Page 51 of Mistaken as His Royal Bride

‘A walkabout. People line the streets and we literally walk about and meet them. It’s in a port town on the other side of the island. It’ll be a chance for the more remote islanders to meet you.’

‘Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean...it’s not like they’ll be meetingmeagain. Or Princess Laia.’

But Ari said, ‘Until I hear from Princess Laia that she is breaking the agreement, everything is on track for her becoming Queen of Santanger.’

Maddi mentally shook her head at his refusal to believe his plans could be derailed. She had to admire his self-belief. But then, could he even be a king without an inflated sense of self-belief?

Hannah had dressed Maddi in a colourful, flowy silk dress, with buttons down the front and a wide belt. It was chic and elegant. Her hair had been pulled back into a low ponytail and she was relieved to see she’d be wearing comfortable wedges and not impractical high heels. She didn’t know how Laia did these things for hours in four-inch heels.

In the car, on their way to the town, they drove over the central mountains and Maddi got a sense of how much bigger Santanger was than Isla’Rosa.

The other side of the mountain led to more fertile lands. Maddi saw fields filled with trees laden down with lemons and oranges. And olive trees. There were vineyards as far as the eye could see. It was abundantly clear that Santanger was a thriving kingdom on all levels.

They passed through picturesque villages with central squares. People going about their business. It felt quaint and old-fashioned but modern all at once. And then the sea came into view again and they drove along winding cliff roads with precipitous drops on one side.

Ari noticed her expression and said, ‘I take it you’re not a fan of heights?’

‘I don’t mind them usually, but this is a little...close to the edge.’ She looked at him suspiciously. ‘You’re doing this on purpose, to freak me out.’

He barked out a laugh. ‘Not at all. Actually, I’d usually travel by helicopter, but sometimes I like the drive...to keep an eye on things. And I thought you might like to see more of the island.’

Maddi was inordinately touched by his easy thoughtfulness. He was proud of his country. That much was glaringly obvious. And she had to agree it was beautiful.

She quashed the little voice telling her she was being disloyal to Laia.

When they entered the surprisingly large and thriving port town Maddi was surprised—she had imagined a sleepy little fishing village. There was even a stunning Baroque cathedral, very like the one in Santanger, which dominated the main square in the city.

‘For a short time in the Middle Ages, when we were being attacked on the southern shore, this town became the capital. It’s known for its ancient Roman ruins. The Romans obviously had a similar idea at one point.’

Maddi heard the crowds before she saw them. Another little lurch of panic went into her gut.

She said, ‘What do I do?’

‘Shake hands and take their gifts. They just want to see you.’

They car came to a stop and Ari got out. The crowds cheered.

Maddi had never seen so many people in one place behind barriers.

He helped her out and she forced down the panic. He led her over to where the people were waiting and the roar was almost deafening. And then it started—a refrain that made Maddi’s ears ring.

‘Princess Laia, over here! Please! Princess Laia!’

So Maddi did all she could, and dived in. At first it felt forced, pasting a smile on her face to greet these people who were complete strangers, but then she relaxed. They were all so happy and had such kind faces.

Babies were lifted up to her, and as she took one young girl about one year old into her arms, she was surprised at the sudden yearning that pierced her. She’d never considered herself maternal, even though she liked children a lot. But this baby was cherubic. And then she smiled and patted Maddi’s cheek with a sticky hand. Everyone laughed and Maddi handed the baby back with genuine regret. She realised she would never be here again, to see her become a little girl and grow older.

Faces blurred into other faces and Maddi’s hand felt numb. She’d had so many selfies taken, and accepted and passed back so many flowers and gifts that she was dizzy. But by the time Ari came over to join her from his side of the street and put an arm around her waist, she was euphoric.

A person called out, ‘When is the wedding?’

Maddi tensed. But Ari answered easily.

‘As you can see, I’m enjoying getting to know my fiancée. An announcement will be made soon.’

The crowd cheered. But it tempered Maddi’s happiness as they walked back to the car.

When they were in the car and pulling away, Ari saw her expression and said, ‘What’s wrong? That went well. They loved you.’

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