“What do you mean gone? Gone where? Who gave the order for her to leave the palace?” In my head I wished I could take back the words. They were way out of proportion and would open the door to too many questions.

And the guilt, I felt such guilt that I even cared. But the confusion was real. My time at the cottage, the dreams of my fevered mind. Was it her, or had my mind conjured up my love?

And how is it that I could imagine her fear of the storm so vividly? Had the ...