Page 22 of Learning to Love

I pull my phone from my pocket and search for the headline in Safari. It’s the top article breaking on all the news websites now. The picture of the two of us is a little grainy—it looks like it was taken from the sea. Elodie stares down at the phone.

“The boats we saw yesterday.”

Realization dawns on her at the same time as me. They weren’t tourists on board. They must have been press following our movements. I make a note to have security check whether any of the boats currently sailing around us have journalists on board.

“What does this mean? That headline is wrong. You’re not behaving like that at Serendipity, and we’re not together in that way.” Elodie starts to hyperventilate. “We’re going to be in so much trouble. What if they’re out there now? I’m not leaving this room. Everyone will hate me. Oh God, Dalton, what do we do?”

I grasp tightly to Elodie’s shaking hands. This will expose her to a wide audience, and for someone who’s used to living anonymously in a small community, it must be a terrifying prospect.

“First thing you need to do is remember your yoga breathing. In…1…2…3 and out …1…2…3.”

I help Elodie get her panic attack under control with the deep breathing exercise she taught me. I stare into her rich blue eyes, getting lost in the moment.

“I’m sorry.” Elodie finally calms enough to speak. “I got scared. I’ve never been in the news for kissing a prince before. It’s a bit scary. We hated each other a few days ago, and now I’m here with you on the biggest yacht imaginable and plastered all over the local press and possibly the world. What if people don’t like me kissing you?”

“It doesn’t matter if they don’t like it…I do. I know everything is scary, and you’re right, we hated each other a few days ago, but now all I want to do is spend every moment of my time with you. I want to learn more about you and do yoga with you all day if that’s what you like. I’m not going to let that change, because we’ve been in the news together. I will correct them about the headline, mainly because it’s derogatory to you rather than insulting to me. I don’t want people thinking you’re another notch on my bedpost. I want them to understand this could be the start of a relationship, but we’re taking it slowly. I’ll sort this out with Hinchbootie while you have a swim to relax, and then we’ll enjoy the rest of our day here together,” I reassure Elodie.

“And night?” Elodie looks over to the closet. Inside are several outfits I’ve had brought aboard for her.

“Damn it, you found them. I wanted us to have options, and I know you don’t teach tomorrow. This is the way I live my life, preparing ahead for spontaneity.”

“It’s all right.” Elodie raises her hand to stroke down my cheek. “I think I’d like to stay out here tonight and maybe for the rest of the week if it’s possible. I want to get to know you better, and this might be the only way we can do it now.”

Thirteen

Elodie

I’m not someone who likes to be in the limelight, but now I am. I’ve been pictured kissing the prince of a European country, and I feel sick. All I want to do is crawl under the covers of the luxurious bed in my cabin and stay there forever, but I can’t.

I can’t disappear. Dalton has passed every test I’ve thrown at him so far. He’s given me my studio back and taken up my challenge to join my yoga class. I need to do the same and support him, even if there is a tiny gymnast in my stomach at the moment, performing somersaults of anguish.

“It’ll be all right. You go for a swim while I speak to my father.” Dalton leads me to the pool, having had all his bodyguards ensure there are no onlookers on the horizon with long-lens cameras.

“I don’t think I can. I want to stay with you. Would that be all right?” I plead. Everything is worrying me at the moment. I’d be better staying with Dalton.

“All right, but it won’t be pretty.” Dalton shrugs his shoulders.

“But at least I can support you,” I offer, squeezing Dalton’s hand.

“I’d like that very much, thank you.”

I can sense an element of defeat in Dalton’s countenance already. Even though we’re in the middle of a beautiful, blue ocean with no one around for miles, he’s still being weighed down by his royal responsibilities. I can’t imagine ever being afraid to speak to my parents. When they were alive, I spoke to my mother every day and spent every weekend with them both. I miss them so much.

Dalton leads me around the yacht to where his personal secretary has set up a laptop on a table in the shade.

“He’s here now, Your Majesty,” Mr. Hinchbottom informs the person on the other end of the call.

It appears the personal secretary has set up a Zoom conference, and from the use of Your Majesty, I suspect it’s with the king.

“Wait here,” Dalton whispers to me and positions me so I can’t be seen on the screen. “Whatever you do, please don’t try to talk to my father or argue my case. He will come around to you, but it will take time. Promise me.”

I nod my head and take a seat on a chair while Dalton walks around to stand in front of the screen.

He places his hands at his side and bows his head.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” he addresses his father, and I’m shocked at the formality of it all. Isn’t he allowed to call his father anything else?

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? You are supposed to be keeping out of the headlines, not gallivanting around with American women like they’re a bunch of whores. I thought if I sent you away you’d finally learn your lesson, but it seems not. I’m very disappointed with you and Mr. Hinchbottom. I expected him to at least try and keep you out of trouble. If we didn’t need heirs out of that cock of yours, I would have you castrated. Have you ever thought about how this will affect your mother? She’s been unable to leave her room all morning with the tears she’s been crying. I really am considering removing you from the line of succession, Dalton. This is your last chance, and you are well on your way to messing it up. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t cast you out.”

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