Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
ELENA
E lena adjusted her dangly emerald earring. “You remember the plan, right?” she called to Caroline who juggled a silver, bejeweled evening bag along with a simple leather wristlet.
“Yes. Go to the gala, put in your appearance, quick change in the ladies’ room there, flit to the concert, stay for a set, race back, change back to the evening wear, stay for a time, another change, back to the concert, then back to the gala, then finally, excuse yourself saying you are unwell, and to the concert of the remainder of the night. Have I got it?”
“Yes,” Elena said with a curt nod. “We can do this. I’ve selected an ensemble that will be easy to swap. Just one dress for another.”
“And the different shoes, different accessories, different wraps, and different handbags,” Caroline added.
“Must you make it sound so daunting, Caroline. I’m confident we can pull this off. ”
“That makes one of us,” Caroline said as she lifted the bag filled with the items for her quick changes.
“I would have declined this had Julian not been around. He’d tattle to Father, I know it.”
“If he hasn’t already,” her ladies’ maid said as she followed her from the bedroom through the living room and into the hall.
Elena lifted her skirts as she descended the stairs. “Hold your tongue.”
They slid into the waiting limousine. “I wish I could,” Caroline answered, “but it plagues me. Oh, dear, I do wish you would tell your young man.”
“Yes, I will. But…after this…event. I plan to tell him then.”
“Not before?” Caroline asked as the city’s lights blazed past them.
“No, not before. I…his mother was so kind. And I…I will tell him after the gala. Perhaps after the festivities, we’ll find a quiet spot, and I will admit everything.”
“I know you do not agree, but I think it’s for the best. Your father will demand you return home soon, and you’ll have to explain it then.”
“Not if I don’t go back,” Elena said wistfully as the car pulled to stop.
“Your Highness!” Caroline said as she climbed from the car behind Elena. “You said you were not abdicating!”
“I’m not. I’m…I don’t know. Never mind. I will tell him. I will settle the entire matter after the gala. Just let me have that.”
She climbed the red-carpeted stairs with her ladies’ maid in tow and entered the museum. With a nod at Caroline who slipped into the ladies’ room, she adjusted her wrap around her and made her way past other evening wear-clad guests to the Crown Jewels exhibit room .
Across the room, she spotted her cousin Julian speaking to the museum’s director.
“Oh, there is my dear cousin now. Elena, how fortunate you could make it on such short notice,” Julian said as he led the man toward them.
The museum director bowed his head at her. “Princess Elena, how lovely you could make it. We had no idea you were in town.”
“Quite unexpected, I assure you,” she said, clutching her handbag to ensure he did not reach for her hand though he seemed to understand that royals did not shake hands. “But I am so pleased to be able to attend.”
“We are so pleased to have you. Two royals at our event. How fortunate we are. Would you allow me to introduce you to some of our benefactors?”
“I would love it,” she answered with a gracious smile. It slid from her face as she eyed Julian while she strode away. The smirk on his sharp features twisted her stomach into a knot.
The director introduced her to several of the museum’s top contributors. She eyed the crowd, hoping not to find Nate’s parents among them, though they hadn’t mentioned the event.
She did not spot either of them, thankfully. After a few more minutes mingling, she excused herself and ducked into the bathroom off the main lobby.
Caroline waited in the outer room, settled on the couch there. She leapt from her seat and followed Elena into one of the large stalls.
“Quickly,” Elena said as she shimmied out of the dress.
Caroline tossed the other over her head and yanked it down around her body before she zipped it. “Necklace and earrings.”
Elena dumped them into Caroline’s hand before she slipped on a simple pair of hoops. She kicked off her shoes, and Caroline slid a pair of flats onto her feet.
“Handbag,” Elena said, “and wrap.”
Caroline shoved both of them toward her before wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. “Go.”
Elena tossed the simple wrap around her as she dangled the wristlet from her wrist and hurried across the bathroom. She peeked out the door, finding the coast clear.
In large strides, she crossed the lobby and flitted out the door, down the stairs, and raced the short distance to the park.
As she hurried up the aisle toward their seats, she tried to steady her breathing. She slid into the seat next to him, keeping her breaths shallow to cover her exertion.
“Hello,” she whispered.
He kissed her cheek and slid an arm around her. “Hi. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. Sorry to be late.” She sucked in a deep breath as her heart rate finally settled back to normal.
“You didn’t have to run. I survived, see?” He grinned at her.
“I see. I’m so glad. But I did hurry as I did not want to see you fall to pieces.” She covered with a grin.
He matched her expression, his eyes narrowing slightly. She shifted her attention to the stage, hoping nothing was amiss with her outfit.
She waited through almost the entire set before she glanced at her watch. She needed to move quickly back to the gala. “Excuse me for a moment, I’ll be right back.”
Before he could answer, she rose from her seat. As she twisted, she spotted the concerned expression settling on his face. She shot him a broad grin, hoping it covered whatever misgivings he had.
He nodded. “Okay. ”
She hurried down the grassy aisle. As she hit the sidewalk, she broke into a jog, setting a hard pace back to the museum. She raced up the stairs and slipped into the bathroom, grabbing a handful of paper towels from the dispenser to dry the beads of sweat on her brow.
“You’re a bit late,” Caroline chided as she unzipped her dress while Elena removed her earrings.
“Sorry, I lost track of time.” She slid the evening dress up around her and fastened her dangly emerald earrings as Caroline zipped the dress before fastening the necklace.
She stepped toward the door when she tripped over the hem.
“Shoes,” Caroline reminded.”
Elena lifted the skirt and kicked off her flats, then slipped into her heels. Caroline threw the wrap around her shoulders and swapped out her handbags.
With a deep breath, Elena slipped from the ladies’ room and made her way back to the event room.
After twenty minutes of hobnobbing with the people at the event, she slipped from the room back to the bathroom for another quick change. After switching her formal dress for her casual one and exchanging shoes, she hurried from the stall.
“Wait!” Caroline called. “Jewelry.”
“Oh,” Elena said, adding a curse under her breath as she ripped the earrings from her ears. Caroline unfastened the necklace and handed her the hoops. “I’ll fasten them as I go.”
She jetted from the bathroom, still sliding the silver hoops into her pierced ears. She made it halfway to the park when she glanced down at the bag she clutched in her hand. Another curse escaped her. She’d forgotten to switch her evening bag for her wristlet.
There was no time to switch it. She’d have to hope Nate didn’t notice. She continued to the park, plopping into her seat with a louder huff than she’d hoped. She tried to slow her breathing, but she gasped for air. “Terribly sorry, the line for the ladies’ is outrageous.”
She set her bag on her lap as she focused on the stage.
“It’s okay,” he said, “I’m sure you could hear them from there.”
“Oh, yes. They were quite good.” She hoped he agreed.
He nodded as he slipped an arm around her shoulders as they enjoyed the next set. She tapped her fingers on her thigh. She had two more changes to pull off, and she’d have done it.
The moment the music crescendoed, she leapt from her seat. “Intermission! I’ll grab us a snack. You wait here.”
He called after her, but she ignored him, hoping he didn’t follow. A quick glance behind her showed no one following. She could pull it off. Just two more swaps.
She raced back to the museum and pushed into the ladies’ room. “We forgot the handbag last time.”
“Oh no!” Caroline said with wide eyes.
“Nate didn’t say anything, so I’m hoping he didn’t notice.”
“Let’s hope not. Just a few more moments here and then you are back to your young man for the evening.”
“Yes,” she said with a grin as Caroline zipped up her dress. “We’ve nearly done it.”
She spun to face her ladies’ maid. “Check me. Correct jewelry, correct handbag, correct shoes, correct dress.”
“Yes, and the wrap,” Caroline said as she slid it around her shoulders. “And done. Go, go!”
Elena sucked in a breath and lifted her skirts to hurry back to the exhibit, after successfully changing her identity again.
She slipped into the room, grinding to a halt as her eyes went wide. Across the space, the Kingsleys shook hands with the museum director and her cousin .
As their familiar forms loomed across the crowded room, a cold wave of panic washed over her. Her heart raced, thoughts swirling like a tempest. In that split second, her carefully laid plan seemed to crumble before her eyes.
Her lips tugged back in a deep wince. “Oh, no.”
She backed from the room, crashing into a waitress carrying a tray of champagne. The tray clanged to the floor along with the flutes.
“Terribly sorry,” Elena said before she raced from the room as the attention turned toward the noise. She ran the length of the hall and pushed back into the bathroom.
“Your Highness! What is it?”
“The Kingsleys. Here. I cannot go back into the gala. I must change and leave. Please, could you make my excuses?”
“Absolutely,” Caroline said as she hurried to unzip Elena’s dress.
They made the quick change, and Caroline sent her on her way. “I will tell them you are ill and went back to the apartment.”
“Oh, have you money for a cab? I do not wish you to walk with all these things.”
“I do, go, Your Highness, I will be fine.”
Elena nodded, as she squeezed her ladies’ maid’s hand. “Thank you.”
She raced back to the park, passed the concession stand before she turned back and waited in the now-short line to purchase popcorn and two sodas. With the snacks clutched against her chest, she made her way back to their seats.
Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted Chloe and Stephen speaking with Nate. She approached them, holding a drink out toward him. “Everything okay?”
“No, it’s not,” Nate said with a shake of his head.
She swallowed hard. Had she been spotted at the gala? Had Stephen reported her?
Nate grabbed the drink off of her, his features set. Her heart pounded against her chest as she waited for an answer. “What is it?”
“You tell us,” Chloe said as she crossed her arms.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Elena said.
“Don’t you? See I just told Nate your secret. So you may as well ‘fess up, sweetheart. It’s all out in the open now.”
Elena’s forehead creased as she shot a questioning gaze to Nate.
He shook his head, his jaw clenching. “Chloe…in her infinite wisdom, has declared that you…are…cheating.”
Elena’s jaw dropped open. Chloe’s words were like a slap, her insinuations a twisting knife. But beneath the surface indignation, a deeper fear churned. Every word was a step closer to unmasking a truth she wasn’t ready to reveal. “What?”
“Don’t worry, babe,” Nate said as he slid an arm around her. “I know this is all just their ridiculous plan to upset us. But they’re not going to win.”
“Nate,” Chloe said, her features incredulous. “You have to admit she’s been disappearing for a reason.”
“I went to the ladies’ room, and then the concession stand–”
“No, Ellie, there’s no need to explain. Chloe just thinks because she’s a low-classed tramp that everyone is.”
“Hey,” Stephen said, poking a finger at his brother. “That’s out of line.”
“But true,” Nate answered.
Stephen’s fists tightened at his sides before he drew his arm back and smashed his brother in the jaw. Nate fell backward into the chairs, knocking several of them askew. Elena cried out as she stumbled back a step, her features registering her shock.
Before she could check to see if Nate was all right, he scrambled to his feet. With a growl, he threw himself headfirst at his brother, driving him back a few steps before they fell onto the ground.
“Oh, heavens,” Elena said as they wrestled around on the ground.
“You started this, you little hussy,” Chloe spat at her.
“Me?” Elena cried.
Chloe took a menacing step closer to her. Elena backed up, ready to defend herself, but unwilling to make a scene.
Several people pulled the two men off each other, separating them as they continued to argue.
“You can’t stand that she picked me. That she came back to me,” Stephen shouted as he struggled against the men holding him back.
“I could care less about her. You’ll find out what she is,” Nate retorted. “But I won’t stand for her accusing Ellie of anything.”
“If the shoe fits,” Stephen shot back.
“That’s enough, boys. Break it up,” a security guard said. “I’m going to ask you both to leave.”
“I shouldn’t have to leave, he should,” Nate answered. “He started it.”
The guard shook his head. “I don’t care who started it. I want you both gone.”
Nate yanked himself free from the men holding him and straightened his jacket. “Fine. Come on, Ellie.”
She nodded as he slid an arm around her shoulders and led her away from the concert.
“Are you all right?” she asked as they reached the sidewalk.
He rubbed his jaw as he nodded. “Yeah. Stephen can’t throw a good punch. I’m fine.” He slid his eyes sideways. “But I am sorry.”
“Sorry? I believe I should apologize. I’m afraid I’ve given Chloe some reason to make that vile accusation, but I hope you didn’t believe it.”
“I didn’t, Ellie, it’s okay. The only reason Chloe said that was to cut me. She’s a total…never mind. I didn’t believe it. What did you do, meet the guy in the bathroom for five minutes? It’s ridiculous.”
She smiled at him as she dumped the snacks in the trash on their way out of the park. “Well, I am sorry she ruined the evening for you.”
“And for you. I’m sorry.”
“Quite all right,” Elena answered. “We have an early morning, so perhaps it is a blessing in disguise.”
He pulled her closer to him. “I just…want to make sure you’re okay first.”
“I am not the one who was struck,” Elena told him as she rested her hands on his chest.
“I’m fine. And I don’t mean physically. I mean…” He shook his head. “I don’t want you to be upset with me over what happened.”
“Upset with you? Over your brother’s trouble? Why?”
“I…probably shouldn’t have gone after him. I just…feel like you want to get away from me because you’re disappointed.”
She offered him a sympathetic smile. “I’m not, though I do wish you did not let him goad you.”
Nate heaved a sigh. “Yeah, I’m working on that. But he threw the first punch. I just…defended your honor.”
“Oh, I see. Well, then I suppose I should thank you.”
“Yes, you should,” he said before he gave her a quick peck and a grin. “Now, can I drive you home?”
“Yes.” She slid her hand into his and they walked the short distance to GenoTech, climbed into his car, and he dropped her off in front of her apartment .
“Bright and early tomorrow, remember,” he said as she slid from the car.
“I know. I look forward to seeing you for breakfast and shopping with your mother and sister. See you then.”
With a wave, he drove off, and she made her way up to her apartment, collapsing on the couch once she was inside.
“I agree,” Caroline said, slumped on the cushion next to her.
“To top it off, Chloe accused me of cheating because of my absences tonight. And then Nathan and Stephen engaged in a fist fight.”
“Oh, no, really?” Caroline shook her head.
“Yes. I am going to bed. I want to put this day behind me and hope tomorrow is better.”
After changing, Elena climbed into bed, falling into a dreamless sleep that lasted until her alarm screamed at her the next morning.
With Caroline’s help, she hurried through her morning routine before she descended the stairs to the Kingsley’s waiting car.
After arriving at their home and being shown into the dining room, she greeted everyone with a cheery grin. The quiet room suggested perhaps they were not morning people.
Nate rose from his seat and kissed her cheek before he pushed her chair in as she sat. Their breakfast was delivered with minimal conversation.
Finally, Victoria spoke. “Ellie, we’re really looking forward to seeing you model some dresses today.”
“I am, too,” she said with a smile. “And I do hope I will be able to see yours and Maddie’s.”
“Yes, we’ll both be trying them on.”
“I hope you like mine,” Maddie said.
Elena grinned at her. “I’m certain I will.”
“I hope you don’t change your mind again like you did last year,” Charles said as he spread his paper out in front of him, rattling it.
Elena’s eyes went wide as she stared at the page facing her. Her heart pounded, and her pulse raced. Staring back at her from the society page was a picture of her with her cousin, Julian. The caption read Princess Elena Montclair and Prince Julian Montclair attend Crown Jewels Gala.
She swallowed hard. If any of them caught sight of that paper, her cover was blown.