The Prince's Pursuit E-Book

Morgan Utley

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

After Jane’s father passes away, she's surprised to receive an invitation from the Prince. He's looking for his bride, and all eligible women in the country of Armany are invited.

To Jane, the idea is ludicrous. Devising a plan only her family and close friends know about, she dresses as a boy to avoid the event.

But even the best plans don't always go as they were supposed to. Soon, the paths of Jane and the Prince are bound to cross, and both of their lives will change forever.

Leseprobe

THE PRINCE'S PURSUIT

MORGAN UTLEY

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

About the Author

Copyright (C) 2022 Morgan Utley

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2022 by Next Chapter

Published 2022 by Next Chapter

Edited by Chelsey Heller

Cover art by CoverMint

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’ve always imagined myself writing a novel about a prince and a princess falling in love, and after writing The Bakery Booking, it seemed like the perfect time.

I completely credit my inspiration to my wonderful husband, who supports me and loves me regardless of how high-maintenance I can be. He works tirelessly and still makes time for me to write, help me with the dishes, folds clothes, and gives attention to our four boys. I don’t know how he does it, but he does it effortlessly, and I’ll be forever grateful. I love him so much.

While I grew up, I watched my parents interact and engage with each other, and there was never a doubt in my mind that they were always head-over-heels for each other. I longed to have a marital relationship similar to what they have, and I’m so grateful for the example they set. I have the best parents in the world, and they inspire me every day.

I have my wonderful mother-in-law Wendy Utley and my mother Susie Glenn to thank for taking the time to read my novel, pick it apart, and tell me where and how to make it better.

To the little princes in my life, Jackson, James, Eddie, and Sam. You each deserve a princess, and nothing less.

CHAPTER1

Twenty-six-year-old Jane Addison was sitting by her father’s bedside, dabbing his forehead with a cool washcloth. As she examined him, she listened intently to all the sounds around her. The closest sound was her father’s breath, quiet and quick. Then, she noticed the harsh winter air blowing hard against the windows, reminding her that a cold, brutal winter had arrived. Lastly, she heard her mom gently reprimanding her little brothers on the other side of the door. From what she could hear, they had gotten into something in the kitchen and made quite the mess. The twins were always into mischief.

All these sounds were her favorites, and for a moment, she was content-although it was easy to hear anything in a small three-bedroom, one-bath cottage and the walls were very thin. She smiled to herself as she watched her father sleep. She could tell he was restless, as he was constantly fidgeting in his sleep, getting the occasional cold sweats. The poor man was shaking despite the many blankets she’d laid over him.

As Jane monitored and took care of her father, she silently prayed, hoping he would heal from his terrible illness. He started becoming sick a few weeks ago, not thinking it was anything but a cold. As the days passed, he began feeling worse and weakened to the point where he could barely move his body. Her poor family didn’t have the money to pay for a doctor, let alone the medicine, so they did their best with home remedies. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to fight the sickness. She needed a miracle.

Her mother was a mess, but was putting on a tough face for her brothers. In her way, she was trying to protect them from any unnecessary heartache, but Jane thought this idea was pointless. In the last couple days, it had been proving to be harder to pretend everything was okay, and her brothers weren’t clueless. Jane and her mother noticed that her father’s breathing was becoming shallower and more staggered, and she was sure the stress was showing all over their faces. His time was coming, and now it was just a waiting game.

It broke her heart that not two weeks ago, she and her family had been running around, building leaf piles for her brothers to jump in. It had quickly turned into a leaf fight, and pretty soon, they were all covered in leaves and dirt, accompanied with big smiles. They prepared for the first snow, making sure there was enough food storage ready for them and the animals, and that the barn was completely weather-proof. Jane and her father chopped wood and stacked many cords of wood so that their house stayed warm. It was hard work, but they were always grateful later for the warmth.

Christmas was coming in a matter of weeks, and there was nothing better than her mom splurging and buying a ham with some of the money they had saved over the year. They were hardly ever able to buy ham. They usually ate a lot of chicken, and sometimes beef if they could risk butchering a cow, but not ham. There was even talk of her mother baking an apple pie to make it an extra-special Christmas. The apple had done so well this year, Jane and her mother were able to preserve some of them. It was turning out to be a very exciting Christmas.

Jane’s family did the best they could to make a living. At the beginning of her parents’ marriage, her father wanted to try growing an apple orchard. He figured if he grew enough and was successful, it could provide for their family and they wouldn’t need to struggle. However, after years of trying to perfect how to grow the apples and bring forth the most fruit, he was only successful at growing five trees. Usually, if the trees grew enough fruit, they would pick them and take it to the local village to sell. The goal was to make enough money to last throughout the year. Some years were better than others, but they were always able to figure it out. When they had better years at selling the apples, her parents had gradually bought chickens, goats and even splurged on a couple dairy cows. This livestock helped put food on the table when they couldn’t make a lot of money, especially in the winter months when they didn’t have a garden.

Life on the farm wasn’t always easy, but when Christmas came around and they were able to buy a Christmas ham, it sure made it worth it.

If there was anything Jane would remember from her dad, it was that he was hardworking, selfless, and humble. He knew that growing the apple trees was a risky idea, and it frustrated him during years when the trees didn’t bear much fruit. In years when the rainfall was minimal and the apples were scarce, it took everything in her mother’s power to not grab the axe and chop down the wretched trees that took so much time to take care for. But she was patient and restrained herself, because she knew how much her husband loved those precious trees. From the way he took care of them, watered them, and gently pruned the branches, he took great pride in them. She wouldn’t take that away from him.

While Jane took care of her father, she daydreamed about the good times she’d had with him and the lessons she had learned from him. He had taught her how to tend to the apple trees and which branches to prune to help produce the best-tasting healthiest apples. He’d taken the time to teach her how to milk the cows and goats and keep the animals as healthy as possible, and to watch for signs of illness or lame animals. He taught her how to take care of the land, prevent it from being overgrown, and even how to build the fences surrounding it to protect it from outside predators. He taught her patience, and that good things always came to those who worked hard and waited. He taught her that if she was kind to others, even when it was hard, she would be blessed. Last of all, his greatest lesson was to love. To love the good moments, and be grateful for the bad. To love the rich, and even more so, the poor. And to love her friends and family, even the ones with the most hardened hearts.

Jane wasn’t always perfect, but she constantly strived to abide by her father’s lessons. He was the smartest, kindest, and happiest man she had ever met, and she knew he was because he followed his own lessons. She hoped to be just like him someday. Her mom teased her that she was already so much like him with her strong hands, athletic build, and high cheekbones. Not to mention, she wasn’t very graceful or ladylike, and was often called a tomboy within her family. Sure, she knew how to act like a lady, but it didn’t come to her naturally. She had to constantly work at it, and her mother often reminded to remember the importance of being a lady.

Jane’s thoughts were interrupted when her father began violently coughing. She quickly reached over to the bedside table she’d watched her dad build with an old rusty hammer and a few bent nails, and grabbed a glass of water. She gently lifted his head and brought the cup to his lips. Once he had sleepily taken a sip, she lowered his head onto his very flat pillow and put the cup back. The table also held a couple of interesting rocks her brothers found for him and a drawing Jane had done of his beloved apple trees, all in an attempt to keep his spirits up.

She stared into her father’s face and did her best to memorize every wrinkle, every freckle, and every blemish so that she would never forget him. Her father was in his young fifties, so he wasn’t very old, but his illness had aged him. He had a full head of wavy blond hair, like Jane, but his gray hair was beginning to show through around his ears and on his sideburns. His face always wore a scruffy beard that matched the color of his hair, covering half of his face. She couldn’t see them now, but his eyes were a beautiful light amber color. Jane wished her eyes had the same color, but she’d ended up with her mother’s sea-green eyes instead. He had wrinkles around his eyes that had deepened over time from his constant smiling and laughing. No matter how tired he was, he always went out of his way to make people happy and smile. He would always tell her, “Life is meant to be enjoyed-not to be in a constant state of worry. That’s just not living.” Right now, it was really hard for Jane to heed to her father’s counsel because she knew it was only a matter of time she wouldn’t hear it anymore. Not to mention it was hard to find joy in anything, considering her current situation.

Jane closed her eyes and felt tears fall down from her face, feeling herself slowly lose her composure. She felt a hand cup her face and a calloused thumb brush over her cheek to wipe away the tears. She placed her hand on her father’s and held it there, feeling the warmth of his hand on her face.

“Jane,” her father whispered in his deep, gruff voice. Jane opened her eyes and saw that her father was looking at her affectionately.

“Yes, Papa,” she replied, lowering his hand slowly and laying it down by his side.

“I think you know that my time on this earth is coming to a close.”

Jane nodded, choking back a sob. She knew he was dying, but for him to admit it out loud felt like a stab to the heart.

“I need you to be strong. I’ve already asked so much of you already. But I will rest easier knowing that while I’m gone, you’ll do whatever you can to help your mother lighten the load,” he said.

“I will, Papa. I’ll do whatever I can to ease her burden,” she tried to assure him, but everything came out in a blubber.

“I’m so sorry I can’t be there to help,” her father continued. “But my body grows weaker, and the light is becoming darker. I need you to know that I’m not frightened by any means. I’m only scared that my beautiful family won’t be taken care of.” Jane saw tears well up in his eyes.

“Papa, no. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everything and everyone around here is taken care of, no matter what. I promise.”

“I know you will. You are by far my greatest joy, and I love you with all my heart. You outshine any apple I have ever grown. You have grown up to be a beautiful young lady, and I hope that someday, you will have your own children. No other thing can bring you greater joy. You are worth more to me than any apple tree.” He smiled weakly at her and stroked the back of her hand. “Never forget your worth, Jane. Never.”

“I love you, too, Papa. I promise I won’t.”

“Good. Now if you don’t mind fetching your mother. I would like to speak with her please,” he said slowly.

“Sure thing. I’ll send her right in.”

Jane quickly left the room and hurried to the kitchen to grab her mother, who appeared to be mopping up egg yolks.

“Mama, Papa needs you quickly!” Jane exclaimed. Her mother stood up at once and rushed to his side.

Jane looked over at the table, where her little brothers were drawing again. She felt pity for them. They had some idea of what was happening to their father, but didn’t fully understand. She walked over to them and wrapped her arms around them.

It was not long until her mother came out of her room with tears streaked down her face. She beckoned for the boys to come see their father. Jane and her mother followed behind them and watched them each give their father a hug and listened to the last bit of wisdom he wanted to share with them. After several more hugs, everyone but mother left the room. Her father was becoming sleepy again and announced that he needed to rest.

Jane took the liberty of putting her brothers to bed and cleaning up the rest of the egg mess. Once she was sure the boys were asleep and the house back in order, she went to bed. Unfortunately, in the middle of the night, her mother shook her awake, informing her that some time during the night, her father had stopped breathing and finally passed away.

Just like that, Jane and her brothers were fatherless, her mother was a widow, and her heart was broken.

CHAPTER2

Prince Lucas was gazing out the palace window, looking out onto the marketplace full of villagers exchanging and selling food. He was mesmerized by all the people hurriedly walking around the square like busy worker bees. It almost looked like a dance, with everyone weaving through the crowds, trying to hurry to their intended destinations.

“Prince Lucas,” someone called behind him. He internally groaned and took a deep breath.

“Yes?” he responded, and turned to look at the guard dressed in his blue and white uniform.

“Your father requests your presence in the throne room,” the guard informed him.

Prince Lucas nodded, immediately leaving the window and walking down the long vaulted hallway that held beautiful painted portraits of the royal family both past and present. Sometimes Prince Lucas would venture down the hall and stare at each of the pictures, wondering if he would ever be ready to become king and be the kind of leader his country needed.

He walked into the large, ornate throne room and saw his parents sitting on their thrones. Large marble pillars lined the hall that held up a beautiful painted ceiling done by fellow Armanians, which surrounded a big dome window to allow light to shine through. There was a blue and white carpet down the center of the hall that led to the prince’s throne that made the room feel even more lavish. Pictures of Armany’s lush countryside with extravagant wooden picture frames decorated the walls along with gold lights spacing each picture. Behind the throne was a dark blue velvet curtain that acted as a regal backdrop. It was one of Prince Lucas’s favorite rooms in the entire castle.

The king’s throne was the largest chair, made of wood with gold inlaid in it along with the family crest. Next to it sat the smaller queen’s throne, though easily the second largest chair in the room. It looked like the king’s chair, except it didn’t have as much gold and the countries flower were engraved in the chair to give it a feminine look. On either side of the thrones were guards standing at attention in their blue and white uniforms, though these guards were wearing silver breastplates engraved with the family crest. They wore silver helmets with blue plumes on top, and long swords hung down on their sides. They were ready for battle at a moment’s notice.

Prince Lucas walked confidently up to the thrones, gave a slight bow, and greeted his parents. “Good morning, Mother. Hello, Father. I heard I was needed.” He clasped his hands behind his back and waited for their reply.

“Yes.” His father cleared his throat, which quickly turned into a cough. Prince Lucas continued to wait patiently. “Yes, we need to speak to you about something. It’s a matter of importance.”

“Surely it can’t be that bad. What is it?”

“Son, you’re almost thirty years old. I know you haven’t wanted to think about it, but it’s time for you to marry. We’ve had many balls here and dinners with other families from distant lands with beautiful daughters, and you haven’t managed to even talk to one of them.”

“Ugh, this again,” the prince scoffed, and slowly spinning around in aggravation. “Father, those women you speak of were absolutely horrible. There was no way I could even think about marrying one of them, let alone having a nice conversation. Besides, I haven’t felt the need to marry. I’m perfectly content being your son and serving our country.”

“Good, son, because that is exactly what we need you to do,” his mother intoned.

“What do you mean?” Prince Lucas asked curiously. He kept looking back and forth between the king and queen, but couldn’t get an idea from either one of them. They had the best poker faces he had ever witnessed.

In his eyes, his mother was the epitome of grace, and she had aged beautifully. She had dark brown curly hair with streaks of gray, which was usually pinned up into an elegant twist with curls framing her face. She had dark brooding eyes with long dark eyelashes to compliment. her beautiful face. She was always put together, and always looked her best. She often said, “If you look your best, you feel your best.” The queen was gracious, humble, and generous with her time. She was always the first to step up to offer help to any one in need, and never ceased to be extremely thoughtful.

“Your father grows weak, Lucas. It’s time for you to prepare yourself to assume the throne and become king of Armany,” the queen told her son. Her breast swelled with pride, but the king’s face remained solemn.

Concern flooded Prince Lucas’s mind as he looked more closely at his father, “What’s wrong, Father?”

“I’m getting older son and tired. My body doesn’t respond the way it used to and my mind is struggling to keep up as well. Who knows how much longer I have left, but in the meantime, we need to make sure we get you as prepared as possible before…” The king paused for a moment seemingly struggling for words.

The queen spoke up,“Before he can’t anymore.” She smiled at her husband.

“Well, I am ready, Father!” Prince Lucas proclaimed. “I’m ready to assume the throne and lead these people and do whatever I must to become the best and most just ruler I can be.” Prince Lucas opened his arms out to emphasize the point. But despite his best efforts, his father shook his head.

“We know in your heart, you’re ready,” the king told his son. “But there is still something you must do before you can place this crown on your head and give you full command.”

Prince Lucas stood there, waiting for his father to tell him what he needed to do. He was racking his brain trying to figure it out, but couldn’t come to any conclusions.

His father grunted, then continued, “You must be married.”

“What!” Prince Lucas exclaimed in outrage. “You’re joking. I don’t need to marry anyone to become king.” He was so shocked and caught off-guard that he began pacing in front of his parents. “You’ve never told me that I would need to marry someone to rule. I don’t recall this conversation ever taking place.”

“That’s because we thought you would be married by now, sweetheart,” his mother said plainly.

He scoffed, “Thank you, mother.”

“Well,” she held her hands up in surrender, “you have had your share of women through your life.”

“The red-headed princess from Luthen, the blonde princess from Lizen,” the ling rattled off.

“The brunette from the town square he met in the pub,” the queen added.

“Oh, she was a feisty one,” the king chuckled. “And not a very good decision.”

“I believed you walked through the castle doors with a black eye,” the queen teased the prince. “Luckily the cook had a spare steak to help with the swelling that night.”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” Prince Lucas was becoming exasperated. “Still, I don’t understand why I have to be married in order to become king.”

“Because it is the law,” the king’s voice boomed throughout the hall. “It has been the law for centuries, and it’s not about to change now. You must have a queen by your side in order to become king.”

“Father, this is absolutely ridiculous. I-”

“Lucas,” his mother warned, pursing her lips.

The folded his arms and breathed a heavy sigh. He looked down at the floor and did everything he could bite his tongue, to not say something he would regret later. “Fine. Fine. Who did you have in mind? The maid? The woman from the pub? Some random lady walking in the square?”

“For the sake of our country, it would be wise for you to marry Princess Louisa from Roland. You know as well as I do that we have been at odds with Roland for years, and our fear is that they want to start a war. A marriage…” The king paused, eyeing the prince, and continued, “A marriage would help create a bond between our two countries and prevent a war that would do harm to both our people.”

Prince Lucas pondered on what his father had said, and suddenly, something clicked in his mind. “Wait a second. Are you talking about that girl who insisted on dancing with me at the New Year’s ball, when I had just turned sixteen? The one who purposely kept stepping on my feet and tripping me? Then when midnight struck, she still expected me to kiss her, and when I didn’t, she doused me with her punch? That princess?”

His parents thought for a moment, and his mother smiled, “Oh yes, I remember her now. She was quite fond of you, poor girl, I just don’t think she knew how to express her feelings in a kind way.” She chuckled at the memory and his father joined in.

“Yes, she was interesting, wasn’t she?” The king mused, “Her parent’s were so upset she had done that. She is a little younger than you, though, so I guess it makes a little sense. Plus, with your forked tongue at that age, you probably had it coming. I’ve heard she’s grown up to be quite the beautiful young lady. Willing to do anything for her country,” he emphasized, but Prince Lucas wasn’t buying it.

“Oh no. I’ve seen Princess Louisa since then. She’s still a spoiled brat. There is no way on this planet that I would ever consider marrying her. That would make for a trying marriage,” the prince admitted, shaking his head.

“Sometimes doing what’s right is not always easy,” his mother told him, as she so often did. He rolled his eyes and turned around so that they couldn’t see him muttering under his breath.

“Think of the good you would do for Armany, Lucas. You would save us from an unnecessary war, create a marital bond, and relieve me of my kingly duties,” his father reminded him.

“Yes father, I know. But marriage is a huge step. We’re talking about someone I would spend the rest of my life with, someone with whom I would create a family. That decision is not to be taken lightly. I don’t want to marry someone I do not love.”

“Well,” his mother sighed, putting her hand on her chest, “I never considered you to be a romantic.”

“I’m not. But if I’m to become King, sooner rather than later, I want to be with someone who actually wants to be with me. Who will be with me through the tough times and bad, support me and love me regardless of what happens. I’m sure that if I were to marry Princess Louisa, we would end up hating and despising each other just a year after we marry-I’m convinced of this. She would drive me absolutely crazy, and I’m sure I would do the same to her.”

His mother smiled at her son, but his father stared at him blankly.

“Then what would you have us do? I don’t have years to wait for you to meet some young lady upon happenstance and hope that you both fall in love. We need this to happen soon,” the king urged.

“How soon? Clearly you have a timeline in mind. When do I need to be married and relieve you of the throne?” Prince Lucas waited on bated breath for their answer.

“One year,” the queen said after a long pause. “Sooner if possible, but ideally, one year. Otherwise, the crown goes to your cousin Nathaniel, who’s already married. Parliament won’t let you become king until you’re married. Otherwise, you forfeit the throne.”

“I love how my life has become an ultimatum,” the prince mumbled, and his mother looked at him with pity.

“I know, sweetheart. We thought we would be able to avoid this in hopes you would have married by now but since it hasn’t happened, we had to have this conversation whether you like it or not.” His mother smiled at him again, but he wasn’t feeling very cheerful.

“Okay, well, what do I do? I don’t want to marry Princess Louisa, and I certainly don’t want to give up the throne to Nathaniel. By the time his reign would end, Armany would be up in flames. He is not fit to rule,” Prince Lucas said tartly.

“Let’s think for a moment,” the queen suggested. They all pondered for a moment what could be done and how they could meet in the middle, but Prince Lucas was seriously doubting his ability to fall in love with the perfect woman in less than a year and marry her. It seemed absolutely impossible. He didn’t even know where to start. He figured he might as well walk the through the streets, pick some random girls off to get to know, and pray he picked the right lady.

“That’s it!” The prince suddenly cried out.

“Have you thought of someone?” his mother asked excitedly.

“I was just thinking that I have no idea where to start trying to find my wife. As far as I’m concerned, she could be anywhere in the kingdom. Right?” He looked between his parents for affirmation, and they both nodded.

“Yes, we realize that. One year is not a lot of time, though, which is why we suggested Princes Louisa,” his mother said.

“Well, what if we bring the ladies to me?” he suggested. His father nearly choked and his mother gasped in shock.

“What on earth are you suggesting?” the queen asked, looking at the prince with concern.

“I mean, why don’t we invite all the women of the kingdom to come here,” he opened his arms and gestured around him. “I don’t see any other way of doing it. I don’t have time to go out and walk around, trying to find my future wife. We’re talking about a serious commitment here, and I want to make sure I get it right. Not only will the woman be my wife, but she will be our queen.”

“So…you’re saying what?” His father asked slowly.

“I’m saying that we send out a decree to the entire kingdom and invite every single available woman to come to the castle. I can meet with them individually, they can meet you, we can see how they interact with the other dignitaries, how they would acclimate to living in the castle, and more importantly, with me.” Prince Lucas smiled, proud of his idea, but the king and queen looked at him with unease.

“Lucas, do you realize how many women you’re talking about?” The queen asked. “And where do you expect them to stay? Here? Tha….that’s crazy!” She began fanning herself, as if she might faint.

“Of course! Where else they would stay? We have the space for it, plenty of servants and guards to offer protection to us and the girls. It would be a fun adventure!” The prince was becoming more excited the more he talked about his idea.

“For how long?” The king simply asked.

“I don’t know, a month? A week? Two weeks?”

“No, no.” His mother waved those suggestions off. “A month is too long and a week could be too short. How many girls at a time? We’re talking about hundreds of girls!” She was practically shrieking now, realizing how much work this was going to be.

“Maybe, twenty to twenty-five? The ones who I don’t feel a connection with or who I simply don’t like, I’ll slowly send home through the week. By the end of the two weeks, I’ll have one last girl standing.”

In his mind, his plan was coming together, but now his father looked even more confused.

“And what about all the other girls you invite? Or what if you find the love of your life within the first couple of weeks?” The queen questioned.

“Then the search stops,” Prince Lucas stated. “And if I’m not sure still, we’ll save the girls who are left at the end of their two weeks and do a final interview period. The last standing will hopefully become my wife.”

“This is becoming to sound more and more like a game,” his mother said sounding disappointed.

“No,” the prince said firmly. “This is not a game. This is my life, and it will not be treated like a game or any sort of entertainment. The girls won’t be compensated except for staying here in the palace and being treated like a guest-that’s it. The girls who come need to know that this is a serious matter, and if they’re here for any other reason, they will be escorted out the door.”

“Well, I must be honest with you, I’m glad to hear you say that,” the queen said. “As much as I want you to enjoy the process, I would expect it to be taken seriously. This is not only your life being affected; it’s everyone’s.”

Prince Lucas nodded. “I realize this would be a huge undertaking, but I don’t see another option. And when I say I don’t want to marry Princess Louisa, I really don’t. Any women would be better than her at this point.” He looked over at his father, who was slowly stroking his long white beard and staring at him with his piercing blue eyes. He looked as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. The prince suddenly had a flicker of doubt and wondered if he would be able to fill his father’s shoes. He had a lot to live up to.

“You’re quiet Father,” he observed. “I want to hear your counsel.”

His father stared at him for a moment longer, and then sighed. “If this is what you think will help you find your future wife and queen of Armany, so be it. We will support you. Though here are a few things I would encourage you to do, son.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

“When it comes to your last round of interviews with the last of the girls, I would encourage you to try and set up meet and greet with the girl’s family. Invite them to stay and allow us to interact with them so we get an idea of where these girls come from.”

Prince Lucas nodded in agreement. “Fair enough. I agree with that.”

“I also think you need to put an age limit on the girls. I don’t think you want to interview a seventy-year-old women to be your wife, or thirteen-year-old girls.”

This time, the prince laughed and said, “You’re right. We’ll put an age gap on it. Eighteen to thirty-five?”

“Splendid. I think that would be wise. Lastly, you have a time limit. By the end of November, you must be done interviewing girls. The final interview with your ladies will be the first two weeks of December. Regardless whether or not you have found a woman, you will be married by Christmas. Whether it’s to a girl you chose or Princess Louisa, you will be married. Which means you have less than a year to do this, and invites need to go out as soon as possible.”

Suddenly, Prince Lucas’s heart began racing, realizing his idea was now coming to life.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” the queen asked him seriously. “You’re going to experience a lot of heartache-not to mention, see a lot of woman cry. This is not going to be comfortable. However, it could be worth it if it works.”

“It will work. I’m sure of it.” Prince Lucas said confidently. “ It has to. I’m about to meet every young lady in Armany. One of them is bound to love me.”

“Oh, I don’t think it’s them loving you is necessarily the challenge here,” the queen said. “I think it’s you finding the one you’re looking for.”

The prince clapped his hands together and said, “Well, there’s only one way to find out.”

CHAPTER3

A couple weeks after Jane’s father passed away, her mother informed her and her brothers that they wouldn’t be buying a Christmas ham this year. She thought it would be wise to save the money, and Jane knew she was stressed about finances. Her mother’s weariness made her appear as if she had aged since her father died. Jane knew that she was in mourning, but it seemed to be more than that. She could tell that her mother felt as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders and didn’t know how she was going to be able to support her three children as a single mother.

Jane knew that she was going to have to step up in a big way. Her father gave her all the tools and knowledge to help her take care of things around the house and farm, and she was now going to have to apply them. She would not allow her family to become destitute. She stepped up and began doing all the chores her father did the moment he was gone. She was up early feeding, milking and giving water to the cows as well as the goats. Cleaning out stalls, feeding chickens, and helping her mother around the house. Luckily, with it being winter and snow on the ground, there wasn’t much to do outside, except make sure all the animals were warm. She was constantly on her feet all hours of the day, and in the evenings, hit the bed hard, instantly falling asleep, only to do same thing early the next morning.

She was gone so much that her best friend Meredith came by wondering where she had been. When Meredith knocked at the door to see if Jane was available, Jane’s mom let her know that Jane was in the barn, taking care of the animals. Meredith walked around the house and found her best friend attempting to milk a reluctant goat.

She walked inside, laughing at her friend and leaning against the barn door. “So this is where you’ve been hiding for two weeks.” She looked around and sniffed the air, unimpressed by the stench that went along with the barn.

Jane turned around surprised and a smile spread across her face. “Well, you’ve found me now. I guess I’m going to have to find another hiding spot.”

“I sure hope not,” Meredith walked in and sat on a bale of hay. “I’ve missed my friend. Christmas is around the corner and I thought we would walk around town, see all the decorated shops. It might cheer you up?” she prodded.

Jane sighed, trying to decide how best to turn down her friend without hurting her feelings too much. She began slowly, “Meredith, I don’t think I can. I have so much to do around here, I’ve working from sun up to sun down.”

“I know things have been hard on you and your family, but don’t you think you deserve a little break? I bet you haven’t had one since your father passed,” Meredith said to her, raising one eyebrow.

“If I don’t get this done, who will?” Jane replied, trying not to sound exasperated, but she couldn’t help feel frustrated by her friend’s lack of understanding.

“I will,” another voice said behind her. Jane spun around again to see the person who had spoken and saw her mother standing right behind Meredith with her brothers. “Your brothers and I can finish up here, I’ve already got a jump start on making bread for dinner and cleaning after your brothers for the millionth time.”

“Mama, I’m really okay. I can finish my chores and help you prepare dinner,” Jane insisted, but her mother shook her head.

“No. You’ve done so much for me and your brothers, you deserve to go walk around town,” she suggested.

“Yes!” Meredith cheered and smiled at Jane, who felt like she was being pushed in a corner. When it looked like she wasn’t going to be changing anyone’s mind, she finally conceded.

“Alright,” she breathed. “Alright, I’ll go. Let me change into some different clothes, as I can’t imagine I smell good. Then we’ll head out. Did you walk, Meredith?”

“Yes, I did. I’ll meet you out front,” she told Jane, and went practically skipping out of the barn.

“Why don’t you go along and get dressed?” Her mother encouraged and smiled wearily. Jane was so worried about her. She could hear her mother crying in the middle of the night a couple times a week, and knew she wasn’t getting the best sleep. The last time she heard her crying, Jane crawled into bed to comfort her and ended up spending the rest of the night with her. She wanted to turn her down and refuse to go, but she knew her mother was trying to do a kind thing and didn’t want to offend.

“Thanks, Mama,” was all she said. Her mother nodded and Jane walked out to change out of her clothes that smelled like a mixture of hay, manure, and spoiled milk.

Once Jane changed, she decided to quickly wash her face and arms to make sure she took off any residual dirt and grime. She put on her heavy overcoat, scarf and hat to help keep her warm in the cold while she walked into town. It wasn’t far, maybe a half hour to forty five minutes, depending on how fast they walked. Jane planned on walking a little faster today because the wind brought a frigid chill.

She met her mom and Meredith out by the front door. “Thank you, Mama,” she said again and gave her mother a hug.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” she said, kissing her daughter’s forehead. “You just enjoy yourself, alright? Let me know if you hear any juicy gossip while you’re out. I feel like I’ve been in my own little world, I need some distraction.”

Jane rolled her eyes. She didn’t care about the gossip or talk of the town. She thought it was meaningless, but her mom and Meredith loved finding out what was going on in town. However, considering her mother had been going through a hard time, she figured a distraction was exactly what she needed. So she said, “Sure thing, Mama. I’m sure there’s good stuff out there. Although, most of our friends will probably still be talking about Papa’s sudden passing.”

“Well,” her mother paused for a moment, “hopefully not. Hopefully they’re focusing on happier things. There’s no reason to dwell on something we can’t change. Your father would want us to be happy.”

“I know, but it’s okay to mourn. It’s necessary, and people, including you, can take as long as they need,” Jane reminded her gently.

Her mom smiled, clearly wanted to say more, but then looked over at Meredith, realizing she was still there. “You guys should go.”

She slipped some money into Jane’s hand. Jane looked up at her in confusion, and her smile widened. “If you see something pretty, get it. You deserve to treat yourself.” She closed her daughter’s hand and patted it.

Jane gave her a small smile and said quietly, “Thank you, Mama.”

Her mother kissed her cheek and said, “You girls enjoy yourself. I better go make sure your little brothers aren’t doing anything they aren’t supposed to.” She walked away from them with one last smile, and Jane looked at Meredith.

“You ready?” Meredith asked Jane, who was regretting going into town. Even though she wanted to, she couldn’t say no to her friend’s eager face.

Meredith noticed her friend’s hesitation and her face began to fall, so Jane quickly replied, “Yes. Let’s go.”

They arrived in town and began walking through Main Street, feeling immediately giddy, as if they were walking through a winter wonderland. There were carolers singing in the streets, all bundled up trying to stay warm. They noticed the pub was hopping with many people enjoying the holiday spirit with lots of loud laughter, with other people walking up and down the street doing last minute Christmas shopping. Wreaths were decorated and placed on many of the shop doors, many candles and lights surrounded the windows and doors, and only a select amount of shops had bright red poinsettias. It was beautiful this time of year, and Jane usually loved it. This year was a little harder to enjoy with her dad passing, but she was trying to make the best of it for her family.

Meredith wanted to do a little shopping for Christmas presents, so they shopped around, looking at anything and everything. Meredith bought: pretty fabrics for her mother, her father’s favorite kind of jerky, some ribbons for her sisters to put in their hair, and a little toy car for her brother. Jane looked around, feeling the coins rattling in her skirt and thinking about what she would enjoy, but she couldn’t bring herself to buy anything. Deep down, she knew it wasn’t right for her to spend it, and so decided that she wouldn’t.

Meredith wanted to go into the pub herself to warm up, so Jane reluctantly followed. She wasn’t a huge fan of the pub and didn’t want to be bombarded with questions and condolences from friends and local villagers who had known her father well. She wasn’t up for talking about his death and didn’t think she ever would be.

Meredith ordered herself something warm to drink and asked to see if Jane wanted anything, but she declined. Once the server brought Meredith her order, Meredith sighed and looked at Jane, her face full of concern.

“You’re making me feel guilty,” Meredith stated.

“Why?” Jane asked, surprised. She didn’t think she had done anything wrong and was confused.

“Because here I have bags and bags full of gifts and ordering things to pick up later and you haven’t bought anything,” she observed. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just don’t feel comfortable spending any money. My family had agreed we would try and save as much as possible because we didn’t know what this year would bring. Hopefully, the weather will be good for us and we get lots of rain for our produce, especially the apples.”

Meredith had a look of guilt sweep across her face.

“Meredith, don’t feel bad, please. I’ve had a lot of fun today. I’m just trying to be cautious. With Papa gone, it changes everything.”

“I know. I’m sorry, I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I-” she was cut off by some commotion going on outside the pub.

Palace guards were seen riding through the village, passing out pieces of paper to any young women they saw. It was rare to see the palace guards at the village, so everyone was very curious to see what was going on. People in the pub were standing up and looking through the windows, or walking out onto the side of the street to watch the guards hand out papers to all the women.