by Cate Remy
While Donovan rolled down the window and received a loop of keys from the groundskeeper, Shae looked out at the moat, wondering how deep the water was. She thought she heard the bridge creak and she immediately stopped wondering and held her breath instead.
They crossed over to the castle. As they parked outside the courtyard, Shae looked in awe. The castle had both the familiar storybook parapets and balconies that she knew from childhood fairy tales and princess movies. It also was very majestic and old. The stone at the gate showed centuries of wear in places where the wind swept up the hillside. “When was the castle built?
Donovan came up to unlock the doors. “Sometime after the English invaded Scotland. I think my ancestors were preparing for them to come here next.” He got the lock open and proceeded to put his back and shoulders into pushing the doors open. They parted reluctantly with a creak on ancient iron hinges. “The castle awaits you, my lady.”
She stepped inside. Natural light filtered in through the small window space high in the wall to cast a soft glow in the cool cavernous space of the entry hall. Several modern light fixtures also illuminated the area. The bulbs were set in sconces to recreate the feel of life in a castle.
“Wow.” Her voice carried up to the vaulted ceiling. Her footsteps echoed across the stone floor. The hall was set up to look as it did in medieval times. A woven mat sat in the center of the room. Several suits of armor from varying ages and styles were lined against the wall like silent soldiers guarding the keep.
“There’s more to see this way in the great hall.” Donovan walked by the suits of armor.
“I don’t see how you could call this a lesser hall.” Shae followed behind, watching their reflections slide over the polished breastplates and visors of the armor.
The next hall was twice the size of the first. From the wall hung a heavy square table with elaborate carvings. Bundled straw was stacked near the stone hearth. She walked up to get a closer view of an iron cart of tools used to tend to a fire. “This space seems big enough to fit a small village.”
“That was its intent if there was an invasion. Would you like to see the living quarters? It’s a bit of a hike.”
Shae joined him on the other side of the great hall. “After eating all that breakfast, I could spent the day walking it off,”
He pointed down a corridor that didn’t seem to have an endpoint. “There are plenty of halls to roam in the castle.”
“Just as long as we don’t get lost in them.”
“I still know my way around. I think.” Donovan pretended to look confused at the set of keys in his hand.
At least Shae hoped he was pretending. “Maybe we should’ve asked the groundskeeper for a tour map.”
She joined him in the corridor. They walked through other halls and rooms in the castle, including the chamber where arms used to be stored, the food cellars, and lesser chambers where servants slept. Donovan took her to a staircase leading up to the lord’s chamber and study. He explained how one room used to hold supplies for a physician who served the village that once stood half a mile beyond the castle.
They walked in room to room for a long time on the second floor before Donovan revealed a door built within the wall. “Care to see where it leads?”
“If it’s to the dungeon, no.”
“What is it with your fascination with medieval dungeons?” He gave the door a push. It creaked open to reveal a narrow staircase carved out from the stone of the wall. “See? It leads up, not down.”
Shae peeped into the hidden wall staircase. The steps were worn smooth in places from hundreds of years’ worth of use. “Looks like it leads to somewhere everyone wanted to go.”
“Come and I’ll show you.” He offered his hand to help her up the steps.
She took it and stepped up with him into the narrow space. It was so tight Donovan’s shoulders almost touched both walls. They climbed up until the stairs began to wind. At one point, Donovan had to bend down to keep his head from scraping the stone ceiling.
“For not being sure about your way around the castle, you seem to know a lot of little hidden passageways.” Her voice filled the cramped space of the steps.
“I used to look for places to hide as a child when my family entertained guests here.”
“Shame on you.”
“I was an only child. I needed to find something to occupy my time.” He got to the top, where a locked door marked the end of the ascent. He searched the key ring, settling on a brown skeleton key. “When I was eight, I freaked out when I came up here and realized I needed one of these. My parents heard me screaming all the way down in the great hall.”
“I bet they weren’t too happy about you wandering off.”
“I made the guests think there was a ghost.” He put the key into the latch and gave it a turn. Shae felt air moving. Donovan opened the door to reveal a roof of the castle. She covered her eyes as noonday sun brightened the darkened space of the steps.
She got out on the roof with him. She pulled the cowl neck of her sweater a little closer to her skin as the temperature fell in the afternoon. She looked out over the moat. It was smooth as a mirror. She looked further out and could see the little houses and farm they drove by to get to the castle. “This view is gorgeous. You can see the countryside for miles.”
“On a clear day, you can see the hills near the estate.” He pointed towards the horizon, where it was partly obscured by trees and mist.
A cold breeze blew in and found its way through the weave of Shae’s sweater. She suppressed a shiver. “I shouldn’t have left my coat in your car.”
“Do you want to go get it?”
“Not right now. I want to look at this for a moment.”
She took her time studying the scene before her. She put her hands on the cold, smooth stone of the parapet. Another cold breeze came. She braced against it.
Then she felt warmth and a solidness against her back. Donovan slid his arms around her. His face was close to her ear. Shae, surprised the first moment, gradually relaxed as they stood in the same place.
They stood for several minutes, watching leaves being carried away in the wind. Shae began noticing less of the scenery and discovered her senses taking note of Donovan. She saw him interlace his fingers with hers. She felt his warm skin and heard him take a breath. She shivered again, this time not from the cold, but as a more intimate response when he brushed his lips against her earlobe.
She turned her face to the side. Her eyes met his. Then she closed them as he kissed her lips.
Shae wasn’t sure how long she stood on the castle balcony, kissing him. All the coldness she experienced before gave way to warmth. The kiss deepened from sweet to passionate. When she opened her eyes, she discovered she had turned away from looking out at the horizon. She was in his arms, facing him, her own hands locked behind his neck. His eyes darkened to a more intense forest green hue.
She pulled back. The wind picked up and dug frigid fingers in Shae’s skin. She wanted to leave. “We should put this behind us. I think I should go back to the estate. Your aunt wants me to try on gowns before dinner.”
Donovan’s body language indicated he had more to say. Instead, he opened the door for her to exit the balcony. She went down the steps and began the silent walk with him through the castle. This time the charm of the fairytale structure vanished and she was left only with the cold, lonely remains.
Chapter Sixteen
Shae, still feeling the emotions from her time with Donovan at the castle, wanted to go to her guest room as soon as they drove to the estate. She got out of the car and left him with her excuse. “I need to rest a bit. I’ll see you at dinner.”
It had to be the lamest thing she ever said. Not only was it odd, but it made her sound weak, as though she couldn’t handle talking to him directly. Shae got honest with herself and figured she did require time alone to process what Donovan said about wanting to be in a committed relationship with her. Her mind was swirlin
g. The whole idea sounded unworkable. She would tell him again in a better way when her mind was clear, just not at the moment when she had his parents to meet and a royal ball tomorrow. She had to make a solid professional impression before monarchs, diplomats, and scores of important dignitaries. If she acted on her feelings, she and Donovan could both lose the respect they gained for their work.
She opened the door to her room and found three garment bags on the bed along with a note. The note was from Resa.
My dear, I had my stylist deliver three youthful gowns for you to choose from for tomorrow. She was thrilled to style something other than my rainbow scarf collection for a change. Toodles, Resa
Resa’s humor showed through in her note. Shae smiled and unzipped each garment bag. The gowns were all beautiful, well-crafted, and made of soft silk and satin. She tried each one on in front of the mirror before deciding on a bronze silk gown with black beads and chocolate lace. The top was long-sleeve and fitted while the skirt had a slight flare. Shae was careful when she placed it on the hanger and back in the bag. She checked the time to see dinner was about to start in less than an hour. She got in the shower.
She changed into a burgundy dress with three quarter sleeves. She had it zipped up when a person called from the other side of the door.
“Knock, knock.” The voice sounded like Resa’s.
Shae answered the door to see her guess was correct. “Hi. Thank you so much for letting me borrow your stylist.”
“Did you find a dress you like?”
“I did, and it fits perfectly.”
“Mind if I come in?”
Shae stepped aside to make room for her to enter. Resa strolled in wearing black slacks and a cashmere turtleneck. “I’m guessing you might be a wee bit nervous about meeting the king and queen this evening.”
“Am I that obvious?”
Donovan’s aunt chuckled. “If you can handle my nephew while he’s abroad by himself, then this will be a cinch.”
Shae sat on the bed to put on her shoes. “I don’t know where to begin.”
“Tonight isn’t very formal. You start by standing when the king and queen enter the dining hall. You wait until they’re seated before you sit down. When they speak to you, address them as Your Majesty.”
“I can remember those things. What else?”
“That’s it. No bowing, no curtsying. The Office of Protocol did away with those things a hundred years ago. Royals shake hands like everyone else.”
“Thanks for helping me avoid embarrassment.”
Resa’s face took a serious turn. “No, my dear. Thank you for assisting my nephew. It may look like a simple hotel renovation project, but you showed the world how Donovan is preparing to be king someday.” On her way out, she paused in the doorway. “You showed who you are, too. Hold your head high tonight.”
Shae came downstairs ten minutes after Resa left. Her encouraging words still rang in her ears when she saw Donovan at the foot of the steps.
“I was waiting to escort you to dinner.” He offered his arm.
He wore a suit. He looked good in whatever he had on, whether it was business attire, jeans, or those now-famous gym shorts from the photo circulating of him on the internet. Maybe if she remembered the funnier aspects of his life, she wouldn’t have to worry about slipping up and embarrassing herself at dinner.
Donovan brought her into another dining room and to the table. This one was a little larger than the parlor. Resa stood at her place at the table, along with three new people. They dressed in similar minimalist styles like Donovan’s aunt. Shae guessed them to be the friends she mentioned before.
Jacques stood at the entrance to the room. “Announcing their Royal Majesties, King Alexander and Queen Helena.”
Shae’s heart sped in anticipation as the monarchs entered. King Alexander was tall and regal with a stern face. He wore a navy suit. Queen Helena was stately and lovely with thick, wavy red hair. She wore a cream dress and entered the room in an electric wheelchair.
They first greeted Resa and her friends, and then Donovan. “It’s good to see you home, son.” His father gave him a hug.
Donovan bent to give his mother a kiss. “Welcome back, sweetheart” she said.
The king and queen looked to Shae. Donovan introduced her. “Mother, father, this is Miss Shae Lawson.”
“We finally meet you.” King Alexander extended his hand. “Donovan’s told us good things about you.”
“He certainly has.” The queen shook her hand next. “Welcome to Severn, Shae. We hope you’ll feel at home.”
Shae smiled at Donovan. She met the king and queen and didn’t do anything to humiliate herself in front of his parents. The hard part was over. Now she could eat and enjoy their company.
Donovan was pleased at his parents’ response to Shae. They made polite conversation with her during dinner, and seemed genuinely interested in her as a person. They asked her questions about her family and what she was studying in school.
When his parents declined to stay after dinner and Shae excused herself temporarily, Donovan sat down at the table again with his aunt. Her friends left and didn’t return. He watched her break out a deck of cards.
“Where were you hiding those, Aunt Resa?”
“There’s a notch under the table where the leg joins the board. I keep a deck stored there when I visit.”
“Why not just have someone bring you a deck of cards?”
She took the cards out of the box and shuffled them. “Because then I have to wait. People that I’ve talked into playing bridge with me usually get impatient and leave when they have to wait.”
“Speaking of people, where did those friends of yours go to?”
“They went into town to catch a movie. You’ll see them at the ball tomorrow.”
“Ah, yes, the ball. Hours of standing and pretending not to feel awkward.”
His aunt shuffled the deck again and dealt him a hand. “Nephew, if you feel out of place at a soiree, it’s either a boring party or you’re having trouble impressing someone. Since the ball isn’t until tomorrow, I’m guessing this has something to do with the pretty American business student visiting with us.”
As usual, his aunt had a way of zeroing in on every detail. She missed nothing. It was one of the things Donovan loved and struggled to accept with her. “What makes you think Shae has anything to do with what I said?” He did a mental check to make sure his posture and face muscles were all relaxed.
“Donovan, did you think I was born yesterday or the day before? I watch how you glance at Shae when you think no one else is looking.”
Aunt Resa strikes again. He knew he had been caught too easily. Nevertheless, he thought of Shae and her wish for things to be kept at a strictly professional level. “You sound like a tabloid news segment.”
His aunt dealt a hand for Shae and one for herself. She kept the cards turned down. “I don’t need gossip rags to confirm what I see. But something’s different tonight than it was for the two of you this morning. Did Shae like the castle?”
He knew she was trying to press for answers. “She loved it.” In the beginning, anyway. Once they went on the balcony, it all went downhill and splashed in the moat from there.
“Are you sure, nephew? I hope you didn’t give her a tour of the dungeon. That dark, dingy thing should be converted into a billiards hall.”
Shae re-entered the room. Aunt Resa stopped talking about the dungeon and pointed to the cards. “We’re all set to play three-handed bridge, my dear.”
Donovan played a couple rounds with them and lost both. Aunt Resa had a ball teasing him about it. He got up while she shuffled for the third round. “I know when to bow out and save my remaining dignity. Good night, ladies.”
“Goodnight.” Shae told him, making the briefest of eye contact before focusing on her new deck of cards.
Maybe tomorrow would be better. Twenty-four hours would have passed since the last time they kissed. Maybe she’d
put it all behind her like she said she wanted to. Her words still stung.
He went towards the west wing of the estate where his rooms and office were located. He met with Jacques on the way.
“Your Highness, the Office of Protocol phoned to say they were trying to reach you. I told them you were at dinner.”
“I left my phone in my office. I’ll see what they want. Thanks.”
Donovan finished his walk to his office suite and found his phone next to his laptop. He listened to a message from the Chief of Protocol concerning confirmation of a scheduled photo-op at the horse races later in the week. He dialed the chief’s extension at the office. “I hope I’m not disturbing you if you’re on your way out of the office.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. Thank you for returning my call. Last spring, you scheduled a photo-op for Well Bred, an equestrian magazine. Do you still want them to send a photographer this Friday at the Autumn Reigns tournament?”
Donovan remembered he set up the photo-op right before he left for the United States. “No. It turns out I’ll be traveling with an associate. I want her privacy respected.”
“I’ll alert the magazine’s editors at once.”
“As an apology, invite them to the royal stables for a photo-op next month.” He put the phone aside.
Good thing the Office of Protocol alerted him. He spared a glance at the freshly-pressed tuxedo delivered from his tailor this afternoon. Tomorrow he and Shae would be honored by Severn’s notables at the ball. It would be the last formal event they’d share together. It meant they were one day closer to her traveling home to her country. Shae may be looking forward to it, but he definitely was not.
Aunt Resa may be right. He wasn’t so sly after all.