Chapter 18 #2
“I love to ride. I have a white Arabian named Perun. That means lightning bolt, but he’s not really that fast.”
“You must miss him.”
“That’s one thing I look forward to when we go home.” Her eyes lit up. “Do you ride?”
“I took dressage lessons in high school. We couldn’t really afford it, but I begged my dad, and he allowed me to clean stalls to help pay for it. I loved riding and horses but quickly learned that was for rich people. And we were not.” She sighed. Kat looked sympathetic.
“We have a lot of horses. If you come with us to Rotslavia, you could have one to ride.”
Meredith laughed. “Well, that alone is good reason to go with you.” She lowered her voice. “But it’s not as simple as that. You already have—” She stopped herself from saying nanny. “A governess that you know and love.”
Kat rolled her eyes.
After the Spanish Riding School, they went to see the beautiful Karlskirche Cathedral, followed by a tour of the Hofburg Palace and the Belvedere Palace, two spots that had been on Meredith’s must-see list.
“You seem to be interested in palaces,” Spencer said as they returned to the hotel.
“I guess it’s an American thing,” she confessed. “You know we’ve never had royalty over there. It’s kind of mysterious to us.”
“I want to go to America sometime,” Kat said as they got out of the SUV. “I want to see Hollywood and Disney World.”
“I want to see the Grand Canyon,” Mishka said. “And the giant redwood trees.”
“Maybe someday,” Spencer said in a tone that sounded more wishful than genuine.
As they rode the elevator up to their floor, Spencer asked Geoff about dinner reservations, and Geoff confirmed they had some for seven thirty at a place Meredith had never heard of.
“I don’t want to go,” Kat said. “I’m tired.”
Meredith looked down at her just in time to see her nudging Mishka with her elbow.
“I’m, uh, I’m tired too,” he said in a slightly stilted voice.
“Why don’t we eat in?” Kat said to her father. “You and Meredith can go. I’m sure she would like to see the restaurant.” She looked at Meredith. “It’s very elegant.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go?” Spencer asked them as the doors opened.
“We’re sure,” Kat answered for both, gently shoving Mishka in front of her.
“Is that acceptable to you?” Spencer asked Meredith as they trailed the children to the suite.
“Is it acceptable to you?” she parroted. “After all, you’re the prince. I’m just the nanny.” She wrinkled her nose in a smirk, and he smiled.
“I’d love to take the nanny to dinner,” he said as Geoff opened the door to the suite. “I have been wanting to hear more about your time in Papua New Guinea. Perhaps you know my relatives there.”
“Oh, yes, I nearly forgot about that.”
Spencer checked his phone. “Looks like we have about an hour before we need to go. Can you be ready by then?”
She laughed. “Sure. I could be ready in less than ten minutes if necessary.”
“It’s, uh, a rather formal restaurant.”
“Oh?” She grimaced to think of what she’d packed. “I’m not sure I brought anything the least bit formal.”
“Geoff?” Spencer called out. “Can you give us a hand?”
“Sir?” Geoff snapped to attention.
“Miss Meredith needs something appropriate to wear to dinner. Can you please assist her with that?”
Geoff looked slightly uncomfortable but nodded. “A women’s boutique is located down by the lobby,” he said to Meredith. “I believe they have formal wear.”
“Oh, I don’t think—”
“Nonsense. Geoff will call ahead and tell them you’re coming,” Spencer commanded. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to return this phone call.”
Feeling somewhat bamboozled and out of her realm, Meredith accepted Geoff’s instructions and went down to browse around the shop, mostly out of curiosity.
She felt fairly sure that anything there would be too costly.
Unless the boutique rented gowns, which she doubted when she saw how glitzy and exclusive it looked.
But she was met by a pleasant saleswoman, who spoke broken English, and appeared to be expecting her.
“I know your need.” She glanced up and down as if assessing her dress size. “We have fine gown for you.” And suddenly she was bringing out sparkling evening dresses and treating Meredith like royalty.
After turning down a slinky strapless gown and backless number, Meredith attempted to communicate through body language that she wanted something more modest. Finally, she was shown a sleeveless midnight blue dress with glass bead embroidery across the bodice and a flowing skirt.
Far more elegant than anything she’d ever worn before, it seemed appropriate and acceptable and to her relief fit perfectly.
Unable to spot a price tag and realizing time was flying, she agreed it was wonderful.
“How much?” she asked, but the woman just waved her hand. “Price? Cost?”
“Shoe size?”
“Uh, eight?”
The woman frowned. “Ja, American size. I know, I know.” Then she ducked into the back room, emerging with a pair of stylish black suede shoes with narrow ankle straps, as well as a delicate looking lacy black shawl. Holding them beside the dress. “You like?”
“Oh, yes, it’s all beautiful. But how much is—”
“All done. You go now,” the woman gave her a gentle nudge toward the door.
“But I need to pay for—”
“We deliver. You go up. You wait. We bring,” she spoke slowly as if Meredith didn’t understand English. “To your suite.” Her nudge grew firmer. “You go. Preparation. Now.”
Unused to such service, Meredith hurried back to the suite, going directly to the room she was sharing with Kat and then into the bathroom.
She took a quick shower and, wanting to look equal to the lovely evening clothing, even applied a bit of makeup.
There wasn’t much time for her to do her hair, so she pinned it up in a simple French twist. She was just finished when Kat called to her. “Your gown has arrived.”
Meredith cracked open the door, sticking her hand out. “Thank you.”
“It looks pretty,” Kat said. “Good choice.”
Meredith began to pull it on then said to Kat, “Can you help with the zipper?”
Kat came in, fastened the back, and stepped back to look. “Wow, Meri, I didn’t know you were this beautiful.”
Meredith laughed. “You’re sweet. Thank you. Maybe the makeup helps.”
“Will you show me how to use makeup?” Kat asked eagerly.
Meredith blinked. “Well, I, uh, I don’t know. Would your father mind?”
Kat huffed.
“Well, there’s no time for a lesson now.” She slid her feet into the shoes, stooping to buckle the narrow ankle straps. “But if your father doesn’t mind, maybe I can show you what I know tomorrow. And trust me, I know very little.”
Kat brightened as she handed her the shawl. “Thanks.”
“Do I look acceptable for this fancy restaurant?” Meredith extended her arms.
Kat grabbed her phone. “Let me grab a pic, and I’ll send it to you just to prove it.”
Meredith giggled as she struck a pose.
“Want me to take one with you and Papa too?”
“That would be lovely.”
Feeling like she was going to the prom, something she’d never done in high school, Meredith stood next to Spencer, who looked more princely than ever in his dark tuxedo. “I feel like a celebrity,” she giggled. “Or maybe it’s Cinderella.”
Mishka suddenly burst out of his room then stopped in his tracks. “Meri, you look like a real princess.” His eyes widened. “You’re beautiful.”
“Well, thank you very much.” She stroked his hair. “Coming from a real prince, that means something.”
A knock on the door distracted them, and room service began setting up the children’s dinner, with Geoff directing.
Spencer called out goodbyes and just like that Meredith Cardwell, the poor schoolteacher from a Podunk town in Oregon, was going out with a prince and trying not to go into total shock over the whole thing.