“What assignment? There are no princesses to be married. Why me? I’m nothing more than a common tailor.”
“Perhaps there’s a duchess or a marchioness marrying? Didn’t I read in the paper that the prime minister’s daughter was engaged?”
“I can’t,” Taffron whispered more to himself than Eileen, rubbing his crooked sewing fingers with this thumb. “The last time I looked at fashions, the Titanic had just sailed.”
“Go.” Eileen urged him forward. “What if he just wants to wish you a happy birthday?”
“How would he know it’s my birthday?”
“Everyone in the hamlet knows it’s your birthday. Now go.”
With a tug at his tie, Taffron slicked back his hair and headed into the shop.
“Good morning, sir.” Good. He sounded casual. Confident. “How can I help you?”
Emmanuel stood in the center of the shop, filling it with his large frame and seeming to bring a light all his own.
He wore a long, woolen anorak and a broadbrim hat over sleek, white hair. But it was his eyes that arrested Taffron. The way they moved, searched, and saw, as if straight into his soul.
“It’s been a long time,” Emmanuel said.
“Indeed. Forty years.” Taffron raised the lights, unsure if he should treat the man like a lord or a bloke he’d met down at the pub. He was both sorts. One and the same. “Please, have a seat.”
But he remained standing, so Taffron did as well. “I’ve a final task for you,” he said.
“For me?” Taffron schooled his features, tossing the statement off with a quick laugh. “Surely not a royal gown or a fancy frock. I am old, sir. Out of touch. My fingers are bent. My hands shake.”
“I’m confident you are equipped for the task. But you do not have to accept.” Emmanuel reached back for the door. “I assure you it is a worthy endeavor.”
“What am I creating?”
“Another gown.”
“Another gown? For whom?”
“Another young woman who needs to know she’s a princess.”
“A princess. Emmanuel, you’re old so you may not know but Princess Louisa’s daughter is already married. And Princess Lore is too young. There are no more princesses to be married. Not in Lauchtenland anyway.”
“Taffron, this particular lass needs to feel like a princess. To believe who she is on the inside whether she bears a title or not. Do you accept?”
“Won’t you tell me who?”
Emmanuel glanced out the window and for a moment, Taffron thought he heard him mumbling. Then he reached for the nearest chair.
“Actually, there are two young women, Taffron. One born a princess and one who will become a princess. But you must keep this between us. Only we can know.”
“Tell me more, m’lord.” Taffron sank into the squeaky rocker by the window. The light was perfect no matter what time of day for doing delicate work. “What will you have me to do?”
“With the royal wedding ball two months away, we have to ask, where is Prince Gus?”
–Tweet from @newsleader
“Prince Gus made his great escape. Will he have the courage to return? Tweet your thoughts. We’ll read them tomorrow on the show.” #maddyandhyliveshow #princegus
–Brighton Kingdom’s Madeline and Hyacinth Live!
“He may be a prince but I think he’s the king of the broken hearts.”
–Stone Brubaker, the Morning Show
On Prince Augustus
Chapter One
Daffy
February, Present Day
Floridana Beach, FL
This was the life. A girl on holiday with her mates. Surely something memorable was bound to happen.
Standing on the water’s edge, Daffy washed her weary soul with the low rumble of the waves, raised her face to the sun, and pretended she was more than an ordinary girl.
Time away was so needed. After graduating with her master’s degree, she jumped straight into work, striving to prove herself with barely a moment to breathe.
Two years in she needed a break. Then while online Christmas shopping she stumbled across the sweet blue cottage on the American coast and booked a week in February without even checking her diary. Then she coaxed her little sister along with her best friend, Leslie Ann, to join in the fun.
The three had arrived on the central Florida private beach around midnight and slept until the sun filled their rented beachfront cottage with glorious light. The sights, sounds, and sun filled her with expectation. This week was going to be amazing. She just knew it.
“I think I’ll emmigrate to America,” she said.
“Surely not.” Little sister Ella splashed through the winter-chilled waves. While the sun was warm, the breeze still nipped with a southern chill. “Why would you?”