No guy ever really took the time to schedule a proper date with me and then shower me with manners, care, and attention. And certainly not someone of Alistair’s standing.
But I was trying to temper my enthusiasm. This would all be over soon. As much as I wanted to tell him I just didn’t think it was the right time now. He’d gone out of his way to do all this for me and here I was going to come into his home and basically give him unsolicited advice? Who in the world do I think I am? That’s the problem right there. I’m not thinking.
I step out of the amazing shower in my room and walk over to the bed. I hadn’t even noticed the box sitting there. It has a tag with my name on it.
I carefully unwrap and open it and pull away the tissue paper.
Is this what I think it is?
I lift it from the box and take in the sight of it.
There’s a small note attached to it.
“Sorry the tailor didn’t have time to properly measure you. This was his best guess.”
Wow!
It’s black and elegant and looks like it should fit about right.
I walk over to the drawer and find undergarments for women. There are elegant bras and panties from brands like Agent Provocateur, Gucci, Fendi, and just about every other Italian fashion house.
I don’t know anything about this world, but I don’t have to. Just running your fingers along the material of this dress you can literally feel the quality.
I look back inside the panty drawer and then a mischievous smile creeps up over my face.
Might as well try it on first.
I slide into the dress and it fits like a glove. A perfect glove in fact. If I wear panties I’ll surely have a line.
Has anyone ever had after dinner tea with the Prince and not worn undergarments?
I’m not about to pull a Basic Instinct, but I am feeling a little frisky and adventurous.
I want to look as good as I can. This is my one chance to impress him and I might as well go all out. Plus what a memory to carry with me the rest of my life.
I just hope I’m able to control myself down there, because I know I’m going to get beyond turned on in his presence.
You only live once right?
I open the door and realize I don’t have shoes on!
What was I thinking?
But as soon as the door opens I see a trolley with a box on top.
The note on top says, “These Should Match.”
I open the second gift just as eagerly as the first.
Sure enough…a pair of incredible black heels.
I’m so excited I slide my feet into them right there in the hallway.
I never wear heels so this is going to be an adventure.
At least I’ll look fit for a Prince no matter what happens!
CHAPTER 12
Alistair
I’ve got everything ready and waiting for her…except myself.
You can prepare inanimate objects like the chairs you’ll sit in, the clothes you’ll wear, and the books on your shelf. But it doesn’t mean you’ll be ready for this.
I’ve prepared as best as I can, but there’s no telling how she’ll react when I tell her all the things I want to say.
I wanted to talk to her today, but there was just too much going on. Too much preparing her for how her life’s going to change.
But there’s an even bigger plan I have in store for the both of us.
I steady my hand on the arm of the chair and just as I do I see her grace my presence in the doorway.
I instinctively rise from my seat and walk over to meet her.
I’m trying my best not to look her up and down, but it’s so, so hard. She looks absolutely stunning. The tailor did a fantastic job putting together her dress, especially considering he basically had no notice and no measurements to work with.
Then again she’d look incredible in a potato sack. She’s that beautiful to me.
I can’t take my eyes off her, nor would I want to as I approach.
“Thanks for joining me,” I say.
“Thanks for having me.”
“My pleasure.” I extend my hand towards the two chairs and she takes a step forward. My hand instinctively reaches for the small of her back.
Just as I make contact I feel her wobble.
“Oh!” she says.
I catch her as she starts to fall. It’s the second time today and I’m really getting used to this whole hero business.
Whenever she even starts to fall I want to be there for her. Whenever she needs me I want to be there for her. Even when she thinks everything is perfect I want to be there in the background, coming up with ways to make her life even better. She deserves it.
She turns back and looks at me and then smiles.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Are the heels okay? We can get you new ones.”
“They’re perfect. It’s just that I don’t really have any experience walking in something so elegant. I’m more of a tennis shoes kind of girl.”
“Easier to chase the dogs around the yard, right?”
“Exactly!”
Once her balance is steady again I extend my arm. She wraps her arm around mine and I carefully escort her to our chairs.
“I’m glad we can finally have a moment to catch our breaths after everything that’s happened today,” I say.
“Me too. I feel like we haven’t even had a proper introduction, everything is moving so fast.”
“It has. I hope it hasn’t been too fast though.”
“Not at all. I feel really comfortable around you. I mean…in some ways.”
“In some ways?” I say as I pour two cups of tea.
She exhales hard and then smiles really wide.
“You know…we just sat down. We should probably enjoy our tea first.”
First? What is she thinking? Does she have something to say that’s bigger than what I have planned? Something that might lead me to reconsider?
Never.
It’s impossible.
I’m going to say what I have to say tonight no matter what. I have to get it off my chest, even if she thinks it’s foolish.
I don’t care anymore, but first I’ll be a gentleman. I’ll let us relax and come down from the high-strung day.
That and I’ll be a good listener first.
Before she listens to the surprise I have planned for her.
CHAPTER 13
Alistair
We spend about fifteen minutes getting to know each other in a more relaxed way.
Faith is so easy going and simple, and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s nothing complicated about her. She’s simply a nice girl who loves animals and is a bit of an introvert.
Just because she’s simple doesn’t mean she’s boring.
I reach for my tea and realize it’s gone cold. I instinctively look at my watch and realize another hour has passed. She’s held me captivated for a full hour just telling me about wild adventures she’s had with Peaches and Cream. It makes me feel even better that I was able to help her with her dog today. I really know how much those two mean to her and I certainly know how much she means to me.
I already knew, but being here with her now just affirms the thoughts I had.
I was already attracted to her physically and to her vibe. The way she goes about her day so effortlessly and without a care for the pomp and circumstance that fills mine. She judges people and things on their character, not their titles, salaries, or other human constructs.
But as much as I’m learning about her, and enjoying every second, I still want to know what it is she has to tell me. Luckily she doesn’t make me wait any longer.
“Prince Alistair,” she says.
“Please just call me Alistair.”
“Okay then. Alistair. There’s something I’d like to say to you, but I hope you’ll take it in the best way possible considering the circumstances.”
“Well, I don’t know
what you’re going to say, but I will certainly listen to every word and will do my best to process them carefully and thoughtfully and not to react impulsively, even if that means taking a day or more to let what you say soak in. Of course it may take longer or it may take less…because I don’t know what’s on your mind.”
She pauses and sits her tea cup and saucer down on the table, freeing up her lap. She places both hands on her knee and takes a deep breath.
“Do you remember when you came to the stables awhile back?”
“I’m not sure I follow you.”
“There was a day not too long ago when you came out to the stables to get something off your chest.”
“You. You…were there?”
“Yes. I was in the next stall over.”
“I’m sorry you had to hear that,” I say. I can’t believe she was there. I thought for sure she was out with the dogs. It was the reason I went there in the first place. I didn’t want anyone to see me or hear me.
“And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. It’s just that…well…I was there in that next stall over and out of the blue I heard your voice. I didn’t know what was going on, but once I did I was in a predicament. I wanted to tell you I was there, but I couldn’t. I tried not to listen, but I couldn’t do that either.”
“How much did you hear?” I can’t believe I let what I was holding inside slip out for someone else to hear. My family is always warning me to be more careful and I wasn’t.
“The part that affected me most.”
“Which was?”
“The same experience I’d gone through.”
I pause. This is impossible.
“You’ve also…?”
“Yes. And also in childbirth. Her name was Hope. We were also twins, but I was the only one who made it. I lived with a tremendous amount of guilt, regret, and anxiety for a long time. It was like half of me was dead, which didn’t make sense because we never actually met. I don’t want to sound too cliché, but I guess that twin bond is real.”
I nod my head. “Yes, I guess it is.”
“When I heard you speaking about it at first I almost wondered if somehow you knew I was there and were trying to tell me something, or mess with me in some way, or just…well, I didn’t know. I definitely froze up though.”
“I promise you I didn’t know. I would never do something like that to someone. To intentionally hurt them.”
“I know. I know now and I knew it then. It’s just that it was so surreal. After you left I cried in that spot for quite some time. I didn’t know there was anyone else out there like me. I mean, the doctors tell you there is, but you don’t really ever meet people like that. And there I was just next to you listening to something that has affected me more than anything else in life. And it sure sounds like it’s affected you the same way.”
“It has. I’ve carried this burden for years. That and the whole thing about the privacy and secrets that surround the palace. Of course my family did the birth here, and when it…well, happened…they did their best not to let word of it spread.”
“I understand.”
I pause. I can’t believe she’s telling me this. I can’t believe she was there. And I can’t believe I had this connection with her without even knowing our connection went this deep.
“The doctor that took a look at you today?”
“Yes.”
“He’s the son of the doctor who delivered me that day. They’ve been with our family for years. He knows and of course my mother and father and I know. And now you. The only people in the world that know the truth.”
“Can I ask a very blunt question?”
“You may.”
“Is that why you’re often in the house so much and why you don’t really interact with others?”
“That’s definitely part of it. That and I just don’t like this life as much as one might imagine. I prefer the simple life, or at least I think I would.”
“Actually that’s what I was hoping to talk to you about.”
“Oh. I thought just telling me that you were there and that you heard me was what you wanted to say.”
“That’s the first part of it, but the second part is that, if I may be so bold, I think there are a lot of healing properties in getting outside of this bubble. To let nature and animals and the world show you how much beauty is out there.”
“It’s nearly impossible to leave here on my own terms. Even if I wanted to do something as simple as run to the market. I mean, sure, I can hire a driver and do all that and all the attention that comes with it, but that’s not what I want. I want to do exactly what you were doing this morning. Just wake up early and go to the dog park and enjoy the simple things.”
“Is that why you were there this morning?”
“Yes and no.”
“And no?”
“I was there specifically to see you.”
“Me?”
“I don’t mean to scare you, but after watching you from upstairs I’ve well. I’ve developed very strong feelings for you.”
“For me?”
“I know it may seem strange, but when you know something’s right, you know.”
“That I’m…right?”
“Not right. Perfect.”
CHAPTER 14
Faith
I’m completely shocked. My heart is racing and I barely know where I am.
I already fainted for the first time in my life today, and I sure don’t want to try it again…although the aftermath certainly was nice. It did bring me here after all.
Or at least that’s what I thought before this bombshell.
He came to the park to see…me?
I’m so confused and excited I start laughing.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable,” he says. “I just wanted to tell you the truth.”
“No, it's’ not that. It’s just…I don’t know how to react. I’m sorry, it was completely involuntary. You couldn’t understand how powerful and amazing your words are.”
“If you think those were powerful wait until you hear these.”
He stands from his chair and reaches for his trousers. He hikes up the material from his thighs up to his groin and kneels down in front of me.
He whistles.
“What in the world?”
I hear the pitter-patter of small footprints across the marble floor and out of nowhere a little Jack Russell Terrier appears. He’s holding a rose in his mouth and there’s something attached to his collar.
Prince Alistair reaches for his collar and unhooks whatever it is.
The dog sits obediently and Alistair turns to face me.
His hands are clasped until suddenly he opens them, and the little black box inside and my eyes open wide as saucers as I stare at a huge pink diamond.
My arms go numb and my mouth drops.
“From the minute I saw you I knew we had a connection. It may seem crazy, but the only crazy is how I am for you. I’ve been waiting all my life for something that I didn’t think even existed, until you. You make me feel like no one ever has. Not even close. And I want to take your advice, but to do so I want you to guide me, as I’ll guide you. Hand in hand, forever. Faith, will you marry me?”
It’s incredible to think what can happen when you just go out to walk your dogs in the morning.
It’s the most difficult question I’ve ever been asked. I haven’t had any time to think or prepare and this is just the first time we’ve really ever spoke. But that’s why it’s also the easiest question I’ve ever been asked too.
I already know this is the man for me. It may sound crazy, and it may seem like it’s just me living out a crush, but it’s so much more than that. I’ve cried for him and I’ve felt like I’ve known him for awhile now. Meeting was just a formality in my crazy foregone conclusion.
The conclusion that now has the chance to become real.
“Yes,” I say. I bring my hands to my face and the tears flow uncontrollably.
Royal Romance_An Older Man Younger Woman Romance Page 4
