She hated to admit it, but shedidneed another reliable person on her team... assuming the Royal Rascal could be reliable.
Would he really be able to prove those first impressions false?
She shook the question from her mind and revisited her own need for improvements. How was she ever going to refine herself enough to present as a well-spoken, composed lady?
Then a good old-fashioned Appalachian idea popped to mind.
What about a trade?
Her grin tipped in sync with the growing epiphany. If she agreed to help Ellie’s brother succeed at this royal reformation experiment, then perhaps Ellie would give Charlie the makeover she needed.
December offered a perfect goal point, with the Gala speech as her finale.
She pushed through the front door of her house, fixed some tea, and then settled down at her desk to review the volunteer and equipment list for the fall festival. She’d barely made it through a few files when her phone buzzed to life. Ellie’s name popped up on the screen.
Charlie raised the phone to her ear and barely got out the words, “Hey, Ellie.”
“Arran broke your nose!”
Charlie relaxed back in her desk chair. “It’s fine. Really.”
“At first I thought Arran’s somber mood was due to working with Luke.” The sadness in Ellie’s voice paused Charlie’s sarcasm a little, and the image of him asking for forgiveness came back to mind. “But then he couldn’t stop mentioning his horror in hurting you and secondary remorse in behaving like a complete idiot.”
Charlie’s lips twitched. Okay, maybe the sarcasm could never be completely subdued. She was an Edgewood, after all.
“It’s not like I haven’t been hit in the nose before. I work in construction with a bunch of men.”
“You need to know, Charlotte, Arran is a good guy.” Ellie sighed. “I know women usually excel at being the most impacted by heartbreak, but Arran’s path of self-destruction could very well win an award. It’s only been in the last few months that we’ve seen glimpses of the man he used to be before... Angelica.”
Angelica? Heartbreak? Her chest twinged a teensy bit in response. But Charlie decided ignorance proved the safer choice.
“And, of course, everything is distorted or exaggerated when the media becomes involved.”
The very idea of the media following her around sent a shudder through her body, and her ire toward the prince eased a little more. In the grand scheme of things, Arran’s initial impression truly was a small thing. Especially with the knowledge of Murphy’s pride and the potency of his home-brewed whiskey.
Another chink in her frustration collapsed. Forgiveness was one of the most beautiful themes of the Bible and a comforting truth she’d revisited throughout her life. Her father exemplified his choice to forgive in the way he’d prayed for and spoken about Mom, despite all she’d done, encouraging Charlie to forgive as well.
She sighed. Everyone needed the opportunity for a second chance. Even rogue princes with perfect hair and teeth and crazy-blue eyes.
“But truly,” Ellie continued, “once you see him when he’s not suffering from poor judgment and an inflated sense of self-importance, you may find him quite endearing.”
Charlie’s tight-lipped hold on her grin started to loosen at “poor judgment” and completely disappeared at “inflated sense of self-importance.” The idea of finding the guy who’d vomited on her “endearing” had her losing all control of her laugh. “Endearing? Hmm... I’m not sure I see that on the horizon.”
“Well, at least you still have your sense of humor.” Charlie thought she heard a slight smile that warmed Ellie’s words. “And I truly believe working with the charity will not only highlight his strengths but prove good for his heart. He’s always loved and excelled at service.”
Service?
The Snoring Sovereign loves service?
Charlie barely stifled her eye roll.Sure.
Charlie shook away the thought and launched into her newlyconcocted plan. “You want Arran to highlight his best qualities, right?”
“Yes.”
“And I need someone to teach me how to present myself well: hair, clothes, dancing, public speaking...”
“Am I hearing you want a makeover? Oh, this is delightful!” The lilt in Ellie’s voice sparked a twinge of hope and fear. “With your eyes and that hair...”
