“I just told you!”
“You think your father would want you to miss out on something—someone—that would love you because of him? All this change, it’s scary. I get that. But it can be good, too. You don’t see it because you’re living it, but to those of us watching, it’s obvious that you were meant for this job, for this life.”
I chewed on my lip while I pondered what she was saying. “That’s pretty deep for an eighteen-year-old.”
“I might have come from a life of privilege, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have any perspective.” Something in her eyes shifted and I saw a much older girl looking back at me.
“I’m scared.” I said the words in a rush. Maybe if I said it out loud it would make it less real.
“Of what, exactly?”
“Alex—it wouldn’t be a fling. It wouldn’t be simple or easy. If I let myself, I’d just end up hurt and then it would be in every newspaper and on every gossip site.”
“Why do you think Alex would hurt you?” She sat back in her seat. “No one knows Alex the way I do. When Daddy died, Alex stepped up and became the man of the house. He watched out for me and Max. Max has classic middle-child syndrome and left for school as quickly as he could, but every decision Alex has made was based on how it would affect us. And I can see how much he already cares about you. He would never do anything to hurt you.”
“Not on purpose.” I played with my napkin. “I don’t think I could handle the scrutiny, the media attention.”
“That’ll die down after a while. Or you’ll get used to it. It’s overwhelming right now, but we do have real lives. We go on vacations and sometimes have lazy Sundays like everyone else in the world.”
She didn’t understand. She’d been born into something that was so foreign to me I felt as if I’d been dropped on another planet. And Alex would break my heart—he’d have to when it came time for him to take the throne. I’d read enough in my Idiots Guide to the Monarchy that I knew he had to marry someone of royal blood who would be able to help him rule the country.
“The wheels are turning in your head; I can practically hear the gears squeak.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “You know what I think? I think you’re worried about what it would mean if it all worked out. Alex comes with some heavy baggage. Crown prince isn’t nearly as fun as they make it out to be in the storybooks. Whoever he chooses will be queen.”
I groaned. “Exactly. I’m an American, for crying out loud. Remember? The adorable little foreigner that says whatever she’s thinking? No one would accept me as their queen and God knows I wouldn’t blame them. When I think about being with Alex, I can’t just think about how he makes me feel, I have to think about how it would affect an entire country. If they reject me, he would have to leave me. And if they don’t reject me, how badly could I screw it all up?”
Cathy smiled and leaned back in her chair. “He could always abdicate.”
“Geez, Cathy, that wouldn’t make me feel like an ass or anything.” I glared at her. “Our entire relationship, I would be the reason he wasn’t king.”
“The very things that have you worried are the exact things that mean you would make an excellent queen.”
“You don’t understand. You’ve been brought up your whole life with that as a possible future. I was brought up in a land with no kings or queens. The very idea makes me nervous.”
“You do realize you’re from a line of royalty that once held the crown of Lilaria?” She snorted and picked up her plate. “Sam, get it together. Sometimes all our plans for life go to shit. You end up doing something you never dreamed of and you know what you do?”
I stood up and followed her to the sink with my plate. “What’s that, oh wise one?”
“You make the best out of it you can. Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you think it will be. It’s what you make of it.” Alex had said that exact same thing to me. She tossed her leftovers and handed the plate to the dishwasher. “But I can tell you this: You will never find another man that would love you the way Alex would.”
“Riddle me this. If you’re so smart, why are you hanging out with Kyle? He’s a scumbag.” I looked over at her as we walked.
“Oh, I know.” She shrugged. “I know exactly what he’s after, but when it’s just us, we have fun. I might understand how the world works, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to just be a little wild.”
“Be careful there. The lines become blurry when we’re living it.”
“I will.” Her blithe answer did nothing to make me feel like I had gotten through to her. Kyle was dangerous and I’d hate to see some of her sweetness smothered by the scars he would leave on her heart. “You leave tomorrow?”
“Yep. Bright and early. I think we’re driving.” I shrugged. “Chadwick already packed up my clothes and sent them to the house.”
“You’ll love it out there. Lots of trees and quiet.”
“I’ve seen some pictures online, but I’m really looking forward to being there in person.” I stopped near my bedroom door.
“Alex is going, too?”
“Yes.” I took a deep breath. I hadn’t seen him since our trip to the bookstore. It felt like ages and I was eager but also nervous to see him again.
“Lighten up, Sam.” She pushed my shoulder. “I expect an invitation to dinner soon.”
“Pizza party at my place.”
“Sounds perfect.” She hugged me quickly. “I’ve got to run.”
“See you soon.”
I spent the rest of the afternoon going through my e-mails. I was almost through with the list of unread messages when a new one popped in. When I saw the return address I grinned. It was from Bert, probably telling me about something silly Jess had done. I clicked on the icon and almost screamed when I saw the attached pictures.
From: BERT
To: "Sam Rousseau" <PRIVATE>
Subject: Important Question!!
Sam,
I was going to ask you to come with me to look, but since you’re all the way in Lilaria I’m sending you pictures. She’ll kick my ass if I pick the wrong one. What do you think?
Bert
I looked over the picture of rings and chewed on my lip. I was so happy for Jess, but also sad that I wouldn’t be there to listen to her squealing. I looked over the choices carefully, trying to pick out what Jess would and wouldn’t like. I debated for a minute over a couple of settings before responding.
From: Sam Rousseau
To: "BERT"
Subject: RE: Important Question!!
Bert,
It has to be the round-cut; they have the most facets so sparkle the most. And we know how much Jess loves to sparkle!
Congrats! Really happy for you guys.
Sam
I hit the send button and sat there staring at my computer monitor. I wasn’t there, but I had still been able to help Bert. I sent a quick e-mail to Dad with pictures I had snapped with my phone. Looking through the snapshots made me realize how much of the city I had seen. Cathy was right. I needed to stop focusing on the parts that made me miserable and enjoy the good things that came with this new life.
I decided to relax the rest of the night. Chadwick was so busy he hadn’t scheduled me anything after lunch. It was like coming home and having no homework. I made use of the big tub and finished the book I had started on the plane. In fact, I was so engrossed in the book that the water chilled and I had to get out. It was the most peaceful night I had spent in Lilaria and I was grateful for it. I had needed to recharge my batteries. I felt like I had been handing out little pieces of myself to everyone I met and took pictures with. After a while I had begun to feel like a shell of the person I was and having the night off was working wonders.
I fell asleep with the e-reader on my chest and didn’t move the entire night.
America’s Duchess Finally Goes Home
—California Travel Agents’ Association
The next morning was a blur of activity. For the first time since I met Chadwick, he looked flustered. I dutifully wore the dress he had left in my closet and checked the guest room for anything I might have accidently left behind. I packed up my laptop and stuck my e-reader in my bag to carry in the car. It would be a two-hour drive—nothing too long, but not a trip around the corner.
I finished up my breakfast while looking through the local papers. Thankfully some of them were in English. Unfortunately, my picture was on the front page of most of them.
“How can they do this? They just publish whatever they want without checking facts.” I held up the one I was reading. “I’m not pining away for some lover back home.” I set that paper down and picked up the next one. “I’m also not suffering from an eating disorder. Look at this! This one says I refuse to eat and the queen is worried. This other paper has a picture of me stuffing a burger in my mouth and calls me an American slob. Which is it? Am I anorexic or a fatty?”
“Best advice you will ever receive is to not read the papers.” Chadwick opened my closet.
“This is crazy! They just post whatever will sell.” I growled and threw the papers in the trash can next to the desk. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure we haven’t left anything.” He opened the drawers of the nightstand.
“I already checked.” I shook my head. “Are you okay? You seem flustered.”
“I’m fine.” His snappy tone made my eyebrows rise. “No. I’m not. I had a fight last night with my… friend. I apologize. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“We don’t have time.” He sighed. “Are you ready? I believe I saw Alex leaving his mother’s sitting room.”
“Sure.” I pulled my coat on and grabbed my bag. “Chadwick, would you be interested in making this a permanent job? Work for me? I know you’ve been living here, so if you have a life out here and aren’t interested in moving, I get that.” I wrapped my scarf around my neck. “I really would understand, but I’ve gotten used to your brand of nagging.”
“You’re so darling. How could I resist?” Chadwick said.
“So, that’s a yes?”
“I’ve already packed.” He opened the door for me and we made our way to the main entrance.
“What if I hadn’t asked you?”
“It’s my job to be prepared for everything.” He looked down at his clipboard and a terrible thought came to me.
“That’s not why you fought with your friend is it?” He didn’t look up from his notes. “Chadwick, don’t move out there for me. I mean, I want you to move out there for me, but I don’t want you to leave something good behind.”
“I’m happy with my decision, but thank you.” He smiled at me. “Besides, I think we make a good team.”
“I think so, too.” I frowned as we walked a ways. “Maybe… maybe your friend could come with you. I wouldn’t mind, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“That’s incredibly kind of you, but that’s not an option.”
“Oh.” I hated to see my peppy assistant so despondent. “Well, if that changes, the option is open.”
“I appreciate that.” He smiled at me but still looked sad.
“So long as I don’t find you in your underwear drinking milk out of the carton in the middle of the night.”
“What if I pour it in a cup first?” Chadwick was starting to loosen up and I was relieved.
“That’s mildly better. How about we agree on at least pajama pants or a robe with the glass of milk?”
“You do realize that there is an entire suite for me?” He looked over at me with a smile. “I believe in the States they are referred to as a ‘mother-in-law suite.’”
“Still. You might run out of milk and try to swipe mine.”
“Then I believe that’s an acceptable deal as long as it applies to you as well.”
“Hey, it’s my house.” I laughed. “No promises.”
We waited at the entrance for Alex and his assistant. I’d seen him a few times with Alex, an older gentleman who was very proper. While we killed time, I studied the paintings hanging in the entranceway. There was some beautiful work and some of them even looked vaguely familiar.
“Yes, yes. Tell them that I’ll be out there next week.” Alex’s voice reached my ears and my heart thumped. I was starting to feel like a schoolgirl. “I have some things to take care of at D’Lynsal and then I will go to Paris.” I turned to look at him and he smiled. His eyes ran over me like a man in the desert looking at a glass of water. My heart rate sped up and I watched as he made his way to me. He quickly hung up and stuck the phone in his suit pocket. “Are you ready to see your home?”
“Very.” I didn’t even have a joke. I was more than ready to see my place, to find my groove. Not to mention, as usual, the sight of Alex had erased the majority of my vocabulary.
“Then let’s go. Ned, I’ll be riding with the duchess.”
“Of course, sir.” The older man nodded his head.
Alex and I took the second car in the line; the first car was the escort that seemed to go with us everywhere. Chadwick winked at me as he took a spot in the back seat of the front vehicle.
We left with little fanfare except for the ever-present reporters and their cameras. “There are more of them today.”
“You’re going home.” Alex looked over at me. “They’re documenting history.”
“And here I was excited to get somewhere I could drink milk out of the carton while wearing my underwear.”
“You drink milk out of the carton while in your underwear?” Alex laughed.
“You’ve never done that? Gotten up in the middle of the night and wanted a snack?”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t bother to put on my underwear.” He watched my face as his words sank in.
“What do you… oh.” I frowned. “Wouldn’t that be cold?”
“It’s not so bad when you have someone warm to get back to.” His eyes ran over me, lingering on my hose-clad legs.
“Good point.” I looked back out the window as he chuckled.
All in all, the car ride wasn’t that terrible. We spent the majority of the ride discussing my property with the occasional phone call or message interrupting us. I spoke to my dad and was thrilled to hear him sounding more like himself. Patricia was in the background, telling him to ask me for more pictures. I laughed and joked with them while Alex took care of paperwork. It was a pleasant, easy car ride that only seemed odd because neither of us was driving.
As we left the city behind, I enjoyed watching the rolling hills and wooded areas flash by outside the window. Despite the time of year, there was green everywhere. It peeked out from underneath the snow-covered ground and from beneath the frosted branches of trees. We passed small villages and houses that seemed to spring up out of nowhere. There was a lot of farmland and horses. Cathy had been right—while I had enjoyed the city, I loved it out here.
Eventually the driver turned off the main street and took us down a meandering road. Nestled amongst the trees was a clearing filled with houses and shops. People lined the roadway with signs and flowers. My heart swelled with excitement. I was finally here.
People waved as we drove by and I rolled down my window to wave back. The driver seemed to understand that he should take his time because he slowed to a snail’s pace. Alex rolled down his window too and would point out buildings or people from his side. I hadn’t known what to expect—part of me had been waiting for them to all hate me for coming back, or to at least be indifferent, but I never would have expected them to be excited. As we neared what must be the village center, I was surprised to see a small stage and a band playing music. It looked like a holiday celebration.
“Do the children not have school today?” I asked as I waved at a young group.
“The local school closed for your homecoming.” Alex looked over at me in curiosity. “Didn’t Chadwick tell you this morning?”
“He may have mentioned it.” Chadwick must’ve been even more frazzled than I had realized if he had forgotten to tell me about all this. “Am I supposed to speak?”
“That would be a nice gesture.”
“Shit.” I drew the word out and he laughed quietly.
“Unprepared?”
“Guess I’ll have to wing it.” I looked at him with worried eyes. “How do you say thank you again?”
He said the words a couple of times while we waved and I practiced it under my breath. When we pulled around the center, Becca was out of the car ahead of us in a flash and by my door. Chadwick was right behind her, but at a more respectful pace. The cars behind us unloaded Alex’s security detail. We were led to the stage where there was a small podium and several important-looking people. I shook the hand of the woman that was the equivalent of the mayor, but I couldn’t pronounce her official title. Thankfully, she told me to call her Simone. There was a clergyman and several other men who made up the local council, all smiling and bowing.
Alex received bows and thank-yous from everyone. They all seemed to be floating on a high, as if my coming home and Alex’s presence was something to celebrate. It weirded me out. Chadwick handed me some paper while the woman in charge spoke to someone offstage.
“This is a speech I wrote on the way here. I forgot to tell you about all this and I feel terrible.” He shook his head. “But we don’t have time for that right now. Look it over while Simone speaks. It’s short and sweet. I tried to channel you.”
“Sounds good.” I smiled at him, hoping he would understand that I wasn’t angry. Everyone makes mistakes.
I glanced at the speech and tried to memorize the highlights. There was no way I would be able to say it all verbatim. If I tried I’d get tongue-tied.
The reporters who had followed us from the palace set up beside the locals, all waiting to hear what I had to say. Or rather, what Chadwick had written for me to say. Alex’s voice brought my attention up from the notes and I realized he had left the chair next to me and was speaking to the crowd.
“I’m very pleased to be able to bring Samantha Rousseau home and I’m proud to say that she lives up to her family’s reputation. She is sensible, loyal, and intelligent. I have no doubt that Duchess Rousseau will fit in here with all of us. I’m very glad to be able to call her neighbor—and my friend. So, without further ado, I present Samantha, the Duchess of Rousseau, and the real reason we’re all here today.” Alex turned toward me and smiled.
Chadwick cleared his throat and I realized it was my turn to talk. I stood up slowly and brushed at my skirt. The three steps to the podium were the longest three steps of my life. Never before had I worried about tripping and falling so much. Alex held his hand out to me and I shook it in turn. When he pulled me in to kiss my cheeks, I felt my face flush and the sound of whispering and cameras clicking filled my ears.
“Relax,” Alex whispered in my ear. “Just keep it simple and be yourself.”
“Thanks.” He let go of my hand and took his seat while I was left to face the crowd. I had no way of judging how many people were actually standing in the village center watching me, but it felt like I was giving a State of the union address. I squeezed the paper in my hand, the one I couldn’t remember anything from, and gave the crowd a smile.
“People use the word honored in award speeches, they talk about how grateful they are and humbled. Well, I’m not sure how to catalog today, but it feels as though I’ve won an award and I am all of those things: honored by your reception, humbled to be a part of such a wonderful legacy, and grateful that Her Majesty sent His Highness to find me.” I paused, trying to remember what else I was supposed to say, and was surprised by the applause. I looked over the crowd, stunned. “I’m going to keep this short because I hate to keep you all out in the cold—you might turn into Popsicles.” There were chuckles from the crowd. “Thank you so much for coming out here to meet me. I look forward to learning more about each and every one of you.” Very carefully, I said the words for “thank you” in Lilarian and silently prayed that I got it correct.
People stood up and clapped. I should have felt proud, but I just felt silly—like they were humoring me. I stepped away from the microphone and let Simone shake my hand. She turned toward the crowd, still holding my hand and motioned to me again while the crowd cheered. Not sure what to do, I waved with my free hand and smiled. When she let go, I moved to where the others had stood. They shook my hand like they hadn’t already been introduced to me and told me how happy they were that I was back. It was very surreal and I didn’t really understand why they were so excited. I was starting to think I never would understand.
People stopped me just off the stage. There was a lot of handshaking and smiling. So many names and faces I would never be able to keep up with. Through it all, Alex stayed by my side. He was a living, breathing wall of support. Every person that he spoke to felt at ease; the women swooned and the men felt important. By the time we got back in the car, I felt like I had seen a whole new side to Alex.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” He settled into his seat and raised an eyebrow at me.
“Thinking.”
“About how incredibly sexy I am?” He turned to look at me with a smirk.
“How do you have room in your head for anything other than your ego?” I laughed. “And no, I was thinking that you make a really great prince.”
“Why is that?”
“You put people at ease and they still respect you.” I smiled. “You’re a natural.”
“I’ve had years of practice. You didn’t do so bad yourself.” He pulled at my coat pocket and retrieved the speech Chadwick had written. “Was that really what Chadwick told you to say?”
“I couldn’t remember it.” I winced.
“So you winged that?” Alex whistled in appreciation as he unfolded the paper. “Wow, this wasn’t bad either, but I think you nailed it.” He read over the paper quickly.
“It may have been the shortest speech in history.” I looked out the window as the car finally began to move.
“It was exactly what you needed to say.” He folded the paper and stuck it back in my pocket. “It’s exactly what the crowd wanted.”
“Thanks.” I met his eyes and bit my lip. Would it be wrong to take what I wanted? Would it be worth it if I let myself give in? The more time I spent with him, the harder it was to fight my attraction to him.
“You’re welcome.”
Surprisingly there were no cars following us except for our own detail as we drove through the winding roads. When we came to a thin driveway with a gated entrance, the first car pulled in and the driver punched a code into the small keypad. I craned my neck to try to see the house through the trees, but they were too dense.
I sat up in my seat and leaned forward as we pulled through the gate. Seeing this house in person would clinch the whole deal for me—it was where I thought I’d finally be able to understand my place in this weird direction my life had taken. The trees cleared and I was rewarded with a breathtaking sight. The house wasn’t really a house. With the stone walls it looked more like a castle.
A short burst of laughter exited my mouth. I had seen pictures, but they hadn’t done it justice. There was a large staircase that led up to a massive door with elegant statues and stonework on either side. There was a small garden in the center of the circular driveway, a light frosting of snow sitting on top of the sculpted bushes.
“It’s something out of a fairy tale.”
“Welcome home, Samantha.” Alex’s warm voice drew my attention from the house. His eyes were warm and there was a soft smile pulling at his lips.
“Thank you.” I whispered the words. I meant for everything—for coming with me, for not running away every time I pushed, and for being my friend when I needed one.
He reached out and wrapped his fingers around mine before lifting my hand to his mouth and pressing a soft kiss on my knuckles. There were no words, no explanations, but they weren’t needed. He had said he wouldn’t kiss me until I asked, but this didn’t count. It was less than the kiss I had wanted in the bookstore, but more than I could ask for right now.
He got out of the car and walked around to open my door. I stepped onto my family land for the first time while Alex stood next to me. It felt right for him to be here. A shiver ran over my body as my eyes drank in the surroundings. A long time ago, my ancestors had lived here. Not many people could trace their family as far as the queen had done for me.
The front door opened and a man stood at the top of the stairs. He was tall with a friendly face and silver hair. I took the stairs carefully, Alex a step behind me. The man at the door bowed and I held my hand out.
“Duchess Rousseau, it’s a pleasure.” The man shook my hand briskly. “I’m Stanley Wessex.” He motioned to the open front door. “Welcome home.”
Our Very Own Royal Upgrades Homes
—College Daily
The inside was much more spacious than I would have thought. Two women stood just inside and curtsied when I entered the house. Stanley introduced them as his wife, who was the cook, and a slight woman named Jeanette, who was the housekeeper.
I took the time to talk with them each, but I was itching to run through the rooms. The furnishings were elegant, but nothing too grand. It felt like an ideal French chateau. After depositing our coats, Stanley led Alex and me through the rooms. He took the time to point out important furniture pieces and rooms that were used for something special.
“Two years ago we decided to upgrade the kitchens and bathrooms. The queen felt like it was a worthwhile expense and now I know why. She must have been close to finding you.” Stanley showed me the lovely kitchen, large enough to make food for a big party, but nothing like the industrial kitchen of the palace. “Margie has really enjoyed the changes.”
“It’s beautiful.” I liked the counters and soft colors of the walls. “I don’t think I would have picked anything different.”
“I’ll have to tell Margie. She worried that you wouldn’t like the things she chose and wouldn’t feel at home.”
“No, I love it.”
“I’m glad.” Stanley ushered us through the formal dining room, sitting parlor, and the more relaxed living room. As he led us up the stairs, he looked over his shoulder at me. “I’m afraid that we kept most of the renovations and upgrades to the main levels. We felt that if any of the family came home they would want to have a say in their bedrooms. There are eight bedrooms total, six bathrooms on the top level, and two bathrooms on the bottom level.”
At the top of the stairs was a landing with a desk and two hallways that ran in opposite directions.
“The right wing is typically used for the family, while the left wing is used for guests.” He started down the right hall. “There are four bedrooms on either side, and four bathrooms on the family wing. The one on the end will be yours.”
He led me straight to the last room down the right-hand hallway and opened the double doors. The room was beautiful. While the furniture was on the older side, it had a more antique feel rather than being outdated. The ornate furnishings and decorations were balanced by a simple, white bedspread and gauzy curtains. This room spanned the entire wing, which meant there were plenty of windows and natural light. The detailing along the walls and ceiling was beautiful. I looked around, trying to believe that it belonged to me.
“What do you think?” Alex asked from his vantage point in the doorway. He was leaning against the wall, his hands tucked in his pockets as he watched me.
“It’s beautiful.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe it’s mine.”
“We did update the master bath, of course, and the mattresses.” Stanley opened a door so that I could look at the bathroom. “Simple and clean. If you want to change anything to have a more American feel, it should be simple enough.”
“Thank you, but everything really does look great.” I smiled at him. “You’ve done a wonderful job of maintaining the home.”
“My pleasure.” Stanley smiled. “I’ll leave you to look through everything. I’m sure you’d like to have a peek without someone breathing down your neck. I’ll be downstairs helping Margie with the food if you need me.”
“Thank you.” I chuckled, relieved. I did want to poke around, but it felt odd with someone watching my every move. It was my home, but not my home. Like when you’re house hunting and you want to check the closets to see how much room there is, but someone’s stuff is inside.
“Well?” Alex was still leaning against the wall.
“Wow.” I laughed. “Completely surreal.”
“There’s a library.” He stood and motioned for me to come with him.
I followed him out of the room and into the other wing. He stopped at one of the doors and motioned for me to go in. I turned the handle and was rewarded with a beautiful sight. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that made my knees weak.
“Oh, that’s gorgeous.” I walked inside and sighed. It even smelled like a bookstore. I couldn’t wait to explore the titles and see what was in there.
“I thought you might like it.” He peeked around at the books. “Looks like you’ll have a lot of exploring to do.”
“It’s like a treasure hunt.” I ran my fingers over the large desk in the corner. “I don’t know what I’m going to find next.”
“What are you waiting for?” He gestured to the door.
I bit my lip, thinking, before pulling my shoes off and running out. I opened every door, peeking into each room and closet. Alex followed me at a more sedate pace, but chuckled each time I found something that made me “ooh” or “ahh.”
“This is really mine?” I looked at Alex over the giant antique bed in one of the guest rooms.
“It’s really yours.” He placed a hand on the ornate poster at the end of the bed. My heart sped up when I realized we were staring at each other over a very inviting mattress.
“I keep thinking there’s a mistake.” I looked away from him. “I know it’s real, but it doesn’t feel real.”
“But the house helps?”
“Yes. I think so.” I shrugged. “Last week, I kept thinking if I could just get here it would fall into place. That I’d find my groove.”
“I shouldn’t have asked you to wait for me. I didn’t realize how uncomfortable you really were.” Alex frowned.
“No, I’m glad you came with me. It feels right that you were here.” I met his eyes, hoping he could see what I meant. “And I met some great people in the city and learned a lot.”
“Things will calm down eventually.”
I forced myself to nod. Out here, away from the crush of the city, I could almost believe it. “I hope so.”
“Are you ready for some lunch?” He stepped away from the bed. “I have to leave soon. I have a meeting at home I can’t miss.”
“Oh. Of course.” I didn’t move. My heart stuttered because I realized that I might not see him for a long time. “Will you be going back to the city soon?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” He watched me carefully.
“Can I see you again before you go?” My hands were sweating, so I set my shoes down on the floor and stepped into them. I hadn’t asked him to kiss me, but maybe if I took small steps I’d get there eventually.
“I’ll make sure of it.” One side of his mouth curled up.
“Good.” I felt my own mouth turn up.
We joined everyone else downstairs, where Margie served us a large meal. It was much more laid-back than it had been at the palace and I found myself relaxing. Stanley joined us at my insistence, though Margie politely declined, intent on serving all the food herself. We talked about the property, about the village, and about the local people. We discussed the fishing and hunting in the area. Stanley was looking forward to my father’s arrival. He was an avid fisher and was excited to share his favorite spots.
Chadwick was as lively as ever. With some of the pomp removed from our surroundings even he relaxed with the protocols. When Margie finally delivered the plates of tiny desserts and a cake, she sat down with us and Chadwick grilled her for recipes. After a short while Alex checked his watch and looked over his shoulder to where he could see his assistant, Ned, sitting in the hall. Despite the fact that Chadwick had sat with us, Alex’s assistant claimed that he wasn’t hungry.
“You need to go?” I sat up straighter in my seat. I had been slouching forward, laughing at Chadwick.
“I’m afraid so.” Alex bowed his head. “Duty calls.”
“Thank you for coming with us today.” I stood up and everyone else did as well. I moved to the door and Alex followed closely behind. Once we were in the hallway, Ned moved ahead of us and out the front door.
“I enjoyed it.” He turned to look at me just inside the door. “I’m sorry I have to leave.”
“Me too.” I bit my lip and stepped forward to press a kiss to his cheek. I leaned back just enough to look up into his eyes.
He looked down at me, searching for something. His fingers touched mine briefly before he pulled away and left. I watched out the window for a moment before turning back and looking at my new house. I could hear the laughter from the dining room and something about it struck me as familiar. I was standing there enjoying the sound when it hit me. It sounded like home.
I made my way back to the dining room and threw myself into the conversation. Stanley and Margie were easy to talk to, offering up information about the house and the staff. The two of them lived in a small house just off the side of the main driveway. Jeanette had a small flat above their apartments.
“Where will poor Chadwick live?” I winked at my assistant. “And Becca. Will she be staying here as well?”
“Just clear out the barn.” Chadwick laughed.
“No, no. There is a small house behind the manor home. A very short walk and it has plenty of room,” Stanley said. “We already put your bags in there. And Becca has a room attached to this house in the back. It is completely self-sufficient but closer for security reasons.”
“Though if you’d prefer the barn, I could clear out a stall.” Margie winked at Chadwick.
“I think I’ll be glad of the house.” Chadwick shook his head. “Looks like your milk will be safe, Samantha.”
“As will my eyes.” I laughed when Margie and Stanley exchanged a confused look. “It’s a long story.”
“How have you found Lilaria so far?” Margie cut a piece of the cake and put it on a plate for me. “You’ve been in the papers every day. I imagine you haven’t had a chance to see much.”
“It’s a beautiful country, but I’m looking forward to things settling down.” I took a bite of the cake. “I’m also looking forward to having my father here. I think he’ll enjoy the area.”
“When you have had time to settle in, we can talk about what type of changes you’d like to make in the home.” Margie smiled. “There are a lot of excellent local artisans.”
“I can’t imagine what I would want to change right now. The house is beautiful.” I finished up the cake and stretched. “I do want to see more of the town and the area.”
“I’d be happy to take you around,” Stanley offered. “I imagine that you’ll only have a few days before the locals start making requests of your time.”
“You’re probably right, and thank you—that would be nice.” I picked up my plate to take it to the kitchen, but Margie tsked at me and took it out of my hands. “Margie, I’m happy to clean up behind myself.”
“No, ma’am. I’m happy to do it. Especially today!” She smiled. “Imagine, we finally have a Rousseau back in the house. This is a wonderful day.”
“It must feel weird. You’ve been here your whole lives and I just show up and it’s mine.” Chadwick choked on his drink, but I wanted to get that out in the open. “I hope there won’t be any hard feelings. I’m going to need your help.”
“You have it.” Stanley stood up and grabbed some of the dishes. “I assure you there is no resentment. Taking care of the Rousseau Manor and its holdings is a job passed down through the generations of my family. It’s something that we take very seriously.”
“Thank you.” I picked up some of the other dishes since Margie’s hands were too full for her to take them.
“Have you thought of what you’d like to do tonight?” Margie asked. “For dinner, I mean. We weren’t sure if you’d want to eat here or go out.”
“I’d like to unpack and relax a little.” I looked over at Chadwick to make sure he didn’t have any other ideas. He nodded his head and I felt relief wash over me. “In fact, I’d like nothing more than a big sandwich for dinner and to spend some time getting to know the house.”
“Are you sure, ma’am? I’d be happy to make anything you would like.” Margie stepped in front of the sink so she could keep me from doing any of the cleaning.
“Margie has even scoured the Internet for American dishes.” Stanley smiled at his wife proudly.
“Honestly, one of my favorite things to eat is a giant turkey sandwich with lots of cheese and mayo.” I sighed. “It’s comfort food.”
“Then a turkey sandwich it will be. Do you have a preference for when you like to eat?”
“Margie, I can make my own sandwich. You don’t need to do that.” I frowned. “Really! I’ll call you for the big dinners or anything fancy because I’m pretty helpless in the kitchen. But I can make a turkey sandwich.”
“Are you sure, ma’am? I truly don’t mind.”
“I’m sure, and please call me Samantha.” Margie’s eyes widened and I heard Chadwick sigh.
“She’s having a hard time adjusting to being royalty,” Chadwick explained.
“He’s right. Everywhere I’ve gone in the last week or so people refer to me as Duchess, ma’am, or some other title. I’ve shaken hands with a million people and had my photo taken two million times.” I paused, trying to find the right words. “But here? Here I want to be Samantha. I’d prefer Sam even, but I’m willing to compromise. I just want to feel at home.”
Margie smiled sadly at me. “All right then, Samantha. I’ll let you make your own dinner tonight.”
“Thank you.” I felt relieved that we’d gotten that out of the way. I talked to them for a while, standing in the kitchen, laughing as they told me stories about the locals and their families. Stanley offered me a glass of wine and I forced Chadwick to take one as well.
After a while, Chadwick and I meandered around the house, looking at the rooms. The mixture of Chadwick’s sly jokes and the wine had given me the giggles. When we opened a closet only to have an avalanche of blankets fall out, I died laughing as Chadwick tried to push them all back in. I held his glass while he cursed under his breath and used his shoulder to force the door shut. Eventually we ended up in the library upstairs.
We were looking at a painting when I saw the package on the desk. There was a note tucked into the twine that held the brown paper in place.