The Billionaire Prince’s Fake Girlfriend by Leslie North
Epilogue
One year later…
Ben looked over the crowded ballroom in the Reinian palace. It was a huge celebration, a Reinian Jubilee, celebrating 25 years under his father’s reign since he ascended the throne on Ben’s grandfather’s death. The party was in full swing. Top shelf champagne flowed like a river, there were gourmet nibbles, and the creme de la creme of society were dancing, laughing, and generally having a good time. He knew he should be, too, but his heart was beating fast, with both excitement and nerves. He straightened the jacket of his new Saville Row tux, hoping that the ring box didn’t show in his pocket.
It was going to be a big night, in more ways than one.
He startled when Jane linked her arm through his. “Hey, you,” she purred, going up on tiptoe to kiss him. He smiled at her. She was wearing a stunning deep green gown, her wavy auburn hair piled in a fashionable updo. It showed off the delicate column of her neck, currently wearing an intricate filigree diamond and emerald necklace. She smiled at him, that mischievous, bright smile that he adored, one that always elicited a responding smile. “Having a good time?”
He nodded. “So are Mother and Father, from the looks of it,” he said, nodding at the dais where they were presiding over the festivities like the monarchs they were. His father patted his mother’s hand, sending her a fond smile that his mother returned. They were getting along better than they ever had, Ben realized.
Ever since his father’s stroke, and Ben’s discovery of Jess, their little family unit had grown closer. He was still closer to his mother than his father, but after several heartfelt and honest conversations, he’d learned more about his own similarities with his father. His father was fierce about things as well—especially when it came to the kingdom. He had made the best of a bad situation, and he apologized for his earlier actions. Better still, Ben had kept up contact with Jess, mostly via email and text. She often sent him hilarious GIFs and memes. It turned out they had a similar sense of humor. She’d also met Jane, and the two got along like a house afire. He knew they had their own conversations.
He took Jane over to his parents. His mother opened her arms, warmly demonstrative, giving Jane a hug. “How’s the evening going?” she said, shooting an inquisitive look at Ben, who gave a tiny shake. He’d already prepared his parents for his plan for the evening, one that had nothing to do with the Jubilee, and they were both excited—they both loved Jane, and were looking forward to having her as a daughter-in-law.
Jane grinned. “It’s gorgeous. You guys really know how to throw a party!”
His father laughed. “We have good caterers,” he said with a wink. “We can hire them when you have a book launch party!”
Jane glowed with pride. Since she’d moved to Reinia with him, she’d also started writing her own book, a combination memoir and investigative report into the state of early-onset Alzheimer’s treatment and options. It was some of the best stuff she’d ever written, and she’d recently gotten a book deal on it. She was thrilled to be telling her truth, and helping others who were facing the same issues. Ben couldn’t be prouder of her.
“Congratulations, sir!” a new voice interjected. Ben turned to see his friends, Erik and Clara from Fervia, and Nic and Summer from Mynia. He gave his fellow princes manly half-hugs and handshakes while the wives and Jane hugged and smiled. The king and queen looked on indulgently, smiling at the group and at each other.
Since other people were lining up to congratulate the king, Ben took his friends off to the side so they could all talk.
“How are you feeling, Summer?” Jane asked. “And what did you find out from the sonogram?”
Summer, Nic’s wife, blushed as she grinned. “Our little Harry-bear is going to have a sister in about five months or so,” she said, to more congrats and hugging. Nic smiled at her like she was the most precious thing on earth. “I’ll probably take some time off of work, but with Nic’s schedule being so flexible, we’re sure we can make it work.”
Ben nodded, impressed at how much marriage had changed his once workaholic friend. He looked at Erik and Clara. “How about you two? Ready for another one?”
Clara laughed, shaking her head. “We’ve finally gotten Linnea to sleep through the night, even though she’s nearly two,” she protested. “Between her insomnia and juggling our schedules with school, we’re hardly getting any sleep!”
As the group laughed, Erik smiled. “She seems to like music, though,” he said. “I was singing a lullaby to her, the one I wrote, and I swear she was harmonizing.”
“She was,” Clara agreed. “She’s amazing.”
Ben was thrilled to see his friends so happy, so in love. He looked at Jane, whose eyes were shining with joy.
“Which reminds me,” Clara said. “We wanted to know if you wanted to come to our place in a few weeks? We’re finally having our wedding!”
Jane’s eyes widened with surprise. “I thought you’d already gotten married?” she asked. “I remember seeing the royal wedding photos.”
“That was the official one, the political one,” Clara said with a smirk. “We always knew we wanted something more personal, just family and friends and our little one, when we had more time. Now that Linnea has settled in, and we’re on school break, we thought we’d have our celebration.”
“You going to be singing,” Ben teased Erik, “or just being the groom?”
Erik rolled his eyes. “I’ve largely given up my wedding singer duties,” he joked back, then gave Ben a pointed look. “Although I could come out of retirement if the right wedding came along.”
Ben shot him a warning look. He had also asked Nic and Erik about their proposal stories, and now they all looked at him expectantly.
Clara must’ve known that Erik was about to let the cat out of the bag, so she stepped in. “C’mon, husband,” she said, tugging Erik’s hand toward the dance floor. “We don’t get a chance to get out often, so why don’t you dance with me?”
He kissed her, then nodded at the others. Nic and Summer quickly followed.
Jane looked at him. “Shall we dance, then?”
“Soon,” Ben hedged. It was now or never—if he didn’t ask, he was afraid that someone would spoil it. He took her hand, leading her away from the ballroom. The din of the party quieted as he took her out into the summer air, to the private gardens. They were lit with paper lanterns, giving the whole thing an ethereal glow that reflected off the calm, ornate pool. The sky was dark and strewn with stars.
He cleared his throat. “Jane...”
“Shhhh!” She stepped away, tilting her head and staring off into the darkness. “Is that Lady Amelia? Who’s the guy?”
Ben rolled his eyes, grinning. Of course she’d find something to investigate, even here, in the palace gardens.
“I know she didn’t have a date,” Jane mused quietly. “I think... oh my God, is that the Captain of the Guard? I didn’t even know they were seeing each other!”
He tugged her back to his side, laughing, as the two shadowy figures disappeared into the hedge maze. “Could you stop snooping for two minutes?”
“I prefer the term ‘investigating,’” she joked, but looked at him. “And I can’t help it if I’m curious and put things together.”
He found his mouth suddenly dry, and his heart beat like a war drum. “Jane,” he said. “Do you know what tonight is?”
She glanced around, then chuckled. “Reinia’s Jubilee?”
“Other than that,” he muttered. “It’s the one-year anniversary of my meeting you.”
She blinked, looking like she was doing the mental math, then laughed. “The day you threw my flowers out,” she said. “And we decided to investigate things together.”
“Meeting you has changed my life,” he said, wishing he could put every emotion, everything she meant to him, into every syllable. “Here was this woman, so smart and intuitive and determined, and I had no idea what I was in for. You’ve made everything better.”
She smiled back. “And here was this guy who believed so much in truth that he couldn’t even wear a proper disguise,” she teased back. “You changed my life, too.”
“Jane,” he started, then wondered if he should get on one knee. That’s what he should do, wasn’t it? Or was there more he should say? Was a year too quick for her? They knew they loved each other, but...
“Ben,” she said, her voice a combination of affectionate and amused, “if you’re nervous, there’s no need to kneel down, and the answer’s yes.”
He blinked. “Wait. What?”
“The ring box makes a slight bulge in your jacket pocket,” she said, matter-of-factly. “And your parents and friends have been acting weird all night. It was kind of easy to piece together.”
He burst into laughter. “I cannot get anything by you, can I?”
“Nope,” she said. “But I don’t need surprises. I love you, Ben, and I want to be your wife.”
He pulled the ring box out, satisfied at least when her eyes bugged out as she saw the large marquis-cut diamond. He could surprise her a little, at least. “I had it custom made,” he said. “I hope you like it.”
“I love it!”
He put it on her finger. Then he kissed her, long, hard, and thoroughly. She kissed him back with just as much enthusiasm.
When they pulled away, she smiled at him, dazed. “How much longer do we have to be at this party?” she asked.
He laughed again. She just made him so damned happy.
“We’ll put in another hour or so,” he said. “Then…”
“Then,” she said, “we’ll go back to the suite, and I’ll show you just how glad I am that we met, fiancé of mine.”
He grinned. “I heartily approve.”
