in France and summers in California, then college on the east coast, then back to New Orleans.”
“Sounds exciting,” he said.
One would think so, but really all she had ever wanted was to settle down, stay in one place. Of course, when she finally had, it just hadn’t felt…right. She’d thought that moving back to Morgan Isle would give her the sense of home and family she had been longing for, but she’d been disappointed to find that despite it being her true home, she still felt like an outsider. It left her wondering if she would ever fit in anywhere.
“How about you?” she asked the prince.
“My diplomatic travels have taken me all over the world, but I’ve never lived anywhere but here, with my family.”
She detected a vague note of exasperation in his tone. To her it sounded wonderful. After her parents died, she had been shuttled to the States to live with her great-aunt and uncle, who had little concept of family. Childless by choice, they saw their orphaned great-niece as more of an interloper than a part of the family. They wasted little time shipping her off to boarding school for her education and camp for the summers. Not that she blamed them. They’d done the best they could. Had they chosen not to take her in she would have become a ward of the state, and who knows where she would be today.
Melissa became aware that the car was climbing, and she knew that they were nearly there. Then the trees cleared and there sat the royal castle, like a scene from a child’s picture book, high on a cliff overlooking the ocean and hovering like a sentinel above a charming village below. Far less modern than Morgan Isle, she thought with a tug of pride, but magnificent nonetheless. She felt a little as though she had been thrown back into a past century.
From what she’d learned in her research, where Morgan Isle was modern and forward-thinking—a flourishing and expanding resort community—Thomas Isle was traditional and private. Most of their economy was based on export, primarily fishing and organic farming. Some considered it archaic, but she saw it as quaint and charming.
“It’s magnificent,” she told him, gazing up from the car window.
“Do you know the history between our two countries?”
“Only that they’ve been rivals for many years.”
“It’s a fascinating story. Were you aware that both islands used to be ruled by one family? A king and queen with two sons. Twins, born only minutes apart.”
“Their names wouldn’t have been Thomas and Morgan, would they?”
He smiled. “In fact, they were. When the king died, the princes became ensnared in a battle over who would be become the next ruler. They each felt they deserved the title. When an accord couldn’t be reached, one challenged the other to a duel.” He paused for dramatic effect. “To the death.
“The survivor would reign as king. But their mother couldn’t bear the thought of losing either one of them, and begged them not to fight. She suggested a compromise. They could split the kingdom by each taking one of the islands. They agreed, but their discord was so bitter, they never spoke again.”
“That’s so sad.”
“To spite the other, each chose his own name for his island. Their subjects, as a show of loyalty to their respective kings, were banned from visiting the island on which they didn’t reside, or even communicating with its people. Many families were broken and businesses ruined.”
“What about the queen? Which island did she choose?”
“She refused to choose between her sons and was banished from both islands.”
She pressed a hand to her heart. “Oh, my goodness, how awful!” How could they banish their own mother?
“It took hundreds of years to put our history behind us,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important that we maintain accord between our two countries. Joining our resources could benefit both our islands. Both of our societies. Both of our families.”
“King Phillip feels the same way,” she assured him. “That’s why I’m here.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. Matters such as these have the potential to be very…awkward.”
“I’m a go-with-the-flow princess,” she said, which was true, for the most part. “However, I take my new role very seriously. Anything for the good of the country.”
He flashed her another one of those sizzling smiles. “Then I’m sure we’ll get along quite well.”
The car pulled up the drive to the gates, where a mob of press waited with microphones poised and cameras at the ready.
The gates swung open and guards in formal uniform stepped forward to control the crowd. The car continued on past a stone wall that seemed to extend miles in each direction, and what she saw on the other side took her breath away. Everything looked green and vibrant, and the castle itself was a towering edifice of stone and mortar and ornate stained-glass windows, all meticulously maintained and preserved.
“Welcome to Sparrowfax Castle,” Chris said.
It was clear, as they rounded the drive and she saw the royal family and what appeared to be the entire staff lined up awaiting their arrival, that they were pulling out all of the royal stops. That annoying knot of nerves coiled even tighter in her belly.
This sure seemed liked a lot of trouble to go to for a simple diplomatic visit. Yet she couldn’t let herself forget how important this was to her family and country, which would mean watching her behavior. Particularly biting her sharp Southern tongue that sometimes had a mind of its own.
As the car slowed to a halt, footmen in royal dress approached to open the doors. Melissa took the proffered hand thrust her way and rose from the back seat, feeling underdressed in her basic linen suit. The family was dressed and poised to receive royalty—which she had to remind herself, she was—and for the first time in her adult life she felt apprehensive about her suitability.
Chris’s parents, the king and queen, stepped forward to greet her. Though getting up in years, they appeared healthy and vibrant. Their other children, Chris’s brother and twin sisters, were as breathtakingly attractive as their sibling. What a privilege it would be, Melissa mused, to belong to such a beautiful family. It was a wonder that all of them had yet to marry.
Good looks, however, were only a fraction of a much larger picture. For all she knew they could be rude and unfriendly.
Chris appeared at her side, and though it was silly, his presence seemed to have a calming effect on her.
“All this for me?” she asked.
Her question seemed to perplex him. “Of course. You’re an honored guest. Your visit marks a new era for both of our kingdoms.”
Little ol’ me? She hadn’t realized her visit would be seen as quite that big of a deal. Her own family hadn’t put up close to this much fuss when she’d come home to her native land. In fact, there hadn’t been any fuss at all. Her return to Morgan Isle had been very hush-hush, to avoid a media frenzy.
But it wasn’t as though she was going to complain. What woman didn’t enjoy a little ego-stroking every now and then?
