A Royal Engagement: The Young Royals Book 1 (11 page)

I couldn't help feeling like a prized pig to be trotted out for inspection by the masses.
 
I had never been interested in celebrity gossip and couldn't understand why the people of my country would care what I wore or what I ate for breakfast.
 
But, according to my social media guru, Jeanette, those were the two most asked questions on Twitter.

Before becoming Queen in Waiting, I hadn't even had a Twitter account.
 
My personal Facebook page had been taken down and would be relaunched today along with my new Twitter account @HRHAlyssabeth.
 
I, of course, had no access to these and they would remain the purview of Jeanette.
 
I had a mind to set up my own account, without their knowledge, and spoof the official one with inappropriate comments and retweets.
 
My lack of access to a mobile phone, however, foiled my plan.
 
I knew I could do it on my laptop, but that was monitored and I would be found out before I could have any real fun.

I don't know why I had suddenly become so outwardly rebellious, it wasn't my normal MO.
 
I was the type of person who liked to keep the status quo and not rock the boat.
 
Sure, I'd stood up to my father and insisted I be allowed to study in the States, but if he had really opposed it, I wouldn't have gone.
 
I avoided confrontation whenever I could.
 
Okay, so that wasn't
exactly
true.
 
I quite enjoyed a spirited debate, especially when the subject was one I was passionate about, but when it came to
actual
conflict, I was a big sissy.

Something about being forced to jump through all these hoops was igniting a resentment in me.
 
I had no problem taking up the mantel of Queen, if that was what was required of me, what got to me was all the crap that went along with it.
 
I hated all the pomp and circumstance that was synonymous with the role I was supposed to fulfil and it was why I had wanted to live my life in obscurity.

But obscurity was the furtherest thing from my life now, starting with tonight.
 
Tonight there was to be a ball that would act as the official commencement of my coronation.
 
The next three months would be a montage of Royal engagements, hosting foreign dignitaries, meeting with other Heads of State and generally
being seen
by the people.
 
I had been incognito for nearly ten years and now all that was about to change.
 
I couldn't lead the people if they didn't know who I was.

A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts.
 
I looked up and smiled at Jordan as he stood leaning casually against the door jam.
 
Protocol regarding his visits had been relaxed due to the frequency of them and he no longer had to be announced before he came into my office.

"Jordan," I greeted him with a smile.

"Hello, Princess," he replied, "How's your first day of freedom?"

I frowned, "It feels more like my first day of purgatory," I replied.

"Do you feel like getting out of here for a bit?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.

I stood and walked toward him, "And by 'out of here' you mean?"

"Out of this office, out of the palace..."
 
He smiled a charming smile as he let the words fade away and my stomach flopped over.

"You mean, leave the grounds?" I whispered.

He nodded and held out his hand to me.
 
I looked down at my simple black pencil skirt and black shirt and knew I would have to change.
 
I had put on my mourning clothes without even realising, but a trip to town would mean I would need to dress to impress.
 
My first outing after mourning would be a press worthy event.

I took his hand in mine and let him draw me close to him.
 
I inhaled the familiar spicy scent of his aftershave and felt the warmth of his body, even though only our hands touched.

"Give me an hour," I said.

My first call was to Savannah and then she gathered the others.
 
We met in my room and she had already pulled out a selection of outfits for me to wear.

"You need to make a statement with this outing," she said, "What you wear today will be talked about for weeks and will set a precedent.
 
All your other outfits will be judged by this one."

"It's only lunch," I replied, despondently.
 
My enthusiasm for this lunch date was waning.
 
If it had just been Jordan and I then I would be perfectly happy, but that's not what this was going to be.

"You can't really believe that this is a spontaneous date," Priscilla said, "Jordan and I have been in negotiations about this for weeks."

"And you didn't think to inform me?" I asked, cranky at the subterfuge.
 
I'd thought Jordan had asked me to lunch because he liked me, not because it had been negotiated.

"Oh stop pouting," Meredith said as she slumped into a chair, "Did you really think Jordan could just waltz into your office and ask you out for lunch without having it approved by three different committees and your security detail?"

"So you knew too?" I turned on her accusingly, "Thanks Mer, I thought we were friends."

"Jordan asked us to keep it quiet.
 
He wanted to surprise you."
 
This from Margaret.

"Seriously?
 
A little heads up would've been nice." I crossed my arms and sulked.
 
These were supposed to be my girlfriends and I thought that they would be loyal to me.

"Focus, Lys," Savannah said, "What's done is done.
 
Jordan wanted to surprise you and be the one to re-introduce you to the world.
 
It's a major step in your relationship.
 
Him being the first one to accompany you is like him staking his claim on you."

That didn't make me feel much better.
 
I liked Jordan and I did want our relationship to progress, but I wanted it to be on my terms.
 
I didn't want him making grand gestures that would be interpreted by the press as a relationship status update without discussing it with me first.
 
Didn't I have a say in what I wanted to project to the media?

"Maybe I shouldn't go," I said, "Maybe it's too early to have my name linked with his."

"Too late," Jeanette said, "He mentioned your date in a tweet and it's gone viral.
 
You have so many new followers, Twitter is practically blowing up."

"What?" I jumped to my feet in indignation, "What if I'd said no?"

She shrugged, "You didn't so it doesn't matter."

"Please Your Grace," Bridgette said, "Please sit so I can do your hair."

I sat with a huff and let Bridgette do her job, but I wasn't happy.
 
What I thought was a date with the man I liked was turning into a three ring circus.
 
Was this what my life was to be like from now on?
 
Every step orchestrated and programmed for maximum effect.

The most disappointing thing of all was that I didn't think Jordan was into all that.
 
I thought he was in agreement with me on flying under the radar.
 
I did not think he would be the type to turn our simple, intimate lunch date into a media frenzy.

"Since you refuse to decide," Savannah said, "I choose this."

It was navy dress with a small white polka dot.
 
Loose, flowing skirt with a pleated halter neck and pussy cat bow.
 
It was chic and elegant and conservative.
 
It was perfect.
 
She paired it with strappy white sandals and a gorgeous wide brimmed hat.
 
But the excitement had gone out of the day and I couldn't appreciate any of it.

Jordan met me on the front steps of the palace.
 
A small motorcade was assembled and he helped me into the back seat of the waiting BMW.
 
I was quiet as we drove out of the palace grounds and along the country roads that would take us to the city of Calanais.

"Is everything okay, Alyssa," he asked, concern furrowing his brow.

I shrugged, "Not really," I replied.

"Have I done something to upset you?"

I turned to him and sort out his eyes, "Why did you ask me to lunch?" I asked.

"Because I wanted to celebrate your first day of freedom," he replied, puzzled.

"And was this a spontaneous decision?" I asked, my voice firm.

"No," he said shaking his head, "I've been planning it for weeks.
 
I had to run my proposal through Benjamin first and then schedule it with Alex.
 
I had to negotiate the protocols of it with Priscilla and finally talk to Jeanette about how we were going to let it be portrayed in the media.
 
Why?"

My anger deflated.
 
When he explained it like that, it made sense.
 
I was the Heir Apparent and everything I did as going to be news worthy.
 
If he hadn't planned how our date would come across in the media, it would have been hijacked and turned into something else.
 
I felt naive and a little foolish for doubting him.

I reached out and took his hand, "Forgive me Jordan," I said, "I don't mean to sound so ungrateful."
 
I sighed, "It takes a bit of getting used to, all this..."
 
I made a motion with my hand indicating the motorcade and police escort and bodyguards.

He smiled and lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss in the centre of my palm.

"I understand Lys," he said softly, "And I'm here for you.
 
I want to do what I can to help you navigate this.
 
I hope you know I only have your best interests at heart."

I nodded, "I know, I do.
 
I just hate being the centre of attention."

He chuckled, "Unfortunately I can't do anything about that, Your Highness.
 
You are a Princess, the Heir Apparent, Queen in Waiting and you are now the sun in our country's universe.
 
There is no more hiding for you."

"I know," I said, "And that's what I'm afraid of."

Lunch was awful.

Because Jordan had tweeted where we were going, by the time we got there the streets were lined with people and paparazzi hoping for the first glimpse of the Queen in waiting.

It was horrifying.

When our car pulled up to the restaurant, Jordan got out and walked around to open my door.
 
As soon as I stepped out into the August heat, cameras started flashing and people started yelling questions and commands at me.

"Look here Princess Alyssabeth!"

"What does it feel like to be Queen?"

"Who designed your dress?"

"Over here Princess!"

Benjamin and Jordan flanked me with Meredith walking in front of me and Carlos bringing up the rear with Scott and Cody.
 
Aiden and Jamie were waiting for me at the door of the restaurant and I spotted Daniel inside near one of the windows.

The noise from the crowd gathered dimmed as we made it inside and were seated by the owner.
 
I looked around, expecting the other patrons to be glaring at us for the interruption, or at least staring at us to see what all the fuss was about, but the restaurant was empty.
 
It was just Jordan and I, my eight body guards and the restaurant staff.
 
I think that was actually worse than having an entire restaurant full of people staring at me.

I leant across the table and spoke to Jordan in a low voice, "Please tell me that this restaurant is not losing money by turning away all it's other customers so we could have lunch here."

Jordan smiled, "The owner has been well compensated and besides, it's quite a big deal for him to host you.
 
People will be lining up for months to dine here.
 
This is the best form of advertising for his business that he'll ever get."

I was not mollified by his words.
 
What type of person demands that the owner of a restaurant refuse other paying customers just for them?
 
Me, apparently, and I didn't like it.

A waiter approached timidly, obviously unsure how to address his royal guest.
 
I smiled encouragingly at him, but I think it just made him more nervous.
 
He cleared his throat and adjusted his collar before bowing awkwardly.

"Are you ready to order?" he asked, a nervous tremble in his voice.

Jordan ordered for both of us and I was a little miffed, I didn't even get to see the menu.
 
This was definitely not high up on my list of favourite dates, or even favourite times spent with Jordan.
 

Jordan beamed at me as the waiter scurried away, but I didn't return his smile.

"So, you're ordering for me now?" I asked.
 
I knew it sounded bratty, but I didn't really care.

He shrugged, "I think I've gotten to know your likes and dislikes over the past few months," he said calmly, confidently, "Was there ever a lunch you didn't enjoy?"

He wasn't wrong.
 
Every lunch we had together, he had chosen the food and there hadn't been one I didn't like.
 
He was either very perceptive or he had an in with Chef.
 
Probably the latter.

"It's just nice to order for myself once in a while," I said, my tone softening.

He was prevented from answering when the waiter returned with the wine.
 
Our glasses were filled and I took a sip.
 
It was good and that made me a little mad, I would've been happier if I didn't like it and then I could have an excuse for being so upset that he'd ordered for me without even consulting me.