“You do realize that there is an entire suite for me?” He looked over at me with a smile. “I believe in the States they are referred to as a ‘mother-in-law suite.’”
“Still. You might run out of milk and try to swipe mine.”
“Then I believe that’s an acceptable deal as long as it applies to you as well.”
“Hey, it’s my house.” I laughed. “No promises.”
We waited at the entrance for Alex and his assistant. I’d seen him a few times with Alex, an older gentleman who was very proper. While we killed time, I studied the paintings hanging in the entranceway. There was some beautiful work and some of them even looked vaguely familiar.
“Yes, yes. Tell them that I’ll be out there next week.” Alex’s voice reached my ears and my heart thumped. I was starting to feel like a schoolgirl. “I have some things to take care of at D’Lynsal and then I will go to Paris.” I turned to look at him and he smiled. His eyes ran over me like a man in the desert looking at a glass of water. My heart rate sped up and I watched as he made his way to me. He quickly hung up and stuck the phone in his suit pocket. “Are you ready to see your home?”
“Very.” I didn’t even have a joke. I was more than ready to see my place, to find my groove. Not to mention, as usual, the sight of Alex had erased the majority of my vocabulary.
“Then let’s go. Ned, I’ll be riding with the duchess.”
“Of course, sir.” The older man nodded his head.
Alex and I took the second car in the line; the first car was the escort that seemed to go with us everywhere. Chadwick winked at me as he took a spot in the back seat of the front vehicle.
We left with little fanfare except for the ever-present reporters and their cameras. “There are more of them today.”
“You’re going home.” Alex looked over at me. “They’re documenting history.”
“And here I was excited to get somewhere I could drink milk out of the carton while wearing my underwear.”
“You drink milk out of the carton while in your underwear?” Alex laughed.
“You’ve never done that? Gotten up in the middle of the night and wanted a snack?”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t bother to put on my underwear.” He watched my face as his words sank in.
“What do you… oh.” I frowned. “Wouldn’t that be cold?”
“It’s not so bad when you have someone warm to get back to.” His eyes ran over me, lingering on my hose-clad legs.
“Good point.” I looked back out the window as he chuckled.
All in all, the car ride wasn’t that terrible. We spent the majority of the ride discussing my property with the occasional phone call or message interrupting us. I spoke to my dad and was thrilled to hear him sounding more like himself. Patricia was in the background, telling him to ask me for more pictures. I laughed and joked with them while Alex took care of paperwork. It was a pleasant, easy car ride that only seemed odd because neither of us was driving.
As we left the city behind, I enjoyed watching the rolling hills and wooded areas flash by outside the window. Despite the time of year, there was green everywhere. It peeked out from underneath the snow-covered ground and from beneath the frosted branches of trees. We passed small villages and houses that seemed to spring up out of nowhere. There was a lot of farmland and horses. Cathy had been right—while I had enjoyed the city, I loved it out here.
Eventually the driver turned off the main street and took us down a meandering road. Nestled amongst the trees was a clearing filled with houses and shops. People lined the roadway with signs and flowers. My heart swelled with excitement. I was finally here.
People waved as we drove by and I rolled down my window to wave back. The driver seemed to understand that he should take his time because he slowed to a snail’s pace. Alex rolled down his window too and would point out buildings or people from his side. I hadn’t known what to expect—part of me had been waiting for them to all hate me for coming back, or to at least be indifferent, but I never would have expected them to be excited. As we neared what must be the village center, I was surprised to see a small stage and a band playing music. It looked like a holiday celebration.
“Do the children not have school today?” I asked as I waved at a young group.
“The local school closed for your homecoming.” Alex looked over at me in curiosity. “Didn’t Chadwick tell you this morning?”
“He may have mentioned it.” Chadwick must’ve been even more frazzled than I had realized if he had forgotten to tell me about all this. “Am I supposed to speak?”
“That would be a nice gesture.”
“Shit.” I drew the word out and he laughed quietly.
“Unprepared?”
“Guess I’ll have to wing it.” I looked at him with worried eyes. “How do you say thank you again?”
He said the words a couple of times while we waved and I practiced it under my breath. When we pulled around the center, Becca was out of the car ahead of us in a flash and by my door. Chadwick was right behind her, but at a more respectful pace. The cars behind us unloaded Alex’s security detail. We were led to the stage where there was a small podium and several important-looking people. I shook the hand of the woman that was the equivalent of the mayor, but I couldn’t pronounce her official title. Thankfully, she told me to call her Simone. There was a clergyman and several other men who made up the local council, all smiling and bowing.