If you missed Part 1 of her story, click here.
My phone rang as I stepped out of Stella’s Bakery at the end of my shift. I had a guess who was calling and even after spending the rest of my shift trying to figure out if I would say yes to playing the part of a Countess, I still didn’t know my answer.
It rang again, startling me from my thoughts. After a deep breath, I answered. “Hello, Candice Evans speaking.”
“Candice. This is Mai Branton. Have you made your decision?”
“Wow. You weren’t kidding about needing an answer once my shift was over.” I stopped on the curb. “What if I hadn’t called the number until now?”
“Then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” There was a slight pause. “You are going to say no, aren’t you?”
I shrugged. “I don’t feel right, lying to the prince.”
Mai laughed. “Oh you won’t be. He knows. In fact, he is part of the team searching for her stand in. He chose you.”
“Prince Dalton chose me to fill in for his fiance?”
“Would that change your answer?” Mai’s voice sounded hopeful.
Hastily reassessing, I slumped to sit down on the curb. “If he knows, then I guess it’s fine. How long?”
“Until Countess de Launcey is located.” Mai sighed. “Now, get off the ground and let’s be on our way.”
I shot to my feet and looked around. I couldn’t see the woman I remembered from the bakery anywhere. “Can you see me?”
“No, dear. I can only imagine how I would take the news of all this. I will send a car to pick you up. Are you on your way home or still at the bakery?”
I glanced back at the bakery and smiled. “I am standing in front of the bakery. Should I wait here?”
Mai’s voice crackled for a second, as if she were talking to someone away from her phone. Then she was back. “Stay there. Felix is on his way. Black sedan with our flag on the door panel. He will identify himself before approaching you. See you in a few.”
With that, the phone disconnected and I stared at the blank screen.
Ten minutes later a black sedan pulled up a few feet away and a tall smiling man stepped out, tipping his hat toward her. “Miss Evans? My name is Felix. Miss Branton sent me to fetch you.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Felix. Do you know if it would be possible for me to stop by my house for a minute?”
Felix opened the back door and bowed. “I believe that has already been put on the schedule for tomorrow. Is there something urgent you need to retrieve?”
Candice shook her head. “Other than necessities, no. Tooth brush, pajamas, that sort of thing.”
“We have some options available for you in the guest suite. No worries there, miss.”
Candice nodded and got in. She gave a small squeal when she realized she wasn’t alone. Thankfully her first instinct was not to strike out. “Prince Dalton!”
Felix dipped his head down, confusion on his face. “Did Miss Branton not inform you that he would be in the car?” Felix looked to the prince.
Prince Dalton waved him away. “It is my fault, Felix. I will deal with Miss Branton when we arrive. You will not get in trouble.”
I edged away from the royal with as much subtlety as I could manage. However, when his attention came back to me I couldn’t see straight.
“I am truly sorry to give you such a start, Miss Evans. I merely could not resist meeting you away from all the prying eyes.” He extended his hand. “A pleasure to meet you. Thank you for stepping in during this crisis.”
“I…you…hi.” Words were not working well for me at the moment.
Prince Dalton chuckled. “Hi.”
“I don’t know how I am supposed to address you. I know I’m going to be pretending to be a countess, and your fiancé at that but you know I’m not. Do I call you different things depending on the situation? How do I know which situation warrants which address? Does the countess run away often?” I clamped my hand over my mouth and took a deep breath. “Sorry.”
“No. I understand how this would all be very confusing. Especially if I am the first royal you have met.” One eyebrow raised in question at that.
“I…yes. You are my first royal. Not mine. Erm.” I lost the battle to not squirm a little in my seat.
Prince Dalton smiled. “Not to worry. Please call me Dalton, in private and public. That way, there is no confusion. Callista and I were on a first name basis, so you calling me anything else would raise questions.”
My mouth gaped, but only for a second. I reigned in my shock as quickly as I could. “Do you like pastries?”
I could see the surprise on his face at the abrupt change of topic but refrained from taking it back.
“I do.” His smile was back and more dazzling than ever. “Why?”
“Oh. I sell pastries. And my favorite thing is helping people find their favorite. Do you have a favorite?”
I watched as he thought, surprised that he didn’t have an answer right away.
“You know, Candice, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone ask me that. Usually I eat whatever pastry is brought. And I enjoy it. Would you be able to help me discover my favorite?”
“Oh, I wasn’t implying that you had to have one. I was only making conversation. Pastries are one of the things I know best.”
He laughed. “Then we are sure to be able to find my favorite. Say you’ll help me.”
“I already am.” I smiled. “Though I’m sure I can manage helping with both.”
The car stopped and his smile disappeared behind a neutral, rather regal expression. I was immediately intimidated again. Before I could question the sudden change, the door opened.
“After you, Miss Evans.” Prince Dalton motioned politely to the door. Gone was the man who had been laughing with me only moments before. For a brief second, I wondered if I would ever get to see that side of him again or if I would only be seeing him at the necessary public obligations as his Countess de Launcey.
I whispered softly. “We have to find your favorite flavor first. I’ll make up a list.”
A flash of humor momentarily brightened his eyes as he whispered back. “I’ll be sure to get you a phone with my number in it so we can begin our investigation.”
On impulse I squeezed his hand and exited the car.
Come back next week for Part 3 of Candice’s story!
