“BETRAYED BY LOVER” was in huge letters over one of the pictures that thankfully had the more indecent parts fuzzed out. I needed to know, needed to see if this was something important. Maybe I just hoped it was important.
Prince Alex D’Lynsal of Lilaria is currently in a legal battle over pictures that were sold by an on-again, off-again ex-lover. In an official press release, the prince claimed the photographs had been taken without his permission and then used as blackmail. The royal family of Lilaria has taken a firm stance on the matter and refuses to answer any questions by the press.
It’s been speculated that the woman in the photos, Melissa Piaf, was trying to force the prince into marriage, but we’ve found no information to confirm those rumors. One thing is clear—the former model has made a name for herself. She announced on a national television show that several publishing and production companies had offered her money for her story. It remains to be seen if any of those deals come to fruition.
I sat back away from the computer and chewed on my thumbnail. If the press release from Alex was true, this Melissa woman was a real bitch. I couldn’t imagine waking up to find pictures of me with Chad or Thomas in the paper one morning. It must’ve been a terrible day—to have your personal bits flashed all over for the world to see. I checked the date on the article and sighed. Six months ago. I went back through the listings to see if there was any recent information. There wasn’t much else I could find. In fact, there were no recent images or stories about Alex until he came to the States. A few stories with pictures of us on campus or at the restaurant. It made my stomach turn. They talked about him like he wasn’t a real person, as if he shouldn’t care what they said about him. Now instead of feeling jealous, I just felt sick for Alex.
The thought of searching for my own name crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. Just the idea made me shudder. I closed the laptop and stuck it in my carry-on bag. Staring at the ceiling, I tried to turn my brain off, to stop thinking about the pictures and how terrible it was to imagine someone selling images of your intimate moments. Rolling onto my side, I punched my pillow, trying to get more comfortable.
He had told me he shouldn’t chase me. Was this what he had been talking about, not my questionable heritage? Did it matter?
I was asking myself that question a lot when it came to Alex. I still wasn’t sure of the answers.
Chapter Fourteen
No Pumpkins Here.
Cinderella Leaves for the Palace in a Shiny Gulfstream.
—Minnesota Daily
The three hours of sleep I had managed to get did not go well with my hatred for mornings. All my stuff was piled into the cars waiting outside and I was looking around my room for any last-minute items. My outfit was dressy yet casual—jeans, riding boots, and a comfortable shirt with a big chunky scarf—since I knew the press would be taking pictures. Jess was standing by the door holding my new black pea coat and looking a little misty-eyed. Tears this early in the morning were scary.
“I’ve got your coat.” Jess sniffed and I looked up at her with wide eyes.
“Oh no.”
“You’re going to need it. I checked the weather and it’s snowing there.” She sniffed again. “Don’t want to get sick right when you get there.”
“Jess, don’t do this.” I shook my head, frozen in place.
“I know that good-byes aren’t your thing, so I’m just going to give you this and then go to my room.” Sniff. Hiccup.
“C’mon, you’re killing me.” I felt the skin around my eyes tighten and I blinked quickly.
“I’m going to miss you.” She thrust the coat out in front of her.
“You’re going to come see me this summer, right?” I didn’t take the jacket. “This isn’t good-bye forever.”
“But I’m going to miss your grumpy morning face and the way you double-check all the dishes I’ve cleaned.” She pouted.
“Bert’s grumpy in the morning, you’ll be fine.”
“Am not.” He grunted.
“Right. Not grumpy at all.” I shook my head. Jess gave up waiting on me to take the jacket and threw her arms around me anyway. I hugged her back, knowing it would be a while before I got to see her again. No one else would understand me the way Jess did. I squeezed her a little tighter and then let go.
“I’ll send you a souvenir. Maybe one of those little figures that’s pooping in a lawn.” I hugged Bert too and turned quickly to walk out the door. The news vans that hadn’t left in the last few days were still there, the reporters standing on the curb with cameras and microphones.
“Sam! Sam! Are you excited about going to Lilaria for the first time?”
“Are you going to stay in Lilaria?”
“Are you and Prince Alex an item?”
“Samantha! How do you feel about being America’s Duchess?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the last comment and looked over at the reporter. “America’s Duchess?”
“Our very own royalty! What do you think?” He seemed elated I had found his comment funny.
“I’m a grad student.” I shook my head and ducked through the open door of the car. It was weird that I had gotten used to having a driver already. Even though my truck was a pain in the butt, I did miss the old thing. Bert and Jess were going to use the truck to move the rest of my stuff to my dad’s house and then leave it there.
The trip to the airport was surreal. We passed some of the landmarks that had been part of my life for the last ten years, buildings I had known forever, it seemed. Vans full of reporters and cameras followed us at a respectable distance—thank goodness. I’d hate for them to photograph the tears that were running down my cheeks.
Duvall had come to escort me and I was starting to wonder why I was being protected by the head of the detail. Thankfully, he hadn’t said anything about my crying, just handed me a tissue and turned back to the front of the car. As we neared the airport, I checked my bags again to make sure I had everything I would need. It was pointless because I had already checked twenty times while at the house. The anal retentive in me was satisfied, so I sat back and wiped at my face to make sure there was no moisture left to betray my emotions.
When we pulled up to the drop-off point, there was a huge area blocked off by a police escort. Alex was standing at the curb, smiling and chatting with a few people wearing press badges. I wondered how he could look so chipper talking to the people who would just as happily post embarrassing pictures of him. When Duvall exited the front seat, Alex excused himself with a wave and came over to my car. I put on a small smile and let him help me out.
“Ready?” His eyes studied my face and I wondered what he saw there. I was a giant ball of emotions and wasn’t even sure myself what the most prominent was at this moment. Sadness, definitely, but there was also a thread of excitement, and to be honest, I was happy to see Alex.
“Think so.” I took a deep breath and shouldered my bag.
He smiled at me, but I could see a little guilt in his eyes. “Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you think it will be. Lilaria is just a place. It’s what you make of it that counts.”
His voice was quiet, so I knew no one else could hear us except for Duvall, who hadn’t left my side. Becca was standing close as well, but she had given Alex a little space when he obviously wanted to say something privately. I nodded to let him know I had heard him. He was right—I could make this as good or as bad as I wanted.
“My lady, may I take your bag? I’ll see to it that it’s on the plane before you leave,” Becca said quietly.
I handed it over, feeling nak*d without anything to do with my hands. Alex was wearing a suit and I suddenly felt underdressed in my skinny jeans and boots. At least I would be comfortable on the flight. I frowned and hoped I wasn’t breaking some kind of protocol by not wearing a dress. Okay, so I wasn’t going to wear a dress just to please them, but I could have at least worn nice slacks.
“Smile at least a little, okay?” Alex smiled widely to illustrate just how little I was supposed to smile and I laughed. I could see all his teeth.
“Got it.”
“That’s my girl.” My breath hitched at his words and he seemed to catch my response because his smile widened even more.
“Samantha! Samantha!”
“Sam! Over here!”
“Are you excited?”
The last question made me stop and I turned to smile at the cameras. It was early and I’d only had one cup of coffee before leaving, but it was time I at least said something to the press. Especially if I was leaving. I might not like being a news story, but I loved my home and saying good-bye seemed appropriate.
“I hate leaving Minnesota, but I’m looking forward to seeing my homeland.” I smiled widely and let them take a few pictures. Not exactly a good-bye, but I hoped it would work. “Hopefully it won’t be as cold there.”
My last statement produced a few chuckles and I gave a quick wave before going through the sliding doors to the airport. Alex walked next to me, not touching, but close enough I didn’t feel alone.
“Well done.” He winked down at me. “You’re already slipping into the part.”
Rose was speaking to some officials near a door and I let myself be guided toward her.
“Yes, thank you. That will be perfect.” Rose smiled graciously and I studied the way she handled the people, mentally taking note of how she spoke to them. Friendly, but with a small sense of detachment—most likely to keep them from overstepping any bounds. “We appreciate all you’ve done for us.”
“It’s been a pleasure, ma’am.” The airport official smiled at her before turning to me and Alex. “Good morning, Highness. Duchess.”
“Good morning.” Alex reached out and shook hands with him.
“Morning.” I was still on the fence over how good it was. I let him shake my hand and tried to hide my nerves.
“Samantha, have you ever been on a private jet?” Rose leaned forward and kissed my cheeks in greeting. She linked her arm through mine and led me toward a side terminal.
“I flew on a Cessna once while on a trip to South America.” Did that count? Not exactly a jet, but it was privately owned.
“Oh, you’re in for a treat. We have a Gulfstream. The seats are comfortable and much better than flying long distances in those of a large airline.” She patted my arm, her fingers squeezing gently, and I knew she was trying to put me at ease. Rose did make me comfortable and I didn’t want her to think I was unhappy, so I smiled enthusiastically. Probably a little too enthusiastically because I heard Alex snort.
The security guards didn’t even stop us. There was no going through the metal detector, they just unclipped a rope and led us straight past. I smiled at the men and women gaping at us. Airport workers were peeking out of shops, the cleaning crews had parked their carts in the hallway. At the end of the terminal, we were led out onto the tarmac.
The plane glowed a beautiful pearl white in the early morning light. A long pinstripe of blue and green ran along the plane, matching the flag that hung in the cockpit window. A blue rug led straight from the exit all the way to the jet. A row of Marines stood along the rug, saluting us. There were also a few members of the press, but I was more shocked by the military. I looked up at Alex, the confusion in my eyes obvious.
“It’s customary when a member of royalty comes to a country that the military serves as an honor guard.” Alex ducked his head so I could hear him over the wind. “I believe they are also showing their support for you. The Governor was very taken with your story and excited you are from his state.”
“Um, wow.” I smiled at the men and women who lined the carpet. They had gotten up at a God-awful hour just to stand in the cold for us. I murmured thank-yous as I passed them even though I knew they wouldn’t be able to respond since they were at attention.
At the plane, Rose entered first, taking the steps smoothly. Alex motioned for me to go ahead of him. I had to duck in the door and there wasn’t much space between my head and the ceiling of the plane in the center. Even with the height restrictions, there was a spacious feel and sense of opulence. Leather seats, all the electronic conveniences, and special lighting. Soft classical music played over the speakers and there were throw blankets on some of the chairs.
“Good morning, Duchess.” A woman smiled at me and motioned for me to move to the center of the plane. She was wearing a flight attendant uniform with a little Lilarian flag attached above her heart.
“Morning.” I looked at the seats, not sure where to sit. Finally I decided on one of the large seats next to a window, opposite of Rose. I’d always enjoyed flying. One of my favorite parts was watching the takeoff and landing.
Alex nodded to the woman at the door before taking the seat across from mine, a small table separating us. The attendant brought him a satchel and a stack of newspapers, which he flipped through quickly. Rose had a similar stack of things on her table. She was watching me and Alex, though, her shrewd eyes moving back and forth as if searching for invisible strings.
“What do you think?” Rose asked.
“It’s beautiful. Certainly puts flying coach to shame.” I ran my fingers over the buttons on a panel next to my chair. “None of these will accidently open a door or flush the toilet, will they?”
“Don’t worry about the doors, but I’m not sure about the toilet.” Rose laughed.
“You can use your new phone to control the lights and call the attendant.” Alex looked at me over the paper he was holding. “Even turn on the television, if you want. There is a large selection of movies. The little icon at the bottom.”
“Oh.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the new phone. There was a text message, so I opened it quickly. There was a picture of Bert in my bed eating cookies, with crumbs everywhere. I laughed and pointed out I wasn’t the one who was going to have to clean it up. I showed the picture to Alex, who smiled.