How to Catch a Prince

“Very well. If you need anything, please call,” the woman said.

Sophie nodded and climbed into bed. She didn’t know if she would ever adjust to palace staff. So far, they both surprised and alarmed her. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. She needed to rest so she could get back to her own apartment.

She awakened the next morning, or afternoon … Sophie wasn’t sure which. Squinting her eyes, she glanced at her clock. Ten o’clock in the morning. How embarrassing. She couldn’t recall when she’d slept this late when it wasn’t due to a time-zone change.

She dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. Standing in the spray, she absorbed the comfort and invigoration of the water. After several moments, she stepped out of the shower and rubbed a towel over herself.

Pulling on a robe, she walked into her bedroom and found Pippa waiting for her at a small breakfast table. “Good morning,” the princess with the wild, wiry hair said. “I have a semi-American breakfast for you. Coffee, tea, eggs, prosciutto, croissants and marmalade. Does that sound good?”

“Perfect,” Sophie said as she joined Pippa at the table. “It’s perfect. How did you know?”

“I have an American husband,” Pippa said, lifting her cup of tea. “He considers our breakfasts quite wimpy. He requires meat or eggs. Or both. I swear, the man would eat steak for breakfast.”

Sophie laughed. “Steak and eggs is a popular breakfast combo in the States, but I have to tell you that I’ve never eaten steak in the morning.”

“So, it’s not all that usual?” Pippa asked. “Nic acts as if it’s an everyday occurrence for everyone.”

“He’s definitely pulling your leg,” Sophie said and took a bite of scrambled eggs.

“Pulling my leg?” Pippa repeated, clearly confused.

“Fooling you,” Sophie said.

Pippa frowned. “Is that so? Then I shall give him something horrid for breakfast. What do you suggest?”

Sophie shrugged. “I don’t know. Liver?”

Pippa’s mouth lifted from a frown to a smile. “Excellent. Liver. Is there anything worse to your American taste?”

Sophie searched her culinary memory. “Um, chitlins?”

“What’s that?” Pippa asked.

“Look it up on Google.”

Pippa nodded while she clicked away on her cell phone’s keyboard. “That bad,” she said with a smile. “Let’s change conversation. How are you feeling this morning?”

“Better,” Sophie said and took another bite of eggs followed by toast.

“Dizzy at all?” Pippa asked, and took a bite of a crumpet.

“No, thank goodness,” Sophie said.

Pippa nodded. “That’s wonderful news. But we would be happy for you to stay here an extra night.”

Sophie shook her head. “Not necessary.”

Pippa sighed. “We’re always glad to have someone new and interesting at the palace. Are you sure you can’t stay?”

“I may be new, but I’m not sure about interesting. Thanks for the invite, though. How are you feeling?” she asked, glancing at Pippa’s pregnant belly.

“Excited,” Pippa said, then frowned. “And uncomfortable. I’ve been told the baby has dropped. There’s no comfortable position.”

“Sorry,” Sophie said. “How far along are you?”

“Thirty eight weeks and two days,” she said.

Sophie wondered if she was also recording the hours and minutes. “Hopefully, it won’t be much longer.”

“Hopefully,” Pippa said and sighed. “But it’s all a matter of perspective. We lost Nic’s mother to terminal cancer last year. She was ready to go, but we weren’t ready for her to leave. We miss her so much.”

Sophie’s heart clenched. “That must have been hard.”

Pippa nodded. “It was. But we’re naming our baby after her. Amelie was pure magic.” Pippa smiled. “During those last months, she would scare us to death by escaping the cottage and going to the beach on her own.”

“It’s wonderful that you’re naming the baby after Nic’s mother,” Sophie said. “That’s so—loving.”

Pippa lifted her cup and nodded. “I wish you had met Amelie. She was a wonderful combination of boldness, wisdom and fun. In the short time I knew her, I learned a lot. The biggest lesson was don’t waste your life. Go for it. Life is short and love is the most important gift of all. If you love someone, then you’ve got to give the chance to be with them all you’ve got.”

Sophie took a sip of coffee and tried not to squirm. Did she really love Max? Or did she just have an intense crush on him? Setting her cup down, she stared into the warm brown liquid, wishing it could offer her answers. If she gave in to her feelings, would she have the nerve to go after him? What if she made a fool of herself? What if he completely rejected her?

Her stomach twisted and clenched.

“Are you okay?” Pippa asked, concern etched across her face. “You look a bit ill.”

“No. I’m fine. Just need more coffee,” Sophie said.

“Well, I’m certain you could use more than coffee. I can tell you’re probably one of those types who wouldn’t complain even if you had a broken leg, but your body has been through a traumatic experience. Getting hit by that motor scooter,” Pippa said, shaking her head. “I think I’d want to hide under the covers for a few days to catch my breath. It’s a miracle you weren’t hurt worse. You could have been—” She broke off as if she realized she should be more encouraging. “But you weren’t. You’re fine and you’re just going to get better and better.”

Sophie nodded in agreement, but her brain was stuck on what Pippa hadn’t said. She could have been killed. Her brain instantly went into denial. Killed? That was a little overdramatic, wasn’t it? Her injuries could have been much more serious, but to think that she could have died … Frowning, Sophie firmly shoved the possibility to the back of her mind. A dark place she did her best not to visit.

“Oh, my,” Pippa said, putting her hand on her belly and smiling. “Amelie has hiccups.” She laughed. “Would you like to feel it?”

Sophie had wondered what it would feel like to have a baby inside her. To feel it move. “Sure,” she said and stood next to Pippa, who guided Sophie’s hand to her belly.

Sophie felt the rhythmic bump inside Pippa. “Oh, poor thing,” she said.

“She actually gets them pretty often. It makes me wonder if I’m eating something that bothers her. Sorry, Amelie,” she said and rubbed her belly.

At that moment, a strange awareness sliced through Sophie. She’d avoided the very idea of having a baby. She’d avoided the very idea of being loved by Max, although she’d secretly wished for it.

She felt Pippa’s gaze on her and tried to shake off her thoughts.

“Are you okay?” Pippa asked, reaching toward her.

“Fine,” Sophie said. “Just a little dazed.”

“From the accident?” Pippa asked. “Perhaps you should spend another night here at the palace.”