Chapter Four

Dorchester Hotel, London, Saturday 25 June 2016, 11pm

Elizabeth looked at her phone. It was just gone eleven. She was too tired to meet the girls and quickly sent a text to Jane to say she was going straight home.

" Are you off Lizzy?" Charlotte asked. Charlotte Lucas was Elizabeth's line manager and closer friend at work. She was ten years older than Elizabeth and upon arriving in London three years previously, had guided Elizabeth in what she needed to know. She was a single mother of a four year old daughter, Maria and lived in Muswell Hill.

" Yes, I'm exhausted. I'm going to slip out. If you speak to Jack, can you let him know I've gone," She replied and they both smiled as they looked to the dance floor. Jack Gardiner was in his element.

" Text me when you get home," Charlotte whispered as she hugged her friend goodnight.

Elizabeth creeped out of the ballroom and collected her coat. She had borrowed a beautiful Jenny Packham dress from Jane. It was long, emerald green and hugged her figure perfectly. She was thankful for Jane's extensive wardrobe on occasions like the one that evening.

Elizabeth wondered how much longer she would be living with her best friend. She knew wedding bells were round the corner for Jane and Charles. She could move in with Lydia or use some inheritance to buy her own flat in London. She would never be able to afford to buy a property in Knightsbridge, but had friends in Clapham and Brixton, so could look in that area. It was when she had to make decisions like this, she wished she wasn't single.

" Would you like us to hail you a taxi Miss?" The footman asked as Elizabeth walked passed him. She looked up to the sky. The rain had started again.

" Yes please," She began and sharply turned bumping into a tall man in a suit, " I'm sorry…"

Before she could continue, her eyes met with those of the man. It was him. The Prince of Wales. Elizabeth was silent for once in her life. This was a remarkably strange coincidence.

" Miss Bennet," The Prince commented, " We must stop bumping into one another like this,"

" I was just leaving the Syrian Refugee fundraiser in the Ballroom," Elizabeth blurted out trying to justify her presence.

The Prince frowned, " And I was just finishing dinner with my godfather, the Crown Prince of Greece,"

There was a moment of silence between them until they realised they had caught the attention of onlookers.

" I've got to go," Elizabeth stated and started to walk out into the rain.

" Did you not want a taxi Miss?" The footman repeated but Elizabeth did not reply and started to walk into the rain.

Why on earth had she done that. She was going to ruin Jane's dress in the rain and hated to walk in heels. She reached the bottom of Curzon Street when a black Audi stopped by the side of the road. The window rolled down. It was the Prince.

" Get in," He instructed

" No thank you Your Royal Highness," She replied, " My mother told me never…"

" I'm not a bloody stranger," He snapped back, " Stop being ridiculous and get it. The rain is getting really heavy and it will take you twenty minutes to walk home,"

" I'll be fine,"

" Stop being stubborn and get in," He repeated. Elizabeth looked around. It was dark and she was now really wet.

" Fine," Elizabeth answered. He opened the car door and she climbed in the passenger seat. In the back seat sat his protection officer, " Shouldn't he be driving?"

" Contrary to what you may wish to believe, I do like doing some things for myself," Prince William explained, " Especially driving. I always drive on non-official outings. I would love to do this alone, but unfortunately I always have to have Keith with me,"

Keith said nothing. Elizabeth smiled at him but he made no response to her.

" Thank you," Elizabeth managed to muster together.

" Your welcome," William replied, " Jane would have never forgiven me if she had found out that I allowed you to walk home in the rain alone and one thing I have learnt over the years is to always keep your best friend's girlfriend on side,"

Elizabeth wanted to challenge his use of 'allowed' but bit her bottom lip instead. The quicker she got home the better. Instead she was reminded what Lydia had talked about earlier that day.

" So, Sir, what were you doing at Jane's last night?" Elizabeth asked and the Prince's countenance changed immediately.

" None of your business," He snapped, " Why, has someone said something to you?"

" No," Elizabeth replied feeling affronted. They continued the remainder of the journey in silence until the car pulled up outside of her flat.

" Thank you for bringing me home,"

He said nothing and Elizabeth shook her head. He was so uptight. She climbed out of the car.

" Goodbye Your Royal Highness," She ended and closed the car door. She walked up the steps to the flat entrance.

" Miss Bennet," The Prince called and followed her.

" What?!" Elizabeth snapped and turned around.

" You forgot your bag," He replied and passed it to her. Their hands gently brushed and Elizabeth heart fluttered.

" Thank you," She whispered

" Goodnight," He softly said and ran back into his car.

" Goodnight," Elizabeth repeated and turned back to the flat door.

Islington, London, Sunday 26 June 2016, 4am

Lydia walked towards her front door and smiled. There he was, the most charming man in London, George Edward Wickham.

" Hello arsehole," She greeted

" You're late," He replied and she smiled.

" You know me George, I never like to be on time,"

She began to open her front door and he began to kiss her neck.

" You screwed me over with that story about Princess Perfect," Lydia responded and pulled away. George followed her into the house.

" I'm sorry," He laughed, " What can I say, I'm easily bought,"

" They must be terrified with this one,"

" Very. His Royal Highness would have given me anything I asked for," George continued and pressed Lydia against the wall kissing her neck once again. He unzipped her dress and continued to kiss downwards.

" Don't leave me out of a story again," Lydia commanded and pulled him into her bedroom.

To be continued...