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The man trotted back into the field. Ellery stepped away from Derek and folded her arms across her chest. Why was she so upset? A car could be fixed. Maybe because she hadn’t driven before? To wreck on her first drive wasn’t ideal, but they were fine and that was all that mattered.
“The tow should be here in about half an hour. They have to come from Traverse.”
“Thank you,” Derek said, shaking the man’s hand. “You don’t need to wait. We’re fine.”
“I could give you a ride back to the castle,” the man offered. “Once I told the tow truck operator who you were, he said to tell you they’d pick up the car and take care of everything. You can wait for them to give you a ride, but I don’t mind. I was heading home to Greenville anyway.”
“Thank you.” Derek wasn’t sure who this man was, and he probably should know. “Mr. …?”
“Yancy Morales. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Derek, and you as well, Miss Monson. My girls and I are huge fans.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at the man, obviously trying to hide that she was upset.
They all loaded up in the man’s truck, Ellery in the middle. She was suspiciously quiet. Derek chatted with the man about his work as an electrician, most of his projects being in Traverse, and his wife who had taught at the grade school in Greenville for almost twenty years. Derek actually knew the man’s wife. She’d taught Malik. They usually tried to separate the twins in school to keep their classes calmer. It wasn’t a far drive, and soon they pulled up to the guard station.
The guard held up a hand as Yancy rolled down his window. “I can’t allow you access … Prince Derek?”
Derek leaned around Ellery and Yancy. “We had a little accident.”
Ellery grunted at that. He hoped once he explained that the car could be easily fixed, she would relax a bit. Most people assumed that airbags deploying would total a vehicle, but with one as expensive as that Porsche, it was a minor fix. Maybe some work on the front fender. Since the car was electric, the motor wouldn’t have sustained any damage.
“Our friend Yancy helped us out and gave us a ride. Can he drive us up to the castle?”
“I’m sorry, sir, but he can’t. General Raymond’s orders. I can take you in the Razor.”
“Okay. Thanks.” He reached around Ellery and shook Yancy’s hand again. “Pleasure to meet you, Yancy. Thank you for all the help.”
“My pleasure.”
“Nice to meet you. Thank you,” Ellery said.
“Of course, ma’am. My girls will be so excited to hear I met you.”
“Thank you.”
Derek slid out and took Ellery’s elbow. She didn’t shake him off, so that was something. Was she just beating herself up about the accident and their ruined date night? Was she terrified about the wreck? He could understand that because it was her first time driving. Come to think of it, she probably hadn’t been in a smaller personal vehicle very often if she walked or rode the bus. That could explain it.
The ride up the hill to the castle was quiet. The guard, Joseph, seemed like a nice guy, though he was professional and definitely didn’t want to hold a conversation. No matter what question Derek asked, he gave a quick answer and never asked any questions back.
They were driven through the castle gates, the guards professional enough to not take a second glance at their white powdered appearance, but they certainly took a first.
They thanked Joseph and climbed the stairs to the front doors. Entering the foyer, he hoped nobody was around—until they hurried up the first two sets of stairs and heard voices.
He met Ellery’s gaze and gave a put-on grimace. “Shall we hide?” He was teasing, but her eyes widened with uncertainty. The white powder was creasing in her darker skin and made her green eyes more pronounced. He thought she was beautiful, but she probably didn’t want to run into anyone right now.
His dad, T, and Prime Minister Henry Shule, a lifelong friend of his father’s, came down the hall. Derek had heard from T that things were a little strained since William Rindlesbacher, apparently the biggest donor of Henry’s political campaign, had killed a man and tried to frame their sister-in-law Hattie for it. It was the reason Hattie and Steffan were in Haiti and Chief Jensen and Ray had faked Hattie’s death. Henry of course promised he wasn’t affiliated with Rindlesbacher and couldn’t control who contributed to his campaigns. T had told Derek they all trusted Henry, but they were cautious not to talk about Hattie to anyone, lest something slipped inadvertently. The fewer people who knew she was alive and that she and Steffan had quietly married, the better.
The three men spotted them before Derek could direct Ellery up the steps to their suites.
“What happened to you two?” T asked, laughter in his voice.
“I gave Elle a driving lesson and apparently I stink as an instructor.”
All three men looked bemused.
“Oh, I apologize. Ellery Monson, this is Prime Minister Henry Shule. I’d hug you hello, Henry, but …”
The prime minister chuckled at that. He offered his hand to Ellery first. “It’s wonderful to meet you. My wife and I watch you and Derek as often as we can. Next season, you’ll beat him for sure.”
