Along Came A Prince

by Carlyn Cade

  “Of course not, dear,” his mother said.

  “Even though they’re a king and queen, they act like my parents do toward me. I can feel their love for you,” Stacia said as she and Clay left the atrium.

  “And I learned to love from them. I hope what they taught me will help me now and in the future.”

  Now? Future? Stacia was quiet. She had given up trying to find answers for his responses in that arena.

  He seemed satisfied with his remark hitting his intended target and reached for her hand to place it in his. “Do you want to start sightseeing inside or out?” Clay asked.

  She smiled at him. “You decide. You were a perfect tour guide in London.”

  After winding in and out of the castle’s elegant hallways and rooms, he opened an exit door next to a security guard station. “We have another choice to make,” he said as he led the way to a parking lot.

  Stacia couldn’t believe her eyes when saw the multi-colored golf carts parked there. They were so luxurious-looking that calling them golf carts was like calling a cruise ship a fishing boat.

  “We have a fleet of limos to meet my father’s planes when they land outside SwissDen’s gate. The limos are permitted in the front of the palace only and are for the convenience of the guests. That’s also where the entrances to the guest chateaus are. Once they’re settled in, their only mode of transportation is these golf carts, and the back of the palace has been designed for their use exclusively. Since we maintain a temperature of seventy-two degrees, we need no roof canvas on the carts. My mother wouldn’t permit it anyway, because she wants everyone to be able to see out the domes and into the mountains whenever and wherever her guests are outside their quarters.”

  “Your mother certainly put a lot of planning into making her guests comfortable and welcome.”

  “You’re just beginning to see how much. Which color cart do you want to use? No, let me guess,” Clay said, then laughed. “You want the red one, right?”

  “However did you figure that out?”

  “Better look out, I’m getting to know you quite well,” he said. “Are you ready to start your tour?”

  Stacia nodded and climbed into the cart. Clay expertly maneuvered it out of the driveway and onto the concrete roadway. Golf carts, filled with smiling and waving people, appeared as if by magic.

  “This is where the real action is. It’s designed to be like an adult Disney World.”

  “I see what you mean. This feels like the main street of a small...excuse me...not-quite-so-small resort town.” Stacia saw store-fronts attached together in neat rows on both sides of the street as they drove by them. There was a clothing boutique. A pharmacy. Restaurants. One store sign stated, “Books and Gifts.” Others advertised a golf shop, a toy store, and a jewelry store.

  “My mother wants her guests to have everything they need.” Clay pointed to a huge glass building tinted green with its own dome also tinted green. “That’s my father’s bank.”

  “Is that why you have all those armed guards outside the castle?”

  “Father is rather fanatical in his security measures, but he has a lot to protect, both in his role as ex-king trying to recoup his throne and as bank owner,” Clay explained.

  “And his family?”

  “Fortunately for my mother and me, we’ve always came first.”

  “I feel like a child in Fantasyland,” Stacia remarked as she enjoyed the reflections of the palm trees and overhead clouds dancing on the building.

  “There’s a small golf course hidden behind the bank,” he said. “As you can see, it’s very close to the building for those afternoon breaks, or it’s lit up at night, if you choose to golf then.”

  “Is there anything else? You must have shown me everything.”

  “We’ve only just begun. We have a movie theater that shows the latest films, or any others you may request. We have a non-denominational church with a full-time chaplain. A small medical facility. An Olympic-size swimming pool and ice skating pond.”

  “And a casino. I’ll bet you have one of those,” Stacia said.

  “No, you lose that bet. My mother wouldn’t allow my father to have one here. She was adamant that as long as she was queen, her guests would not be allowed to lose their money in her home. But if guests want to gamble, they can hop on one of father’s planes and jet off to Monaco. He goes often with his guests. Mother never does.”

  They continued their tour, ending up at a pond nestled at the side of the royal family’s living quarters.

  “This is one place my parents won’t share with their guests. That’s why it’s away from the resort area, as you described it.”

  Stacia was entranced by the beauty and view of nature surrounding her. Black and white swans came swimming by, as well as Canada geese and many species of ducks. Brilliant blue and green peacocks, their turquoise and blue tails fanned out, strolled the shores. A bridge crossed the water, and they walked across it. To her surprise, a path led into a tiny wooded area, so pristine and private no one could have guessed it was there.

  “You have it all, you really do. And it’s so peaceful here. It must be great to be able to go anywhere and just be yourself. I haven’t had that opportunity in the last few years. But then, I love my life as an actress, so I suppose you always have to take the worst with the wonderful.”

  “Tell me about the movie you’re starting soon.” Clay sat down on a wooden bench on the side of the path and motioned for her to join him.

  “I assumed you knew all about it.”

  “Not really.”

  “It’s a remake of a 1949 movie called London Affair. The difference is that I’ll be the only new person, place or thing in it.” She explained the whole movie concept to him.

  “That sounds like quite a challenge.”

  “It will be because I’ll be acting in front of a life-size movie screen by myself. And the hardest part is, I not only have to learn the script, I also have to do all of Audra’s movements, and they must match hers exactly.”

  “This could lead to a whole new wave of remakes, couldn’t it?”

  “The producers are optimistic – if this one turns out to be a success. They believe George Clooney’s a match for Cary Grant’s movies. Or Tom Hanks in James Stewart’s roles. And Derek Hough would be a natural in any of Gene Kelly’s or Fred Astaire’s parts. Think of Derek dancing with Ginger Rogers. Harrison Ford, they claim, has already proven he can do Humphrey Bogart’s roles. He’s a terrific actor. Just watch him in the remake of Sabrina if you have any doubts. Try thinking how he’d be if he acted in the original with William Holden and Audrey Hepburn. If you can do that, then you’ll understand the premise of London Affair. It would almost be like bringing these famous actors to life again because they’d be paired with today’s actors. It also puts a new spin on the film itself, seeing everything the same, yet different.”

  “And your choices for women’s roles would be...?” Clay asked, sounding as if he were announcing Oscar nominations.

  “Women would be great. I’d like to see Gwyneth Paltrow doing Audrey Hepburn’s or Grace Kelly’s roles, or how about Michelle Pfeiffer doing Rita Hayworth, especially in Gilda with Glenn Ford? Possibly Meg Ryan with her comedic flair could tackle Carole Lombard’s films. And if anyone can match Bette Davis’ eyes, it’s Susan Sarandon. There are also many exciting roles for young actors like Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. The list, fortunately, is endless, both for actors and movies.”

  “And you get the first shot at it? How did you get chosen to be the lucky one?”

  “That’s the mystery I don’t understand. I was approached at your ice show by Nathan Sterling and Arthur Keyes to do this.”

  “Sterling and Keyes. Hmm, I’ve heard of them. They’re supposed to be very talented and creative at what they do.”

  “So I’ve heard also. My agent was given two tickets for me and a guest to attend your party.” Stacia tried to catch Clay by surprise with an unexpected quest
ion. “You wouldn’t know anyone who might do this, would you? I mean, this was your night, and you travel in the world of the super-rich.” By the expression on his face, she shouldn’t have asked that question. “I’m sorry. Forget I asked you.”

  “Maybe you should handle it like the old saying goes, ‘Never look a gift horse,’ etc.”

  “No. I’m positive there’s a reason why I was given the tickets besides the one Nathan admitted to. He said they sat next to me to talk about the movie and see if we’d be compatible working together. Then along came a prince, and they didn’t get to finish their plans for the evening.”

  “I’m sorry,” Clay said.

  “No need to be. It all turned out very well thanks to my agent. However, I intend to find out who that generous mystery person was and why he did it.”

  “Knowing you, Stacia, you just may.”

  ♥♥

  Clay showed Stacia her suite of rooms when they returned to the family’s private quarters. As was everything she’d seen so far, her suite was exquisite. It was very feminine in appearance with everything done up in shades of pink and lavender and endless yards of chintz and ruffles.

  They dined that evening with the king and queen and several other guests who, she was told, were in private international banking. After asking Clay what was appropriate to wear, she’d chosen the red evening gown she’d worn to his Ice-On-Ice exhibit.

  After dinner, the king and some of his other guests jetted off to Monaco. Stacia and Clay had been invited to go along, but she declined because she didn’t want to be photographed again.

  “How about if we go to the theater and watch London Affair? I haven’t seen it yet,” he said.

  “You have it?” She was glad for the chance to see it again, especially since she’d be sitting next to Clay. A romantic movie with a romantic guy. She loved the idea of that.

  “Almost every movie that’s ever been made ends up in our library. My mother is an old movie buff, and she selects most of her films from America. She especially loves musicals, so we have an extensive file of those. I’ve been watching old movies with my mother and father, since I was too young to understand them.”

  “I love how your parents have dedicated themselves to you, and have taught you so much about so many things.”

  “Yeah, ‘I know a little bit about a lot of things, but I don’t know enough about you.’ That’s a song, in case you didn’t recognize it. However, with you, it’s true. I really don’t know enough about you.”

  “I’m still learning things about you too, and you keep surprising me with your knowledge of just about everything. Ice sculpturing. Dancing. Rescuing a damsel in distress from the paparazzi…” She laughed at that, and so did Clay. “Now, I find out you’re also an expert on movies, but you’ve never seen London Affair.” How did you ever miss that one?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t know. Maybe I wanted to wait and see it with you.”

  She looked up at him and studied his face, trying to figure out if he was serious or joking with his remark. It didn’t seem like he was. “Okay then, I’m ready to see it again, if you are. And I certainly need all the practice I can get watching Audra’s movements and acting techniques.”

  “Let’s go then.” He reached for her hand, and they headed out of the palace for the second time that day. Clay chose the red golf cart from which he removed a sign that read, “Reserved” and tossed it into the back seat.

  Stacia laughed when she saw him discard the sign. “You think of everything, don’t you?”

  “Well, I enjoy making you happy and giving you whatever you want,” he said and started the engine.

  When they entered the theater lobby, a man dressed in a tuxedo came up to them. “We have the film you requested ready for you now, Prince Clayton. Do you want popcorn, pretzels or soda, pizza, or anything else? Wine, champagne, caviar, whatever you wish.”

  “What’s a movie without popcorn and champagne?” Stacia asked. She’d had more champagne in the last week than she’d had in her entire life.

  “I’ll serve you immediately, Your Highness”

  Their host kept his promise, and they settled in their recliner theater seats with an attached tray between them. The film started. They sat spellbound as they traveled through the scenes of the movie. As they watched the plot unfold, Clay and Stacia shared the large bowl of popcorn between them.

  At first, they were very polite when reaching for a small handful of the treat. Then, as they became more absorbed in the movie, they were unaware when the other would reach into the bowl until Clay’s fingers brushed her hand as it was closing around a handful of popcorn.

  His unexpected touch reeled her senses, and she didn’t know if it was his touch or the champagne that suddenly made her warm and fuzzy all over. She could feel his eyes on her and wanted to look his way. Before she could decide what to do, she felt her hand being lifted out of the popcorn, and his lips softly kissing her fingertips.

  Stacia glanced at him, and he grinned and lowered her hand, but he didn’t let go of it. “What do you expect when we’re watching an old romantic movie?” Clay whispered.

  He stood up, pulled her to her feet and took her in his arms and kissed her. She felt so right in his warm embrace, his lips on hers. Of all the men she’d kissed, off-screen and on, none affected her like he did. None made tingles run through her, or made her feel like fireworks were going off inside and outside of her. Was it because it was so romantic in the darkened theater? Or was she dazzled by a prince kissing her? No, it was deeper than that. It was like their two hearts were soaring together – as if they had met before – somewhere in time.

  CHAPTER NINE

  …A small child’s white casket with cascading roses spread across the top was in place next to the open grave at a London cemetery. A minister stood reading funeral prayers. Victoria and the doctor were the only mourners. At the end, the minister handed Victoria one red rose he had picked from the spray of flowers, then offered her his sympathy and walked away.

  Dr. Fulton led Victoria, who clutched her rose while tears streaked down her face, back to his car. She could barely walk and was clearly on the verge of collapse. He opened the door and helped her in, then went to the driver’s side and slid into the seat. He started the engine before speaking. “You’re in no condition to be alone. I’m going to take you someplace else other than home where I know you’ll get the proper care. You can stay there as long as you like.”

  Victoria opened her mouth to speak. No words came out.

  The car purred to life as he stepped on the accelerator. They drove out into the country, farther and farther away from the city life. The beauty of the Yorkshire hills greeted them. They drove still farther until Dr. Fulton pulled into a long driveway that led to a beautiful country estate.

  He stopped in front of the mansion. A gray-haired woman about eighty years old, wearing a long white shawl and supported by a cane, walked down the two steps to the car.

  “Grand-mère, be careful now.” Dr. Fulton got out of the car and rushed to her side. “Let me help you,” he said.

  “Oh, Dean, don’t be foolish. Who do you think helps me when you’re not here?” His grand-mère grasped her cane tightly and took small, quick steps to reach the car.

  The doctor opened the door for the grieving Victoria and waited while she stepped out. He guided her to his grand-mère who promptly took her into her arms.

  “There, there, dear. It’s all over. I’ll help you heal now.” She looked over at her grandson. “Where’s her suitcase, Dean?”

  “We didn’t stop to pack. I figured if I took her home, she wouldn’t go along with my plan so I brought her straight here. I thought Diane’s clothes would fit Victoria until I could send my nurse to her apartment to pack some of hers. She’s devastated, Grand-mère, emotionally and physically. I don’t know how much more she can take.” He turned toward Victoria and explained, “Diane is my sister, and she’s about your size.”

 
“Let’s stop all this chattering like we’re a couple of chipmunks and get her into the house. A nice, warm bath and some good food will make her, at least, comfortable.” Grand-mère turned to Victoria. “Let me take your hand, dear. You’re not alone anymore...”

  ♥♥

  Before the next royal dinner, Clay introduced Stacia to Sam Prescott who had just arrived at SwissDen. His handshake was firm, his manner courteous, and his smile warm and friendly. The camaraderie that existed between the two men was apparent immediately.

  “My father and Sam have been friends since I’ve been little,” Clay explained after Sam left them. “Guess it’s the circumstances of wealth attracting wealth, although in their case, it’s more like friend liking and respecting friend. And that’s what they’ve always been – friends, never competitors.”

  “It’s easy to tell how comfortable Mr. Prescott is here.”

  “Sam’s life hasn’t been the greatest. I imagine that’s why he loves to visit us. We’re his family, and he’s happy when he’s here.”

  “Isn’t he married?”

  Clay shook his head. “He’s alone because he prefers it that way. His wife died years ago after a long illness. He hasn’t found anyone to take her place, but then again, he hasn’t been looking either.” Clay raised his arm and gave a quick wave to someone elsewhere in the room. “We’re being paged, Stacia. Mother’s motioning to us to join her.”

  Stacia looked around, finding the queen at once, which wasn’t hard to do, because of the glittering diamond tiara she was wearing.

  Moments later, she found out why they’d been summoned to his mother’s side. The door leading to the dining room had opened. The king entered first, followed by the queen and her escort, Sam Prescott. The prince and Stacia were next, in what she’d figured was probably royal protocol. The king and queen were seated at opposite ends of the table. Sam was on the queen’s right. Clay and Stacia were seated on her left. The rest of the guests were then escorted in and shown to their designated seats.