Page 1 of Royal Extra After

“There you are!” Princess Isabella exclaimed when she first saw him in New York City’s Central Park on a picture-perfect spring day.

Her heart raced as she ran up to him. She didn’t care that people were staring. This was it. This was the moment she’d been waiting for. He was everything she dreamed he would be, only better. “Finally,” she said breathlessly as she tentatively reached out and touched him.

Stoic, he stared straight ahead. He didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He was a bronze sculpture of William Shakespeare.

Huffing and puffing, a distinguished man in his early sixties ran up to the statue.

“Princess Isabella, you can’t just take off like that! The king will have my head if anything happens to you.”

The princess laughed. “Oh, Benson, don’t be so dramatic. You know my father adores you. Why do you think he made you my bodyguard? But you really do need to learn to keep up. What happened to your new year’s resolution to start working out more?”

Benson gave her a look. “And when do you think I’d have time to do that? You’re constantly keeping me busy with all your traveling and…exploring.”

“And you know you love it,” the princess said as she gave Benson an affectionate hug. She then looked around in awe at the gorgeous canopy of American Elm trees above them. “Can you believe we’re actually here in Central Park on this historic promenade with all these monuments to famous writers? It’s called The Mall and Literary Walk. Isn’t it amazing?”

“It is quite something,” Benson agreed, taking it all in.

The princess reverently traced her fingers along the name William Shakespeare. “Of course, this brilliant guy is my favorite. His writing has inspired me so much. Did you know Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets? He wrote dramas, comedies, tragedies, poems, everything. His Romeo and Juliet was the first movie ever shot in Central Park in 1908. Now hundreds of movies have been shot here!” She hugged the base of the statue. “I love you, Shakespeare.”

Two businessmen walking by laughed when they saw her. “She must be with the movie they’re shooting over at Bethesda Fountain,” one of the men said. The other one nodded. “They’re all crazy in Hollywood.”

But instead of looking insulted, the princess’s face lit up.

Benson looked worried. “Princess, don’t even think about it. We have to get back to the hotel.”

But it was too late.

The princess was already rushing toward the Bethesda Fountain.

***

When the princess got closer to the fountain, she spotted a line of white movie trailers. Her smile grew as she headed for the door that said PRINCESS LORNA. “Well, what do we have here?”

Benson was right behind her. “Princess, stop. Didn’t you see the signs? We’re not supposed to be here.”

The princess breezed past the signs. “Ask for forgiveness, not permission. You know that’s my motto, Benson.”

“A motto that always gets you and me in trouble,” Benson said. “This was supposed to be a quick weekend trip to New York for you to attend the new children’s charity royal ball fundraiser. A ball that I may remind you starts in a few hours. Your parents, the king and queen, trusted me to ensure nothing went wrong on this trip.”

“And nothing is going wrong,” the princess said. “We’ll be back in plenty of time. I promise. I just have to find out what movie they’re filming first. Obviously, something royal if there’s a Princess Lorna involved. I have to see this, Benson. I’ve dreamed of being on a movie set my whole life.”

“Princess, you’re only twenty-six. You have plenty of time to follow this movie passion of yours, just not today. This ball is important…” The rest of what Benson was going to say was cut off when a frowning security guard walked toward them.

“Are you part of the production?” the guard asked.

“Yes, we are,” the princess lied, flashing him her most beguiling smile. She made it a point not to look at Benson. She knew he was having a fit. “We’re…extras.”

“All the extras are gathering over there,” the guard pointed behind him.

The princess playfully swatted Benson’s arm. “I told you we were going the wrong way.”

Benson was speechless.

“We will head over there right now. Thank you, officer.” When the princess linked arms with Benson, he gave her a warning look. “We’re leaving, right?”

“Of course,” Princess Isabella answered. “Right after we see who’s playing Princess Lorna.” And before Benson could protest, the princess snuck them around the back when the security guard wasn’t looking.

“Wait, stop,” Benson sputtered. “Princess, I must insist you stop this foolhardiness at once.”

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