Chapter 4
T he next morning, Felicity was helping Gran serve breakfast when Brent came downstairs, holding one of the old guest books she’d found in the shed. His eyes twinkled with excitement.
“Good morning, Miss Bond, Mrs. Bond,” he said, nodding to each of them. “I started looking through one of these old guest books last night. I found a really interesting entry.”
Gran wiped her hands on her apron and came over to the table where he’d set the book down. “First of all, it’s Felicity and Darlene. No standing on formality here. And tell us what you found.”
“There’s an entry here from a Prince Lawrence of Bardonzia. I looked it up, and Bardonzia is a small territory in the Pacific Ocean. I’d never heard of it before.”
Felicity leaned over to look at the entry. The handwriting was a flowing script, the ink faded with age. Prince Lawrence of Bardonzia. September 3, 1924. “Huh. I wonder what a prince from the Pacific was doing all the way out here on Magnolia Key back then.”
Gran tapped her chin thoughtfully. “You know, I bet Dale would know something about this. He’s kind of the unofficial historian around here. Knows all sorts of things about the island’s history.”
Brent looked up, intrigued. “Dale?”
“He runs the antique shop in town. Second Finds. He’s got an entire section in the back dedicated to the history of Magnolia Key,” Gran explained.
She nodded. “Yeah, if anyone would know about a visiting prince, it would be Dale. We should go talk to him.”
“That’s a great idea,” Brent said, his eyes lighting up at the prospect of a new lead in his research.
Gran smiled. “Why don’t you two head into town after breakfast? I can handle things here.”
She hesitated. She’d been planning to help Gran with some chores around the B&B. But the mystery of the prince from Bardonzia had aroused her curiosity. And spending more time with Brent wasn’t an entirely unappealing idea, either.
“Are you sure, Gran? I don’t want to leave you with all the work.”
Gran waved her off. “Oh, don’t you worry about me. I’ve been running this place for decades. I think I can manage for a few hours. You two go and see what you can find out about our mysterious prince.”
“Thanks, Gran. We won’t be gone too long.”
After breakfast, she and Brent headed out to Second Finds. The bell above the door jingled as they stepped inside, announcing their arrival. Dale looked up from where he was arranging a display of vintage postcards.
“Felicity! Good to see you. I heard you were in town for the summer,” he said, coming over to greet them. “And who’s this?”
“Dale, this is Brent Dunn. He’s a historian staying at the B&B, doing some research on the early development of southern Florida.”
“Oh, you’re here doing that talk in a few weeks, aren’t you?” Dale shook Brent’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you. Always happy to meet a fellow history buff.”
Brent smiled. “Likewise. Actually, we were hoping you might be able to help us with something.”
“Oh?” Dale raised an eyebrow.
She explained about the guest book and the entry from Prince Lawrence. Dale listened intently, nodding along.
“Prince Lawrence of Bardonzia? How interesting. I’ve recently heard of Bardonzia. Beverly found a rolled-up painting hidden in a bookcase. When I did some research for her, I came across a photo. Give me a minute to find it.”
He disappeared to the back of the shop and soon came back, waving a photo triumphantly. “Found it. Look, it’s a photo of a building at their landing on Bardonzia.”
She frowned. “Doesn’t that look like the building that used to be here at the landing on Magnolia Key? Before it got destroyed?”
“It does look like it. And see? It has the same M and B intertwined over the doorway. I’ve read something about how Bardonzia was a sister island to Magnolia Key. I guess that was a thing back in the early 1900s.”
“So, I guess this prince from our sister island came and stayed at the building Gran bought?”
“Sounds like it. I could do some digging around and see if I can learn more about Darlene’s house. Who owned it back then. Any history about it.”
“Thank you. That would be helpful.”
“Let me see what I can find in my records. I’ve got a whole archive of old newspapers and documents in the back storage room. If There’s any mention of a visiting prince, it’ll be in there somewhere.”
Brent’s eyes lit up at the mention of the archive. “Would you mind if I took a look as well? I’d love to see what kind of historical documents you have.”
“Of course, of course,” Dale said, waving them toward the back of the shop. “Right this way.”
As they entered the back room of Second Finds, her eyes widened at the sight of the extensive archive. Shelves lined the walls, filled with boxes of old newspapers, documents, and photographs. The musty scent of aging paper filled the air.
Dale led them to a section labeled “1920s” and began pulling out boxes. “Let’s start here. If There’s any mention of Prince Lawrence, it’ll likely be in the papers from the mid to late twenties.”
She and Brent each took a box and began carefully sifting through the delicate pages. The rustling of paper and the occasional exclamation of discovery filled the room as they searched for any mention of the mysterious prince.
After about an hour, Brent held up a yellowed newspaper clipping. “I think I found something. Listen to this: ‘Prince Lawrence of Bardonzia arrived on Magnolia Key yesterday for his biennial visit. The prince, known for his love of the island’s tranquil beauty, will be staying at the Magnolia Landing Boardinghouse for the duration of his two-week stay.’ ”
Felicity leaned over to look at the article. “Biennial visit? So, he came to the island every other year?”
Dale nodded, a distant look in his eyes. “You know, I think I remember reading a long time ago. Something about a scandal or misunderstanding that happened during one visit of someone famous. I wonder if it was this Prince Lawrence.”
Her curiosity was piqued. “A scandal? What kind of scandal?”
Dale frowned, trying to recall the details. “I can’t quite remember. It’s been years since I came across that article. I’ll keep looking through these boxes and see if I can find it.”
They continued their search, the mystery of Prince Lawrence and the possible scandal adding a new layer of intrigue to their investigation. As they burrowed deeper into the archive, she felt a growing connection to the island’s past and the secrets it held.
Hours passed as they combed through the articles, occasionally sharing interesting tidbits they found, but nothing more about the prince. Dale finally sat back, rubbing his eyes. “I’m sorry, folks. I just can’t seem to find that article I remember. It’s going to bother me now until I can recall the details.”
Brent glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. We should probably head back to the B&B. But this has been fascinating. Thank you for letting us look through your archive, Dale.”
Dale waved off the thanks. “Anytime. I love sharing this stuff with people who appreciate it. And don’t worry, I’ll keep digging. If I find anything more about Prince Lawrence or that scandal, I’ll let you know.”
She stood, stretching her back after hours of sitting hunched over the boxes. “Thanks, Dale. This has been really interesting. I had no idea Magnolia Key had such a rich history.”
As they said their goodbyes and headed out of the shop, her mind was buzzing with questions. Who was Prince Lawrence? What brought him to Magnolia Key so regularly? And what was this scandal Dale had mentioned? Did it involve Prince Lawrence?
She glanced over at Brent, who seemed equally lost in thought. “Looks like you’ve stumbled onto quite the historical mystery,” she said.
Brent smiled. “It does seem that way. I came here to research the early development of southern Florida, but this prince from Bardonzia… That’s something I never expected to uncover. I’m intrigued to learn more.”
She and Brent strolled back to the B&B, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the sidewalk. The day’s discoveries had energized them both, and she found herself eager to continue their conversation.
“So, what got you interested in Florida’s history?” she asked, glancing over at Brent.
“I recently found out my mother was from this area.” He paused, a sad smile settling on his lips. “I didn’t know her well—she died when I was just a young boy. Anyway, I lived with some of my father’s relatives most of the time. Dad traveled for his work. Overseas a lot, so I didn’t see him often. He’s gone now too.”
“I’m so sorry.” Her heart broke for the little boy who lost his mom and whose father was away on business all the time.
He shrugged. “It’s just how my life was. But I recently came across some old items of my mother’s. That’s how I found out she came from this area. That got me interested in this particular area. Anyway, I do find researching the history fascinating.”
She nodded. “Even just learning about Magnolia Key’s past today was eye-opening. I’ve been coming here my whole life but never knew about Prince Lawrence or Bardonzia.”
“That’s the beauty of history,” Brent said. “There’s always something new to uncover, even in places you think you know well.”
They walked in companionable silence for a moment, the gentle island breeze rustling through the palm trees lining the street.
“What about you?” Brent asked. “Do you come to Magnolia Key every summer?”
She hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. “I do come visit every summer, but not for the whole summer like this year. I needed to get out of the city. Get… away. Needed a break after this past school year. Thought I’d come and help Gran out at the B&B for a while.”
He nodded, seeming to sense there was more to the story. “Teaching can be tough,” he said gently. “I did a stint as a professor for a few years before focusing on research. It’s rewarding, but it can really take it out of you.”
His understanding tone made her feel unexpectedly emotional. She took a deep breath, surprised to find herself wanting to open up to him.
“It’s just… I used to love it so much,” she admitted. “But lately, it feels like I’ve lost that spark, you know? I’m not sure if I can get it back.”
He listened attentively as they walked, his expression thoughtful. “Maybe spending time here on Magnolia Key is exactly what you need.”
She smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope at his words. “Maybe you’re right. I have to admit, today’s little historical adventure was the most engaged I’ve felt in a long time.”
They reached the B&B, pausing at the bottom of the porch steps. Brent turned to face her, his expression warm.
“Well, if you’re interested, I’d love to have your help with more research while I’m here,” he offered. “Your local knowledge could be invaluable, and who knows what other mysteries we might uncover?”
She felt a flutter of excitement at the prospect. “I’d like that,” she said, surprised by how much she meant it.
As they climbed the porch steps together, she realized with a start that she was smiling. A real, genuine smile. And it felt good.