“Annie, you need to speak with Frannie,” Macee said. Liane laughed.
“You know she hates you calling her that,” Liane replied.
“I know,” Macee smirked. She only called her that because she hated it. “She won't talk to me. I think she feels that I stole her opportunity, but I didn’t. She can have it,” she added.
“Oh no, she would not feel that way. What makes you say that?” Liane always saw the best in her sisters.
“Annie, she hasn’t spoken to me since I was forced to come live in the palace. I could see it in her face before I left. It's not like I asked for this and it's not like prince is the love of her life, or mine.”
“And that’s exactly why I don’t think she would be angry with you.”
Macee sighed. “I tried my best to decline all of this. Mother actually dragged me to the car and forced me in. I even told the prince that I did not want to marry him.”
Liane gasped before she broke into laughter. “And what did he say to that?”
“He kept telling me that I should be delighted to be marrying him.”
“That is Prince Louis alright. Always so conceited.”
“What about you? What has been happening with Jean Pierre?”
“Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing? Annie you must tell him.”
“I know, but not now. It would cause too many problems for everyone.” Liane knew that she had to tell him but she did not know how. Once the secret was out, there was no turning back. Macee hung up the phone and went to have breakfast. She felt a little better after Liane said that she would talk to Francesca on her behalf.
“What are your plans for the day, your highness?” One of the maids asked Macee. She was still not used to them referring to her as her highness.
“I want to relax today. It was a busy week,” Macee replied as she sat at the table.
“Yes, it’s a good idea. You need to recuperate.”
That afternoon, Macee was sitting on the balcony enjoying the sun and painting. Her father had finally brought over some of her stuff. She felt so relaxed. She had missed these simple things, like having her wavy hair tumble down her back. Every day, the maids tucked and pinned her hair up. She had also missed painting and simply enjoying the sun and breeze. If life was that tiring now, it was going to be much more difficult when she was the queen.
Macee heard someone clearing his throat. She turned around and found Prince Louis standing there with his hands behind his back. He completely caught her off guard. She stood up immediately with her eyes wide open.
“Prince Louis, I did not expect to see you,” Macee said and bowed her head and then quickly curtsied. She still got confused as to which one was the right one to do. Even though Bridgette had told her to curtsy and showed her many times.
“How have you been?” he asked as he studied her. She had some paint smudges on her face, which reminded him of the first time he saw her.
Does he really care? Macee thought to herself. And why was he looking at me so intently? “I have been well, considering the fact that I was dragged here without my consent,” she said.
What makes her think she can speak to me how she pleases? Prince Louis asked himself. Ignoring her comment, he pulled out a chair and sat down. “You paint?”
“No, I’m sky diving.” Prince Louis looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Yes, I paint. I find it relaxing,” she added.
“You are still not delighted to be wedding me?”
“Your highness, I barely know you.”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes, it does, it matters a lot.”
“Why?”
Macee narrowed her eyes. How could the prince not understand that you cannot simply marry someone you barely know? She sat back down and picked up her paintbrush. “Don't you think I am too unkempt to be your bride?” she asked. By now, she thought she would have put him off.
“You can always be taught how to look and act your best,” Prince Louis answered calmly. His voice was a smooth as butter.
“Would you not like to marry someone you actually love?”
Prince Louis shrugged his shoulders. “As the Crown Prince of Monaco, I have no time for love. I have to marry for the benefit of my country.”
Macee laughed and turned to face him. “Marrying me would definitely not benefit you or the country.”
“Elaborate.”
“While I may come from a good background and a family as old as yours, I have not been trained for the position. I have no interest in becoming the queen. You would have been better off marrying my sister. She’s the one who really wanted it.”