Epilogue
Gabriella
January 1871
The Prince’s Palace, Monaco
Gabriella said little on the journey back home. She had slept for most of the three days on the train back to New York, and had stayed in her cabin for most of the time on the ocean liner, headed back to the Port of Monaco.
At first, Manfred had posted guards outside her door on the train. But on the ship when she made no move to venture off unattended, he had seemed to relax a bit.
When she was feeling better, she and Manfred had taken long walks together on the deck, but he did most of the talking. She said very little.
Her Uncle Charles, Prince Charles of Monaco, had greeted her at the palace himself when she arrived, along with her cousin, Prince Albert I. She thought that her uncle might be angry with her at first. But to her amazement, he just wrapped his arms around her and hugged her for a long while, telling her that he was glad she was home and safe.
For the next few weeks, she said little. Even though she never complained, the spark had gone out of her. Gabriella had resigned herself to do her duty and had committed her days in Whiskey River and her time with Dirk to memory.
Gabriella walked alone through a corridor of the palace with high vaulted ceilings and arches, letting her thoughts travel back to Dirk and Whiskey River. Even though she was surrounded with gold, exquisite architecture, and fine antiques, she would trade it all for one more moment with Dirk. But she pushed the thought aside, knowing she would never see him again.
She sighed as she came to a stop in front of an arched window and looked out over the ocean, an ocean that would lead her to Dirk, if she followed it. But she had resigned herself to do her duty. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself as she watched the ocean waves lap against the shore, allowing herself this one moment to reminisce.
“Excuse me, Gabriella.”
She jumped when she realized who it was and then quickly bobbed a curtsy. “Excuse me, uncle. I didn’t hear you approach.” A small smile lit her lips.
A crease formed between his eyes. “Will you walk with me?”
Gabriella nodded. “Yes, of course.” He extended his arm, and she took it. When she noticed his concerned expression, her eyebrows pulled together. “What is it, uncle? Is something troubling you?”
He walked slowly with her by his side, obviously contemplating the question. “Yes, there is.”
Gabriella stopped. “What is it?” She bit her lower lip, and then continued. “If it’s because I ran away, I’m sorry to have caused you pain.”
He let out a deep breath and pulled her to a stop, taking both of her hands into his. “Do you regret it?”
She thought for a moment. “I regret causing you pain by running away, but I don’t regret the people I met.”
He nodded thoughtfully, tucked her hand into his arm, and resumed walking. “I spoke with Mr. Carlo and he told me of the people you met in Whiskey River and how they cared for you.”
Gabriella nodded, a smile lighting her lips. “Yes, they took good care of me.” She didn’t tell him that it was Dirk who had saved her life… upon more than one occasion.
“Gabriella, I can’t imagine the ordeal you’ve been through.” He pulled her to a stop and clasped her hands. “I’m just glad that you’re safe and that Manfred brought you back home safely to me.” He paused and resumed walking. “I’ve been thinking. Gabriella, you’re of marrying age and I hate to bring this up now, but I’ve arranged a marriage for you.”
Gabriella’s heart sank. She was prepared to do her duty, but she had no idea that it would be so soon.
He pulled her to a stop and raised an eyebrow. “Do you object?”
Gabriella’s eyes filled with concern as she shook her head. “No. I trust that you found a suitable husband for me.” She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I’m prepared to do what is best for the good of the monarchy.”
A crease formed between his eyes. “Even at the expense of your heart?”
Her head jerked up. “My heart is irrelevant. I now know that I must do what is best for my family… and for my country.”
He nodded. They came to a door, and he stopped to face her. “Gabriella, ever since your parents died and you came to live with me, I have thought of you as my own daughter. I couldn’t love you more if you were my own.”
She nodded as she forced a smile. “I love you, too, Uncle Charles. And thank you for taking me in and raising me.” She let out a deep breath as she smiled. “Don’t worry. This is the least I could do for you, for what you have done for me.”
Prince Charles III looked down at her. “I’m glad to hear you say that.” When he flung the door open, to her amazement, Dirk Price stood in the room.
“Dirk?” Gabriella asked, looking up at her uncle with wide eyes. “I… I don’t understand.”
Her uncle smiled. “Manfred Carlo told me everything and you have my blessing.”
Gabriella pulled her uncle in for a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Then she looked over at Dirk, who was waiting patiently, a broad smile spreading across his face as he moved toward her.
“Dirk!” she squealed as she ran toward him, meeting him in the middle of the room.
His lips descended upon hers as he placed his hand on the back of her head, pulling her into his arms. “I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered when he pulled back, holding her to his chest.
Her uncle cleared his throat behind them. When Gabriella looked over, he was smiling. “Mr. Price, don’t you have something you would like to ask my niece?”
Dirk arched an eyebrow.
Prince Charles III nodded. “With my blessing, of course.”
Dirk smiled as he got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. The diamond gleamed, but she only had eyes for the man kneeling before her. “Gabriella Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco, will you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?”
Gabriella looked into his eyes. “I’d be honored,” she replied, and then added, “I thought you’d never ask.”
He laughed, and then pulled her in for a hug as he pressed his lips to hers. As her lips moved with his, she knew that she had finally found a home of her own… with Dirk Price.
Dirk pulled back, smiling as he looked in her eyes. “You’re a princess, huh?”
She shrugged. “I’m afraid so.”
He smiled. “My Whiskey River princess.”
She laughed. “I’d just be happy to be called your wife.”
“Well then?” Prince Charles III interrupted. “What are we waiting for?”
“Now?” Gabriella asked in disbelief as she looked instinctively down at her dress.
Her uncle chuckled. “I have everything already arranged with the Catholic Church and Monsignor Jean Claude. By royal decree, you are to be married tonight.” Then he held her hands and looked in her eyes. “That is, if you wish.”
Gabriella nodded. “Yes, of course. Thank you, uncle. I will never forget this.”
He smiled. “I hope not! After all, you still own a palace here in Monaco where you can live—”
“Actually,” Gabriella cut him off. She looked over at Dirk and he nodded. “I’d like to move to Whiskey River with Dirk, if you don’t mind.”
Her uncle thought for a moment, tilting his head to the side. “Well, then you can use your palace to stay in when you visit, which I hope will be often. I intend to know my great nieces and great nephews. I can arrange for security to go with you back to America, if you like.”
Dirk shook his head. “I’ll keep her safe.”
Prince Charles III shook Dirk’s hand. “I know you will.”
Dirk chuckled as he picked Gabriella up and spun her around. “Then it’ll be official. You’ll be my Whiskey River princess.”
She laughed as he set her back down on her feet. “You’re not going to let this drop, are you?”
“Not on your life.” He smirked. “I’ll meet you at the church tonight.”
Later that night, she stood in the vestibule of the church of her birth beside her uncle, looking down the aisle. Dirk stood in front of Monsignor Jean Claude, dressed in a black suit coat and tails, a white shirt, and black ascot tie, as handsome as ever. Her cousin, Prince Albert I, stood beside him as witness. The monsignor smiled as he held the Bible, surrounded by her friends and family.
“Are you ready?” her uncle asked when it was time.
She nodded. “I’ve been ready for this for a long time.”
As her uncle led her down the aisle toward her new life with Dirk, she knew this moment, this man, and Whiskey River would be engraved on her heart forever. She was finally going home.