Chapter 2 – Henry
It was the wailing that alerted my guards. Something was wrong. It sounded like a cat was dying somewhere on this floor.
“What the hell?”
Was coming from my suite of rooms?
One of my men ran ahead, hand already clutching the gun hidden under his suit jacket as he cautiously approached the door. A young man I didn’t recognize, no doubt one of my cousin’s hired security people, raised his hands to stop us. An odd look was on his face.
“Stand down!” he called out, taking a step in our direction. “It’s not a threat.”
Neither Toby nor Jonas believed him, instead they silently communicated with one another before drawing their guns and stealthily opening the doors.
Toby went in first as Jonas covered him from behind. Ignoring their commands of stay here, I continued into my suite. Whoever or whatever was making all this noise was not a threat. I was sure of it.
Until I got a look at her.
My heart jumps into my throat, causing me to lose my breath for a moment. The sight before me is one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen but also the most beautiful.
A woman with long dirty brown hair and a strong lean body is jerking her body to the music. Her movements aren’t on beat, and I don’t know if I would call what she’s doing singing, but there’s such passion in her voice.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
Jonas and Toby only lower their guns slightly. Giving them a signal not to interfere, I let the woman finish her song. And she does, in a big way. I have to press my lips together to hold in my laugh.
When her arms extend wide and she finishes the song, I can’t stop myself from applauding her.
Which was probably the last thing I should have done.
Her eyes pop open in fright. She gasps, a scream seconds away.
Then she starts coughing. Violently coughing.
Fumbling backward, she trips and falls, clutching the bedsheets. Her choke-coughing continues as she tries to say something, face getting red from the strain.
“It’s okay. Breathe. Breathe,” I gently coo to her, holding up my hands to show I mean no harm.
Her eyes are watering now, tears threatening to fall. I cup both hands to the sides of her shoulders and direct her to sit on the edge of the bed.
A shimmer of something catches my eye behind her, and I quickly look over my shoulder to see a pile of clothes. The colors of the fabric look familiar but I don’t know why.
I start to sit down beside her but she makes a frantic squeaking between chocking coughs and reaches for something.
“Oh my God,” I shout, pushing myself up to standing. She’s grabbed a ball of hair that freaks me out. For a second I thought it was alive.
Torn between concern for her and utter confusion as to why she has a large ball of hair with her, I give my guards a wide-eyed look before carefully sitting on the bed again. I was completely dumbfounded as to who this woman was and why she was here.
After what feels like an hour her cough dies down, leaving her with hiccups. The room lapses into silence.
Her face is still a rosy hue, but I think that’s more from embarrassment now than lack of oxygen.
I’m about to speak when I notice she’s taking all of me in. Her eyes lock on my suit and the medals I have pinned on my lapel. I’m not a huge fan of the sash I have to wear at formal events, but with the way her eyes trail down, following the red fabric, I could have a change of heart.
I watch as the muscles in her arms contract and release the ball of hair she’s holding, fascinated by the power I see there. She’s petite, but strong. Slowly she straightens, her startling green eyes dancing around the room, noting my security team.
I’m surprised again when her arms fall to her sides and she throws her head back to burst out in laughter. I can feel my guards looking at me for direction on what to do, but I can’t seem to tear my eyes off of her.
“Oh my goodness! You scared the bejesus out of me.” She continues to laugh through her words. “That was a good one.” Her mossy orbs pin me in place, her smile doing something to my stomach that I hadn’t felt in years.
“I’m sorry?” I start to say, not understanding what she’s referring to or why she’s in my suite.
Waving a hand at me, she stands and quickly places the hairball down and grabs another shinny fabric, shoving the material over her head, finishing dressing. “Nah, don’t worry about it. I get it. I’m the newb. It was a pretty cool entrance though.”
Well that didn’t clear up anything.
“Tallie told me there might be a bit of fun teasing or whatever since I was new. Well, I’m a temp—you know that. It’s all in good fun.”
Slipping on what looks like the fourth and final layer of her…dress, I think, she turns back to me with a small smirk that twists up only one side of her lips. “I was told there was going to be a Charming joining us for the party but you’re more an Eric. Though your prince costume is on point. Can you get that last button for me?”
Something is wrong with me. I can’t seem to form words, too awestruck by the woman in front of me. I stand at her command, helping secure her dress. The faint scent of oranges and pine hit me. My fingers linger on her neck, already addicted to her soft skin.
“You okay back there?”
I step back, feeling sheepish. When have I ever been at a loss for words? For the appropriate and trained response to any situation?
“Can you help me with this monster?” She doesn’t wait for my answer. Instead, she drops the giant hair ball into my hands and turns her back to me again.
“It’s a wig,” I murmur dumbly.
She snorts. “Duh.”
Yes, duh indeed.
“How,” my voice breaks and I pause to clear it, feeling hot all of a sudden. “How do I do this?”
Gathering her hair with a tie at the base of her neck, the woman shakes her head.
“Raise it high, yes like that, then place it down over my head. Good—no, wait! Okay, ready.” She guides me through the process of putting the heavy wig on. She’s a bossy and direct woman who doesn’t pull her punches. I like that she’s not holding back with me.
“There. How’s that?” My arms are wide, as if I’m presenting her.
“Excellent. Now I just have to survive the afternoon with this mini bowling ball on my head.” Her small laugh has me smiling.
“Damn, look at this sash. It looks like real silk.” Her hand extends to my chest, her soft pink painted nails glittering in the light. Instinctually knowing what’s about to happen, I’m too slow to stop it.
Toby and Jonas jump into action, going for the woman and stopping her from touching me. I need that touch though. I can’t explain why.
She gives a little bark of fright when both men spring into action but it’s quickly cut off as I reach for her hand and pull her to me.
“Are”—she swallows, confusion and a bit of apprehension in her gaze—“are they with you? I was told that there would only be one party prince today since the others were out sick.”
Party prince? I knew she wasn’t talking about me or hinting toward a party reputation. Yet what else…
“You’re here to perform for the party.” It’s a statement. An epiphany.
“Yeah, Tallie called in a favor, well, it was more like blackmail if I’m being honest, because I do not fit the princess bill if you know what I mean.” I didn’t, but I let her continue rambling. “But here I am, a party princess for a day because I have trouble saying no to the people I love. What are the chances that some kid will barf on me today? Do royal kids do that, you think?”
Instead of answering any of her questions, I place two fingers under her chin and lift her head. Her lashes flutter as she looks up at me.
“What is your name?”
“Oh, duh. Sorry about that. You helped put a wig on me and we haven’t even introduced ourselves.” She extends her hand. “I’m Ellie. I’ll be princessing with you today.”
“Nice to make your acquaintance, Ellie. I’m…Henry.”
“Are you in character or is this just how you talk?”
“This is me,” I simply say, hoping that’s enough for her. I know my slight accent can throw people off.
“Very nice,” she sighs, more to herself than me. A comfortable silence stretches between us. Ellie is gazing at me, lost in her thoughts. I find this utterly charming. A smile breaks across my face, the first honest grin I’ve given in months.
Something shifts in the air.
Realizing that she’s been staring at me, Ellie blinks rapidly and takes a step back. “Oh, umm, sorry. I was…never mind. I just”—she holds up a hand, something I’m noticing she does a lot of—talking with her hands—“I just,” she draws the word out again, “need to finish getting ready. Yes, that’s it. I was told I needed sparkles on cheekbones and eyelids.”
“I think you look perfect.” The words are out before I know I’m going to say them. I can feel the apples of my cheeks getting red, but I mean them.
“Thank you. I was worried I wouldn’t do this Rapunzel costume justice but I think I’m pulling it off. It’s this wig. It’s magic, even if it is like five pounds of synthetic hair.”
Now I understood why the dress looked so familiar. My niece was obsessed with Tangled.
Yet now I was dying to know what she looked like with her real hair down and free. Would her hair be as wild as her laugh? The need to stay around her until the very end of the day so I could discover this was strong.
I have to make that happen. Somehow.
Wanting some time alone with Ellie, I motion to my guards for them to leave us. They both hesitate, giving me a stern look and arched eyebrows that silently questioned Are you sure? I give them a slight nod before turning back to Ellie.
I hear them leave but don’t turn to make sure. Carefully moving to the other side of the room so I could sit down, I straighten my cufflinks. Ellie wasn’t wrong in her assumption that I was dressed in costume—however this attire was the dress uniform I was expected to wear to all royal family events. I felt like a fraud and a fake every time I wore this finery.
I also wasn’t a prince.
Just a mere earl.
I would keep that little piece of information to myself. No need to freak her out just yet.
“So, Ellie, you’re a temporary princess for a day, what will you do with all that royal power?”
She snorts a laugh, twisting from her place in front of the mirror where she’s dabbing on something shimmery.
“This is trick question, right? Aren’t I obligated to say world peace?”
“I think that is more aligned to pageant winners.”
“Right, right,” she mumbles. I watch in fascination as she puckers her lips in thought. “Then I would definitely have to say climate change. I would add my royal voice and influence to that fight.”
Her answer impresses me. A sensation that feels like pride bursts through my chest.
“That’s a very noble cause.”
Ellie shrugs like it’s nothing, but I can see the glow of happiness in her eyes.
“Well”—she clears her throat, tilting her head just a little so her newly applied makeup catches the light—“my ‘regular job’”—she uses air quotes—“is as an adventure guide. Without the lush forests, rivers and wildlife I’d kinda be screwed.”
I take a step toward her and drape my arm over the back of the love seat that’s to the side of where Ellie is sitting, needing to be closer. There’s a pull here that I can’t deny.
I want to know more about her. I want to know everything. Her voice is soothing a part of me I didn’t realize was hurting.
“I’m sorry,” I speak up, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “What’s an adventure guide? Like a tour guide?”
“Kind of, but for nature. I lead hiking groups of different experience levels through the mountain trails to the north of here. Most groups are only day trips, about seven hours of hiking, but sometimes we get overnight groups.”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Her smile is almost blinding as she turns around, placing an arm across the back of her chair. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
I pause for a moment, considering my next words.
“No, but I’m thinking of extending my stay.”
“You definitely shouldn’t leave without doing a hike and exploring the mountains. The company I work for does all kinds of outdoor activities.”
She turns back to the mirror where she adjusts her wig and nods in approval, and then Ellie stands and makes her way over to me. Fingering the sash that is across my chest, she makes a quiet humming noise.
“If you don’t live here, how did Tallie find you? Were you working with another party company?”
“The opportunity magically appeared before me,” I tell her, not wanting to lie but not ready to reveal my true identity yet.
“Huh.” Her hand drops from my chest. “Well, I guess you’re one lucky prince then.” Ellie laughs, shrugging her shoulders. “So, tell me, what’s the secret to being a good princess out there? Tallie already promised I don’t have to sing, but I don’t want to ruin the illusion for the kids.”
“The secret to being a good princess?” I ask, a little taken aback.
“Yeah, to being a good party princess. What have the women you’ve performed with in the past done that the kids have loved?”
Oh. The party princess. My heart rate begins to calm when I understand her meaning. She’s not asking about being my princess, she’s asking about the role. The line between what was pretend and what was my real life was very thin.
“Just be yourself. Smile. Laugh. Engage with them. They may be children but they are smart and observant.” I grin, thinking about my niece. “They’re going to try to trip you up with question after question but keep cool.”
“And twirl.”
“Pardon?”
“Keep cool and twirl on. It’s like Rapunzel’s thing. Or, like, a princess thing, right? Twirling in your dress so that it flares out.”
“Sure.” I was assuming that was a party princess thing. I had never seen my cousin or any member of the royal family twirl in my life. I think the queen, would have a conniption if she ever saw such a thing.
“Do you—” She stops talking when the melodic jingle of her cell phone goes off. Looking over, she must recognize the number because she instantly reaches for the phone.
“Hey! I’m all ready to…what?”
The instant her eyes dart to me, I know my ruse is up.
“What do you mean? I’m in the suite…the room? No, you texted 1405… Then who is in this suite with me, looking like a prince?”
The person on the other end of the conversation says something, but I can’t make it out, not able to take my eyes off Ellie. She’s looking a little pale all of a sudden.
The phone falls from her hand, landing with a thud on the carpeted floor.
“Perhaps now is a good time to tell you I’m here for the party, but not as a performer.”
She doesn’t move, doesn’t say anything as we continue to stare at one another.
“Wh-who are you?” she finally whispers, eyes growing larger. I believe she knows the answer before I even speak it.
“My name is Henry,” I begin, hoping that will reassure her. “I just left off all the fancy bits.”
“And the fancy bits are?”
“His Royal Excellence Lord Henry Cragnoor, 12th Earl of Caledonia.”
Ellie’s eye close. Taking a deep breath, she slowly begins to nod her head. I feel knot of tension in my gut easing slightly, believing that’s she processing this new information and coming to terms with it.
The relief that she doesn’t care about my title is refreshing, I want to shout my excitement. I want to…oh no.
I barely register what’s happening she moves so fast. From one elated blink to the next disbelieving one, Ellie has grabbed her phone and made a dash for the suite doors.
“Wait! Ellie, please let me explain—” But she’s gone before I finish my sentence. My guards enter the room, blocking my way and slamming the door behind them as they look for threats around me. The only threat to my sanity and my heart ran out of the room seconds before.
“Lord Cragnoor, are you all right?”
My resolve finally breaks with that, frustration buzzing through every vein in my body.
“Damn it, Jonas, I told you to call me Henry. None of this Lord crap.”
I can feel rather than see both my guards giving each other a look of shock. I rarely lose my cool. But Ellie, my God, in the brief time I’ve known her, been around her, she’s thrown me off my axis.
She’s thrown me right off the cliff and left me free-falling with the knowledge that she’s the something special I’ve been looking for.
Running a hand through my hair, I turn back to my men.
“I need all the information you can get on that woman.” When neither of them makes a move I let out an exasperated breath. “Now, please,” I state, waving my hand.
They both grab their phones and get to work.