She snagged a breath, parted her shrunken lips, took her frozen gaze off nothing in particular.

"Well, I—I say—yes, that respect is something I have … I generally have, in … in abundance although, right now, that… seeing as I don't, I'm very, verysorry, my lord, to have displeased you so soon and I would like if you would accept my most sincere and humble—"

"I'm not meaning you, Princess." Why was her betrothed's tunic bunched in a lump below his windpipe ...