd already tested one of the lower hanging branches, reaching up to pull myself up and over it. Andrew was on his feet in an instant, hovering beneath where I was struggling to my feet on the thick tree limb. "Oh I like her very much," Thomas said, shooting Andrew a grin, "Dare to keep up, Andy?" The younger prince had seized another limb, swinging up with seemingly much less effort than it had taken me. I blamed the hindrance of my riding skirts as I reached up towards another branch, bracing my feet against the trunk as I climbed. "You'll break your necks!" Anne protested, her French book forgotten as she joined Andrew looking up between the branches at us. James and Miss Claridge looked on with barely veiled disapproval, but I'd already pegged them as being the spoilsports of the group. "Spoken like a true coward, Annie!" Thomas called. He had already scaled above me, leaning down to offer me a hand up. "Libby come down from there!" Andrew called back, clearly not willing to climb up after me. "Not until you come up after me!" I taunted, earning more laughter from Thomas. "Fine, I'll attempt to catch you when you fall to your death then!" Andrew called back. I laughed, looking down at him. "Ignore him, he's a ninny prince," Thomas said, reaching towards me in earnest now. I hesitated before taking his hand, allowing him to tug me up onto his limb. "Now tell me, however does a tree-climbing lass end up as a lady-in-waiting?" he asked, cocking his head as he swung his legs off the bough. The tree shook from his weight and I couldn't help but lean over to clutch the trunk. Thomas laughed, bouncing so the branch would shake even more, and I immediately regretted following the reckless royal so high into the tree. "Your Highness, I suggest you stop moving," Miss Claridge called, her voice sharply cutting across Thomas' laughter, "I am under instructions to bring you home alive and whole," Thomas simply rolled his eyes, curtailing his bouncing with a chuckle. He swung down to the limb below us and when I made to do the same, he held his hands out to stop me. "You're not coming down until you've answered my question," he said, blocking my way. "Because my cousin was desperate and I was her last resort," I said, "Now move over, troublemaker, or I'll scream until your ears break," "I very much enjoy my sense of hearing, thank you," Thomas said, scooting out of the way so I could precede him back down the tree, "Although I do believe I am the winner of your little contest, considering brother dearest remained on terra firma," "I do love it when you use big words, Tom," Andrew drawled, "It's a shame we all know you're not that intelligent," I had made it down to the last bough, judging how far it was from the ground when Andrew stepped in front of me. "I did say I'd catch you, didn't I?" he said, opening his arms. I hesitated again, my stomach turning a somersault at the thought of launching myself into Andrew's arms. "Ever the gentleman," Thomas said, landing on the bough next to me, "Come on Libby, there's only one way down. Either you jump or I'll push you," Choosing what I hoped was the lesser of two evils, I hopped myself down from the branch, Andrew's arms catching me midair before my feet could hit the ground. Our faces were inches from each other's as he set me down, my skin burning through my riding dress where'd he'd caught me around the waist. "Thank you," I mumbled, mortified that I was probably flushing crimson. "You three had best hurry up or we'll miss tea!" Anne called. I hadn't realized that I'd been clutching Andrew's arms until I looked over to where the princess, James, and Miss Claridge were already mounted. Thomas launched himself off the tree, taking off at a run towards the horses.