ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 83

The prince was expected that day according to what Nicholas had told the staff and everyone else residing within the enormous mansion whose vast green lawns were nestled secludedly in the exclusive area of Evergreen Acres. Prince Cedric of Eldermere was to arrive at some point that day but nobody knew exactly what time he would arrive which is why Nicholas stepped out with Alan  to visit Ariel at the hospital and his older sons were tending to business meetings at the company. Matilda was still in her guest bedroom with a sudden headache; she had requested of the staff that all her meals be sent upstairs to her bedside that day. The earlier phone call from Aiden Norris, which she had told nobody about , had rocked her emotionally and after discovering her mother Nance had once again moved back into her thought to be empty of humans townhouse a few blocks away she was especially distressed.

The only one downstairs to tend to the rather demanding and brusque knocking at the front door was the young thirty something butler Saunders in his crisply ironed dark suit and highly polished dress shoes. The butler, as was his immediate job , at least one of them, immediately opened the door to discover the entire length of the porch covered by a vast selection of expensive designer luggage in varied shapes and sizes along with a short stocky older White woman in her sixties or maybe seventies who stood right in the midst of it all along with a tall muscular young White man whose arrogance Saunders detested on sight.

" Yes ? ," Saunders asked as he lifted his head , his precise lightly British accented voice practically dripping with not only questions but a hint of disdain. " May I assist you with something ? "

The young man smiled coolly. He spoke in a voice very similar to Saunders' own but with a softer and more musically lilting tilt to its also crisp accent.  He declared with an almost snootiness," I am Ned Barker. The valet of Prince Cedric. This lady here is his royal highness's old childhood governess Willetta. Most call her Nanny. You may call her Willetta. We are here with His Royal Highness Prince Cedric of House Ashton and Eldermere. We were informed that his Royal Highness and ourselves are to be residing in this.... this establishment. "

Saunders didn't like this man although Nanny seemed very nice and almost comforting as she stood there in her old warm tweed suit and sturdy walking shoes, a huge purse on her shoulder. She appeared more welcoming than the governess to Maxim and Natasha's boys. His dark eyes swept over the other man. " Yes , you all shall be residing within the guesthouse in back. It has much privacy and amenities such as a kitchen and four bedrooms. We assume the Prince shall take his meals with the family. "

Ned nodded briskly. " You assume right, my good man. Nanny has a very detailed list of the foods the prince can and can not consume. He does have such a delicate constitution. " His lips lifted slightly as he voiced the world " delicate ".

" Where exactly is the prince ? "

Before Ned or the woman could respond to his question suddenly they all saw a tall slender young man with long black hair and blue eyes running up the front steps with an almost ballet dancer grace, saying," So sorry. I was distracted giving a ..... tip ,  as you all here call it, to the taxi driver. He is a most interesting gentleman. I got lost in discussion. "

Ned pronounced grandly,"  I now present  His Royal Highness of House Ashton and the great country of Eldermere Prince Cedric Randolph. "

Saunders was not easily made speechless by anyone but as he gazed into the pensive and almost sad dark blue eyes of the prince he lost the ability to speak briefly.

He just bowed and thought that Prince Cedric was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his entire life.