“I’m not sure. But we enjoy each other’s company. We have a routine.”
“I’m sorry I barged into your place like a raging lunatic.”
“I’m sorry Leslie Ann exposed your hideaway.” The wind blew her auburn hair about her face and shoulders. “I’d not tell your secret unless you were dying and maybe not then. I know how to keep a Blue family secret.”
“A Blue family secret?” He peered past her shoulder toward the cottage. They were being watched. “And what would that be?”
If he remembered correctly, he was about twelve when the queen’s security introduced new measures and the children of staff, even those of her personal secretary, were no longer allowed in the palace. Not above stairs, anyway. Not in the royal quarters.
That’s why they’d lost touch and he didn’t see her again, save for the occasional state dinner where she helped out the dining staff.
“Look, you should go. I’m sure your boss—Helene, is it?—needs fair warning.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Do you have a Blue secret?”
“Forget what I said.”
Gus regarded her for a moment. Other than himself and John, Daffy had only been around his parents. In fact, she’d been rather close with his mother. Until security changed everything. But she couldn’t have anything on the queen and king consort. They were above reproach. Especially the queen.
“If you had a secret since you were a girl, you’d have told someone by now.”
“Not necessarily. What if I did have a secret? What if I understood, even as a girl, the importance of holding my tongue? I am a loyal royalist and a secret keeper.”
“Then tell me. I am a loyal royalist as well. What do you know?” He squinted at her. “You can’t be referencing Queen Catherine II. She’s the greatest regent Lauchtenland’s ever known. A virtuous leader. So, are you hinting at something about my father?”
“Don’t listen to me. I say foolish things. The queen is a virtuous leader and, Prince Gus, I’ve no secret. But if I did, I’d not tell you.” She offered him a slow smile. “Then it wouldn’t be a secret.”
“You’re having me on. You’re being Daffy the trickster.”
“I should go. We’re touring the cape this morning. So, if I don’t see you here, or at home, I wish you all the best, Prince Gus. Or shall I say Pete?”
“Daffy, again, I’m sorry.” He motioned to the cottage where Leslie Ann and Ella sat on the deck, chins in their hands, watching. “I was angry. It gets old, you see, everyone criticizing, mocking, waiting for me to fail. Me feeling like I let the Family down.”
“No one is waiting for you to fail. You didn’t let your family down. Forget the Leslie Anns of the world. She’s only out for herself. I love her, but it’s true. You know she never remembers my birthday? Never. And at Christmas she sends me a cheap bauble she found on Amazon. I can’t think of a time she did something for me or gave me something that was actually meaningful. It’s just who she is. Do forgive her.”
“I forgive you. She may take some time.”
“Fine but do yourself a favor, sir. Stop seeing yourself as the one prince in all of royal history who was jilted at the altar. Begin to see yourself as a man worthy of love. Of a life.”
“You make it sound so simple. Frankly, I’m not sure I am.”
“Of course you are, and it is simple.”
“You almost make me believe.”
“Good. I know you have questions, but if you keep doubting, you’ll never find the one whowillfall head over heels in love with you. The one who will be devoted to you. Who will let you love her in return?” She squeezed his arm. “Stop mourning the past. Wake up. It’s a new day. Time to dance. Literally, at your brother’s wedding ball. Whatever you learned here, take it with you and be the man, the prince, you want to be.”
He squared off with her for one, two, three seconds under the endless blue sky and a golden grip of sunlight.
“How’d you get so wise?”
“I used to be friends with a prince. He taught me.”
He laughed. “If only that were true.”
“See you, Prince Gus.”
“See you, Daffodil Caron.”
