The Royal Couple: A Christian Romance (Royals Book 1)

by Nicole Taylor

  “Plans? You just got here. Who do you know in London?” asked Jason in mock outrage.

  “That’s for me to know and you to find out,” she said mysteriously.

  Lisa smirked at the others. She wondered if they really did not know of Barbara’s friendship with William Lamport or if they were just pretending. At any rate she wasn’t about to bring it up and risk inciting Barbara’s wrath.

  ~*~*~*~

  Barbara was staying in a suite at the London Waldorf. She had asked Silverline Pictures to put the entire crew there not only because she wanted to patronize William’s establishment but also because, frankly, the Waldorf was a top notch hotel.

  As the masseuse worked the knots out of her shoulders, she smiled at the memory of the text message William had sent her earlier that day:

  I’m in Devonshire today. A site visit at a Lamport Holdings project. What lousy timing! I will ensure that I’m back by tonight. Don’t go to bed until I get back. I need to see you.

  She needed to see him too. It had been a whole month since the day he’d declared that he couldn’t maintain his close relationship with her. The irony was that even though she couldn’t yet agree to romance with him she couldn’t stop herself from missing him like mad.

  They had agreed that once a week was an acceptable time to communicate on the telephone. He would never know how much she looked forward to that chat. How she cleared her calendar and dropped everything she was doing so that she could curl up in her bed and talk with him for three hours on the phone. One of those nights had been on the eve of the premiere of The Reaping. She was chatting with him about the fact that the premier would be the next day when, without thinking, she had blurted, “Too bad you’re not here to attend with me.”

  That statement had been met with silence. Barbara had held her breath and wished that she could take back the words. What was she doing? The man had recently told her that they needed space and here she was insinuating that he should fly across the continent to accompany her to a very public event. She felt like slapping herself.

  Eventually, he spoke. “Too bad,” was all he said and then continued talking as if nothing had happened. She had felt as though she could sink through the floor.

  After the massage, Barbara showered, made a few phone calls, and then lay across the bed and read the devotional for that day on her tablet. She dozed off and then awoke with a start and looked at her watch. Only 25 minutes had passed. She checked her phone. There were no messages or missed calls from William. Maybe he wouldn’t make it back after all. She messaged him to find out what time he would be returning but didn’t get a response.

  Barbara stretched and decided that she would go to dinner with the other guys. She was hungry and it made no sense waiting around for William. She tried not to feel disappointed as she dressed. She was putting silver hoops in her ears when her phone whistled.

  The smile on Barbara’s face was involuntary.

  She snatched up the phone, “Where are you?” she breathed.

  “I’m a few minutes away from the hotel. I’ve got a favor to ask you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Will you please accompany me to Windsor Castle for a benefit dinner party? I’m sorry for the late notice. I’d forgotten, I don’t know how, that it was tonight. Matthew just called and reminded me. Please accompany me.”

  “William! Windsor Castle? Good heavens! How do you know I have something to wear?”

  “You’re a movie star. I thought you’d have designers in every city on speed dial.”

  “Funeee! I’ll check and see if I brought anything suitable with me.”

  “Good. If you haven’t, I’ll have some selections from the boutiques downstairs sent up to you, don’t despair.”

  After she hung up, Barbara sat on the bed to steady her nerves, then she said a silent prayer. She felt uncharacteristically nervous and she wasn’t sure why. She’d met premiers, and prime ministers and presidents before. She’d mingled with billionaires and multi-millionaires and the brightest entertainment stars of the firmament. She tried to identify the emotion and then she realized what it was. She would be on William’s territory now, with his kind of people. She was concerned that they might not like her.

  She shook her head. No, she shouldn’t feel like this. The only acceptance she should care about was God’s. She said a quick prayer and asked God to infuse her with his peace. After several minutes she began to relax.

  She also began to feel excited.

  Windsor Castle. That meant that a member of the royal family must be hosting. She would have to hope she could find something appropriate in the boutiques. She decided to go down herself and look through the racks when she suddenly remembered the dress that William’s mother had given her for her birthday.

  For some reason she had brought it with her on the trip. She went over to the closet and looked at it. She sent a silent prayer thanking God for the Waldorf’s butler service. All of her clothing had been steamed and hung up, even though she would only be staying in the hotel for two nights. Consequently, she had little to do except get dressed.

  She shed her maxi dress and brushed her hair into a tight stylish knot at the nape of her neck. She enhanced her eyes with additional eye shadow and another layer of mascara, and changed the color of the lipstick. She pulled on her dress and thought that it was truly stunning. The pure white against her tanned skin was perfection.

  The topaz and diamond necklace that William had given her would certainly have made a statement. However, she hadn’t traveled with it. In fact, she had yet to wear it. She kept thinking that she had no right to wear that gift unless she was prepared to also give him her heart.

  She went over to the room safe for the best of the jewelry she had traveled with. She opened her jewelry box and found what she was looking for. It was a white gold chain with a huge pear shaped tanzanite and diamond pendant. She fastened it around her neck and then put on the matching earrings and large cocktail ring. They had been a gift from Gerald for the last birthday she had celebrated with him several months before he was killed.

  She selected a pair of strappy silver stiletto heels that were barely visible under the full length gown and a purple satin clutch purse with rhinestone studs.

  William, as always, was punctual. When he rang the doorbell she was just slipping the pumps on her feet.

  When Barbara opened the door she inhaled sharply.

  It never got old, the effect seeing him had on her. He looked so good! Just like James Bond in a black, slim fit tuxedo. His dark blond hair looked sleek and silky, his blue eyes were sparkling and there was a disarming smile on his face.

  Her heart leapt and she impulsively reached out and pulled him inside and into her arms. Instantly, William’s arms went around her back and he hugged her to him tightly.

  “Umm,” he sighed when the hug was over. “You look amazing! I’m going to be the envy of every man there. Did you get this dress from downstairs?”

  Barbara grinned. “Actually it’s from your mom.”

  “My mother?”

  “This is the birthday present that I told you about. I brought it with me, just in case I needed it, I guess. It sure has come in handy.”

  William nodded his approval. “Mum is a bit of a fashion icon. I think she outdid herself this time. This dress looks as though it was custom made. You really look stunning.”

  During the ride to Windsor Castle in William’s Rolls Royce, he asked her about how her day had gone and listened attentively as she told him the kinds of questions she had been asked by the press and the answers she had given.

  “Poor baby, you’ve had a tough day and now I drag you to this dinner party.” He scooted closer and placed his arm around her shoulders.

  “Yeah you should be sorry but you don’t look sorry. Listen, let me give you a little acting coaching. To look sorry you’ve first got to lose the perpetual grin.”

  William threw back his head and laughed, then he rub
bed her arm. “Okay, you got me. I’m pleased as punch to have you with me. The last time I attended a party at the castle I went alone and I was a sitting duck for every other girl over 20 looking for a husband.”

  “Ah, I see. So I’m here to keep the ladies at bay. You’re actually using me. How shameless,” Barbara said poking him playfully in the chest.

  He didn’t reply. He just smiled in that sexy way of his, his eyes more intense than ever. Eventually he said, “I just want you by my side. I want to show you off.”

  His confession inspired her next words. “So, you didn’t think I wanted to show you off at the premiere of my movie too.”

  William leaned back and watched her hard for a long moment. “You didn’t invite me to the premiere you just made some ambiguous comment about it being too bad I couldn’t come. Was that supposed to be taken as an invitation?”

  Barbara could feel her face grow warm. She looked down at her hands feeling chastised. “I just wanted to gauge if you wanted to come since you said we should keep our distance from each other. You didn’t seem that interested anyhow.”

  “For the record, if you’d invited me I would have accompanied you in a heartbeat. I’ve got a private jet after all. It allows me to be very flexible. Besides, I would have loved to see the premiere of your movie. But you didn’t ask so I figured you didn’t want me there.”

  “I hinted at it.”

  “When you really want something from me you can be rather direct. As I recall you didn’t hint at asking me to invest in your movie.”

  Barbara drew in a sharp breath, “Well, that was uncalled for,” she mumbled.

  “Don’t get your knickers in a bunch. The reason I didn’t respond positively was because I didn’t consider that to be a real invitation.”

  Barbara decided to change the subject. If they stayed on the topic long enough she might end up confessing that she had spent the whole night of the premiere wishing that he was by her side.

  “So is your mother going to be there tonight too? I’m sure she’d be pleased to see me in this dress.”

  “No, she’s in Spain right now spending time with friends.”

  Barbara shook her head in amazement, “Your mother is such a vivacious woman. How do you keep up with her?”

  “I’m thrilled that she has such a full life. It takes a lot of pressure off me. She still finds time to meddle in my affairs so if she didn’t have other interests it would be worst.” He glanced out the window and announced, “We’re here.”

  Barbara drew in a deep breath as she looked at the imposing structure. Windsor Castle. They had arrived.

  Chapter 29

  Before their vehicle could come to a dead stop, press photographers were already taking their photos. When they alighted from the vehicle there was still the click of camera shutters. There were shouts of “Barbara, William, over here.”

  In the castle’s grand reception room there were many famous faces: fashion designers, musicians, models, actors, directors. Barbara knew some of these personally, but there were also members of Britain’s nobility present, people whom Barbara did not know. William never failed to introduce her to the persons who greeted him. She could see the curious look on many of their faces at the sight of the two of them arm in arm.

  Then William introduced her to their host – Prince William himself.

  “Barbara, let me introduce you to the other Wills, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. William, this is Barbara Dickson, a very close friend of mine,” William said, introducing her to the Prince.

  Barbara said demurely with a curtsy, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Royal Highness.”

  “Don’t call him that, Barbara,” William said. “It’ll go straight to his head.”

  The Duke of Cambridge laughed and shook his head, “You know, there are some old school fellows who never know their place.”

  William chuckled. “Yes, protocol was the one subject that I could never master.”

  The Duke turned to Barbara. “By all means call me William. I’m delighted to make your acquaintance. May I call you Barbara?”

  “Of course! Was it confusing to have people calling you both ‘Wills’ at Eton?” Barbara asked.

  “No one called him Wills at school, that’s the thing. It was the press who nicknamed him Wills and they nicknamed me the crown prince, as I was next in line to run Lamport Holdings I suppose. That was a running joke between us.”

  Prince William laughed. “Yes I used to occasionally tease him at school by calling him ‘Your Royal Highness’ so he knows all about that title going to one’s head.”

  “And I used to retaliate by kicking his butt at water polo.”

  The prince groaned. “Still a show off, I see.”

  “So where’s Catherine? Is she at home babysitting George and Charlotte?”

  “Actually, Catherine is hosting another function. We are trying to divide our duties these days so that we can be present at more events. Of course, I wish she was by my side. I know that she would love to meet you, Barbara. She’s a fan.”

  Barbara was surprised. “Really?”

  The Prince nodded. “She loves The Lady. It’s one of her all-time favorite films. We went to the premier of The Reaping the other day as well. Brilliant movie.”

  William raised a brow. “You went to the premiere?”

  “The London premiere. Didn’t you go?”

  William shook his head. “No…I was almost invited to the New York premiere, though. Do you think that counts?”

  The prince looked confused for a moment. He looked from William to Barbara, took in her expression and then smiled and cleared his throat. “Okay, I’m clearly missing something. I won’t ask what.”

  William said, “Sorry, William. We were talking about Catherine being a fan of Barbara’s. Don’t worry there’ll be other opportunities for her to meet Barbara, I’m sure. In fact, I’ll arrange a dinner party and invite you two. It’s been too long since we’ve really chatted. I have some good news to share with you. Our assistants will no doubt have a formidable task synchronizing a mutually convenient time.”

  The Duke of Cambridge grinned. “I’m sure they’ll manage it. I’d enjoy that very much and I know Catherine would as well.”

  As Prince William moved on to greet other guests, Barbara slipped her arm in the crook of William’s and whispered in awe, “Wow, I just met the future king of England.”

  “Bah, that’s nothing. A few weeks ago I met the King of the Universe. That’s way more impressive.”

  Barbara beamed at him happily and squeezed his arm. “Way more impressive,” she agreed.

  The evening continued very pleasantly. In the Waterloo Chamber, the press continued to take photos as the 200 celebrated guests sipped champagne, ate canapés and mingled.

  Barbara saw two actresses from Downton Abbey chatting.

  William nudged her and whispered, “You can probably ask them for a few plot details into next season’s episodes.”

  “I will do no such thing, Lord Lamport. I’ve got more class than that. Besides, I hate spoilers.”

  She did go over and introduce herself, though, and they expressed their delight at meeting her. She also chatted with the South African opera singer Mekyla, who had been one of the bridesmaids at Prudence’s wedding. She greeted a few other British actors whom she knew.

  Barbara glanced over at one point and saw William conversing with an attractive brunette. There was something in her gestures and body language that suggested she knew him intimately. Barbara wondered if she was an old girlfriend.

  When dinner was announced, the guests were ushered into the great hall and seated at two long tables. To Barbara’s surprise, she was seated to the Duke of Cambridge’s immediate right and William was seated opposite him. She chatted lightly with the Duke and also with the gentleman to her right, a Marquise something.

  Before dinner was served, the Duke made a speech in which he said that it was an honor for him to host the ev
ent as president of the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital. He also expressed deep gratitude to his good friend Lord William Lamport III for his extreme generosity in funding the hospital and for others present who had also donated generously to the worthwhile cause.

  Barbara’s eyes grew big as saucers as she looked over at William in surprise. He glanced at her and winked and then his gaze returned to the Duke.

  William was invited to give a few remarks and, to applause, he strode to the podium.

  “As many of you know, my father, Lord William Lamport II, died five years ago of cancer. Since my father’s death, I have been committed to the cause of not only aiding in cancer research but also in the establishment of treatment centers around the world like the Royal Marsden Hospital. I am proud to be associated with Royal Marsden as I’ve witnessed firsthand the hope and comfort they bring to many. I am therefore extremely thankful to the Duke of Cambridge for hosting this gala to continue to raise funds for this cause that is so near and dear to me.

  “I have to share with you that a few weeks ago I took a friend’s advice and decided to spend some time with those whom I’ve been helping. I visited Royal Marsden for the first time since my dad died and spent time talking to some of the patients there. It really brought more meaning to what the funds that I’ve donated are doing to help people who are suffering.

  “In fact, I was so moved that I’m funding an entire new cancer center at the hospital,” he paused for the applause that ensued.

  After the applause died down he continued, “Before I conclude, I would like to say that I used to think that there was nothing more terrible than helplessly watching a loved one die of a debilitating illness. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago, though, that I realized that the worst thing in life isn’t death. The worst possible thing is to die without hope. My father had hope. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior before he died. Now I have that same hope. The hope that I will not only live forever but that I will see my father again. I wish for all of you here that when you reach the end of this world you will have hope of going on forever in an even better place. I thank you.”