The Princess (Available in paperback & eBook-SAMPLE)

Prologue (Part 1)

Welcome to my new story. I hope you all will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Feel free to comment and let me know what you all think. :)

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(Evangeline)

8/26/2013

Nicholas Hopewell is his name. That is all I know about the man who is to become my bodyguard. He arrives today. I will write these words on paper and never utter them aloud. I do not want him here. I do not want him guarding me.

I have never felt comfortable having a bodyguard. The thought of a man using his body as a shield between me and evil does not set well with me. If I had a say in the matter there would be no bodyguards. Sadly I have no say. God, please watch over the men who guard my life.

I closed the leather bound book that held my inner most thoughts and opened the top drawer of my desk. Slipping the book inside, I shut the drawer and locked it. I hid the small key in my jewelry box just as someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," I called out. The door opened and my younger sister, Annalise, entered my bedchamber. We were as different as night and day. She had our father's black hair and blue eyes while I had our mother's brown hair and green eyes. She was short and I was tall. She was graceful and I thought of myself as clumsy. Like I said, we were as different as night and day. "Good morning, Ann."

"Good morning, Evie." She crossed the room, leaned down, and kissed me on the forehead. "Are you going to join Father and I for breakfast?"

"I've already had breakfast," I told her. "I need to get dressed and have my hair and makeup done. I'm taking pictures with the children at the hospital, but before I do that I have to meet with the new bodyguard."

"I met him when he arrived a little while ago." Ann winked at me. "Handsome devil. He's tall with wonderfully broad shoulders, dark brown hair, and eyes that remind me of milk chocolate. The only flaw I could find in him is a bump on his nose. I wonder how he got it."

"We all have a flaw or two." I glanced at the clock on my desk. "I better get dressed."

"I'm going to go join Father for breakfast." Ann headed toward the door. "I'll see you tonight."

I stood and went into the adjoining room. Turning on the light, I gazed around my large dressing room. Walls were lined with racks of clothes and shelves filled with shoes. Tucked into a corner was a floor to ceiling jewelry case. In the center of the room, beneath a glittering chandelier, was a plush couch. Draped over an arm of the couch was the outfit my wardrobe stylist picked out for me to wear.

Taking off my robe and night gown, I put on a bra, slip, and a navy blue and white dress. I slipped my feet into white high heels and then added a pair of earrings and a matching necklace to complete the look.

I left the dressing room and hurried to another room on the other side of my bedchamber. My hair stylist, Liza, was busy unpacking her brushes and combs. I wished her a good morning and sat down in front of the mirror.

"Good morning, Your Highness," she said.

I groaned inwardly. No matter how many times I asked her to call me by my name she still used my title. "Do you know what the weather is supposed to be like today?"

"Warm and windy," she answered, reaching for a comb. "Would you prefer your hair up?"

"Yes, please." I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of the comb going through my hair. Hearing the door open and close, I opened my eyes and saw it was my personal assistant and friend. "Morning, Elaine."

"Morning, Evie." She pulled a chair near and plopped down onto it. "Have you seen your new bodyguard?"

"Not yet." I grinned. "Ann thinks he's a handsome devil."

Elaine giggled. "He is easy on the eyes, but he's also a gentleman. He held open the door for me and asked me how I was doing. Better yet, he actually listened when I told him. I wouldn't mind him guarding me."

I rolled my eyes.

She retrieved her phone from her pocket. "What errands do you need me to take care of?"

"I need you to pick up Ann's gift from Hawthorne's." I thought about what else I needed her to do. "The clasp on the necklace my mother gave to me broke. I need you to have it fixed. You'll find it on my nightstand. Also you should stop by the stationary store and pick up my stationary. I have a few letters to write and no stationary to write them on. Lastly, would you get me a box of my favorite chocolate?"

"Of course." Elaine entered the information in her phone. "Anything else?"

"Get yourself a box of candy and have them charge it to my account." I smiled at her. "That's all. Thank you, Elaine."

"You're welcome," she said. "I'll get started right away."

"I appreciate it." As she was leaving my makeup stylist, Lindsay, showed up. I held back a sigh. What I wouldn't give to be left alone. I forced a smile and wished her a good morning.

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I know it's unusual to have a two part prologue, but that's what I'm going to do. Before I move onto chapter one, I want to do a prologue from Nicholas' point of view. I wanted him to be the one to tell of meeting Evangeline. :)