Royal Extra After : A Laugh-Out-Loud, Feel-Good Romantic Comedy

CHAPTER 1

“There you are!” Princess Isabella exclaimed when she first saw him in New York City’s Central Park on a picture-perfect spring day.

Her heart raced as she ran up to him. She didn’t care that people were staring. This was it. This was the moment she’d been waiting for. He was everything she dreamed he would be, only better. “Finally,” she said breathlessly as she tentatively reached out and touched him.

Stoic, he stared straight ahead. He didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He was a bronze sculpture of William Shakespeare.

Huffing and puffing, a distinguished man in his early sixties ran up to the statue.

“Princess Isabella, you can’t just take off like that! The king will have my head if anything happens to you.”

The princess laughed. “Oh, Benson, don’t be so dramatic. You know my father adores you. Why do you think he made you my bodyguard? But you really do need to learn to keep up. What happened to your new year’s resolution to start working out more?”

Benson gave her a look. “And when do you think I’d have time to do that? You’re constantly keeping me busy with all your traveling and…exploring.”

“And you know you love it,” the princess said as she gave Benson an affectionate hug. She then looked around in awe at the gorgeous canopy of American Elm trees above them. “Can you believe we’re actually here in Central Park on this historic promenade with all these monuments to famous writers? It’s called The Mall and Literary Walk. Isn’t it amazing?”

“It is quite something,” Benson agreed, taking it all in.

The princess reverently traced her fingers along the name William Shakespeare. “Of course, this brilliant guy is my favorite. His writing has inspired me so much. Did you know Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets? He wrote dramas, comedies, tragedies, poems, everything. His Romeo and Juliet was the first movie ever shot in Central Park in 1908. Now hundreds of movies have been shot here!” She hugged the base of the statue. “I love you, Shakespeare.”

Two businessmen walking by laughed when they saw her. “She must be with the movie they’re shooting over at Bethesda Fountain,” one of the men said. The other one nodded. “They’re all crazy in Hollywood.”

But instead of looking insulted, the princess’s face lit up.

Benson looked worried. “Princess, don’t even think about it. We have to get back to the hotel.”

But it was too late.

The princess was already rushing toward the Bethesda Fountain.

***

When the princess got closer to the fountain, she spotted a line of white movie trailers. Her smile grew as she headed for the door that said PRINCESS LORNA. “Well, what do we have here?”

Benson was right behind her. “Princess, stop. Didn’t you see the signs? We’re not supposed to be here.”

The princess breezed past the signs. “Ask for forgiveness, not permission. You know that’s my motto, Benson.”

“A motto that always gets you and me in trouble,” Benson said. “This was supposed to be a quick weekend trip to New York for you to attend the new children’s charity royal ball fundraiser. A ball that I may remind you starts in a few hours. Your parents, the king and queen, trusted me to ensure nothing went wrong on this trip.”

“And nothing is going wrong,” the princess said. “We’ll be back in plenty of time. I promise. I just have to find out what movie they’re filming first. Obviously, something royal if there’s a Princess Lorna involved. I have to see this, Benson. I’ve dreamed of being on a movie set my whole life.”

“Princess, you’re only twenty-six. You have plenty of time to follow this movie passion of yours, just not today. This ball is important…” The rest of what Benson was going to say was cut off when a frowning security guard walked toward them.

“Are you part of the production?” the guard asked.

“Yes, we are,” the princess lied, flashing him her most beguiling smile. She made it a point not to look at Benson. She knew he was having a fit. “We’re…extras.”

“All the extras are gathering over there,” the guard pointed behind him.

The princess playfully swatted Benson’s arm. “I told you we were going the wrong way.”

Benson was speechless.

“We will head over there right now. Thank you, officer.” When the princess linked arms with Benson, he gave her a warning look. “We’re leaving, right?”

“Of course,” Princess Isabella answered. “Right after we see who’s playing Princess Lorna.” And before Benson could protest, the princess snuck them around the back when the security guard wasn’t looking.

“Wait, stop,” Benson sputtered. “Princess, I must insist you stop this foolhardiness at once.”

Too late.

The trailer door opened. A pretty woman in her late twenties stepped out wearing an elaborate full-length red velvet gown and a sparkling diamond tiara.

“That is a lovely outfit,” the princess said, admiring the actress. “You must be shooting a ball scene.”

The girl smiled back and did a little spin. “No, a royal tea party in the park. Isn’t this beautiful?”

The princess frowned. “No, it’s all wrong.”

“Princess, don’t,” Benson warmed.

“What do you mean,” the actress asked, upset.

The princess smiled to soften her words. “You look amazing. You’re stunning. I’m sure you’d look fabulous wearing anything, but…”

“But?” the actress walked over. “But what?”

The princess continued. “While this gown is lovely for a ball, a state banquet, or a formal evening event, no one would ever wear a dress like that during the day to a royal tea party. The tiara is all wrong, too. There are rules for wearing a tiara if you’re a royal.”

The actress, worried, touched her tiara. “Are you with wardrobe? Are we changing costumes?”

“No,” a male voice shot back as he appeared from behind the princess. “We are not changing anything.” He gave Princess Isabella an incredulous look as he approached her. “Who are you?”

Benson immediately stepped forward. “This is prin…” but the princess stopped him.

“I’m Izzy,” the princess said, using the nickname only her family and closest friends called her. When their eyes met, the princess’s pulse quickened, and her heart raced. The attraction was undeniable. It surprised and confused her. For once, she was speechless.

Benson, watching her, jumped in. “Sir, we are sorry to intrude. We were just leaving.”

Still staring into the man’s eyes, the princess finally found her voice. “Who are you?” she asked boldly.

The man, surprised, laughed.

“He’s our director, Ned.” the actress answered, looking the princess up and down, taking in her classic custom-made winter white pantsuit paired with a dusty-pink cashmere trench coat.

The princess’s eyes lit up. “The movie director, perfect! Then you can get someone to change her outfit.”

“What?” Ned asked, incredulous.

“For a tea party, any female member of the royal family should be wearing a dress or a skirt, not an evening gown. And the hemline should be at least to the knees and no high heels. And if you’re going traditional, all the women should wear hats or fascinators.” The princess quickly looked around. “What do you have the men wearing? They must be in black or navy suits. No pinstripes or other colors. A tie and waistcoat would be best. You need black shoes, and a top hat always adds a little something extra. Again, depending on how formal or traditional it is. And whatever you do, for goodness sake, please make sure if this is a tea party that everyone’s holding their teacups correctly.”

Benson nodded.

Ned looked at the princess like she’d sprouted two heads. “What are you talking about? Who are you? Are you some kind of crazy fan? Security!”

The security guard they’d dodged earlier hustled over.

Princess Isabella waved at him. “He knows us.”

“They’re extras,” the security guard said. “And I told them this area was off limits.”

“He did,” the princess said. “It’s my fault we’re here. I was just trying to help.”

“And now we’re leaving,” Benson said, linking arms with the princess. “We are truly sorry for any intrusion.”

The princess sighed. “I’m sorry. I just love American movies. I’ve watched so many that were shot right here in Central Park, like some of the old romantic comedies When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, Enchanted, and Serendipity.”

“I love that one, too,” the actress chimed in.

“Right?” Princess Isabella smiled back at her. “Is that ice rink from the movie nearby?”

“It’s not too far,” the actress said.

The princess smiled back at her. “What’s your name?”

“Simone. Or Princess Lorna for this movie.”

“Both of you, stop.” Ned interrupted them.

But Princess Isabella kept going. “When I heard there was a movie being shot here, I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…”

“To sneak on to my set and hold up production?” Ned demanded, not amused.

The princess met his icy stare. “Yes,” she said calmly. “And you should thank me for stopping you before you shot this tea party all wrong, ruining your movie. The next thing you’ll tell me is that you’re shooting everyone drinking tea holding their little pinky up because you think that’s proper etiquette.”

Ned and Simone exchanged a quick look like that’s exactly what they’d been planning to do.

Princess Isabella is horrified. “Seriously? Holding a pinky up is never done. I don’t know who started the whole pinky thing in America, but it’s wrong. So wrong. We don’t ever do that.”

“Never,” Benson agreed.

Ned eyed the princess. “And you’re an expert in all things royal because?”

Benson jumped to the princess’s defense. “Because she’s…”

“Because I just am,” Princess Isabella said. She lifted her chin proudly. “And I really think…” But her voice trailed off when she saw two photographers with huge, long telephoto lenses on their cameras heading their way. She stiffened. Her smile disappeared.

Benson looked equally concerned. He had already taken her arm and turned their backs to the photographer as he started ushering the princess away.

“We’re leaving now,” Benson said in a tone that said he wasn’t messing around.

This time the princess didn’t argue. When she dropped a glove, and it blew toward Ned, she stopped to retrieve it, but Benson urged her forward. The two photographers were quickly approaching.

“Leave it,” Benson said as he picked up their pace.

When the princess glanced over her shoulder, she saw Ned watching her. He looked more confused than ever. She wanted to stay. She wanted to learn more about the movie and him, but she knew it was impossible.

Benson glanced at her as they took a path leading out of the park. “I know you’re disappointed,” he said.

“Massively,” she sighed.

“But you know what those photographers would do if they found out it was you.”

She nodded sadly. “Yes, I know. We had to leave. We didn’t have a choice. I never have a choice…”