That thought makes my gut churn. “God, I hate like hell that you have to face that alone. I should really be there.”
“Oh, no, I’m afraid that wouldn’t make it easier, to be honest,” she says. “But never mind. I can handle myself.”
There’s something about her tone that sounds slightly defensive. “I know you can, Belle. Of all the princesses I’ve dated, you’re the toughest.”
She chuckles a little, and the sound makes me feel approximately one percent better about what has happened. “God, I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart,” I answer, not wanting to say goodbye. “Listen, I know you’ve got a tough day ahead, but I want to take you to MacGillivray Bluff for a picnic tonight. It’s supposed to be a warm evening and it’s super secluded. Just the two of us. I’ll plan everything and pack us some supper. All you have to do is come along.”
“That sounds like the very thing we need—some time to be truly alone,” Arabella says.
She’s the best, isn’t she? “Perfect. I’ll pick you up around six this evening?”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“I hope the meeting goes well.”
“It won’t, but at least we’ll be together soon.”
With that, she rings off, and I lie back down, worry clouding over the warmth of the last bit of our conversation. If this is how badly the next five weeks are going to be, she and I will have to work extra hard to make this work. I am most definitely going to have to pull off a magical evening that will remind her exactly why we’re so perfect together.
Getting up, I throw on a T-shirt and make my way down the hall to the washroom, only to find Dwight standing in the shower, wearing shorts, a T-shirt, water shoes, and a snorkeling mask. He’s holding a toothbrush in one hand and a small glass container filled with what I know is bleach in the other. I watch him for a moment while he dips the toothbrush into the liquid, then begins to vigorously scrub the grout between the gleaming white tiles.
“A little early morning cleaning?” I ask him.
He turns to me, his eyes bulging out from behind the lens of his rubber mask. “You take rather long showers, so I’m concerned about mildew forming on the grout. Prevention is key to maintaining a clean home.”
“Want me to take a turn?”
He wrinkles up his nose and shakes his head. “Thank you, but I have a system.”
Of course he does. He told me the same thing when I offered to load the dishwasher. “Okay, but if you think of something I can do to help around here, please let me know.”
“My new favourite client doesn’t have to help out at all,” he says, dipping the toothbrush and getting back to work.
“Favourite? I take it the ratings were decent last night?”
Grinning over his shoulder, he says, “Better than decent. You knocked Newlyweds in the Wild right off their pedestal. ABN hasn’t had ratings that good… well, ever, now that I think of it.”
A slow smile spreads across my face.
“This is it, William. Your ship has come in, my friend. You are going to be huge—bigger than huge. And I never say that to any of my clients.”
“You told me that the first day we met.”
“Oh, did I?” he asks. “I was just blowing sunshine up your arse, but this time I actually mean it.” He gets distracted by an invisible mould spore and repeatedly scrubs the same spot. “In about twelve minutes, you’re going to get a call from Kenneth Abernathy, the CEO of Abernathy & Co. Mountaineering Equipment. They’re looking for a spokesman for an all-new line of carabiner clips they’re launching.”
“Are you serious?” I ask, my heart rate picking up.
“I would never kid about anything like this. He wants you to fly to London to have dinner with his team tonight.”
“Tonight?” My stomach drops. “Is there any way we can put it off by a day? I promised I’d take Arabella out for a much-needed escape from reality.”
Dwight slowly turns to me. “Will, the CEO of Abernathy & Co. Mountaineering Equipment wants to meet you, and you want me to tell him that you have a date?”
“Obviously not. We could come up with some other reason, couldn’t we?”
“No, we can’t. I’m sure Princess Arabella will understand, and if she doesn’t, you have bigger issues to deal with than some hurt feelings about last night’s show.”
“Obviously she’ll understand,” I say, feeling slightly defensive. “It’s just that at this very moment, she’s being raked over the coals by the royal advisors and I promised I’d make it up to her.”
Dwight pauses for a moment and stares up at the ceiling. “How about this? You make the most of this unbelievably rare opportunity that’s being offered to you so that you can become fabulously rich. Then she won’t have to worry about what anyone thinks anymore because you’ll be able to buy your very own palace and spend the rest of your lives playing by your own rules.”
I stare at him for a long moment, considering his words. “When you put it that way…”
12
Know-it-all Mannies and Very Disappointed Lady Bits…
Arabella
Well, I don’t want to bore you with all the details but suffice it to say it has been an absolutely crap day. My 7:30 a.m. emergency PR meeting lasted until well after lunchtime with me sitting saying things like, “yes, but—” and “I really don’t think—” without finishing a single sentence the entire time. But I didn’t cry, so I suppose that’s a mini-victory for someone as truly pathetic as I am. Yay, me.
After wasting over five hours listening to the three lawyers covering the same ground in circles, I got back to my office only to find messages from six of my charities, all needing to speak with me urgently regarding my comportment out in the jungle. I spent the rest of the day trying to laugh off what happened and saying things like, “Honestly, Peter, I think it may be a form of Tourette’s that only shows itself when leaping from helicopters.”
(Incidentally, that one didn’t go over well. Who knew his sister has Tourette’s?)
Anyway, I’m filled with relief that this day is over so I can let Will help me forget all about it with a whole lot of make-up sex. Not that we need to make up. It’s not like we had a fight or something. It’ll be more like regular sex—fabulous, passionate, sexy sex with the man I love. Yes, that’s precisely what I need. I hurry down the hall toward my apartment to shower and get ready for my date. Will must be crazily excited too because he has texted me at least a dozen times today, asking me to call him about tonight. He even left an old-timey message on my voicemail.
I dial his number, not breaking my stride.
“Hello?”
There’s his sexy voice. Mmm.
“Hello yourself. Somebody’s excited about tonight,” I say in a flirty voice before realizing Bellford can hear me.
“There you are. I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”
Huh, he doesn’t sound at all sexy and excited.
“Yes, sorry I couldn’t call you back. It’s been one horrible meeting and phone call after another all day. To be honest, the only thing that has gotten me through it is the thought of our romantic evening. I cannot wait to see what you have planned.”
In the background, I hear a man’s voice over a loudspeaker: Flight number 1082 to London, England, now boarding at gate 56.
My heart drops to my knees. “Are you at the airport?”
“Yeah, that’s why I was trying to reach you. I’m so sorry, Arabella, but I got a call from Kenneth Abernathy. Do you know him?”
“No,” I say, stopping in front of the elevator doors and stomping my foot. I won’t push the button yet because I lose reception between the second and third floors.
“Oh, I wondered if you might run in the same circles. Anyway, he’s the owner and CEO of Abernathy & Co. Seems like a nice enough chap.”
“Okkkkayyy…” Please don’t say our date is off. Please don’t say our date is off.
“God, I feel so terrib
le about this. Kenneth wants to offer me a sponsorship deal and he’s asked me to fly to London for dinner tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Unfortunately, yeah. I tried to postpone, but this is the only night he could meet me. I felt just sick about it all day, knowing I was going to have to disappoint you.”
“Oh, goodness, don’t worry about that,” I say, masking my hurt. I push the button, hoping the elevator arrives soon so I can get off this call. “This is a huge opportunity for you. Of course you have to take it.”
“It’s a huge opportunity for us, sweetheart,” Will says. “The more my career takes off, the better chance I can build a really great life for us.”
“Flight number 1082, now boarding passengers seated in rows five through thirteen.”
“Shit, that’s me,” he says, sounding concerned. (As he should be). “Are you sure you’re okay with me missing our big date?”
“I’m absolutely fine with it. In fact, I need time to get myself prepared for my Equal Everywhere Conference next week, so I’ll do that this evening.”
“You’re such a trooper, Belle. I still feel awful about it though. It’s just that Dwight says I need to strike while the iron’s hot, and I have a feeling he’s right. The ratings last night were through the roof, and if I don’t make the most of this opportunity —”
I step on the elevator, avoiding eye contact with Bellford, who knows exactly what I’m doing. I push the number three while Will blathers on about making hay while the sun shines. Finally, the phone starts to crackle.
“Will, I’m probably going to lose you. I just got on the lift. Have a lovely time in London.”
“Thanks, hon. You’re the best. I promise to make it up to you tomorr—”
The call disconnects, and I shove my phone roughly into my suit jacket pocket. The doors open and I grumble as I stalk down the corridor. Bellford, who has obviously heard the entire thing, keeps a polite distance behind me. “You’ll make it up to me tomorrow night,” I mutter under my breath. “Maybe I’ll be busy tomorrow night. Who knows? Maybe the head of Nike is going to call and beg me to model sports bras.”
“I’m sorry, what was that, Miss?” Bellford asks.
“Nothing, just… being immature.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
As soon as I step into my empty apartment, I’m overcome by loneliness and a horrible restlessness. It’s suddenly too quiet in here. And too… sterile. I long to be back in the jungle or swimming in the warm Caribbean with Will, even if he is a total date-breaker.
I glance at my desk, seeing the folder of Equal Everywhere notes waiting for me. Nope. There’s no way I can go from the tingly anticipation of an incredibly romantic evening to that. I walk over to the window and stare out at the meadow behind the palace and the forest in the back. The autumn sun is setting behind the forest, and I spot Tessa jogging whilst the twins ride tricycles in front of her. Her musclebound manny/trainer, Xavier, is strolling along beside her while she huffs and puffs along the pea gravel path.
Tessa—that’s who I need right now. I quickly hurry to my room to get changed.
“What are you still doing here?” Tessa asks, panting between words. “Shouldn’t you be on your date by now?”
“I got stood up, so I thought I would join you for a little fresh air,” I say, falling into step with her.
Flora and James both turn their heads to see who’s behind them, still furiously pumping their short, chubby legs. Their little faces squeeze my heart, suddenly making me feel slightly better about being thrown over for a business opportunity.
“Hi, Auntie!” James shouts. “Me gots a Tyronnanon.” He holds up a tiny dinosaur, causing his trike to make a sharp turn. He quickly puts his hand back on the handlebar and corrects himself while his sister, Flora, an extremely early talker, corrects him. “Tynannosaurus Rex.”
I grin at their little exchange.
James ignores his sister and says, “He be named Rex.”
“Lovely to meet you, Rex,” I say, nodding at the small plastic toy now gripped between his fingers and the handlebar.
“Princess Tessa, you’re going to need to bring your pace up a bit,” Xavier says to her. “Your heart rate is falling under one hundred.”
Tessa turns to me and rolls her eyes. “Okay, thanks, Xavier.” Covering her mouth with one hand, she mutters, “I actually think I’d prefer the Shock Jogger at this point.”
“I heard that,” Xavier says with a little grin. “Don’t get discouraged now, Your Highness. It’s only two more weeks until the big trip. You will lose the rest of that baby weight!”
“Yes, you’ve already told me that,” Tessa says. Lowering her voice again, she pants out, “Good God, my legs are like jelly.”
“That’s why you better keep running,” Xavier says. “Faster, kids! Don’t let Mummy catch you!”
“This is slightly humiliating, no?” I ask her, feeling my heartbeat pick up. “We’re being outpaced by preschoolers.”
“Those tricycles have special wheels or something…” Pant, pant. “…that make them unbelievably fast. Now, back things up to the moment before James interrupted you.” Pant, pant. “The bit about how you got stood up.”
“Yes, Will got a better offer,” I say, then quickly realize how bad that sounds. “He has a chance to rep some company that makes mountain climbing equipment. He’s flying to London as we speak to meet up with the CEO.”
“Ah, his star is on the rise,” Tessa says with a firm nod.
“So it would seem,” I say, starting to pant. I hate running. “I’m happy for him, I really am.”
“But?”
“But we needed to have an evening together alone.”
“I take it things ended on a sour note last night?” Tessa asks as we make a left turn and follow the path toward the river.
“Time!” Xavier shouts suddenly, causing both Tessa and me to jump.
I stop running thinking that he means her workout is over. Tessa stops running as well, but she quickly hops over to the grass and starts doing burpees while her kids skid to a halt and count them out with Xavier’s help. I stand there, slack-jawed, as I watch her jump in the air, then crouch down, plant her hands on the ground, flailing her legs out behind her into a plank position, then jump back up. When she gets to ten, her kids cheer for her and she nods at them, giving them an exhausted-looking thumbs-up before getting back on the path. “We get to walk for thirty seconds now,” she says with a tired smile.
“Thank God,” I answer. “Where were we?”
“Sour note,” Tessa says, sucking in some air.
“Righto. I wouldn’t say it was so much sour as extremely awkward. I mean, I’m not mad at him, at all. And he’s totally cool with what I said, too. If anything, I needed to come to terms with how poorly I had behaved.”
“How mature of you,” she says sarcastically.
“Okay, between you and me, hearing myself described as a waste of air wasn’t exactly a welcome experience. But he really didn’t know me at the time, and it’s not like I had very positive feelings for him when we first met.”
“True, it was pretty much even as far as nasty insults went.”
I let out a long sigh. “I wish we’d never filmed that show.”
“If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have fallen in love.”
“Good point.”
Tessa stops walking and turns to me. “Listen, this whole thing is going to be a challenge for you to get through, but if you can do it, you two’ll be golden.”
“Keep it moving, Your Highness,” Xavier says.
Tessa drops to the ground. “Just need to tie my—”
“I’m not buying the shoelace thing again.”
“Damn,” she says, straightening up and picking up the pace.
“It’s all so complicated, you know? I mean, trying to make it work with such different backgrounds and lifestyles. And it’s not like he’s going to get Father’s blessing. Or Arthur’s, for
that matter. He was completely pissed at him last night and that was before the show aired.”
“Listen, if Arthur and I could make it work, anyone can. Just think of all the horrible things I wrote about him and, well, the entire family, really. We’ve all gotten past that long ago.”
“Yes, we have,” I say, even though her awful words pop into my mind without my permission. Inbred leeches. Useless drains on society. “What you wrote about us was far worse than what Will said.”
“Exactly. And if you managed to forgive me and found it in your heart to welcome me into the family, your father and Arthur can do the same with Will. It’ll just take some time.”
“Yes, you’re probably right,” I say, even though she’s completely wrong. It’s one thing for me to have forgiven Tessa, but I’m a total softie, whereas Arthur is like a stone wall when it comes to anyone hurting his family. Will would have to do something monumental to win him over.
“Be patient. Let the show wrap up, then we can get everyone together again for a do-over,” she says. “But in the meantime, I’ll be sure to distract Arthur every Thursday night.”
“Brilliant, thank you,” I say, feeling briefly grateful before I go right back to feeling like an idiot. “Honestly, why did I think watching the show together would be a good idea?”
“Not sure, really,” Tessa answers.
“It’s because you’re proud of Will,” Xavier says, strolling along beside us. “And you love him, which caused you to forget all about how much you two hated each other when you first met.”
And I thought Will was a know-it-all. He’s got nothing on the manny. Although, now that I let his words sink in a bit, I realize he’s right, and I actually do feel slightly less stupid about the whole thing. “Thanks, Xav.”
“No problem, Your Highness,” he says. “Now, pick up the pace, you two. We’re heading into a ninety-second burst at level eight exertion. That’s where the real fat burning happens.”
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