by Holly Rayner
“What happened? Is it too rainy to go to the beach today? I can’t tell with the window shade closed.”
“No, that’s not it,” Ashley said. “David, Matteo has something he would like to tell you.”
David turned to face Matteo, a curious look on his face. Ashley watched as Matteo cleared his throat and considered his words before he began.
“David, do you remember the story I told you last night, about the young prince who was taken to live far away?”
“Yeah, I told it to my mom after you left. Didn’t I, Mom?”
Ashley nodded.
“You did. It was a good story,” she said.
“Why do you ask?” David said, turning back to Matteo.
“Well, what if I were to tell you that the story isn’t a story at all, but that it’s true? It’s about a real little boy who is in this very palace, returned home after being found?”
“Wow! Who is it?” David asked.
“David, the boy in the story is you,” Matteo said.
David blinked as he considered that bit of news.
“You mean, you know who my parents are? And they live here, in the palace?” David asked.
Matteo nodded.
“Yes. Well, sort of. I’m afraid your biological mother died when you were just a baby. You were brought here after that, and then you were taken away before your father had a chance to know you even existed. We found you and brought you back here, and well, here we are.”
He was dancing around the issue, clearly afraid of David’s reaction. Ashley watched the boy’s face as realization dawned on him.
“Matteo, are you my dad?” he asked.
Matteo met his gaze with a steady glance, then nodded.
“I am.”
David looked at Ashley, then at Matteo, then back to Ashley, and then finally he stared in amazement at Matteo.
“You’re my dad?” he whispered in awe.
“Yes. I found your mother, who happened to introduce me to you quite by accident, and then we thought it might be nice for the two of you to come to Golina and see if you might like it here. Perhaps you might even want to live in the palace with me.”
David reached out and grabbed Ashley’s hand. She squeezed it as tight as she dared, not wanting to hurt him, but wanting to be there as much as she possibly could for such a big reveal. The boy’s expression grew stern as he laced his tiny fingers with hers.
“What about my mom?” he asked.
Matteo and Ashley locked gazes, and then Matteo addressed David.
“Well, she’s agreed to stay at the palace, too, and we would like to be your parents as a team from this day forward, if that works for you.”
Once again David was silent, his face a mask of innocence, bewilderment and, after a moment, glee.
“You’re telling me that we get to move into this palace and live with you, and also I know who my dad is?”
“That’s what we’re saying, yes,” Matteo said.
“That…is…awesome!” David said.
He rolled over and landed in Matteo’s arms. Matteo held the boy tight as they laughed together, and Ashley couldn’t hold back her tears.
“Can I call you ‘Dad’ now?” David asked Matteo.
“Of course you can,” Matteo said.
When David glanced back at Ashley, he frowned.
“Mom, why are you crying?”
She reached out and placed her hand in Matteo’s, enveloping the boy in their love.
“These are happy tears, my love. Very happy tears, I promise.”
“Good,” David said. “Now can we please go to the beach?”
Ashley laughed, along with Matteo, and for the first time in her life, she felt complete.
Chapter 22
Ashley
Three Months Later
Ashley pulled her hair into a ponytail as she regarded herself in the bathroom mirror.
Once upon a time, she’d had bags beneath her eyes. As she looked at herself now, she noticed that they had disappeared. The slight hunch in her shoulders from the stress of raising a child alone had also lowered into a comfortable, relaxed stance.
Ashley was happy.
It was a strange realization, one that came on slowly, like a sunrise after a week of storms. She’d been in Golina for three months, and in that time her whole world had changed for the better.
“Miss? Your guest’s car has arrived.”
Ashley turned to see her personal maid, Julietta, at her bedroom door. Ashley’s stomach fluttered with excitement and she beamed at the young woman.
“Thank you!” she said.
Julietta curtsied and stepped back as Ashley walked past. She was wearing a flowing white summer dress that brushed against her calves—something Carlotta had helped her pick out. Her fashion sense, among other things, had certainly improved with time in the palace.
Ashley glanced around as she entered the hall, searching for Matteo.
Oh, Matteo.
Ashley hadn’t known that the kind of love she felt for him was even possible. She’d hoped it was, obviously, but the way her heart skipped a beat every time he entered the room, even months after they confessed their love for one another…it was on a whole other level.
Matteo was nowhere to be found as she made her way to the front entrance just in time for Sarah to stroll in, her blue eyes wide with wonder as she took in the glamorous scene around her.
“You’re here!” Ashley cried, throwing her arms around her friend, who hugged her back.
“Yes, it would appear I am,” Sarah said with a laugh. “You never told me that you were actually staying at the palace this whole time!”
“Oh? I thought I mentioned it,” Ashley said, sheepish.
“Uh, no. Girl, you have some confessing to do, stat!”
Ashley gripped her friend’s hand before sliding her arm through Sarah’s and guiding her in the direction of her rooms. While every fiber of her being wanted to be with Matteo every day and night, they decided it would be best for Ashley to stay with David as he adjusted to the change.
Of course, they often found time to steal some private moments, after David’s bedtime. Thinking about those embraces had her body tingling, and she gave herself a mental shake, coming back to the present with her friend.
“Why are you grinning like the Cheshire Cat?” Sarah asked, casting her friend a sideways glance.
“I’m just happy! I’m happy you’re here. I’m happy to be alive in this beautiful place.”
“I would be too. Holy cow, this palace is stunning!” Sarah said, her head swiveling as she tried to take everything in.
They reached Ashley’s room and stepped inside.
“This is bigger than my house,” Sarah said with a laugh.
“Mine, too. Or at least, what was my house. Thank you again for being my eyes and ears while we put it on the market,” Ashley said.
Sarah nodded and made a direct path for the balcony.
“This place is too beautiful to stay inside. Look at that view! And could you get more perfect weather?”
A small group of men dropped off Sarah’s suitcases, and Julietta was right behind them.
“Could we get a small tea service?” Ashley asked. “Nothing too extravagant—I know dinner’s soon.”
“Of course,” Julietta said, and in a blink she was back out the door.
Ashley had felt awkward at first, having a personal attendant, but Julietta clearly loved her job and was a wonderful presence to have around. She was so good with David, and she had a kind heart.
Ashley stepped out and joined Sarah on the balcony, taking a seat at the table just as Julietta came back with a full tray. She set it on the table and departed as fast as she’d arrived.
“So, when’s the wedding?” Sarah asked.
Ashley’s cheeks burned.
“We haven’t had any conversations on that front, thank you very much,” she said, pouring their tea and lifting the delicate flower embossed
cup to her lips.
“Oh, come on. You and David completely uproot your lives and come to live here, and he didn’t immediately pop the question?”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Ashley protested, though her argument sounded weak, even to her own ears. The truth was, she would marry Matteo in a heartbeat, if he asked. She had once heard that in matters of the heart, when you know, you know, and with Matteo she knew that she would never love another man as long as she lived.
The door swung open, and the sound of tiny paws echoed through the room until a small brown puppy launched onto Ashley’s lap, licking wildly at her face. Behind him David ran over, with the same energy level, and landed right in Sarah’s lap, nearly spilling the entire tea service.
“Auntie Sarah! You’re here! You’re here!” the boy squealed.
Matteo walked in behind them at a much slower pace, and Ashley’s heart did its usual circus performance at the sight of him.
“I take it the afternoon walk went well,” Ashley said, amused.
“That’s one word for it,” Matteo said. “Hi, Sarah.”
“Hi! Thanks for letting me crash at your humble abode,” Sarah said.
Matteo nodded.
“You are welcome any time you wish. It’s nice to have a friend here, of course.”
Sarah’s eyes darted between Matteo and Ashley several times. She was about as subtle as a plow truck in winter. Matteo cleared his throat and cast a nervous glance at Ashley, which was unusual.
“Well, I’ll leave you three to catch up before dinner. See you soon?” he asked, his gaze on Ashley.
“See you soon,” she confirmed. She ached to reach out and touch him, to make some kind of contact, but he stepped out then and disappeared almost as quickly as he’d arrived.
“Something’s up,” Sarah said.
“Nothing’s up,” Ashley said, aware of David’s presence. She didn’t want him getting excited for no reason. The truth was, he’d already asked her several times when she and Matteo could get married so they could be his mom and dad “for real.” She never had a solid answer to that…just, someday, maybe.
In her wildest dreams.
“Mom, can I bring Tuckie to dinner?”
Tuckie the dog had settled right into Ashley’s lap and was snoring, clearly worn out from whatever shenanigans the boys had been up to. She shook her head.
“Tuckie can rest in your room. It looks like you tired him out, as it is. Now why don’t you go get cleaned up, and we can head down to dinner?”
David sighed and hopped off Sarah’s lap.
“Fine, but I want to see him as soon as dinner is over!”
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Ashley said, amused.
The trio spent the next half hour getting changed and freshened up, after which they headed down the hall to the family dining room, which was smaller and less grandiose than the main dining hall. Matteo and Carlotta were already there, and Ashley noticed Matteo tug at the collar of his neatly ironed shirt.
Something did feel a little off with him, but what could it be?
“Carlotta, this is Sarah, my best friend from where I lived in Virginia. Sarah, this is the woman who has singlehandedly taught me how to dress to perfection.”
Carlotta laughed and shook hands with Sarah.
“Please. I just happen to know the right people with the right taste,” she said.
They sat at the polished wooden table as the first course arrived—a delicious salad loaded with vegetables and a vinaigrette dressing. Even David ate it, which was saying something. He never ate so well as he did in Golina, and Ashley was glad for it.
“So when are you all going to tell the world about David’s parentage?” Sarah asked, never one to dodge the sensitive questions.
Matteo cleared his throat, but Ashley placed a hand on his and answered.
“We thought we’d take a little time to adjust first, you know? Get comfortable being in Golina, work out a plan of action to announce him and all that.”
“I keep checking international news outlets to see if they’re saying anything, but all I can find are articles wondering who this mystery woman is that keeps going on dates with the king,” Sarah said, wiggling her eyebrows.
Matteo tensed. He was very sensitive about the press and what they could do, so Ashley proceeded with caution as she kept her hand on his.
“Yes, well. They can guess all they want. I think it’s fun to keep them on their toes.”
She cast a glance at Matteo, whose knit brows showed that he didn’t really find it fun at all, but she stayed positive about it. She knew she would need to be tough enough to look past the gossip and conjecture and puff pieces about them. If she did feel wounded by the press and Matteo found out about it, well. She didn’t want him getting upset as well. They were above that. They were in love.
Whatever happened, they would get through it together, and that was the important thing.
“Do you have any plans while you’re here in Golina?” Carlotta asked, successfully changing the subject.
They fell into amiable conversation about all the fun things Sarah could do, and David invited her to join them at the beach as soon as possible, though he admitted that he would be starting school again soon.
“I get my own teacher, and we get to go on lots of field trips!” he said.
“Well that sounds fantastic,” Sarah said.
It was so nice to have her friend there with them! While Ashley was happy being in Golina, there was a small piece of her that felt homesick from time to time. Sarah brought so much light with her that all of Ashley’s worlds fit together in one perfect, completed puzzle.
Dinner progressed, and each course that arrived was more delicious than the last. Ashley happily finished off the last bite of a delicate tiramisu, completely satisfied. She sat back and smiled, then shivered as she felt Matteo’s breath against her ear.
“Will you come for a walk with me, in the gardens?”
When she looked up at him, his expression was a mixture of hope and nerves…the kind of expression a man might have if he were about to…
No. Sarah got into Ashley’s head. Right? She couldn’t possibly hope…
“Of course,” she said. “I would love to.”
“Ladies, and gentleman,” Matteo said, nodding to David. “If you’ll excuse us, Ashley and I would like to take a walk in the gardens.”
Normally Matteo would invite David with them, but it was clear that this time, it was a two-person only kind of excursion.
“We’ll stay with David,” Carlotta said, her eyes glittering with mischief. “There are plenty of games to play in the parlor that can be done with three people, are there not?”
“I call the blue guy!” David said, rushing out of the room to go set up whatever game he was thinking of. Carlotta nodded to them both, and Sarah winked at her friend as she also left the room.
Ashley’s skin tingled all over as Matteo stood and held out his hand to her.
“My lady,” he said.
“You’re so gallant,” Ashley teased.
He was tense. That much was clear. Ashley never wanted him to feel anything but happy. She knew this was impossible. He had many responsibilities and worries, given his position, but she was able to make him smile and laugh in a way that no one else seemed to. She was secretly very proud of that, and as he grinned down at her in that moment, she knew she’d succeeded on some level.
“I am nothing if not gallant,” he replied.
“Oh, I would never argue that,” she said. She placed her palm in his and stood, but he kept hold of her hand, lacing his fingers through hers as he led the way out the glass French doors and into the winding maze of decorative shrubbery. There were lampposts every few feet to light the way, placed there many years before by Matteo’s predecessors. Each light cast a romantic glow along the path, and Ashley often wondered how many courtesans of the past got into unchaste positions in the warm shadows.
Then
she blushed, wondering if Matteo was considering the same thing. She wouldn’t be entirely opposed to the idea…
“Are you having a good time with Sarah?” he asked, redirecting her thoughts.
“Yes, it’s so good to have her here,” she said.
Matteo nodded.
“Good. I’m sure you have much to catch up on.”
“Not too much, really, though she did give me a great deal to think about this afternoon.”
Like whether Matteo intended to propose to her, or when she would marry him. Was it okay after so short a time to think these thoughts? Whether it was or not, Ashley was thinking about it more and more often, but Sarah was the first to say anything about it out loud.
“I hope that those thoughts are favorable,” Matteo said.
Ashley nodded.
“Very much so,” she said.
He grinned down at her, his dimple flashing even in the dark.
“I’m so glad to hear it,” he said.
They walked on in comfortable silence, holding hands, until they reached an archway lined with roses, the scent enveloping them both as Ashley inhaled deeply. She always did this when she found this spot, which happened to be her very favorite.
Matteo squeezed her hand then turned to face her, taking her other one as he gazed down into her eyes.
“Ashley,” he said.
She was surprised to hear a slight tremble in his voice. She held on even tighter as he continued.
“These past few months, I never knew that I could know such happiness. Every moment I spend with you is a precious gift, and I find myself greedy for more. I think of you every moment I am not with you, I long for you when we are apart. Before I met you I was lost, but having you here in my life has made my whole world complete.”
Ashley gasped as he lowered to one knee and reached into a pocket, pulling out a gorgeous, glittering ruby ring.
“Ashley, this ring belonged to my mother, and I believe that you are the only woman she would ever have wanted to wear it. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears flooded Ashley’s eyes as she nodded and blinked them away, the better to see his perfect, cherished face.