Page 42 of Lily and the Billionaire Prince

He could sense her resolve wilting. Her body trembled against his. “And if I do?”

Her eyes met his, pleading for his reassurance. Henrik kissed her again, keeping her close. “Then I will gladly go down on one knee for you.”

Lily nibbled her lower lip, thoughts furrowing her brow. But she didn’t let go of him or step away. Slowly, he felt her relax in his arms. Nervousness left her, and her smile was his sunrise. “Okay.”

“Okay?” His grin spread. Consequently, so did hers. Unable to help himself, he caught her in his arms and spun to the sound of her laughter in the center of the airport. Together, they made their way to the left where the gate to board a plane to Sweden, and ultimately Einvar, waited.

14

Sunlight shone when they left Vermont. The flight’s seven-hour duration pitted them to arrive in Sweden in the middle of the night. By this time, Lily was exhausted and ended up sleeping during their entire drive across the Swedish countryside. She missed the crossing into neighboring Einvar. While she regretted missing the countryside, she was glad for the small amount of sleep she’d managed to get. Now she didn’t dare close her eyes for fear she might miss something.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much snow—and I’m from Vermont! So you know that’s saying something.” Sunlight broke over the little Scandinavian country, making it too beautiful for words, too beautiful to be real. The lightening night sky hugged the tips of trees iced with white-lacquered layers of snow that refracted the sunlight in breathtaking, luminescent sparkle. Quaint cottages neighbored by stone walls probably older than Lily could count interrupted the snowy hillside.

The narrow road meandered through the whiteness as if reminding passersby that there was no hurry. They could take the time necessary to enjoy the sights. Lily’s nose even pressed against the car’s chilly window a few times because she was so bent on taking in as much as she could.

“Don’t worry,” Henrik said with a laugh beside her in the luxury car’s backseat. “It will still be there tomorrow.”

“I know, it’s just, I’ve never seen anything so pretty.”

“You say that now, but you may think differently when we arrive at Onsker.”

“Onsker?”

Dark circles loomed beneath his eyes, but they didn’t detract from how handsome he was in the shadowed car. “My castle is called Onsker Godt Castle. It means wishing well.”

A little gasp escaped. “Your castle is named Wishing Well?”

“Yes, ah. Here, we are coming to it.” He directed her attention out the window once more. Onsker Godt was a remarkable structure, all stone and turrets, and pointed arches. The dark exterior stood out against the snow piled on its slanted rooflines and squared chimneys.

Lily’s favorite part was the rotund addition circling the side and marked by wide arches. The fountains in the center of a circular drive glittered with dangling white icicle lights. Holly garlands and wreaths hung over the main windows and balconies and still more festive lights bejeweled the scene, giving Lily the sense that this royal family had lassoed the stars themselves and bidden them to decorate the castle.

“Henrik, this is the most exquisite—” She couldn’t even finish. Even the Elir Clearwater Resort, which was decorated to the max this time of year, couldn’t hold a candle to this. The Elirs had insisted on keeping the décor in sync with the sunny, beach setting so the ornaments Lily had ordered for the Christmas trees featured flip flops and Santas on surfboards. This was a more traditional Christmas scene.

Their driver stopped and Henrik exited his side first, hurrying around to offer Lily his hand. Lily barely noticed the cold. She was too entranced by the awaiting castle. Acastle. She’d never so much as set foot in one before. Talk about fairy tales.

She paused for her bags, but he waved her off. “Don’t mind your luggage. Leonard will get them and Evalette will see they arrive in your room.”

“I have a room?”

“You will have.”

Her enchanted bubble popped. A brisk wave of winter air rushed over her. “You—you told your family I was coming, right?”

Henrik opened his mouth but the front door opening beat him to it. A fine woman with Henrik’s jawline scurried out, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. “Henrik!” She spoke briefly in Norwegian before switching to English. “Who is this?”

“Mother, meet Lily,” he said.

Lily waited for the Queen’s swift rejection. Instead, the woman gathered Lily’s hand in hers. “Lily, I’m Anika. Please come inside where it’s warm. Cook has some delicious chocolate waiting. Then the two of you can fill me in.” She immediately turned. Henrik gave Lily a bemusedI told you solook, but while the Queen had been friendly enough, an undercurrent Lily couldn’t quite identify swam around them, making the ground unsteady.

Lily stepped through the large front doors and gaped. A brief set of wide stairs greeted them, leading up to a landing hosting a stone table laden with pine swags and starlike twinkle lights. From this landing, two more sets of stairs curved up to an opening on the second level, and the grand cases were accentuated by the most extravagant chandelier Lily had ever seen.

Everything was stone. Stone walls, stone floor. Wrought-iron banisters curling around each staircase were like decorative, jeweled finishing touches. Lily’s parents owned a mansion, but their home was grand and extravagant. This castle was old-time elegance and majesty.

“Your home is beautiful,” Lily said on a breath.

Before they managed to go much farther in, footsteps sounded and an older man with graying hair and stern but handsome features, wearing a suit jacket and slacks, entered from a side door Lily hadn’t yet noticed.

“Who is this?” the man demanded.

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