“From all I’ve read, steer clear of Prince Geoffrey should he show up. If the rumors are true, he enjoys playing games with the visiting women.” Cece bit her tongue. “I shouldn’t have said that. Goodness knows rumors are rarely true.”
“Nevertheless, my eyes won’t be on the prince. Believe it or not, I prefer a calm, normal life. Dedication to one’s country is a noble cause, but I want to fall in love with a man who can be devoted to me and our family.” A brief moment of solemnity passed over Anya. “Marrying into royalty would take a special kind of person. I’m honest enough with myself to know I’m not that person.”
“That’s very self-aware, and I agree. I’m not either.”
Discreetly tipping her chin toward one of the few men in the group, Anya changed the subject. “I want to know that man’s story. He is gorgeous, but his attitude stinks. Earlier, he was arguing on the phone, and he’s worn a scowl since.”
Cece shifted her gaze to the man. Tall, dark, and handsome fit him perfectly, with the addition of broody and moody. She couldn’t tell from her position if his eyes were truly a stormy gray or if a shadow made them darker. His broad shoulders filled out his sportscoat, and his nearly black hair was trimmed neatly.
“Wait a minute,” she said. “That’s the man who was blocking my path earlier.”
“Blocking your path? On purpose?” Anya’s eyes widened.
“No, at least I don’t think so. He was arguing with someone on the phone.”
“Must be the same man. How miserable must he be?” Swinging her arms in a wide circle, Anya sighed. “How could anybody be unhappy in such a wonderful place?”
“Maybe he’s going through a crisis.” Unable to explain her need to defend the stranger when she’d had similar thoughts only moments prior, she gave him another quick glance, wondering what his story was.
“You’re more generous than I am.” A gleam sparkled in Anya’s eyes, and she jumped up. “I see the shuttle. Our adventure begins.”
Chapter Four
Thank goodness for oversized seats in the luxury charter bus that had picked James up from the airport.
He hated small talk when it held no purpose, which by its very definition, rarely did. He only tolerated it at work functions, but as Grant had made crystal clear multiple times over the last hour, James was not on the clock.
He scratched his head, still mad at his friend and boss.
There were no official work tasks waiting for him in Finlovia. The entire trip was a ruse, a plan to force him into a vacation. His only responsibility for the next week, according to Grant, was to rest, relax, and have fun.
Quite aware after the fact of the scene he’d made yelling at Grant over the phone, James didn’t wish to speak with any of his fellow tourists and guests of Ellington Castle.
Yes,theEllington Castle, known for the legend of love ball. He scowled. Grant had thrown him into the fire of absurdities and the world of make-believe. If he were going to take a vacation anywhere, he’d choose a tropical island far away wherehewould be in control of his plans. He did not appreciate being tricked and deceived.
His boiling anger reduced to a simmer as he stared out the window. The buildings and city sidewalks gave way to open land, with all the charms reminiscent of the English countryside he’d toured two years ago when Palmer Securities worked on a top-secret project with one of Britain’s nobilities.
The serene landscape worked its magic, and by the time the bus reached Ellington Castle, James almost managed a smile. Alarge, iron gate slid open, allowing the bus to pass through. At the end of a straight road was a circle driveway. To one side, there were multiple large parking lots. The bus came to a stop and the doors opened.
A man dressed in a tailored suit and waistcoat stepped onboard. “Welcome to Ellington Castle. I am Alfred Monahan, your host. Once you check into your room and settle, feel free to explore. Our Michelin starred restaurant will open for dinner at six, or you may also visit our café which is open twenty-four hours. If you require any assistance during your stay, please reach out. My staff and I are here to make your visit spectacular.”
James let the other passengers disembark before taking his leave from the bus. Uniformed men unloaded the luggage onto brass lined carts and pushed them into the castle for delivery to each guest’s room.
Standing back, James took in his first full view of the castle. Turrets rose from the walls to the east and west. The whitewashed exterior and red roof presented an elegant appearance while maintaining the beauty and authenticity of the original masonry. Gothic windows were too high to allow a view inside, but he imagined the view from inside must be glorious.
Perfectly manicured hedges lined the front of the building. Dots of scarlet and violet flowers hinted to the gardens which James had read about online. A perimeter of giant spruces protected the property and created an illusion of seclusion.
When he was a child, his family took a trip to Disney World. His sisters talked about the vacation for weeks leading up to it, but at the old age of twelve, he’d been too cool to care. Sure, there were a handful of rides he’d added to his lists of must-trys, but it was no different than any other theme park.
Then the day came when they arrived at Disney World. His family waited in line for tickets and soon entered the park. All pretenses of cool went out the door when he saw the iconic Cinderella’s castle. The atmosphere, the positive energy in the park, the time with his family—it all worked together to leave him in complete amazement.
He’d never admitted to anyone except Crystal how that event had moved him. After the fact, he’d felt silly, embarrassed even, to allow his emotions such a vast range. Yet, standing in front of Ellington Castle evoked that same sense of wonderment and awe.
Only God knew what the week would bring, but James experienced a shift in attitude. Truth be told, Grant was more of a friend than employer. In his convoluted way, he only wanted the best for James. Few bosses would give their employees an all-expense paid vacation, let alone such an extravagant one.
If Grant saw the need in James for a vacation, then he probably did need one. If he were completely honest, he was exhausted—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Since Crystal’s death, he’d thrown himself into work, rarely taking a day off. Weekends typically found him in the New York headquarters or burrowed in his home office.
He’d stopped going to church, not because he’d lost faith in God after losing his spouse, but because attending was too hard without her. He’d drawn away from their joint circle of friends for the same reason.
