“A prince is nothing more than a son, a brother, a friend.” Gus rested his chin on the top of her frizzy hair. “You and my mum would get along just fine.”
“Stop or you’ll make me cry.” Helene pulled away as another crash echoed from the bowels of the Hideaway. “What is going on in there?”
Gus laughed, his eyes misting. What was it his grandfather used to say?“If you didn’t miss where you’ve been, it didn’t mean that much to you.”
He wished he’d known his grandfather King Rein IV better. He died just after Gus’s fifth birthday.
Finishing outside, Gus dumped the dirty dish water and headed to load the dishwasher, surprised, yet not surprised, to see Carmen standing there.
“I thought you called off.”
“I changed my mind.” The man-child of twenty-two loaded the dishes.
“Carmen, I’m leaving soon. I’ve business elsewhere. Try to step it up for Helene.”
He looked at Gus with surprise. “Where’re you going?”
“Home.” To stand on precious Lauchtenland soil once again. The nation in the North Sea that defeated the Normans. That held off the Nazis when threatened, and that was becoming the Silicon Valley of Europe.
Now that he’d made up his mind, a tightness he didn’t know he had eased. He’d call John on his break. Let him know he’d be there for him.
Just like you were for me.
A lot of things had changed in the last year. He’d lost weight, muscled up, and become a regular Joe. Or a regular Pete as it were.
But it was time to be a prince again. To put the past behind him. Once and for all.
Chapter Three
Daffy
She was lost in a romance novel when Leslie Ann knocked on her door. They’d come in after lunch for naps and for assessing their sunburns.
Leslie Ann was burned but Ella was roasted. Daffy refrained from saying, “I told you so.” She, on the other hand, was a golden color with a touch of pink on her nose.
“I’m starving,” Leslie Ann said, smelling of aloe lotion. “Let’s go eat.”
Daffy closed her book. “How’s the burn victim?”
“Moaning. I just lathered her with lotion. She needs to get dressed.” Leslie Ann disappeared down the hall. “Ella, come on, we’re going to the Hideaway.”
“Just leave me for dead.” Ella’s response was muffled and pitiful.
Daffy stepped around Leslie Ann and eased open Ella’s door. “You’ll feel better if you get moving. After you eat.”
“Thank you for not saying ‘I told you so.’”
“You’re welcome.”
While Ella dressed to a constant chorus of “Ouch, ouch,” and “ooh, ooh,” Leslie Ann sorted the contents of her crossbody bag.
Daffy took a seat on the couch to check her email and listened to Mum’s voice message.
“Do you want to stage the wedding dresses at Hadsby for the ball?”
Stage the royal wedding dresses? At Hadsby Castle? For the ball?Mum, why are you even asking? Of course!Daffy answered with a text. Mum and Dad would be getting ready for bed.
Mum, yes!!!! I’ll stage the dresses. You know I’m dying to see the Princess Louisa.
