Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
ALEXANDER
Ididn’t want to leave her. I also knew she needed space from me.
What was that saying? Let someone go, and if they come back, it was meant to be.
She stared back at the lake, and I made my way back to the stables where Jack was brushing Poppy.
“How is she?” Jack asked curiously.
“Angry and confused,” I said, leaning against the door and making sure I could still see her. “I don’t know how to help her.”
“Darling, this isn’t something you can help her with,” I turned to see Marie coming out with two cups. She handed one to me and patted my arm walking away.
I watched as she headed towards Ella and put a hand on her shoulder before handing her the cup. Marie stayed with her, and I just stood there watching.
“Alexander, watching her isn’t going to help. You need to distract yourself,” Jack said. “Rocky needs washing and you know he only really likes you doing it.”
I nodded.
I headed into the shed grabbing my waterproofs out and slipped them on before heading into Rocky’s stable. I stroked his nose, and he leaned his head against mine.
A smile appeared on my face.
This is why I was glad I saved him. Behind all the fear inside of him, he was a lovely, caring, and stunning horse.
I reached for the halter and lead rope placing it on him leading him out of the stables into the field where I could wash him. I tied him to the post and stroked his nose once more. “What do you think Rocky? Will she forgive me?”
He let out a neigh.
I reached for the sponge in the bucket that Jack had left for me and began to wash his coat.
Half an hour later, Rocky was trotting around the field happily. As much as he enjoyed our riding time, he still needed his free time to roam. I hated keeping him cooped up, so when it was possible, I’d let him out.
“What’s his story?”
As much as I wanted to turn around to see where Ella was, I kept my gaze on Rocky.
“You said you rescued him? Something about him being a wild horse?”
“Rocky was used for breeding stock by his old owners,” I told her. “They would keep him trapped in the stables. His only purpose was to breed mares. The moment he was rescued, they couldn’t even get him into the trailer. He sprinted and didn’t stop. He was free.”
Something that I wasn’t. Defined by the crown, to live my life in service to it.
“I was at the vet with Poppy because it was time for her vaccinations. Rocky was being pulled by like five other men to where the vet was waiting with a needle. Rocky managed to escape from them, and he trotted over to me and Poppy.”
“He knew,” Ella said.
I finally turned to face her where she was sitting on the fence. “Knew what?” I asked.
“He knew you were a person he could trust. He knew that you wouldn’t hurt him,” Ella said, nodding towards Rocky who had stayed within distance of us.
“The workers were shocked when he bowed his head to me and let me stroke him. He hadn’t let anyone near him since the attempted rescue.
He was scared of humans and a horse with no owner can be…
” I trailed off. “Wild and unpredictable. The rest is history. I brought him here to the ranch. It took a year for him to step back into a stable and then another six months before I could shut the door. He gets nervous around new people so he stays here living in retirement, he’ll never breed again, or race anything like that.
He’s just a horse living his best life.”
Jack opened the gate letting Poppy in. Rocky trotted right over to her and began nuzzling her. “That will never get old,” Jack sighed, leaning on the gate.
“Agreed.”
I looked at Ella who was watching them with a small smile on her face. “Oh to be a horse.” She hopped down off the fence, walking inside.
I grabbed onto it, keeping myself from following her.
“Progress. She spoke to you,” Jack said softly. “It’ll get better, Alexander.”
“I’m not so sure. She struggled to let me in, and she’s right. I betrayed her trust by not telling her who I was,” I said. I heard a car door shut and frowned. “Are we expecting anyone?”
“Not that I know of.”
I jumped the fence heading through the backdoor.
I heard voices almost immediately, one in particular that I couldn’t help but grin.
I rushed through the kitchen into the living room and my little sister was standing there in a bright yellow sundress, “Ander!” She squealed excitedly, running into my arms.
I caught her picking her up squeezing her tightly. “Hi, El,” I let out a little laugh. “Who let you out?”
“I let myself out,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Sir, your mother thought if the Princess came she would be able to bring you home faster,” Jones explained.
“I’m not due home until tomorrow,” I said.
“Ander, is that her?” El asked, trying to whisper but failing.
“Yes, El. That’s her,” I whispered back.
I looked at Ella who was biting her lip to keep herself from smiling. “That’s why I’m Ella and not El,” she mumbled.
“She’s pretty,” El said.
I put her back on the floor, and she walked over to Ella who was bent down to her level.
“Hi Elizabeth, my name is Melinda,” she introduced.
“We’re both El!” She squealed excitedly, making Ella flinch slightly from the loudness.
“Sir, a word,” Jones said, nodding away from them. I followed him into the dining room, keeping my eyes on Ella and El.
“Ander really likes you,” El said again, trying to whisper.
I really had to teach my sister to talk quietly. Something tells me that she would be no good with state secrets that was for sure.
“Sir, there has been an emergency meeting called regarding you and Miss Brown. The King and Queen require your and her to be in attendance,” Jones explained.
I let out a sigh.
Would nothing go my way?
I knew taking Ella to the Palace would push her further and further away. I looked over at seeing the way she was interacting with my sister and right then I knew I couldn’t lose her. “I can’t,” I whispered.
“Sir, you don’t have a choice,” Jones said.
I stared at them, not taking my eyes off either of them. I didn’t care what my mother or father wanted. I couldn’t throw her into the deep end like that. I’d lose her for good.
“Oh,” Jones said.
I looked at him confused. “Oh, what?”
“You love her,” he said.
I shook my head. “No, that’s silly, I don’t—”
I looked back at Ella.
What did love feel like? I had never been in love before.
“I…” I didn’t even know what to say.
I walked out the room leaving them together sitting on the porch, “Recalled back, huh?” Jack asked, sitting next to me.
I looked at Jack. “What does love feel like? I don’t mean love for your family either. How did you know Marie was the one?”
“You just know in your heart,” Jack said.
I rolled my eyes.
Ugh, people and their crypticness.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw at least a dozen messages from mother and father recalling me back as well as a message from Jeremy checking in.
I let out a sigh and opened up google before entering my name.
Almost immediately, coverage of last night spread across my screen.
Us kissing, grinding against each other, and me touching her.
It was everywhere, but fuck, it looked hot.
Would it be wrong to ask for originals of some of those photos?
As much as it turned to shit, I wanted those memories.
My eyes widened. “I love her,” I whispered.
I heard someone let out a small chuckle. I turned to see Marie with a cup of tea in her hand. “About time, Alexander.”
My eyes stayed on my phone, looking through reports and comments.
There was some name calling and insults.
I hated the way they were speaking about her, calling her ugly or a slut and other names.
I clenched my fist. I wanted to hit them all.
I had to protect her from seeing this, but I had no idea how.
I couldn’t put a gag order on the press or the public but keeping her in the dark wouldn’t be protecting her either.
“What am I going to do?”
“Being in love isn’t a bad thing, Alexander,” Marie said softly. “It’s life-changing.”
I looked at her. “Have you ever thought about writing fortune cookies?” I raised an eyebrow at her.
“It’s my pastime,” she teased. “Look, you can sit out here panicking that you love a girl or you can go inside and tell the girl you love that no matter what happens you will protect her. Show her the raw honesty of your world. If you love her, you will tell her everything to protect her from your world.”
I stood up, heading inside.
El was chatting Ella’s ears off who was nodding along and looking so invested at the story she was telling.
“El, could you give Ella and I a minute please?” I asked her. “Marie and Jack are on the porch if you want to go and see Poppy.”
El jumped off the sofa and ran out the door. I couldn’t help but let out a little laugh.
“She’s amazing.”
“She’s something,” I rolled my eyes. “Can I sit?”
Ella shrugged. “You’re a Prince. You can do anything.”
I let out a sigh, sitting down. “Please don’t do that. I don’t want you to see me like a Prince. I’m still the same person I was twenty-four hours ago. Now you know my title and heritage. I don’t want to give up on us, and I hope you don’t want to either.”
“This is a lot for me, Alex. This isn’t normal in my world,” she said. “I don’t know how to act, I don’t know what to do, And I don’t know how to deal with this.”
“I’ll help you, Ella,” I said. “I’ll protect you.
And as much as I don’t want to show or tell you any of this, keeping it in the dark will take you by surprise and will hurt you in the long run.
My mother and father have organised an emergency meeting in regard to last night. They would like you to attend.”
Her eyes widened. “You want me to meet the King and Queen?!” She shouted, jumping up off the sofa. “Dude, did you see what happened when you told me you were a Prince. I slapped you.”
I took a step closer to her knowing she was going to be spiralling.
Would I kiss her again? Yes. Even knowing she’ll probably slap me again? Absolutely.
“I can’t meet them I don’t know how to—”
I pressed my lips to hers kissing her. She kissed me back almost immediately. I nibbled at her bottom lip and deepened the kiss. I felt her hands in my hair pulling and I groaned into her mouth. She pulled away breathless, narrowing her eyes.
“You can slap me, it’ll be worth it,” I teased.
She laughed. “I don’t know if I can go and meet them yet.”
“Ella, you need to know what you’re going to be faced with in the outside world,” I told her. “I can’t let you leave unprepared.”
“Who says I have to leave?” Ella asked. “Look, I’m not ready to face it out there, and right now, I need a clear head to decide on this.” She waved her hands between us. “Can we not just stay here for a week? I won’t meet them until I’m sure of this.”
I nodded. I could understand that. It was a big and not normal thing. “Okay, I can get mother and father to hold off for a week, but by next Sunday, we will have to be there, especially if you decide this is worth it.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I have to go and speak with them. Is there anything you need before I leave?” I asked her.
“More clothes, and Megan,” she said.
“I’ll have it organised,” I told her. “Thank you for staying.”
“I need time. Also, do you think you can pull strings at university for us to have our work done at home?” She asked.
One of the things I loved about her was that she was not willing to stop working. I nodded, bending down to her forehead, “‘Of course.” I stood up. Before I could walk away, she grabbed my hand, “What?”
“Alcohol,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am.”