34. Willa
Chapter thirty-four
Willa
M y second meeting with Lady Marchette and a few other members of parliament went even better than the first. I truly like the elder stateswoman and her friends, and I appreciate how she’s bringing me into the fold. Lady Marchette has accepted me, despite my flaws.
My flaws being the reasons why I’m not a suitable match for a prince. Lack of higher education. Lack of noble bloodlines. Not a native Belgrovinian. Yet, those things don’t seem to matter to Lady Marchette and her influential circle of friends.
It makes me wonder if they truly matter to anyone other than the queen.
I hate how Nick and I left things earlier, so I'm eager to see him and apologize again.
This morning's conversation with his mother left me shaken and unsettled, but I believe Nick. I trust Nick. Since I arrived in Belgrovinia, he's given me no reason to doubt him.
Nick was right. It's a simple question of who I trust more: him or his mother. Nick, who has shown me nothing but love, or his mum, who has never shown me an ounce of compassion before today .
The answer is obvious.
Instead of entering the dark, unlit cottage, I wave goodbye to Luther, dismissing him for the night and walk inside the palace to find Nick.
Since my afternoon tea lasted long enough to turn into an impromptu dinner, I guess with accuracy that Nick will be in the solarium enjoying an evening drink with his older brother.
As I approach the sunroom, the rumbling sounds of the brothers' deep voices carry into the hallway, echoing softly off the marble flooring and stone walls.
When I hear my name, I pause, eavesdropping out of curiosity.
Nick's voice rings out, cold and hollow, "Willa is an actress.
Of course, she acts like she loves me, but she doesn't really.
She's part magpie. Glittery things like gold and riches appeal to her. She doesn’t love me; she loves my bank account.
As soon as I drop her, she'll move onto the next rich man. "
My jaw gapes, and a muffled gasp leaves my mouth, unbidden. As the meaning of his cruel and demeaning words permeate my brain, my eyelids prickle with unshed tears.
Are these the words of the same man who professed his love for me last night?
Alex's robust laugh breaks the silence.
My face burns in humiliation. I recoil, frozen for a split second, before my feet move, desperate to escape. I cannot suffer through hearing anymore of Nick's insulting commentary or Alex’s complicit laughter.
The blood whooshes loudly in my ears in time with my rapidly beating heart. In shock, I replay his words as I run out of the palace. As soon as I drop her, she'll move onto the next rich man. Though I missed the rest of their conversation it sounds like Nick is planning on breaking up with me .
Was our entire relationship a fabricated ruse to trick the world into thinking that he was a changed man? Has he been playing me from the very beginning? Was all of it fake?
I spent the entire afternoon consumed with guilt at having doubted Nick.
Earlier, was he only angry because my doubts threatened his plan?
It never felt like Nick was acting with me. Everything we’ve shared and experienced felt so real. So genuine.
Perhaps between the two of us, he’s the more talented actor.
My heart and head continue warring. I’m so confused that I can’t even think straight. I don’t want to believe it, but I know what I heard.
And what I heard cannot be dismissed. I'd be delusional to stay. Especially after everything the queen admitted to me earlier.
God, that conversation was a harbinger of what was to come.
Snippets of my conversation with the queen pop into my head. After I spoke with Nick, I thought I’d put the doubts to rest, but they return with a vengeance.
He may say he loves you, and I'm sure he does, but his love won't last. His attention is temporary. Once his ring is on your finger, it will become a shackle, tethering you to this life forever.
Forever.
Last night, the idea of forever with Nick sounded like a dream come true. Now, it sounds like a prison sentence.
Once I enter the cottage, I race upstairs and into the master bedroom's walk-in closet. I pull out my suitcase and begin haphazardly throwing my clothes and toiletries into it. I leave behind all of the clothing purchased for me by the royal family—the knee-length dresses, fancy gowns, and sophisticated separates—packing just what I brought with me. Luckily, it isn’t much, so it takes only a matter of minutes.
When I zip my suitcase closed, I’m faced with my next dilemma.
How do I escape from the heavily guarded palace grounds and get to the airport without Nick finding out?
If I call a taxi or a ride-share, the driver will recognize me, especially since they’d have to pick me up outside the palace gates.
But if I ask a royal guard to drive me, they might mention it to Nick or Alex.
Unfortunately, I don’t have my own car. Nor do I have my own friends.
Again, the queen’s earlier words play back inside my head.
I was isolated, hidden away in a palace, far from friends and family.
It hits me how alone I am. Everyone I know in Belgrovinia is associated with Nick.
Anyone I could ask to help me would be loyal to Nick and the royal family.
Even Lady Marchette. As much as she likes me, her loyalty would lie with her nation's monarchy, not some Hollywood actress she’s only known for a few weeks.
How will I make my escape without alerting Nick? I drop onto the edge of the bed and cradle my head in my hands as I contemplate the possibilities.
Lying to Luther is probably my best bet.
It hasn’t been that long since I told him that I was in for the night.
Perhaps he’s still on the grounds. I could tell him that I need a ride to the pharmacy or someplace other than the airport.
From there, I could arrange for a taxi to take me to the airport.
I groan. That would never work. Once Luther sees my suitcase, he’d know I was lying.
I suppose I could tell him that one of my family members was in a horrible accident, and I need to return to America immediately.
Undecided, my finger hovers over Luther's contact information.
It would be risky because I can't outright ask Luther not to tell anyone about my sudden departure without my request setting off alarm bells.
The success of my plan is contingent upon leaving Belgrovinia before Nick realizes that I've left, so he can't try to stop me.
Then, a startling and scary idea pops into my head as I recall Queen's Beatrice's parting words to me this morning.
However, should you wish to leave Nicholai, I'll help you escape. No questions asked.
Can I really trust a woman who has only shown me kindness once?
What other choice do I have?
I bite my lip and send up a silent prayer that I'm placing my trust in the right person. Lifting my phone to my ear, I call the queen.
"Wilhemina?" she queries after answering on the third ring.
"I-I'd like your help," I whisper in a fervent rush. "I want to leave. Tonight. Can you arrange a ride to the airport for me?"
She's quiet for a moment. "Of course. Can you be ready in ten minutes?"
"Yes, I'm already packed."
"Good. Wait out front. Someone will pick you up and drive you to the airport."
With that task complete, I have only one thing left to do. I open up my laptop and search for flights out of Belgrovinia. I have no destination in mind. I’ll book the earliest flight that has an available seat. Once I’m safely out of Nick’s country, I can arrange flights back to the US.
I'm barely keeping it together. My panic is lurking right below the surface. From inside my nightstand, I grab one of the sour candies Nick stashed to help me curtail my anxiety.
How can the same man who researched new ways to aid me through panic attacks be the same man I overheard saying such awful things about me?
I need to escape and get away from Nick so that I can think clearly again. Once I'm removed from Nick's orbit and his web of deceit, I'll have the wherewithal to process his betrayal.
Searching the travel website, I locate a flight that leaves in an hour, but there’s no way that I can make it to the airport in time to catch that flight. Scrolling down, I spy a flight that leaves in two hours that's headed to Greece. Perfect. I purchase one first class ticket.
Snapping my laptop shut, I stow it and my phone into my carry-on tote and wheel my suitcase down the stairs. For a moment, I look around the interior of Stoneleigh Cottage, immersing myself in the many happy memories that Nick and I created here.
But those memories are sullied now that I've learned the harsh truth about our relationship.
I open the front door and flick off the porchlight, hiding in the shadows of darkness. As I shut the door behind me, I close the door on this chapter of my life as well.