Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
ELENA
E lena stared at the message on her phone, a frown forming on her features. Her heart sank, a familiar weight pressing down on her shoulders. The freedom she’d tasted with Nathan felt a million miles away as she re-read her father’s words.
“You’ll get wrinkles from doing that, Your Highness,” Caroline said as she leaned against the door jamb.
“I will not,” Elena answered, pushing up to sit in her bed.
Caroline shuffled to the bed and eased onto the edge, grabbing Elena’s foot through the duvet. “And what is so concerning that it has given you such a sour expression this morning?”
“This.” Elena twisted the phone toward her.
“A message from your father?”
“Yes, read it.”
“I have. Why are you frowning at it? ”
Elena let the phone fall into the covers. “It sounds a bit ominous, doesn’t it?”
Caroline chuckled as she rose and wandered to the closet to select clothes for the day. “It sounds like your father, Your Highness.”
Elena shook her head at the yellow blouse Caroline held out. “It sounds like he has someone following me. Have you noticed anyone familiar-looking?”
“No, I haven’t. What about the teal and silver?”
“Mmm, all right. Paired with the black trousers please.” Elena tossed back the duvet and slid her feet into her slippers as her phone chimed. She rolled her eyes. “Oh, tell me that’s another from my dear father.”
She glanced at her phone, her expression changing as warmth filled her.
“With a smile like that, I dare say it isn’t.”
“It’s not,” Elena answered, her grin broadening as she typed a response. “It’s from Nathan.”
“Your young man?”
“He’s not my young man. Not yet, anyway.”
Caroline laid out jewelry to match the clothing as she arched an eyebrow. “Not yet? My, we do have ambitions.”
“Of course, we do,” Elena said as she rose and stretched before donning her robe. “I like him very much.”
“After just one date.”
“We had a connection,” Elena said over her shoulder as they strode to the small kitchen.
She twisted to find Caroline’s concerned face as she hesitated at the breakfast bar.
Elena wagged a finger at her. “Don’t give me that look.”
“I am merely concerned, dear. I do not wish to see you hurt in all of this. You’re diving headfirst into waters you’ve never swum before. Even the calmest seas can hide whirlpools.”
Elena plopped on a stool, propping her chin up in her palm. “It is not me who will end up hurt, Caroline, it’s poor Nathan once he finds out what a liar I am.”
Caroline scrambled a trio of eggs and poured the mix into a hot skillet. “What name did you give him?”
“Ellie Greenfield,” Ellie answered with a sigh, slumping over the counter as Caroline chuckled.
“Greenfield?”
“We were in a park. It was all I could think of.” Her phone chimed again, bringing another smile to her face as she answered.
“I see. And how was the first hot dog?” Caroline asked, setting a glass of orange juice in front of Elena.
“Not bad. A bit salty. I didn’t mind it. Tomorrow, we’re going for pizza.”
“Oh, heavens,” Caroline said with a laugh as she slid the eggs onto their plates, “he really is giving you the American tour, isn’t he?”
She settled onto the stool next to Elena with her breakfast.
“I don’t mind. I rather like it.”
Caroline tucked a lock of Elena’s hair behind her ear. “You like it…or you like him ?”
Elena slid her a sideways glance. “What do you think?”
Caroline sucked in a deep breath as she stabbed at a piece of egg. “I think you are falling for him already.”
Elena grinned at her ladies’ maid, twisting to face her as she dropped her fork. “Oh, Caroline, he is rather wonderful.”
“You’ve been on one date, darling.”
“I know. But…” Elena bit back a grin. “We just hit it off. Conversations are so easy with him. And…he kissed me.”
Caroline’s eyes went wide. “No! Your Highness!”
“I know, I know. A public display of affection. Not behavior befitting of a princess. So very taboo, yet so very exciting.”
A grin crossed Caroline’s face as she leaned closer to Elena. “Was it a good kiss?”
“It was,” Elena answered before they erupted in a cloud of giggles. “It was a very nice kiss. So nice, we did it twice.”
Caroline smiled at her before she stroked her hair again. “Oh, Your Highness, I know this is all very exciting. And I’m happy for you, but…please be careful.”
“With my father?”
“With your heart, dear,” Caroline answered as she squeezed her hands.
The comment erased away Elena’s wide grin, turning her gaze wistful. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have lied to him.”
“That’s not what I was meaning.” Caroline polished off the rest of her eggs and rose to clear away the dishes. “Do you wish to tell him?”
“No,” Elena answered without hesitation. “I do not. I prefer him to grow fond of me without knowing my station.”
“You worry it will color his decision.”
Elena stared into space, her features introspective. “Doesn’t it always?”
“Then you have your answer,” Caroline said as she leaned over the counter toward her charge. “Is he still sending you messages?”
The question brought the grin back to Elena’s face. “He is. He wants to know what impresses me.”
“Mmm, what an interesting question. And what have you told him?”
“Kindness, humor, and someone who is themselves.”
Caroline smiled at her. “What a perfect answer. Shall we get you dressed?”
Elena nodded as she hopped off the stool.
“And what is in the cards for today? Assuming you can stop looking at your phone?” Caroline asked as she brushed Elena’s hair.
“There is a painting class in the park. I’d like to go, and then I can send my father a picture to attest to my stellar behavior.”
“A very good plan, Your Highness.”
“Will you join me?”
“If you’d like, dear,” she answered as she finished with the ponytail.
“Yes, very much, I would. We can chat about boys.”
After pulling on her clothes, she and Caroline made their way to the painting class in Mariner’s Park. Warm memories of the night before floated through Elena as she strolled through the green space, appreciating the warmth of the late spring sun.
The park bloomed with vibrant hues of spring, a live canvas that contrasted with the stark white of hers. Elena dipped her brush into a swirl of blue and greens, attempting to capture the carousel’s whimsical motion, its lights a blur of colors.
As the light breeze tickled her skin, she swept her brush over the canvas, capturing the carousel in the distance that had provided so many smiles the night before.
“Yours is quite lovely,” Caroline said as they worked.
“Thank you. Although your work is much better than mine. It captures the fountain quite well.”
“Perhaps you should send mine to your father,” Caroline said with a giggle.
“He’d never believe that was my work,” Elena answered. “You are too fast, Elena, he always says. Take your time to really nurture the artwork.”
She flicked her gaze back to the carousel, trying to find some detail to bring her painting to life when she noted a familiar form. Her heart skipped a beat, and she sucked in a breath.
“Oh, it’s not that bad, Your Highness.”
“Shh, first, stop calling me that in public. I’m Ellie. And second, it’s not that. It’s Nathan.” Ellie lifted her chin as Nathan’s form stalked down the path, a bag dangling from his fingers. “Should I say hello?”
“Oh, uh–”
“I will,” Elena answered before Caroline could.
She rushed off toward him, her heart thudding against her ribs. “Nathan!”
He didn’t answer, continuing at a fast clip that caused her to almost jog after him. “Nathan!”
He stopped and spun. She offered him a fleeting grin that faded as she read something clouding his eyes.
“Ellie,” he said, surprise lacing his voice as it cracked a little.
“Hello,” she said with another tentative grin.
His features pinched for a moment, and he flicked his gaze away from her, his jaw tightening.
Her stomach twisted; he didn’t seem happy to see her. Had their first date only been a game?
When he snapped his gaze back to her, closing the distance between them, she shifted her weight, wondering why he seemed so tense. “I’m…”
“I’m really glad to see you.” His strained voice along with his pinched features made her wonder how true those words were.
“You don’t look it,” she answered, laying a hand on his arm as he stared at the cobblestones beneath his feet.
“I am…I’m having a really rough day.”
“Oh, no.” She offered him a consoling glance. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
“You’re doing it,” he answered as he offered her a sad smile. “That’s why I’m really glad to see you.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
He centered his blue eyes on her. “Is it okay if we don’t?”
“Of course. Whatever you’d like.”
He blew out a long breath, his jaw tightening again as he scrubbed his face. “Yeah, let’s…let’s not ruin our time together talking about something miserable. I’d much rather talk about happier things.”
She grinned at him. “Sure. Though you can tell me anything. But let’s talk about that last text you sent.”
The tension seemed to release in his shoulders as he glanced at her. “You mean about your surprise?”
“I do,” she said with a grin. “You’re rather a tease.”
“Oh, I’m a tease, am I?” Nate said, a chuckle escaping him. “Well, how is this for a tease?”
He dangled the bag in front of her. “This is your surprise.”
She reached for it, and he tugged it back playfully.
“Uh-uh,” he said with a wag of his finger, “this is for tomorrow.”
“You are a tease.” She playfully tapped his chest.
He cocked his head, all traces of his tension disappearing. “Ah, but I’m a very impressive tease.”
“Oh, you think so, do you?”
He lifted his chin, arching an eyebrow at her. “I do.”
“Well, I suppose we will find out tomorrow.”
“Yes, we will.” He grinned at her for a moment before he asked, “So, what are you doing here?”
“Painting class. I’m doing a terrible job at creating art.”
“I doubt that,” he said. “Show me?”
“Sure,” she said as she slid her arm through his and led him down the path. “Feeling any better?”
“I’m feeling…so much better. You must be magic. ”
“I assure you I am not. But I am ever so pleased you are feeling better.”
She led him to the group of painters, offering Caroline an expectant glance as they approached.
“This is mine.”
“Ellie,” he said before he flicked his gaze to her, “it’s fantastic.”
“It’s not, but thank you.”
“It is,” he insisted as he studied it.
“Really, my roommate, Caroline’s is much better. Let me introduce you.” Elena stepped back and motioned toward Caroline who extended her hand.
“Hello, lovely to meet you.”
“Caroline, this is Nathan Parker. Nathan, Caroline Winters.”
“Hi, Caroline. You’re British, too.”
“That’s right,” Elena said with a nod as Caroline flicked her a gaze to her painting. “That’s how I became her roommate. We came from the same town, and I knew she was here, so I asked if I could stay with her.”
“Oh, that’s nice. A little taste of home. Well, your painting is very good, too, Caroline.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ve enjoyed creating it.” She returned her brush to the canvas, filling in her last details.
“So, I never asked, how’s your day going?” Nate asked her.
“Quite well.”
“Really? What made it a good day?”
“Well,” she said as she flicked her gaze to the cloudless blue sky. “It’s a beautiful, spring day. The park is lovely. And there was a very clever gentleman has been texting me about a pizza date.”
The comment broadened his grin. “Very clever, huh?”
“Yes. He claims he’s bringing his A game.”
“He is,” Nate answered her. “Because he’s trying to impress you.”
She grinned at him, her eyes lingering on him as he returned her expression. “Well, I suppose I should be prepared to be impressed.”
“You should be. Your first slice of pizza isn’t going to be the only thing you’re going to love. Now, I really should get going before you try to drag any more information from me.”
She giggled at him. “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Oh, you’ll hear from me before then,” he said as he backed away with a wink.
“I look forward to it,” she called after him.
She twisted to find Caroline’s eye on her. “What?”
“What,” her ladies’ maid said with a chuckle and a shake of her head.
“Oh, come, Caroline. Isn’t he dashing and arrestingly handsome?”
Caroline’s laughter ramped up. “Oh, dear, you are smitten.”
“With good reason,” Elena insisted as she cleaned her brush and removed her painting from the easel.
“Well, the good news is, he seems equally smitten with you, dear. I thought your faces may crack from grinning at each other so much.”
“Very funny,” Elena said as they collected their things and left the course behind.
As they strode toward the park’s entrance, a man passed by them, bumping into Elena as she grinned at her ladies’ maid, comparing their paintings.
“Hey, watch it, lady,” he shouted at her.
She wrinkled her nose as she stared at him for a moment before he continued down the path. “How terribly rude. It’s those types that you have to watch out for, Caroline.”
“Indeed,” her ladies’ maid answered .
They made their way back to the apartment. A cold draft greeted them as they pushed inside the apartment, its door creaking ominously on its hinges. A sense of unease snaked down Elena’s spine as she stumbled forward, her feet hitting something as she stepped inside. Caroline’s brow furrowed as she stared at the floor.
She bent forward and retrieved a manila envelope.
Elena set her painting down as she studied it. “What is that?”
“I don’t know. It hasn’t any postage or address. Someone must have slipped it under the door.”
Elena snatched it from her hand and tore it open. Her eyes went wide as the contents spilled out. Her heart thudded faster as she stared at pictures of herself with Nate, their lips locked.
A handwritten note fluttered to the floor. Elena lifted it in shaky hands. Careful who you kiss, Princess. You could create an international incident.
Her jaw dropped open as she snapped her gaze to Caroline, her eyes clouding with anxiety and upset. “Dear heavens, Caroline. I think I’m being blackmailed.”
Elena’s hands trembled as she held the note, each word etching a line of ice down her spine. Her heart twisted in a knot as she stared at the pictures again. Who would do this?