Chapter 43

MILA

The next day, I was perched on one of the kitchen countertops in the restaurant while the electrician came in and installed the rest of my appliances. There was only so much one could do in terms of restaurant prep without a working refrigerator.

I decided to look up this city we were traveling to–Carnea. I had heard of it, in some high school geography class or other where we studied Europe, but since it wasn’t the country’s capital, it did not appear on many American maps.

Carnea was south of Fresia and sat on the coast, nestled between two shipping ports. It was famous for its crystal-clear Mediterranean waters and colorful pastel homes. Culturally, it was an area of landowners, fisherman, and artisans. They even claimed to be the birthplace of the modern acoustic guitar. The architecture of Carnea was singular and distinct. It almost looked like a sleepy New England beach town had gotten a Floridian makeover. I already loved it.

According to the Internet, Carnea was actually the oldest settlement in Fresonia, with roots dating back to over 50,000 years ago, around the time France was settled. A few families in the area even claimed they could trace their lineage back to the Roman Empire.

Felix had mentioned that the area was home to Fresonia’s oldest and wealthiest families. They were all influential and powerful, and therefore strong allies for the royal family. His mother, Rowena, was a member of one of the old families, and the royal family had a “sea cottage” where they had spent their summers while Felix was growing up.

I knew better than to expect anything small. What the royal family considered to be a cottage was likely a mansion by normal-people standards.

I texted Felix: WHAT DOES ONE WEAR TO A ROYAL COTTAGE BY THE SEA? DESPERATE FOR ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS.

Felix texted me back almost immediately: FOR YOU? IDEALLY, NOTHING

I smirked at that. Felix was always very explicit in his passion for me. Not that I minded–it was nice to feel wanted.

He sent another text shortly after: BUT I’LL HELP YOU PICK OUT SOME OUTFITS TONIGHT. I’LL ASK MRS. RAVEN TO LAY OUT SOME “APPROPRIATE” OPTIONS AND SEE IF MARIE CAN SEND ANYTHING OVER.

I smiled and tucked my phone away, trying to concentrate on sorting through the resumes that had been sent my way. Once we got back from Carnea, I would need to hire a team within a week, so that we could all get adjusted to the space before the grand opening.

As I walked home that evening, there was a lightness in my heart. For the first time since arriving in Fresonia, I was financially stable, emotionally stable, and perhaps most importantly, in love. The despair I had felt upon first arriving in the country felt like a thing of the past.

And perhaps most importantly of all, I hadn’t thought of Derek in weeks. The man who had so spectacularly broken my heart and shattered my perception of romance had all but vanished from my memory.

It was amazing what real love could do.

Mrs. Raven greeted me at the door, as she did every night Felix worked late. She gave me a large mug of tea and handed me a warm lemon poppyseed cookie. She was striving to get better at baking, and I was happy to be her guinea pig.

“Marie dropped some things off this afternoon,” Mrs. Raven said as we walked to my bedroom. “We realized you didn’t have any bathing suits, and I thought that might be a nice thing to have for a trip to the seaside.”

“I was hoping we could skinny dip,” Felix said from behind us. I jumped and turned to him, laughter in his eyes.

Mrs. Raven sighed heavily. “I don’t need to know what you youngsters do in your free time.”

I laughed and gave the housekeeper a hug. “I appreciate your help,” I told her. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Go naked and starve, I suppose,” she said dramatically before exiting the bedroom. Felix and I looked at each other and giggled.

“Every day, I am thankful to be on her good side,” I said to Felix. He smirked.

“She may be grumpy, but she’s a big old teddy bear at heart,” he said.

I turned to the bed, where a dozen neatly wrapped packages of clothes sat. I gave Felix a long look.

“What did I say about spoiling me with presents?” I asked. Felix shrugged innocently.

“What? You needed new clothes. And I get a discount from Marie if I buy in bulk!”

I knew that wasn’t true, but I let it slide.

Marie had sent over about seven bathing suits, two cover-ups, and about twenty breezy dresses and two-piece sets. My jaw dropped at the assortment.

Felix ran his hand over the silky shine of one of the sundresses. “I like this one,” he said, his voice husky.

“That dress leaves very little to the imagination,” I remarked.

Felix grinned. “That’s why I like it.”

I folded it nicely and set it in my suitcase.

“It might be nice for a date night,” I said. “A private date night. The lovely people of Carnea do not need to see all my unmentionables.”

We sorted through the rest of the pile. I only turned down one swimsuit that had what could only politely be described as a piece of floss for a bikini bottom. Felix was practically salivating, but I gave it a firm no.

Mrs. Raven popped back in with a small collection of fans and parasols.

“I know that you value your privacy, Miss Mila,” she explained, “so I took the liberty of getting you some things to help hide your face. The press can be very nosey, and I want you to have a private little getaway like you deserve.”

I almost cried at the kindness, instead choosing to profusely thank Mrs. Ravena and tuck the beautiful lace parasols into my suitcase. She disappeared again, claiming that she had to clean the kitchen, but I knew she just wanted to give us some alone time.

“Thanks for doing this,” Felix said as I finished packing.

“I should be thanking you! You’re the one taking me on vacation,” I told him. “I’m just packing pretty clothes.”

“I’m not just talking about Carnea, Mila,” he said. His voice was full of emotion. When I turned to face him, I was surprised to see that his eyes were brimming with tears. “I mean all of it. Being my consort, spending time with my family, being so kind and understanding about everything with Charles… You can’t possibly understand how much it means to me.”

“I love spending time with your family,” I said, a little caught off guard by this sudden display of emotion.

“It just means a lot to me that you’ve embraced my lifestyle so quickly,” Felix said. “It’s like you were the missing piece all along.”

“Of course, Felix,” I said gently. “I’d do anything for you. I love you.”

When he hugged me, I could feel his heartbeat thudding.

It sounded like home.