The Runaway Princess

Chapter 9

"I'm a proud Australian, a very, very proud Australian." Steve Irwin

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Chapter Nine

Keep your mouth shut, Elena! Elena chided herself.

She could not believe that she had so aggressively spoken to a prince. She was not a princess anymore. She had no right to address a royal as if she were of the same rank as him.

Aside from that unfortunate incident, Elena quite enjoyed the dinner. When Gabriela did not require a translation, she got into quite a friendly conversation with David’s cousin, Lady Spencer, or Rebecca, as she insisted being called.

“Whereabouts in Spain do you come from, Elena?” Rebecca asked over their duck confit. Elena thought Rebecca was a very beautiful and poised woman. Her eyes were her most striking feature. They were the colour of golden honey.

Elena was in heaven eating such a delicious meal. She had truly underestimated Mrs Weston’s cooking skills. The meal also showed her how much she missed the fine meals she was used to eating at the palace. “My parents are from Spain,” lied Elena. “My sister and I are from Cornwall.” Elena was beginning to feel quite awful for deceiving such kind people.

“You are not from Spain?” remarked her husband, James. “I am quite surprised to hear that. You speak the language beautifully,” he complimented.

Elena smiled. “Thank you,” she said gratefully. Truth be told, she enjoyed being able to speak her native language. Spanish was natural to her. She did not have to think about the words she was choosing when she spoke Spanish.

“Your accent is very peculiar, though,” James commented. “If you were raised in Cornwall, why do you not speak with a British accent?”

Elena froze. Her story had not been questioned before. Thankfully, his wife answered for her.

“I was raised in Philadelphia, dear, and I do not speak with an American accent,” Rebecca countered.  

“True,” replied James.

A relieved Elena asked about their children and they enjoyed talking about their young son, James, and little daughter, Simone.

Throughout the evening, Elena noticed David watching her every so often. The glances were subtle but they made her blush, much to her humiliation. Elena felt quite foolish. She was making herself vulnerable as she was enjoying the subtle attention of the handsome David.

“Elena, yo quiero ir a la cama,” whispered Gabriela quietly. Elena knew Gabriela felt quite guilty that her husband had taken his frustration with Gabriela out on Elena. Elena could not blame Gabriela for wanting to go to bed. “¿Cómo se dice "Buenas noches" en Inglés?”

Elena smiled proudly. Her sister wanted to make the effort. “Good night,” she replied and nodded encouragingly as Gabriela rose from the table.

The men all stood as well. Gabriela took a deep breath and very shakily said, “Good night.” Her words were heavily accented but one could understand what she was saying.

Christian looked very surprised that she had just spoken English. Elena bitterly thought that if he was so concerned with communicating with his wife that he could have learned Spanish.

“Good night, Princess Gabriela,” said Emmett warmly.

Gabriela beamed and cheerfully said, “Te entiendo!”