Chapter 64
WRAP-UP
DUNCAN
“So, what are your thoughts on the tour?”
I sat across from Cressida, still in the LA hotel room. We took stock of everything she filmed. It was the last hurrah. Truthfully, as much as I wanted it to end, I warmed up to the crew always being there and prayed they made me look good.
“I feel as though it was a whirlwind,” I answered. “I think I shall go home and sleep for several days.”
Hopefully with Eloise in my bed. And preferably, if she’s in my bed naked.
“It is always wild when you’re on the move,” Cressida agreed. “Do you think it went well?”
“I should ask you,” I said.
Eloise looked on disapprovingly. I heard her voice in my head. Don’t interview the interviewer. It never works.
“The press are invested.”
“I’m happy with it. If a success is measured in meeting people and learning about other places, I think I did a good job. I have many souvenirs to take home. I have too many stories to count.” I smiled. “It was good.”
“Do you think your mother will approve?”
“I think she will, yes. My time as King won’t be like hers as Queen. We aren’t the same people. Despite that, I think that’s fine. I can make it my own. I hope I’ve proven that much.”
“Do you think it is a little easier for you to open up now?”
“It’s easier to see the forest,” I admitted. “It’s easier to know that I can be myself and people won’t…”
My voice trailed.
Cressida pressed. “You can say it. Whatever you want, we’re here for it.”
I wasn’t sure I could. I looked to Eloise, who nodded encouragingly.
“Well, that people won’t like me. Because I am different. A wise woman told me that was inevitable, but that people will never get to know me if I don’t let them.”
I didn’t return my gaze to Ella, but knew that made her fight a smile. She’d never admit that the kind words helped.
“Is that wise woman your mother?”
“No. Mum is quite wise, Dad is wiser yet, but… no. She and I are, thankfully, not related.”
I could have kicked myself. It was bait.
“Ah… so is this the girl you refused to discuss before?” Cressida lit up.
“Yes,” I agreed.
“And is she in the room with us?”
Eloise ducked behind John. I wasn’t sure how to respond. I wasn’t about to out her like this.
“Can we go off the record?”
“You have final approval of the doc before we send it out,” Cressida assured. “You can say something here and force me to painstakingly edit it. And if you believe it to be true, it shouldn’t matter. Of course, if you—”
“I love Eloise Mills,” I said effusively.
Eloise poked out from behind John as I caught my breath. Her face, though confused, wasn’t angry.
“Your… social secretary?” Cressida confirmed.
“Yes,” I answered. “Probably frowned upon, but certainly my least worst mistake. And I’d dispute that as Eloise couldn’t possibly be a mistake. She’s beautiful and clever and driven. There isn’t a single person who can tell me she isn’t worthy of that declaration. And I will bet on it.”
“How so?” Cressida asked.
“I’m an idiot, but also a sap. And I do appreciate you, Cressida. So much so that I would hate for you to have to edit this out. And maybe the guilt will work on Eloise and she will decide to stay with me.”
“Duncan!” Eloise groaned.
I snickered. “If I cannot be sometimes embarrassing among friends, what is the point?”
Cressida turned, “Thoughts, Eloise.”
“No comment,” Eloise said.
“She loves me, too,” I said. “She’s just superior at keeping her mouth shut. She is the better public figure.”
“That’s an asset for a man who will soon be king, yes?”
Eloise ducked behind John.
“Yes,” I agreed. “The UK could only be so lucky, but none of them as lucky as me.”
“I suppose we will see soon enough when I put together the final cut,” Cressida said. “I think people will love seeing this side of you, though. Do you mind if I ask where this started?”
“In Wales,” I answered. “But I knew the minute I saw her I would fall like a sack of bricks. I blame my own inability to behave once more, but in this case, I think it’s the best choice I could have made. I am not sure I could say the same for Eloise.”
Cressida turned and the cameras settled on Eloise.
“He’s a menace,” Eloise said. “But he didn’t put me up to this. We’re consenting adults and care for one another very much.”
It was the most diplomatic answer she could have given. And it satisfied Cressida.
“I hope I’m breaking the news—and maybe I get to add on an addendum with an engagement announcement, but… I won’t get ahead of myself,” Cressida said.
I didn’t dispute that. In fact, the idea of asking Eloise to stay with me forever no longer frightened me. I loved this woman. I was curious about something.
“Can I ask you a question, Cress?”
“Sure,” Cressida said, confused.
“When did you know?”
“Day one,” Cressida answered too quickly. “You two spend too much time on inside jokes. She’s the only one who makes you smile the minute she comes into the room. I could make an hour of cuts of just your face changing when you saw her. It’s, quite frankly, obvious and quite adorable.”
I smiled, joy rising. That confirmed just how good Eloise made me feel.
“Yes. Well, it is hard to ignore her. As I said, the minute I saw her, I was intrigued. She really is the best person and she and John are the only reason I survived this trip. I owe them the world.”
John blushed now and Eloise remained hidden, sitting on a chair’s arm.
“Well, that was my list,” Cressida said. “I don’t have anything else. It was a pleasure to work with you, sir. I wish you—and Miss Mills—the absolute best.”
I stood and she followed.
I shook her hand, “I am grateful I did this. I hope people will enjoy watching me humiliate myself and see I really am just a buffoon.”
“People will fall in love with you. I promised,” Cressida said.
And with that, we parted ways. I returned to Eloise who slowly met me just on the edge of our make-do set. This time, I couldn’t help but kiss her. I wrapped her in my arms and soaked up every bit of her kiss, grateful to be here with her.
“You are so lovely,” I said. “And I am so, so fortunate to be yours, Eloise Mills.”
She blushed. “You shouldn’t do that here.”
“I literally just confessed my love on camera for you and that’s your big concern?”
She cringed. “I am so bad at my job.”
“You are lovely. You made me look like a winner.”
“Well, professional me feels as though I’ve failed you, but girlfriend me is very proud of myself.”
I kissed her forehead. “You should be. Now, I need to change. We should go get dinner, right John?”
I turned, finding him twiddling his thumbs and trying to give me space.
“Yes, sir?”
“Dinner,” I answered. “I think we should all change, relax, and eat—somewhere chill.”
“Yes,” John agreed. “Sure.”
Eloise and I stepped inside the bigger guest room. We began to unravel.
“Wear jeans. Dress down,” I sat on the bedside to take my shoes off.
“You have rarely seen me in jeans,” she said.
“Well, I love you in one of those little I-mean-business skirts of yours, but I also love your ass in jeans. Please?”
Eloise approached, climbing astride me on the bed unexpectedly. “Are you going to be a good boy and continue to behave all the way back home?”
“You are… not helping, my love,” I said.
She bit my lip, then asked, “I said, “are you going to be a good boy?”
“I don’t know if I can… not like this.”
Eloise took my face in her hand forcefully in a way that cut through me.
“I said—”
“Yes,” I promised.
“Yes what?” She asked.
“Yes, Mistress Mills,” I gasped.
She softened. “Good. I’ll let you worship me later, but I’m hungry.”
I smacked her ass. “Go on then, torture me.”
She giggled. “You are so easy to rattle.”
I continued changing into a pair of trousers and a short-sleeved shirt.
Eloise put on jeans and a blouse I fancied that gave a full view of her beautiful tits, “Did you mean what you said?”
“About what?” I asked. “About loving you? Yes, of course.”
“No, about… me… the suitability of me?”
“Yes,” I said. “Eloise, you’re perfect.”
“To you. But to people—”
“I have no doubt that if you had to take on that role you would with grace.”
“How?”
I neared Eloise, taking in her sweet face and hesitant expression.
I pulled her hips towards mine and held her. “That answer you gave was diplomatic. Dare say, exactly what you’d expect from a queen.”
She blushed. “Duncan you can’t possibly—”
“If I had to settle down for anyone, I’d do it for you. Eloise, I mean that. I am serious about you—about us. Can you just let me love you already?”
Eloise wrapped her arms around my neck. “I would love that. I’m a bit frightened, but I cannot imagine going it alone. We have about six months to get our story straight, though.”
“I don’t think it will take me six months to figure out this is what I want,” I promised.
Eloise shook her head. “You’re a hopeless romantic.”
“I am,” I sighed. “But I don’t know any other way. Now, shall we get something casual and get dessert via room service?”
“Sounds great,” Eloise said. “Be good, Duncan. Always be good.”
“Always, Mistress Mills. Always,” I promised.