Chapter Seven

THE PHONE IN my hand felt like a lead weight. I did not have a clue what had gone so wrong. Prince James had asked me to dinner mere hours—minutes—ago, and now he’d given me the brush-off. It was nice to meet you. Now, return to the penal colony where we sent your kind only a hundred or so years ago . I racked my brain, searching for how I had messed things up so quickly.

“Presti?” My mother’s soft, I’m-worried-about-you voice broke through my ruminations.

Prince James had been in my life for a matter of hours. I shouldn’t feel the sad aching in my breastbone because I knew I’d never see him again. My hands shouldn’t be shaking at the loss of something…valuable.

Ridiculous.

Utterly ridiculous.

“Presti?” my mother murmured a second time.

“It was only Prince James, making certain we hadn’t been arrested by the constabulary and…saying goodbye,” I mumbled, entirely shaken by recent events. I had no business being so affected by a man I hardly knew.

“A very nice young man,” Mother replied. “Seems quite untouched by his regal…ness?”

My mother was quite right if she meant James was no snob who looked down on his subjects. But I’d seen other ways that being royal had touched James, even in the short time I’d spent with him. I wondered if he’d ever spent a day in his life just simply being James rather than His Royal Highness.

A shudder ripped up my spine. James lived a life I could scarcely imagine and had no desire to. I should be relieved at the termination of our…whatever we’d had. Yet, all I felt was a powerful sense of loss.

“And that was all he wanted?” Astrid asked, her small hand gently squeezing my bicep.

“Yes. That was all he wanted,” I murmured.

Though I hadn’t shared anything about the kiss between James and me, and with the protest, I hadn’t had a chance to mention the dinner invitation, Astrid knew me too well. I had no doubt she could feel my disappointment now James had rescinded the invite.

“Oh, Presti, this is not quite the fairy tale I envisaged for you.” Astrid’s kind eyes softened.

“I hardly knew him, As.”

“That may be, but I… Well, I’m always hopeful for you, Presti.”

Smiling, though I hardly felt happy, I replied, “One day, my prince shall come along, Astrid. It just so happens my prince is not this prince.”

“Well, I must say I’m glad of it.” Astrid smirked and winked. “Imagine if you’d married him—I simply refuse to curtsey to you, Prestidigitation Jones. Not when I’ve seen you in those garish fluorescent boxer shorts you so love to wear.”

And just like that, Astrid pulled me from my funk.

“What is your problem with them? Ever since you spied them on the line and then on my person, you’ve had some inexplicable hatred toward them.” As I spoke, I turned my back and began walking away from the palace, knowing my family would follow. They’d follow me through the fiery pits of Hades if I needed them to.

“They’re just so bright,” Astrid continued, falling into step at my side. “I suspect they could be spotted from the space station.”

“Well, it does pay to advertise,” Howard added. I didn’t know whether to laugh or burn with shame.

So, I laughed. These people loved me no matter what. I didn’t need to land a prince as my paramour to consider myself the luckiest person alive.

*

A DAY LATER , I once again sat on a great behemoth as QANTAS flight 2 flew us home. We’d seen as much of London as we could squeeze into our short time there. On day three of our travels, Howard had declared that if he was forced into one more church, he was bound to burst into flames.

I’d heard nothing more from Prince James. End of that particular story, then.

Though there was still so much of the great city we hadn’t seen, I was glad to head home. I’d travel again one day if I could, but Kincumber would always be home.

Despite her protests to the contrary, Astrid had indeed become one half of those grotesquely annoying couples who pined pathetically for each other if they endured a parting longer than a day. In Astrid’s case, the pining for Larry did not take effect until the early morning of day four. Credit where it’s due, I guess; she’d lasted longer than the last time they’d been separated.

As we soared high over the subcontinent in the endless blue sky, jealousy pierced my soul. I’d never been anything but happy for my mother and Astrid. They deserved the joy they both found due to their romantic partnerships. But for the first time, I had the oddest feeling. I wanted to experience that bliss.

“What are you excogitating over, Presti? You look quite perplexed.”

“Hmm? Oh, I’m mostly thinking about you and Larry. Mother and Howard.”

Astrid tilted her head as she often did when trying to figure me out. “Are you so very lonely, Presti?”

“Not lonely as such. I just… Maybe I’m ready to…not be so alone.”

“I think that’s marvellous. It’ll be magnificent to double date with you and whatever lucky fellow snags your heart.”

“What if…” I faltered, unsure how to express my worry, my fear. “What if there is no one out there for me?”

“Ridiculous,” Astrid snorted. “Who could fail to love you, Presti? You are perfect.”

A smile ticked my lips. I may be many things, but I knew perfect was not one of them. Besides, I didn’t want to be perfect; I’d settle for being lovable. “I thought maybe… Well, Prince James seemed to like me. But, of course, I must have been quite mistaken.”

“Prince James is a gigantic ignoramus, a total dorbellist. He may be devastatingly handsome, pleasant to confabulate with, and wealthy, but he suffers from a complete absence of sense.”

A soft chuckle escaped me at my friend’s defence of my honour. “It’s a good thing we’ve left British airspace. I’m fairly certain you could be arrested for insulting a royal family member like that.”

Astrid smiled and nuzzled into my arms. “I love you, Presti. The right man is out there for you. We must simply find him.”

“Love you, too.”

“Do you think some big fuss will be made on our return?” Astrid asked, steering me from further rumination on my lack of a love life.

I smiled, unable to help myself when I thought of the welcome home we’d receive from Larry, Astrid’s father, and various friends of Mother’s and Howard’s. “Quite certain. Though I suspect Larry might spirit you away before too long.”

Astrid sighed, that dreamy, faraway look drifting over her features. She looked radiant, as she did any time Larry starred in her thoughts. “I expect I’ll marry him one day, Presti.”

Knowing how they felt about each other, I was not surprised yet shocked all at once. “I thought we had agreed that marriage was a dead institution.”

“Oh, yes, quite,” Astrid replied earnestly. “Yet, I can’t help imagining the felicity of becoming Mrs Astrid Bomalier-Brooke-Brooks.”

“Something of a mouthful, Astrid.”

“Isn’t it?” She smiled, her face glowing in the dim aircraft lighting. Though I knew love had the power to destroy as much as offer utmost bliss, I wanted it for myself.

“Well, I shall be delighted to be your man of honour when the time comes.”

“And I will be equally as pleased to be your best woman on your wedding day, Presti.”

An indelicate snort burst from me at the thought. “I have no intention of marrying. I am content to remain Prestidigitation Jones for all time.”

Astrid offered me one of her knowing smirks. “You will marry one day, Presti, and your husband will be the luckiest man on Earth.”

I couldn’t see it myself, but I liked the sound of Astrid’s prediction too much for my own good.