Royally Yours Page 15

“Sounds good,” Melody said. She glanced at Ellie, who seemed completely fixated by the people lining up outside. It seemed the crowd had doubled before her eyes. Melody took her by the hand. “Just smile and say hello. And keep walking.”

  They left the shop together, hand in hand, with Herschel clearing the way before them.

  “Princess! Princess! Please, my daughter loves you. Can you sign this?” A woman jutted that day’s newspaper in front of Melody’s face. “Please, please.”

  Ellie froze as she saw what was on the front cover. This was not the New York Times that Melody’s father had been reading. It was a local paper with a photo of Melody and her kissing at the edge of the forest. It had been taken with a telephoto lens. She felt as violated, as if someone had broken into her home and pawed through her underwear drawer.

  “I will sign this, yes,” Melody said with a smile, dropping Ellie’s hand. Cars had stopped on the street and several reporters with huge cameras were encroaching on Ellie’s personal space. She felt dizzy from the intrusion.

  “Ellie! Are you and Melody in love?” asked one of the reporters.

  The smile on Ellie’s face had become frozen, and it wasn’t from the cold weather. She tried to modulate her breathing in and out of her nose, the icy air nipping at the delicate tissue of her nasal passages. Her ears were ringing.

  “Melody,” Ellie whispered. “We need to go. I can’t handle this.”

  Melody was still smiling as she handed the newspaper back to the woman, who was now openly weeping with happiness.

  “Follow Herschel,” she muttered. “And keep smiling, whatever you do.”

  Ellie left Melody and followed close behind Herschel. She could see the sedan only feet away from her.

  A rogue reporter had followed them, not content with only covering the princess.

  “Ellie! Is she good in bed?”

  Ellie didn’t know what happened until much later. But she found out from Melody that she had been so overcome with anxiety and subsequent anger, Ellie had spun around on her feet and punched the reporter in the nose.

  It was only when she was safely tucked in the sedan that she noticed the spots of blood on her white winter coat.

  “That won’t come out,” she whispered to no one. “That’s there forever.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  The silence at lunchtime was deafening. Queen Regina had found it in her to eat in the main dining room with Paul, Herschel, Melody, and Ellie.

  Ellie picked at her turkey and cranberry sandwich. She had absolutely zero appetite but was trying to put on a brave face out of politeness.

  Regina set down her fork. “Am I correct in believing that Ellie has punched a reporter?”

  Melody grimaced. “He was harassing her.”

  “My dear, that did not answer my question whatsoever.”

  Herschel cleared his throat. “If I may, your majesty.”

  “Go on,” Regina said, coughing a little as the words came out of her mouth.

  “This particular reporter was intent on drawing a reaction from Miss Ellie. It was not her fault. If anything, I should be to blame for not intervening on her behalf. It is my duty to protect Miss Melody and her friends, and I have deeply failed. I shall never recover.”

  Regina was unmoved by this confession. “Of course he was intent on drawing a reaction. He’s a reporter. It’s his job. This is why I don’t like you going out with people who are not used to the press, Melody.”

  “Mother, please. Anyone would have reacted the way Ellie did. You cannot possibly hold it against her.”

  “I’ll hold it against her if I so please!” Her voice cracked and she was sent into another coughing fit.

  “Regina, maybe you should go lie down,” Paul said, placing one of his hands over hers protectively.

  “Yes, I do believe I shall.” She stood up. “Do you have a departure date yet?”

  Ellie grimaced. “Yes. Monday I’ll be out of your hair.”

  “Good,” Regina said coldly.

  “Let’s get out of here, Ellie,” Melody said, grabbing Ellie’s hand. “Father, may we be excused?”

  “I believe so,” Paul said. “Enjoy your afternoon and be safe tonight at dinner. Herschel has told me you’ll be dining at the Tavern?”

  “Yes,” Ellie said as Melody tugged on her arm urgently.

  “Order the veal. You won’t be disappointed.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Paul smiled. There was pain behind his eyes as he did so. “You’ll forgive my wife. She’s a bit under the weather.”

  “Of course,” Ellie said. “I won’t think anything else about it.”

  Melody spent the afternoon in Ellie’s room reading mystery novels. There was tension in the air, but neither woman mentioned it. Ellie had picked up The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and was intently speed-reading the paperback.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t read those books,” Melody said with a wide grin.

  “Now we’ve switched roles,” Ellie replied. “You with not knowing who Harry Potter was and me with not knowing Lisbeth Salander.”

  Melody closed the book she was reading, a Camilla Läckberg mystery. “I need to talk to you about something.”

  Ellie chewed on her lip, still reading the book and not totally paying attention. “Hang on…just one second…”

  “I kind of need your full attention for this, Ellie,” Melody said seriously.

  Her tone made Ellie stop reading at once. “What’s going on?” She set the book down on her lap.

  “My mother is sick,” Melody said.

  “Yeah, I’ve kind of picked up on that by now,” Ellie said with a little laugh.

  “No, not like having a cold sick. She’s sick sick. Really sick. Lung cancer. It’s terminal.” The world terminal became stuck in her throat like a dry cracker. Her eyes welled up. “Whatever you may think of my mother—whatever I may think of my mother…she’s still my mother. Through thick and thin. We’ve had our problems, but I’m truly going to miss her.”

  “I’m so sorry, Melody,” Ellie said, scooting closer to Melody and brushing one of her braids behind her ear. She used her thumb to gently caress the side of Melody’s cheek.

  A tear rolled down Melody’s face. “There’s more.”

  “Go on,” Ellie said kindly. She used her spare hand to grip Melody’s shaking hand.

  “I’m next in line for the throne.”

  “Yes,” Ellie said slowly. “I know that much.”

  “No. I mean, I have to marry. It’s in the constitution. And Madrana law doesn’t allow same sex marriage.”

  Ellie felt her heart skip a couple of beats. She tried to play off what the words meant to her by laughing. “Good, because for a moment, I thought you were going to propose to me.”

  “Melody, this is serious. I can’t be dating you. But I also don’t want the crown if it means losing you.”

  Ellie kissed her gently. She felt her heart shattering into a million tiny pieces while they touched. But she couldn’t let her know that. “Melody, you have been given this amazing gift. Everybody wants power. And your people, they adore you. I saw that today when we left the castle. You can’t abandon them.”

  Melody blinked. “You’re okay with this?”

  Ellie took a deep breath. “I don’t have a choice.”

  “I could abdicate.”

  Ellie stroked Melody’s hand thoughtfully. “I know you don’t want to do that.” A wayward tear rolled down her cheek. “You know I love you.”

  “I know.”

  “Then I’ve got to let you go.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  Melody knocked on Ellie’s door the following Monday. They had spent the weekend together with friends, alternately laughing and excusing themselves to go cry in private.

  “You almost all packed up?” Melody asked, bile rising in her throat. She was carrying a binder in one arm.

  Ellie was sitting on her duffel bag to try to get it to close.
“Almost. If I can just get this damn thing zipped up.”

  “Let me help,” Melody said, placing the thick binder filled with glossy photos on the bed. She squeezed the two separate sides together while Ellie slid the zipper over.

  “What’s in this thing?”

  “Approximately fifty pounds of chocolate from Sophia,” Ellie explained with a smile. “She sent more over when she found out I was going home.” Ellie glanced at the binder. “What’s that?”

  “Oh, nothing,” Melody said, sweeping the binder up into her arms.

  “Okay, now I really want to know,” Ellie said, trying to snatch it from her.

  Melody shrieked and jumped onto the bed, holding the binder up near the ceiling to keep it out of Ellie’s reach. It didn’t work. Ellie climbed onto the bed and snatched it from her, bouncing just so and making Melody topple onto the bed.

  Ellie bounced down next to her and flipped open the binder. “Let’s see what you’re being so secretive about. Oh, look! It’s hot boys.”

  Melody hid her face in her hands. “I’m supposed to pick three of them before this evening. All of Madrana’s most eligible bachelors. It’s humiliating.”

  Ellie held up her hand like it was holding a microphone and lowered her voice to a newscaster’s pitch. “Poor little rich girl has to sleep with gorgeous men, and other tragedies tonight on the ten o’clock news.”

  Melody tried to grab the binder again, but Ellie had a firm grip on it. “Let’s pick out your husband.”

  “I don’t want to, Ellie,” Melody said. There was more meaning in her words than what she said.

  They stared at each other. Ellie broke the tense silence. “Well, that’s too bad, because you have to. So, let’s find you some suitable men.” She flipped through the pages. “Too short. Too tall. Ugh, he looks like a douchebag.” She turned the next page. “Now this guy. This guy I could see you with.”

  “He’s Italian,” Melody said.

  “I wonder if he knows how to cook pasta. That would make for a fun date night.”

  Melody didn’t say the words she wanted to. How she would give the world to be on a fun date with Ellie, not some random Italian man.

  “He’s the heir to a shipping fortune,” Ellie said, reading the tiny blurb next to his photo. “Who made this book?”

  “I did,” said Herschel from the doorway. “Ma’am, the car is ready to go to the airport.”

  Ellie closed the binder and handed it to Melody without another word. She felt tears forming in her eyes despite the bit of fun she’d just had with Melody. In fact, the fun moments had made it even worse for her; now she had to switch gears back to being unbearably sad.

  The two women walked, grazing hands but not holding them, down to the car. Melody held the door open for Ellie.

  “I guess this is goodbye,” Melody said.

  “More like a ‘see you later.’”

  “You want me to come visit you in New York?”

  “Of course I do,” Ellie said with a brave smile on her face. “What would my life be without you?”

  Melody had tears bubbling around her eyelids. “I don’t think I can stand to be friends with you. It’s too painful.”

  Ellie had a pained look on her face as she squeezed Melody’s hand. “I know. Then I think it’s best if we…part ways.”

  Melody burst into tears. “I’m going to miss you, Ellie Mayhew.”

  “And I am going to miss you, Melody Bryant.”

  They hugged for a long time.

  Herschel had to tap on Ellie’s shoulder to get them to part ways.

  “Goodbye, Melody.” Ellie got into the car.

  Melody was crying too hard to say anything. She didn’t even see her father walk up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her as she collapsed into him.

  “Let it out, my girl. Just let it all out.”

  She did.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

  The first two dates Melody went on were utter disasters. On the first one, the man talked so much she hadn’t gotten a single word in edgewise. He spoke only of himself. The second, the guy was so nervous he had spilled an entire bottle of wine over Melody’s favorite dress. She made a mental note to tell Ellie about how horrible they had gone when she remembered that she couldn’t. They had completely severed ties upon her leaving.

  Melody wrapped her long, thin braids up into a headscarf. Her mom would hate that she was styling her hair this way tonight for her third and final date, but Melody was past caring. She’d pulled on her least flattering black dress, one she utterly hated. She didn’t want another one of her favorites ruined by a nervous, clumsy suitor.

  “Ma’am,” Herschel said, knocking on the open door of the bathroom. “Are you quite ready?”

  “Fine,” Melody responded wearily. “I know it’s time to present myself to my mother. I’m not even wearing makeup, so I don’t understand what the point of trying to appease her is. She’ll be upset no matter what I do tonight.”

  “Actually, your mother is not feeling well. She is still in bed.”

  “Still?” Melody frowned. “She hasn’t been out of bed for days now.”

  “About a week, ma’am. Shall I go ask again if she is well enough to see you off tonight?”

  Melody shook her head. “I already know she won’t approve of this frumpy dress and my headscarf. Just forget it. I can see myself off.”

  Melody trudged downstairs in her flat boots. She couldn’t even be bothered to wear a heel at this point. The car was awaiting her, and the drive over seemed to take about two seconds. It was as if time was speeding up just to tease her. She walked into the back entrance of the Tavern, the place she’d insisted they go. If she was going to be in misery, it would be on her terms while eating her favorite food in all of Madrana.

  The back entrance led to the kitchens. The cooks and chefs all turned around to bow in her presence.

  “Vito!” she greeted the chef with a smile. “I already know what I want to order.”

  “One order of cacio e pepe coming right up!”

  “Make it two. I’m starving.”

  The chef laughed as Melody stepped out into the bar area and took a right turn into the private room. Her date was already waiting.

  “Sorry if I’ve made you linger longer than you expected,” Melody said automatically, her years of princess training coming into handy.

  Luca Ricci stood up with a smile. “It’s certainly not because you took a long time on your face.”

  Melody’s eyes narrowed. “You’re making a joke about my not wearing makeup.”

  Luca had a devilish grin on his face. “Any paint you may put there would only take away from your natural beauty. I like the headscarf, by the way.”

  Melody felt instantly at ease for some reason. The sarcastic humor tinged with genuine sentiment was a mixture she couldn’t resist. Luca pulled her chair out for her.

  “I already ordered white wine. I thought I’d pass on the red since you’ve probably had quite enough of red wine.” His brown eyes glittered.

  Melody laughed. “How did you know my last date spilled it all over me?”

  “I read the press,” Luca said. “It’s my form of masochistic entertainment. I was just happy that it wasn’t about something foolish that I’d done for once.”

  Melody smiled her first genuine smile in weeks. “I know the feeling. But it seems that no matter what I do good or bad, they just can’t get enough of me.”

  Luca grinned. “I can’t blame them. I’m beginning to feel the same way.”

  Melody bit her lip and looked down at her plate, feeling blush rising in her cheeks. Was this guy seriously flirting with her? She looked back up at him, at his tawny skin and dark, curly hair that was slicked back with just enough control to make it look effortless. She thought to herself that she would tell Ellie about how good he smelled.

  Ellie.

  Her stomach turned over and she reached for the glass of white wine automatically. She took a few too
many sips.

  “Did I say something untoward?” Luca asked in his Italian-accented English.

  Melody shook her head. “No. I’m just having a weird few weeks.”

  Luca nodded. “I read about that. But I won’t pretend to know all the details. You can tell me, if you wish.”

  Maybe it was the candlelight. Maybe it was the heady rush of alcohol she had just downed. Maybe it was Luca, the way his teeth sparkled even in the low light, the way his brown eyes seemed to melt when he looked at Melody. Maybe it was just the fact that she had the opportunity, for the first time, to tell the whole story to a perfect stranger.

  Whatever it was, she spilled the details. She told him about going to New York City, to meeting the redheaded girl at the farmer’s market, to joining the Block with its many rules so familiar to her from her time spent under her mother’s eye. She told him her story. Her story about falling in love.

  Luca listened to every word with rapt attention. When she was done, he handed her his handkerchief.

  She dabbed at her eyes. “You must think I’m a hot mess.”

  “I do,” Luca said seriously. “But you must know, hot messes are kind of my thing.”

  Melody laughed her first true, genuine laugh since the day that Ellie had left her. It felt like the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders. When she finished, she took a steadying breath to clear her head. “Ellie chose you.”

  Luca furrowed his brow. “Excuse me?”

  “She chose you. My mother had a binder made for me full of eligible men. Ellie chose you out of everyone else.”

  Luca grinned. “Then she has good taste.”

  They continued talking for the better part of three hours. They had more in common than Melody could have ever imagined would be possible. Luca had a strict mother as well, one who held impossible expectations and standards that he could never live up to. He knew what it was like to grow up with your life already planned for you; every normal, childish misstep seen as a flaw of character. They ate copious amounts of pasta in the candlelight, and even shared a thick slice of moist, delicious chocolate cake together, their forks occasionally clanking together.