CHAPTER 3 - SELENA
Raymond stops tickling me after a few moments and sits beside me. Damn him and his need to do everything right by society’s standards. I wish there was something I could do to break Raymond’s steely resolve and get him to give in to me just for once.
“I wish time would just hurry up so we can finally be free to love each other the way we’ve dreamed of the last few months,” I say.
“Hmm.” He seems lost in thought.
“Penny for them?” I ask.
“For what?” he asks.
“Your thoughts.”
He’s definitely bothered by something if he didn’t get that the first time.
“How did you come here?” he asks.
“I drove. My car is parked further up the road, closer to Melany’s cottage.” Melany is my favorite cook.
He’s on his feet in a split second. “I’ll walk you to your car,” he says.
He puts on his overcoat and offers me his jacket. To think I’ve worn my sexiest underwear to visit him in the hopes of having him rip them off in the heat of passion. So much for getting me some loving tonight. I put on his jacket and inhale his cologne. The jacket smells of him. Maybe I’ll wear it to bed tonight. That way it will feel like he’s next to me…
“You shouldn’t have taken such a risk by coming here tonight,” he tells me while locking the door to his cottage and popping the keys into his pants pocket.
“It was worth it. I got to see you.” My heart races faster than usual. I felt so alive during the short drive to his cottage. Now, he’s dampened my spirit but scolding me. “It’s not like I would’ve been caught or anything,” I tell him, “my mother’s attending a party at a palace. She’s in her happy place and she will have to be dragged out of there.” I fail to understand my mother’s obsession with Royal life. I hate the parties, the paparazzi’s never-ending interest in my life, but most of all, I cannot stand other royals. Most of them are so pretentious and only care about maintaining a wonderful outer image while living fake, unhappy lives within the stone walls of their expensive homes.
“She left your uncle William to keep an eye on you,” he says, looking all around us like William will jump out of the trees or bushes any minute now.
“He’s been living at Cornwall house for a week now,” I tell him, “he said that he is having his townhouse renovated or something.”
“Hmm.”
There’s that ‘hmm’ again. I shake my head and walk closer to Raymond when a gust of wind chills me. He pulls away. Lord. Why is he so paranoid? “There aren’t any cameras here,” I say.
He laughs. “I know that. I don’t trust your family, Selena, and I haven’t kept it a secret from you. Your mother made it quite clear on your sixteenth birthday that you will follow the family tradition of only marrying into another family of aristocrats.”
“Yeah, she did.” I have no intention of marrying another Royal just to keep a bloodline blue. It makes no sense to me. Although my father, the Duke of Cornwall, died before I turned nine years old, I have enough memories of my father to know that he put up with my mother’s tantrums and lavish parties for my sake. I know for sure my father would have divorced my mother if he’d lived this long.
“I have never had the privilege of living an easy life, Selena. I had to work hard to get everything I needed just to get by. I don’t take anything for granted, and neither do I believe in inviting trouble when there is no need to.”
The heartache in his voice causes my chest to tighten. “I’m sorry. I only wanted to be with you.”
“We will be together in a few days, Selena. I promised you that and I am a man of my word.” We stop walking when we near my car. He takes my hands in his and squeezes them reassuringly. “I promised you that I would love and care for you as long as you chose to live with me. I have no intention of breaking that promise.”
I fling my arms around his neck. “I know. I am so sorry for being so rash and reckless, Ray.”
He kisses my hair. “You’re far too young to understand the trials and tribulations of a common man like me,” he says.
My heart shatters. “You’re the least common man I know. You’re far more respectful and regal than William, and my mother.” My family has titles but lacks culture and good manners behind closed doors.
I let go of him first this time and unlock my car. “I’ll call you as soon as I reach home,” I promise him.
“I’ll be waiting,” he says, smiling.
It takes all of my willpower to sit inside my car, start the engine, and drive off. I watch his reflection grow smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror until it fades away altogether. I wish time would move faster so we can have our very own happy ever after in Paris.
Uncle William has fallen asleep watching a documentary on Scotland when I arrive at Cornwall House. I sneak up to my bedroom and call Raymond.
“Hello, Selena,” he says. His velvety smooth voice lights up my desire.
“Hello, Ray.” I wish he’d let me spend the night with him…
“I’m glad you made it home safely,” he says.
“Was there ever any doubt?” I ask him.
He sighs and I know what he’s going to say next. “We shouldn’t trust anyone too easily given that we plan on eloping in a few days.”
He is right.
“What if our plan fails, Selena?”
“What?” I gasp. “How can you even think of that?” I can’t imagine our plain failing, and I refuse to even think about it.
“Anything can happen. It’s just a few more days.” He switches to a video call and shows me his suitcase and a smaller carry-on bag. “I’m ready to spend the rest of my life with you.”
My suitcases are hidden in my walk-in clothes cupboard. “Me too,” I whisper.
“Lady Selena?”
Crap! It’s Alexandria, my mother’s personal assistant.
“Your mother called me. She’d like to speak to you. May I come in?”
Something falls against the door of my walk-in cupboard, pushing it open. Damn. It’s my suitcase.
“Lady Selena?”