My private jet lands in St. Albans, and I’m about to come unglued, the urgency of finding Ella at the forefront of my mind.
I can’t believe she came all this way to look for me. That must mean that everything I feel for her, she feels too. She’s just as desperate to find me. It’s one more thing that cements it for me. We’re meant to be. It’s like fate or something. I stick my hand in my pocket, fingering her thong. It’s become a habit that makes me feel close to her.
Striding toward my waiting limo, I know I have to find her as soon as possible. But how am I supposed to do that? There has to be a way.
As soon as I slide onto the soft leather seat, I find my personal secretary, Travers, waiting for me.
He looks down at me through his bifocals. “Your Highness, I must say I was surprised to find out you were coming home. I was under the impression that you were trying to escape your royal duties.”
I laugh and clap him on the knee. “Good to see you too, Travers. You’ve got it all wrong, my man. It wasn’t the duty that bothered me, it was the stipulation.”
“Meaning marriage.”
I point at him with my forefingers cocked. “Bingo.”
His eyebrows knit together. “Has something changed?”
A smile breaks across my face. “Has it ever.” I lean back in the seat and sigh, thinking about Ella.
“Highness, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that expression on your face before.”
I cut my eyes at him. “Because it’s never been there before, Travers.” I lean forward, my arms resting on my knees. “But I’ve found her. The girl I want to marry.”
He looks at me like his eyes are about to bug out of his head. “Marriage?” he stutters. “I don’t understand. You didn’t want any of the ladies at court.”
“Fuck no.” I shiver with the memory of them all, especially Melissa. “But I met someone. And I’m going to marry her … if I can find her.” I slump back in the seat, frowning.
“Sorry, Highness, you’re going to have to explain.”
I sigh. “I found a girl, fell in love almost instantly, though I didn’t realize at first that’s what I was feeling. I think she feels the same way because when I went to find her, she was gone; she came here to St. Albans to find me.” I give Travers more details, but still the short version of what happened, leaving out the details about our encounter in the strip club and the thong she left for me.
Travers looks stunned. Adjusting his glasses, he leans back against the seat as we get closer to the bridge leading to the palace. “I have to say, Highness, I’m impressed. I honestly didn’t know if this day would ever come.”
I chuckle. “Neither did I, Travers. Neither did I. But she’s something special. Just wait until you meet her.”
“She must be to have tamed someone like you.” Travers is nothing if not honest. “So, how do you plan on finding her?”
I scratch at my jaw. “That's the problem, isn’t it? She’s somewhere out here in the kingdom,” I spread my arms wide, “but I haven’t the faintest clue where to start looking.”
Travers goes silent for a long while, not speaking again until we climb from the limo at the palace. “Are you going to tell your father?”
I grimace. “I suppose he would love to hear it.”
Travers makes a sound in his throat that sounds like he’s not so sure. “He is highly disappointed that you haven’t chosen someone from the Court of St. Albans.”
I snort. “Not going to happen. You should know that.”
“I know that, but convincing him that you should be allowed to marry someone outside the Court, from another country, no less, might be a problem.”
Shaking my head, I give him a hard look. “I’m not wavering on this. He wants me to marry and rule the kingdom? Done. But it’s on my terms. And if I’m going to marry, it’s going to be Ella.”
I almost want to laugh at the words coming out of my mouth. A week ago, I definitely would've laughed in the face of anyone who suggested I’d ever say that. But Ella… I finger that thong again, so eager to see her again that I’m ready to hop on my motorcycle and start looking right now.
Travers nods. “If a woman has affected you like this, she has to be the one. I’ll speak to your father on your behalf.”
“That’s great, Travers, but first I need to find her.”
“About that,” he says. “I was thinking on the ride over, and I may have a solution. What if we have a ball?”
I squint at him in confusion. “A ball?”
“Yes,” he says, growing more excited. “A Royal Ball, where every eligible maiden in the kingdom attends. From all stations, high and low. We get the word out, make sure your Ella has plenty of chances to hear about it. Then on the night of the ball, you will greet them one by one. If your lady is there, you’ll know.”
Yes. It’s perfect. I’ll know her instantly. There’s no way I could ever forget that face, those eyes.
“Travers, you’re a genius. That’s a fabulous idea.” I grin, getting excited, feeling more hopeful than I have so far. I know I’ll find her now.
“Yes,” I say, “let’s do it. Let’s have a ball!”
Ella