Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
ELENA
E lena’s lips tugged into a deep frown as she wrinkled her nose, staring ahead at the scene unfolding. Her fingers curled into fists as her muscles stiffened.
“Your Highness,” Caroline whispered as she wrapped a hand around Elena’s arm. “We should leave.”
“No,” Elena growled through clenched teeth. “I will not leave.”
“But Your Highness–”
“No! Nathan could be in danger.”
“I don’t think Prince Julian is going to do anything untoward to him. He’s toying with him. We know that. But I do not believe he would harm him.”
Elena’s eyebrows knitted as her features pinched. “He could ruin everything.”
“I know, darling,” Caroline said as she slid a lock of hair behind Elena’s ear. “I know he could, but there is nothing we can do unless you plan to tell Mr. Kingsley the truth. ”
She blew out a breath as she continued to stare at the two men speaking at the table. “Can you read lips?”
“No, I cannot. And neither can you. Come along, let’s go back to the apartment, all right?”
Elena shook her head. “No. I want to speak with Julian after he’s finished with his game.”
“Oh, dear, that’s toying with fire.”
Elena shot her ladies’ maid a glare. “ He is the one toying with fire, Caroline.”
Caroline sucked in a breath as she eased her grip on Elena’s arm. Elena shifted her weight from foot to foot as the two men conversed. Frustration bubbled inside her as she fought the urge to storm straight to the table and put Julian in his place. But it would ruin everything. She did not want Nate to find out this way.
Finally, Julian rose, buttoning his jacket.
Elena’s heart thudded harder. “Let’s go before we’re caught.”
Caroline bobbed her head. “Yes.”
They hurried away from the restaurant, waiting around the corner.
Ellie gnawed her lower lip as she waited to see Julian. “I hope he comes this way.”
“This is the route to his hotel.”
“Yes, but what if–” Julian’s appearance interrupted her words. “There he goes.”
“Yes.”
“Come along, Caroline. We need to have a discussion with my lovely cousin.”
“I cannot wait,” she answered as she hurried alongside her charge.
Elena stormed after her cousin, careful to keep a distance so they did not have their encounter in public.
The man strode down the sidewalk at a casual pace .
Elena grimaced at his attitude. “I cannot wait to confront him. Look at him so smarmy.”
Caroline nodded as she puffed for breath. “Yes, he does seem rather pleased with himself.”
“He won’t be for long,” she answered as the hotel came into sight.
Julian disappeared into the lobby, and Elena entered as he pressed the button for the elevator.
“You watch the floor, I’ll start up the stairs. Text me when the elevator stops,” Elena said to her ladies’ maid.
“But–”
Elena didn’t stop as she headed for the stairway and pushed into it, starting up the stairs. Fueled by anger, she pounded up the steps until her phone chimed. She pulled it from her bag and checked.
Caroline’s message beamed from the screen, along with one from Nate. She checked Caroline’s first. Top floor .
“Of course,” Elena murmured with a sigh before she pushed herself to continue her climb.
She hurried up the next few levels, arriving on the top floor of the hotel in time to see a door clicking closed at the end of the hall. She narrowed her eyes at it. “That must be him,” she whispered to herself.
She tapped her virtual keyboard as she stormed toward the door. Got him. I’m heading to his room now.
The phone chimed before she reached his room. Wait for me!
She shoved the phone in her bag, pausing at the elevator bank as she watched the floor indicators. One lift approached the top level. As she waited, she typed a quick reply to Nate. I am not. How did the meeting go?
The doors whooshed open a second later, and Caroline spilled out. She hurried to join Elena before they continued down the hall.
“He’s in the suite at the end. Of course.” Elena pounded her way down the hall toward it and banged against the door. “Julian! Open this door.”
The door opened a moment later, and she faced his valet. His eyes widened before he bowed. “Your Highness.”
Elena pushed past him into the hotel suite. “Where is he?”
“Prince Julian cannot be disturbed at present, Your Highness.”
Elena twisted to face him, her eyes narrowed and her features stony. “Where?”
The man swallowed hard as he clasped his hands in front of him. “Please, Your Highness, I–
“I will handle it from here, Geoffrey,” Julian said as he stepped into the living room.
The man offered him a bow before he strode from the room.
Elena shot her cousin a fiery glare.
He stared back with a smirk. “Elena, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”
“You know exactly why I am here,” she shot back through clenched teeth.
He crossed to his wet bar and poured a drink before he waved the decanter at her.
She gave her head a slow shake.
He took a slow sip of the brandy, his eyes focused on her. After he swallowed, he raised his eyebrows. “I’m sorry, but I’ve given it thought and cannot come up with a reason.”
Elena poked the corner of her clutch at him. “You met with Nathan today.”
His brows furrowed. “Nathan. Nathan. Hmm. I don’t recall any Nathans.”
Heat rose in her cheeks as she fumed at him. “Nathan Kingsley. You met with him not twenty minutes ago. Don’t play games with me, Julian. ”
“Oh, yes. Mr. Kingsley. Of course. The man from GenoTech.”
“The man who I have been seeing, and you know it. How dare you speak to him, Julian?” she shouted.
He raised his eyebrows. “How dare I? That’s an interesting statement. Is there some reason I should not speak with your beau?”
“Leave Nathan Kingsley alone, Julian. I’m warning you. If you continue to meddle, you will regret it.”
“Will I? I doubt it. I think the only one who will regret anything will be you, dear Elena.”
Elena’s jaw clenched, her nostrils flaring. “Abandon this, Julian. Or you will be sorry.”
She spun on a heel and stormed to the door.
“Is that a threat, darling cousin?” he called as she stepped into the hall with Caroline.
She slammed the door shut behind her, her fingers tightening into fists again. “He is something else.”
“He does leave something to be desired, Your Highness,” Caroline said they reached the elevators.
Elena poked at the call button until a set of doors slid open. She stormed inside the lift and smacked her hand into the button for the lobby. “He must be stopped.”
“Perhaps–”
Elena wagged a finger at her. “Don’t say honesty. I will be honest when the time is appropriate.”
“Of course, Your Highness. Until then, we shall navigate the precarious situation with Prince Julian as best we can.”
Elena’s shoulders slumped as she flicked a gaze at Caroline. “Thank you, dear Caroline. You always know what to say.”
“And do,” Caroline answered. “Let’s go home, and I will make a hot chocolate to soothe you.”
“I would love that. We will watch one of those silly movies where the couple falls in love in record time.”
“Sounds like a lovely plan for the evening,” Caroline said as the doors slid open.
As the golden hue of the late afternoon sun enveloped them, Elena’s hand hesitated over her phone, her heart a tempest of anticipation and dread. When she finally dared to glance at the screen, Nate’s message, a solitary “Weird,” seemed to echo her own turmoil, amplifying the suspense that now coiled within her.
“Oh, excuse me, I must call Nathan.”
Caroline nodded as Elena pressed the phone to her ear.
“Hey, Ellie,” Nate’s voice sounded a moment later.
She launched into her questions without even a hello. “What do you mean weird? What happened?”
He laughed at her inquiry. “You’re not even going to say hello? You must really be looking for a scoop on this guy.”
She winced as she corrected her faux pas. “No, I just…I’m sorry, darling. Hello. Now, what was weird about the meeting?”
He laughed again. “I’ll tell you, but you can’t use any of it in your article.”
“Of course not. I’m just interested for your sake.”
“That’s sweet. Well, he has the prospectus. Most people ask questions about that, but he was more interested in my family. In you.”
“Me?” she cried, anger filling her again. “What about me?”
“He wanted to know how the family business would continue. Would I settle down soon…I told him I’d met a lovely woman. He asked a few things. Just polite conversation. But he did mention wanting to meet you.”
I’ll bet he did , she thought. Her jaw hurt as she clenched it, gritting her teeth.
“Ellie? You still there? ”
She forced her mind back to the conversation. “I am, yes. Well, I do hope he invests, but even if he doesn’t, perhaps that’s for the best.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
They arrived at their apartment building and pushed inside. “Well, you know, you said the meeting was weird. Royals are…awkward, perhaps. Maybe high maintenance. Perhaps, it’s better to work with those used to your industry.”
“I see your point. Hey, I’m about to head home. Text you when I get there?”
“I’m looking forward to it. Safe travels, darling.” Caroline opened the door and waved for Elena to enter.
“Love you, Ellie. Talk soon.”
“Love you, too.” With a sigh, she tossed the phone to the side as she collapsed onto the couch to peruse the movies as Caroline whipped up a batch of her homemade hot chocolate.
Caroline delivered their sweet treat shortly after she’d selected a movie. “So, we’ve said the L-word, have we?”
“Don’t judge,” Elena answered as she scooped a gob of whipped cream from the top of her hot chocolate.
“I am not. I’m just…surprised, is all.”
Elena settled back in the cushions, eyeing the dark liquid steaming from her mug. “I am not. I have fallen quite deeply for him.”
She fidgeted in her seat. “Which makes tomorrow all the harder.”
“You’re nervous about spending time with his family?”
She sucked in a deep breath. “Yes. Silly, isn’t it? I’m quite used to these types of things.”
“Princess Elena is excellent with them, but you will not be Princess Elena tomorrow. And I believe that is the problem, isn’t it? You must impress them with your own personality, not your crown.”
Her features settled into a pout as she nodded.
Caroline set down her mug and rubbed Elena’s shoulder. “Oh, my darling, you will be wonderful. And they will love you. And if they do not love you, then they are simply not worth your time.”
Elena sighed. “Oh, how I wish it was that easy.”
“It is, darling. I, personally think they’ll love you, though. You are a very special girl.”
She puckered her lips as she shot her ladies’ maid a sideways glance. “I do hope so because I like him ever so much.”
Caroline stroked her hair with a consoling smile. “It will all work out the way it is supposed to, my dear.”
They finished the movie before they retired for the evening. Elena tossed and turned as she contemplated the upcoming meeting with Nate’s family. It mattered now more than ever. If they didn’t like her…
She shook her head, flopping onto her side. No, they would like her. They had to. She desperately wanted them to.
When she finally fell asleep, dreams of Julian bursting into the dinner to reveal her identity haunted her.
When morning arrived, she snuggled under the covers to watch the sun until it rose high into the sky.
A knock sounded at her door at mid-morning. “Your Highness?”
“Yes,” she answered, tossing the covers back.
Caroline poked her head into the room. “Are you ill?”
Elena shook her head as she rose. “No, just being a bit lazy. The truth I’m counting the hours until my outing today. I do hope they enjoy the gifts.”
“I’m certain they will. Now, let’s make certain you’re happy with your choices for your outfits.”
They spent the rest of the morning thinking and rethinking outfits for the day and enjoying a cup of tea before a knock finally sounded at the door .
Caroline pulled it open, finding the Kingsley’s driver waiting on the other side.
“Have fun,” her ladies’ maid said with a kiss to her cheek. “I will be awaiting news.”
Elena squeezed her hand before she adjusted her bag over her shoulder and stepped from the apartment. She chewed her lower lip, drumming her fingers against the leather seat as the driver whisked her to the Kingsley’s sprawling property on the outskirts of Sterling City.
Victoria met her at the front door as the driver opened her door, already clad in swimwear and a cover-up. “Hello, Ellie,” she said with a smile. “I’m so glad you could join us. Would you like to change into a swimsuit?”
“That would be lovely, yes,” Elena said. “Thank you so much for having me.”
“I’ll show you where, Ellie,” Maddie said as she bounced down the stairs.
“Oh, thank you,” Elena answered as Maddie threaded her arm through Elena’s and led her upstairs.
“You can leave your stuff in here while we’re at the pool,” Maddie said as she showed Elena into a room with an en-suite bathroom.
Elena dug her swimwear from her bag and hurried into the bathroom. “That’s fine. I just have to get a few things from my bag first.”
“Of course. So, what color polish are you going for? I’m going to do something fun like blue or green.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’ll be as daring,” Elena called as she threw the coverup over her swimsuit and slid into her sandals. As a royal, she was quite used to wearing tame shades. In fact, she wasn’t permitted to wear anything else.
She stepped out of the bathroom and shuffled to her bag.
“Oh, I love your suit. It’s so…chic.”
“Thank you,” Elena said as she pulled two gift bags from within her bag. “Now, I am ready.”
“And who are those for?” Maddie asked as she led Elena to the pool.
As they stepped into the bright sunshine, finding several nail stations near the chaise lounges, Elena grinned at her. “This one is for you. And this one is for you, Mrs. Kingsley,” Elena said as she passed the woman the bag. “As a thank you for the invitation.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Victoria said as Elena slid onto a chaise. “But thank you. How thoughtful.”
“I hope you’ll both enjoy them.”
Maddie pulled her gift from the bag, her eyes lighting. “Oh, Ellie! A charm bracelet. I love it.”
“And it has a teacup to remind you of our time at the fair.”
“Yes,” Maddie said as she clasped it around her wrist. “I love it. Thank you.”
“It’s beautiful,” Victoria said as she pulled her gift out. “As are these teas. I cannot wait to try them.”
“I’ve written a note about each. I’m a bit of a tea connoisseur.”
“Are you?” Victoria said as the nail techs descended on them to buff and polish their nails. “Well, I look forward to becoming one, too, with your gift.”
Elena settled back in her chair as the technician filed her nails. “I hope you enjoy them.”
Victoria chose a deep red nail polish, a shadow that seems to mirror the depth of the afternoon’s intimacy. She twisted to face Elena, her gaze gentle yet interested. “So, Ellie, you said you’re from a small town?”
She was swept by a mix of warmth and unease, reminders of the world she had left behind and the fabrications she now lived swirling through her mind. She selected a pale pink nail polish. “Yes, quite small. Very close-knit. ”
“This must be quite a change for you, then,” Victoria said.
Elena nodded, her smile tinged with a hint of melancholy. “Yes, quite different, but not unwelcome. I’ve been embraced by warmth and kindness here, especially from Nathan and all of you. It helps make the vastness of change seem much more like home.”
Victoria smiled at her. “Nate’s very fond of you, too. I’m so glad. I know he’s told you about his past.”
“Yes, he has. What a terrible thing.”
“Don’t worry, Ellie,” Maddie said as her technician painted the sparkly blue nail polish on her fingernails, “we don’t think that about you. You are way different from Chloe.”
Ellie leaned forward to smile at the girl. “I’m glad. If I may be so bold as to say, I did not care for her during our brief encounter.”
“Oh, I hadn’t realized you’d met her,” Victoria said.
“I have. We were at the museum and ran into her.”
“Well, as uncomfortable as that must have been for Nate and you, I’m sort of glad it happened. I hope she felt at least a twinge of jealousy.” Victoria frowned before she sipped her iced tea. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound uncharitable.”
“Quite all right. You are a mother. Mothers do not wish to see their children harmed. I understand. Especially with the lovely family you’ve raised.”
“Aw, thank you, Ellie, I appreciate that. I’m so pleased you think so.”
“How many kids do you want to have Ellie?” Maddie asked.
Her mother guffawed before she clicked her tongue. “Maddie! That is an inappropriate question.”
“It’s all right,” Elena answered with a chuckle. “I’m not certain. I always imagined two, but nothing is set in stone. Of course, my husband’s opinion would matter, too. No matter how many, I’ve always dreamed of a family that feels as close and loving as this afternoon does.”
“Nate would be good with two,” Maddie said.
“Madeleine!” Victoria said with an incredulous grin. “I’m sorry.”
“Quite all right, Mrs. Kingsley,” Elena said with a laugh.
The conversation turned to more general topics such as travel and weather before their session wrapped up.
In the quiet moments as the laughter faded and conversations quieted, Elena found herself gazing at the pool’s reflective surface. The pool, a mirror to the sky, seemed to hold her conflicted reflection–a woman caught between two worlds. One of royalty and duty, and another of love and simplicity. Can I truly have both?
As Elena lounged near the pool, listening to a story about Maddie’s first excursion in London, her phone rang. “Oh, terribly sorry. Would you excuse me?”
“Of course, dear,” Victoria said. “You can step inside for some privacy.”
“Thank you.” Elena plastered a grin on her features as she hurried out of the sun and into the house. Her heart thudded as she stared down at the caller. Her father.
Her knees wobbled as she wondered if her cousin had told him about her relationship. Would she make it to her planned dinner or was her world about to come crashing down?