“Save it for man-bash Mondays,” Arthur says. He glances back and forth between Arabella and me. “And you two, go find a room before you embarrass the family with all that awful PDA.”
I look into Arabella’s eyes. “Shall we?”
“Oh yes, we shall.”
I dance her toward the doors to the terrace that have been opened to let the cool air in. Before we can get out, King Winston stops us with a very serious expression on his face. “I see you two are back together.”
My heart pounds, and I’m filled with a sense of dread as I let go of Arabella and turn to face him.
He lets his face relax into a grin and holds out his hand. “Good show. You’re clearly a man of integrity and solid character, William—something you more than proved in how you handled that nasty business with the show.”
“Thank you, sir,” I say, shaking his hand. “I want you to know, I’d do anything for Arabella.”
“Thankyou,” he says with a small bow. “You saved us from a great deal of unnecessary grief. The circle of people we can trust is a small one, but I’m glad to know my daughter has picked someone who can be in that group.”
“Great chat, Dad, but Will and I were just leaving,” Arabella says. “Will has to be on a plane in about twenty hours, so…”
He narrows his eyes, clearly knowing why we’re sneaking out early. Giving me a steely look, he says, “Just make sure you come back. Arabella is absolutely miserable without you.”
I chuckle. “I promise.”
Arabella tugs my arm, and we step outside together into the chilly night air. “Is this the way to your place?”
Arabella laughs. “Not really, but let’s take the scenic route anyway.”
Snow softly falls as we hold hands, and she leads me in the general direction of her apartment.
Soon the sound of the music fades, and the clicking of her heels on the stones fills the silence. She shivers a little, and I take off my jacket and put it on her shoulders. “Are you sure you wouldn’t be more comfortable walking through the palace rather than around it?” I ask.
She stops and looks up at me. “I’m done with comfortable. From now on, I want to take the more adventurous path.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
38
The Part Where the Guy Takes the Princess’s (Morning) Breath Away…
Arabella
I wake with a smile,even though I haven’t exactly spent much of the night sleeping (wink, wink). The sun is up, and I turn to face Will, only to find his side of the bed empty. Huh, that’s not what I was hoping for, but I’m sure it’s fine. He’s probably in the loo.
I sit up in bed, trying to fix my hair with my hands, hoping I’ll look sort of sexy and dishevelled, but then I notice the door to my en suite is open. And as much as I love this man, we are not going to be one of those super-relaxed, open couples who do everything together. I’m just not built that way.
“Will?” I call, but he doesn’t answer. His flight doesn’t leave until six this evening, and there’s no way I sleptthat long. Nope, it’s only eleven.
A second later, I hear the main door to my apartment open, and I hear him humming. A wave of relief washes over me as he strolls through the door with a paper bag from a bakery in town in one hand and a tray holding two coffees in his other one. “Good morning, sleepy head.”
I grin at him as I watch him cross the room. “Good morning to you.”
“Did you know there is the greatest Viennese bakery one block from Dwight’s place?”
“I did not.”
“It’s true” he says, setting the bag down on my lap and taking off his puffy vest. “They have these delicious little crepes filled with apricot jelly.”
“Palatschinkens?” I ask, suddenly very excited.
“I have it on good authority that you’ve been known to enjoy a good palatschinken from time to time.”
