Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
ELENA
E lena’s heart rate slowly returned to normal as she sat in the back of the chauffeured vehicle with Nate’s mother and sister. She kept her gaze fixed on the buildings passing them by, hoping to avoid any conversation about her odd behavior at the breakfast table. Though her heart rate had slowed, her mind continued to race. Every laugh and shared glance now felt like a betrayal.
The weight of her secret pressed down upon her. Would revealing her true identity shatter the connections she’d built? The fear of losing Nate, the first person to see her for who she truly was beyond the crown, gnawed at her.
It had been all she could do to get that paper away from Nate’s father. She did not want to take the chance that her identity was outed by a newspaper picture.
She had promised to tell Nate after the gala tomorrow night, but until then, she needed her royal blood to remain secret .
“There’s no need to be nervous,” Victoria said, her voice soft, “I’m certain we’ll find you the perfect dress.”
Elena pulled her eyes away from the passing scenery and offered the woman a polite smile. She had to explain her behavior some way to them, otherwise, they may wonder if she’d lost her mind. “Oh, I must admit, I am a bit…concerned.”
“Aw, don’t be, Ellie,” Maddie answered. “They’ll have something that’ll be perfect for you, I know it.”
“Thank you. I’m afraid my…nerves caused me to…overreact to the typo.”
Victoria offered her a sweet smile. “It was a little extreme, though…don’t worry, Charles is quite used to dealing with female anxiety.”
“I hope he doesn’t judge me too harshly. I’m normally quite…calm.”
“It’s okay, Ellie,” Maddie said. “Daddy is really used to it. Last year, I insisted on a pink dress and two weeks before the gala, I changed my mind and wanted silver. And they were able to accommodate me, so that’s how I know you’ll find a dress.”
“Thank you, Maddie,” Elena said with a smile. “That makes me feel so much better.”
The car eased to a stop outside of the boutique, and they climbed to the sidewalk and entered the shop.
A chic brunette approached them with a grin. “Mrs. Kingsley, Ms. Kingsley, good morning. We have your dresses ready, and I think you’ll be pleased. And I understand that we have a new dress to search for?”
Her eyes fell on Elena, sliding up and down her form, assessing it for style suggestions.
“Yes,” Victoria said, placing an arm around Elena’s shoulders. “My son’s girlfriend, Ellie. I know it’s a time crunch but I’m certain you can help her find something lovely. ”
“I’m certain we can.” The woman narrowed her eyes as she studied her again. “I’m thinking something with an A-line.”
“Oh, I do quite well in those,” Elena said with a nod before she flicked a worried gaze at her companions. “Er, that’s to say, I’ve always imagined I would when I see them in the magazines.”
“Well, let’s get to it, shall we?”
The woman whisked toward the fitting room as another associate delivered refreshments to Victoria and Maddie.
“Now, don’t worry, dear,” the woman said, “we’ll find you the right dress. Let’s start with a few of these that I’ve already pulled, and I’ll grab several more now that I’ve seen you.”
“Thank you,” Elena answered as another woman flitted into the room to assist her with fastening the dresses.
The original associate returned with an armload more of dresses as Elena stepped from the dressing room. “Oh, the first option. Lovely, but I’m not loving it.”
“No?” Elena asked as she stared at the understated black gown with an empire waist.
“The dark color’s nice on you, but I don’t like it,” Maddie said with a wrinkled nose.
After a sip of her mimosa, Victoria said, “Try another.”
She went through another three dresses without loving any of them. Victoria and Maddie agreed, and she went back into the fitting room.
She’d not had much experience with retail shopping before. She found it quite odd. Most of her dresses were custom made for events. And she trusted Caroline’s judgement implicitly when it came to her fittings.
She suddenly felt lost and alone. Playing two roles was taking its toll on her. She couldn’t wait for the gala. She hoped to find the courage to tell him who she really was so the charade could end.
After another three dresses, they’d come no closer to picking one.
Victoria rose as she studied Elena’s reflection in the mirror, cradling the half-finished mimosa against her chest. “This one is nice, but it’s just not it. Don’t get me wrong, Ellie, the navy is lovely on you, but I just don’t love the dress.”
“What’s off?” the associate asked.
Victoria heaved a sigh as she narrowed her eyes. “Too sparkly. Ellie’s style is a bit more understated, I think. Do you disagree, Ellie?”
“I don’t disagree. The sequins are a bit…much,” Elena answered. She puckered her lips at her reflection, relieved that the woman had voiced what she had been thinking. She had been reluctant to mention the dress’s more garish feature.
She almost laughed when she considered her parents’ reaction if they’d spotted her wearing this. Royals didn’t wear this many sequins.
The woman rubbed her chin, her eyes squinting at Elena before she raised her finger in the air. “You know, we got a new dress in recently. It just may do the trick.”
She disappeared into the back, returning with a black garment bag. She hung it on the nearby hanger and unzipped it, pulling the dress from within.
Folds of deep emerald silk crepe spilled from inside the bag. The color, a near perfect match to her eyes stood out in all the right ways.
“Oh, yes,” Victoria said with a nod. “Let’s see it on.”
Elena lifted the skirt of her current dress and returned to the dressing room along with the new option. The soft material caressed her skin as she slipped into the emerald dress. The color enveloped her in a wave of nostalgia, reminding her of the lush hills outside of her country estate. The fabric hugged her silhouette .
The corners of her lips turned up as she spotted it in the mirror, falling in love with the A-line silhouette, the modest V-neck, and the long sleeves as she spotted it in the small mirror in the dressing room.
She stepped out in front of the three-way mirror. Maddie leapt from her seat, a grin on her face. “Oh, wow, Ellie! I love that.”
“I like it, too,” Victoria said. “What do you think of it?”
“This one,” Elena said with a nod. “It’s lovely, both the style and the color.”
“Very elegant and chic,” the sales associate said. “You look like a princess.”
“Yeah, you do!” Maddie said with a laugh.
Heat rose in Elena’s cheeks. “Oh, I don’t know about that,” she said with a nervous chuckle.
“I think so. You’ll certainly be Nate’s princess that night,” Victoria said with a grin. “He won’t be able to take his eyes off you in this dress. Now, we’ll just need shoes.”
“Oh, really, I’m certain I–”
Victoria held up a hand as she slid her eyes toward the associate. “Shoes.”
She approached Elena and whisked her hair upward. “I’m thinking a nice updo or maybe half up with soft curls. And I have a lovely emerald pendant you could borrow.”
“Oh, Mrs. Kingsley, that’s too much.”
“I insist. It’ll fit perfectly with this neckline.”
“Take it, Ellie, you need to look perfect that night,” Maddie said.
Elena furrowed her brow as she shifted her gaze to the girl in the mirror.
“It’s a big event for us,” Maddie said with a shrug.
Elena nodded in understanding. “Well, I think this dress will make it easy no matter how it’s accessorized.”
The woman returned with several options for shoes. After she selected a pair, Elena’s work was finished. She relaxed back in the chair Victoria had occupied, sucking in a deep breath. Nate’s family had been so helpful and accommodating, it would make telling them about her lie all the more difficult.
As Victoria emerged in her black evening gown, eyeing it before she gave her final approval, Elena shifted in her seat. Nate had kept his identity from her for quite a similar reason. She desperately hoped that he’d understand once she revealed her identity.
At least it would all be over soon.
Elena grinned at Maddie’s pink dress. “This year, I stuck with the pink.”
“Well, it’s quite lovely,” Elena agreed.
They wrapped up their shopping, and Victoria suggested they drop Elena at her apartment.
After another thank you and a warm hug, Elena said goodbye to Nate’s family, waving as they car pulled away from the curb.
She heaved a sigh, climbing the stairs to her apartment. Caroline pulled the door open as she juggled her dress and shoe bag with her keys.
Elena flicked her tear-filled eyes to her ladies’ maid as she stepped inside. She dumped the dress and bag on the entry table.
“I take it the shopping trip did not go well? No good dresses?”
Elena’s lower lip trembled as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Oh, dear, was the selection really that terrible?”
Elena blew out a shaky breath as she wiped the tear away and shook her head. “No, the dress is very lovely. As was the shopping excursion.”
“But?” Caroline said, cupping her face in her hands .
Elena’s face fell. “Oh, Caroline.”
Caroline wrapped an arm around Elena’s shoulders and led her to the couch. She eased her onto it. “Let me bring you some biscuits and tea.”
“Thank you, dear, Caroline,” Elena said, leaning back in the cushions as she pulled a blanket over her legs.
“Well, this sounds like it may require a double-cup of tea,” Caroline called as she filled the electric kettle and set it on its base.
Elena sniffled. “Just the one will do.”
Caroline chuckled as she set out the biscuits on a plate and delivered them to the coffee table. “Well, that’s some consolation, I suppose.”
The kettle clicked off, and Caroline poured the steaming water. She carried the cups and saucers over and delivered one to Elena.
Elena sniffled again before she took a sip and let her eyes slide closed. “Mm, thank you, Caroline.”
“Now,” Caroline said as she settled into the cushions next to her, “tell me what all of this is about.”
“The shopping trip was lovely. Victoria bought me a lovely emerald dress and a pair of silver sandals.”
“And it brought you to tears?”
Elena’s features pinched as she nodded. “They were so lovely, Caroline. I feel awful lying to them.”
“Oh, dear.” Caroline set her cup on the saucer and slid it onto the coffee table. “You really like them, don’t you?”
“I do. They were so lovely. And after I behaved so badly.” Her voice caught in her throat as she held back a sob.
“If you mean the lie about your identity, I will remind you that Mr. Kingsley did the same.”
“It’s not that,” Elena said with a shake of her head. “Well, it’s not only that. I…did something rather foolish at breakfast.”
“Foolish? That doesn’t sound like you.”
Elena stared into the tea, gnawing her lower lip. “No, it doesn’t. It sounds like a desperate woman trying to conceal her identity.”
Caroline’s eyebrows raised toward her hairline. “What happened?”
“Someone snapped a photograph of me with Julian last night at the museum, and they printed it in the paper. I…spotted it and…basically ripped the paper out of Mr. Kingsley’s hands before I…”
“You what, Your Highness?”
“Burned it,” she said, her voice raw with emotion.
“You burned the man’s newspaper? How…interesting. How did he take it?”
Elena sighed, her shoulders slumping. “They were very gracious, though I’m certain I came across as a madwoman.”
“Oh dear,” Caroline said as she winced. “This is becoming terribly difficult, isn’t it?”
“Terribly, yes. I must tell him after the gala.”
“While I agree, I meant terribly difficult on you, darling.” Caroline slid a lock of her hair behind Elena’s ear.
“It is of my own doing,” Elena said as another sob escaped her. “I su…suppose my father was correct. I am ill-equipped to deal with real life.”
“Quite to the contrary,” Caroline responded. “You have done exceptionally well. You have made a genuine connection with someone. And now you are afraid to lose it. I think, darling, this is all quite normal.”
Elena sucked in a shaky breath. “Well, I hate normal.”
“It’s a good thing you aren’t normal, then, isn’t it?” Caroline said with a grin.
Elena smiled through her tears. “Don’t try to flatter me, Caroline.”
“I will always flatter you. Because you deserve it, darling. You are an exceptional woman. Remember that. And hold your head high when you go to that gala and after when you explain to your young man who you are. Whatever he does, you remember how exceptional you are.”
Elena wiped at her tears again before she flicked her gaze to the woman. “Thank you, Caroline. I…so appreciate it. And I will try to remember it. Particularly, if things go to ruin tomorrow.” Elena collapsed against her with a sob.
Caroline stroked her hair as she cried. “I don’t think they will, but if they do…I will be waiting right here to see you through it.”
The tears finally subsided after a while. Elena still huddled close to her ladies’ maid as she contemplated the job ahead of her. Every second that inched her closer to it tightened the knot in her stomach.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Caroline eased her back into the cushions and hurried to the door. Elena’s features pinched as she heard her ladies’ maid gasp.
“Your Highness!” Caroline said.
Elena leapt to her feet, her stomach turning. She twisted to find her cousin Julian. Her tension eased slightly as he strode inside. At least it hadn’t been her father.
“Elena, darling,” he said as he eyed the apartment, “how quaint your new living quarters are.”
“What are you doing here, Julian?”
He arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “Merely checking on you.”
“I neither want nor need you to do so.”
He frowned at the statement as he rocked on his heels. “Someone should before your life is in shambles.”
“My life will not be in shambles. Not unless you continue to play your nefarious little games.”
“Nefarious games?” He offered her an innocent glance. “Me?”
“Leave the Kingsleys and me alone.”
He tugged an invitation from within his breast pocket and waved it in the air. “So, should I not attend this?”
She ripped the card from his hands, her eyes scanning it before her jaw clenched. “Stay away from this event.”
“Or what?”
“Don’t test me, Julian.”
Julian circled her like a wolf eyeing its prey. “What will you give me in return for staying away?”
She raised her chin, rolling her shoulders back. “Nothing. I will not give in to your petty games. If you attend, you will regret it.”
“Sometimes the game is about more than just winning. It’s about setting the board for your next move.” Julian smirked at her as he grabbed the invitation back from her and headed for the door. “I suppose I shall make my decision later, and leave you in suspense. Good day, dear cousin.”
The door slammed behind him as he stepped into the hall. The loud bang sent a shockwave through her that echoed the unease within her. Would she make it through the event unscathed or would Julian create the trouble she’d been avoiding?