CHARACTER BIOGRAPHIES
Crown Prince William Cromwell (15):
Description: William, with his striking buttery blonde hair and piercing translucent light green eyes inherited from his mother, embodies the grace and strength expected of a future king. His tall frame and athletic build hint at his love for swimming, polo, golf and horseback riding.
Personality Traits: Diligent, inquisitive, protective, and a natural negotiator.
Backstory: Born during a tumultuous time, William witnessed his royal home and inheritance being taken away, causing him, his sister Victoria and his parents to live in exile, until order and along with it the Cromwell estate and rights were returned, he lived through his parents’ separation and eventual reconciliation. His bond with his younger sister Victoria is unbreakable—they share secrets, dreams, and occasional secret escapades.
Princess Royale Victoria Rose Cromwell (14):
Description: Victoria, a vision in her dark blonde hair with often sunkissed highlights from her passion for horseback riding across the rolling hills of her home Henfordshire, matched by her piercing blue eyes, foreshadowing the ethereal beauty she is growing into. Her delicate features bely her inner strength and determination. She adores books, often escaping to the castle library to lose herself in tales of adventure and romance. Victoria’s wit and charm endear her to the court, but her true passion lies in horseback riding.
Personality Traits: Intelligent, compassionate, fiercely loyal, and curious about life past the palace walls.
Backstory: Victoria cherishes her role as William’s confidante. Together, they explore the castle’s hidden nooks for escape routes to go exploring their kingdom.
Queen Aria-Grace “AG” Cromwell (37):
Description: AG’s beauty transcends mere aesthetics—her warm smile and genuine kindness captivate all who meet her. Her upbringing as a VIP-commoner shaped her empathy and understanding. AG’s voice, reminiscent of her famous mother’s, can soothe even the most troubled souls and she still is a talented violinist and pianist, instilling her love of music to her children since they were born. She balances her royal duties with a love for music, often playing the piano late into the night.
Personality Traits: Compassionate, resilient, nurturing, and fiercely protective of her children.
Backstory: AG’s past holds secrets—the whirlwind romance with Jack Kershaw following her divorce from Maximilian which resulted in a secret child together, the heartache of the divorce, and the joy of reuniting with Maximilian, witnessing him ascend to King, and becoming his real-life Queen. Her love for her four children bridges the gap between her two sometimes conflicting worlds.
Jack Kershaw (44):
Description: Jack’s rugged features tell tales of sun-kissed days on the ranch. His calloused hands bear witness to hard work and long rides across open fields. His blue eyes, like the sky on a clear day, light up when he sees Vivienne, his love child with the Queen from before she became queen and was divorced from the king for a short while. Jack’s cowboy hat and worn boots contrast with the palace’s opulence, but he belongs there as much as anyone whenever he visits, even though he much prefers the comforts of his own farm with his young wife Isobel “Izzy” and young son Cody. Jack has another son, Jackson (22), an accident from his wild younger days, during which Jack made many regretful choices which whittled him into the righteous man he is now. Jackson lives at Jack’s old horse ranch in Chestnut Ridge.
Personality Traits: Honest, steadfast, protective, and quietly sentimental.
Backstory: Jack’s love for AG never truly waned, but has morphed into a more platonic deep mutually respectful friendship, which even extends to King Maximilian, as Jack fiercely and fully loves Izzy. He cherishes the moments with Vivienne, teaching her to ride and sharing stories of the wilderness of Chestnut Ridge. His heart swells with pride as he watches her grow alongside her siblings, and he developed a close bond with the other royal children as well, which their parents support to assure they have a view on what life is like outside the palace walls. His marriage to Izzy brings both joy and complexity to his life.
Liam Hawthorne (16):
Description: Liam, the son of the stable master Roland Hawthorne, Jack Kershaw’s successor in that position, stands out amidst the opulence of the palace. His dirty-blonde hair and deep green eyes mirror the rolling green hills. His clothes are simple, often stained or dusty, Liam’s hands bear the marks of hard work—mucking out stalls, grooming horses, and tending to their needs. He moves with a quietness, never stands out, always observing, always listening.
Personality Traits: Reserved, resourceful, loyal to his father and their duties, but determined to rise above his circumstances.
Backstory: Little is known about Liam’s past. He seems guarded, but rumors circulate among the stable staff. Some wonder why he never speaks of his mother or any other family, much like his father.
Henfordshire Countryside
(Somewhere between Cromwell Palace and the Royal Cromwell Stables)
The early morning air hung crisp and promising as William—secretly known as Liam to his sister—steered the golf cart across the dew-kissed fields of Henfordshire. Victoria clung to the passenger seat, her laughter echoing through the mist. William zigzagged, deliberately making her squeal and giggle for joy.
“Slow down, Liam!” Victoria protested, her golden hair dancing in the wind. “You’re going to—”
“—NOT get us caught, for I know what I am doing,” William finished, grinning. “Don’t worry, Vic. We’re almost there. As Jack would say ‘Dontcha worry, sweet’eart, not mah first rodeo.’”
William’s very failed attempt to imitate Jack’s Southern drawl and much deeper voice made both of them laugh so hard, blinded by tears for laughter William almost crashed them into the brambles, but managed to correct the direction in time, making both giggle harder yet. This was a side the public never saw of the royal children.
The palace stables loomed ahead, their wooden doors standing guard. The stable crew, bleary-eyed and disheveled due to the early hour, snapped to attention, while a larger number ran out of sight. As the future king, William outranked his sister, and the gazes of the lined up stable staff followed him. But Victoria slipped away, her sneakers silent on the gravel.
Royal Symphony, the elegant cremello mare, stood saddled and ready for training. The royal horse trainer had probably left her there, assuming no one would dare touch the prized steed. But Victoria had other plans. She approached the mare, her heart racing. Symphony’s coat was like spun gold, her eyes pools of emotions and wisdom.
Victoria mounted, her breath catching. The mare shifted beneath her, sensing the princess’s longing. Without a second thought, Victoria urged Royal Symphony forward. They galloped across the meadows, the wind tangling her hair. For a stolen moment, she was free.
Unbeknownst to Victoria, Liam—the stable master’s son—had witnessed her escape. He rode after her, his heart pounding. He’d never seen anyone ride Royal Symphony with such grace. But then, disaster struck. The mare overlooked a mole hole in the vast green meadows, stumbled, barely managing to catch herself, but Victoria somehow slipped from the saddle, tumbling to the ground. The mare stopped on a dime and tracked back, sniffing her fallen rider with clear concern, snorting and shaking her head.
“Liam! LIAM! Liiiiiaaaaaaammmm!” a soft girl’s voice called, sounding desperate and in distress. “Help me!”
Liam dismounted, running towards her, his mind racing, heart pounding. She knew his name? “I’m here,” he said, falling to his knees next to her, reaching for her. “Are you—”
Her hand snapped back, her posture became aloof and defensive as she dragged herself away from him, staring at him from big fearful eyes.
“Who are you?! Go away! Don’t you touch me!” her voice sounded fearful.
“You called for me! I hear you loud and clear!”
“I did no such thing! Leave! Leave me be! Go away! Away with you already! And how dare you not address me properly!?”
The boy pulled the beanie from his head, revealing a flood of tousled, unruly dark blond hair.
“Sorry, Your Highness. Let me look at that ankle.” he implied a bow in his kneeling position, slipped his beanie back on then tried to reach for her injured foot, she swatted his hand away. Confused the boy looked at her while Victoria laid into him.
“Don’t you dare touch a member of the royal family! Don’t you know anything?!”
She tried to scurry up as graceful as possible, but in visible pain when trying to put weight on her right foot, so Liam jumped forward, to catch her from falling, guiding her back down to a seated position which she accepted with a frustrated sigh.
She touched her swollen ankle, winced, as she tried to keep from crying for pain, the tears already welling up her eyes, but that was forgotten the moment their eyes met. For a brief moment, that felt like hours, both just sat there staring at one another, until Liam swallowed hard.
“Easy,” he said, his voice softer now. “You took quite a tumble.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed, as she pulled further away from him. “I don’t need your help. Nor your commentary.”
“But you called for me. I heard you loud and clear, Your Highness.”
“How dare you? I called for my brother,” Victoria interrupted. “Not you. Why would I EVER call for you?! I don’t even know you, nor your name. Never seen you before in my life!”
Liam’s confusion deepened. “Your brother? But—”
“—William,” Victoria clarified. “I call him Liam for short. Kind of our not-so-secret code, but also special, because it’s our grandpa’s name. Liam Declan Cameron, our grandfather.”
“Oh! I thought you meant me,” Liam sounded deflated. “I am Liam too, but no fancy middle names or elegant full names. Just Liam. Of course you wouldn’t know that. Nor care. Why would you?” His tone and facial expression took a resigned turn.
Victoria’s gaze softened. “I…I… am sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I have never seen you before and I visit the stables a lot. A whole LOT. I would remember you. Because you are my age, I mean,” her cheeks flushed, “everyone I met is older and I know them all by name. I would definitely have remembered meeting another Liam.”
“Yes, I know you do. That’s because normally we know when the royals stop by, and I am sent to the back. Only certain members of the stable crew are allowed to be seen by your family, and even fewer allowed to interact,” Liam said. “I am not one of those, but my dad is now, he was given Jack’s old job, but interaction with your family makes him nervous and uncomfortable. I am just one of the many nobodies that work for your family. But I will be in a lot of trouble now, for talking to you, and for taking White Magic so I could follow you. We are not allowed to ride the royal horses unless it’s for training or if someone at the castle requested them being brought up. I have to get you and those horses back to Cromwell Stables quickly.”
“So, you must be Roland Hawthorne’s son. I didn’t even know he had kids. Or a wife. Do you have a big family? I know your dad, but he doesn’t talk much.”
“Yah, we have that in common, dad and I. Can I touch you to help you stand up? Kinda hard to help you otherwise…” Liam clearly wasn’t in a chatty mood.
She nodded, took his offered hand and tried to stand, but her ankle betrayed her, and she plopped back down, grimacing for pain. “Ouch! I can’t—”
“I can’t leave you here,” Liam said. “Okay, you sit here for a sec, while I try to think of what to do while I secure Royal Symphony. If she runs off now, I am history—”
“She won’t go anywhere, cos she won’t leave me. I never tie her up when I ride out with her and dismount. She is my best friend, aside from my brother and maybe Jack. Symphie is my favorite horse out of all of them. My escape,” Victoria said. “She knows all my secrets and she understands me. When I am with her, I am free. Even with the guards always following, she’s so fast, they can barely keep up. But no guards this time. I just wanted to see what it is like to be free, if only once. You won’t be the only one who will get into trouble for this. I told William I wanted to come here to see the horses, so he will be upset with me, not to mention my parents. Don’t you have a cell phone? Just call someone. I left mine at the castle, as they have a tracker installed.”
Liam’s resolve hardened. “We can’t afford cell phones. I get that you want to ride, but the horses are also part of my father’s job. Royal Symphony was saddled cos Miss Osbourne wanted to show me how to train her. I can ride, but I don’t know how to train horses, not properly. Just some basics, so I asked the Royal Horse Trainer to teach me, and she said she would. I want to know more than just how to muck out stalls.”
“I don’t want to go back,” Victoria said, her hand wrapping around his wrist, halting him. “I just don’t want to. Please. Not yet.”
“Your ankle is sprained, Your Highness, maybe even broken, needs ice, ASAP or it will swell so big you won’t be able to wear shoes, let alone walk for weeks, and you could have a concussion,” Liam finished.
“—you don’t understand,” Victoria said. “I need—”
“No, YOU don’t understand. I have no choice here, I have to get you back ASAP or I will be in even worse trouble than I already am, and my dad could even lose his job. We need his job, to survive. You wouldn’t understand, Your Highness. And I hope you never will. But I do.” Liam said.
”No, I do not understand, for it is nonsense! My Papa would NEVER fire anyone over this! He’s kind and sweet and understanding and very just, and my Mama would never let him fire your dad for this, even if he tried, which he won’t! Maybe he would reprimand you both, for appearance’s sake, but he would wink at you and you would know he doesn’t mean it, but he would never fire anybody over this. He’d have to fire me too. That’s silly! Absolute rubbish!”
“Maybe he won’t fire us, but someone will, since I guess he doesn’t handle the daily stable business himself. That’s always some grumpy old man from the palace. Your father would only learn about it after the fact in the fine print of some memos he gets. Barely news for your family, devastating for mine.”
As they sat there, the thundering pounding of hooves approached—the unmistakable tread of authority.
Jack Kershaw emerged, dismounting his stallion Trapper before the horse had even come to a complete stop, he surveyed the scene. Having once held the position of stable master, Jack relinquished it to Liam’s father, Roland Hawthorne, when he married Izzy and chose a life as a farmer but had kept in touch with the stable crew he had befriended during his tenure as their boss and often helped out if need be. He immediately picked up Victoria—without asking, as Liam noticed—and placed her on a tree stump to inspect her injury.
Now, Jack’s drawl sliced through the tension. “Well, ain’t this a fine mess? Nice going, Yer Royal Highness. Again. What were ya thinkin’?! Coulda broken yer neck or all yer bones! At least you didn’t get yourself hurt and bruised on my farm, so thank you for that. Instead, it seems you’re intendin’ on getting others into trouble, I reckon. Oh Vic. What am I gon’ do with ya? Yer lucky yer such a sweetheart, cos I have a good mind to just throw ya on Trapper sideways and bounce ya home like that! Cos this here ankle is well and sprained, all right!”
Victoria’s protest died on her lips as Jack leveled a stern look at her as he picked her up.
“You,” he said, pointing a calloused finger at Liam, “go back home with your dad. I’ll take it from here. Ya did nothing wrong kid, contrary, ya did a very good thing riding after this one and stayin’ with her, and I’ll make sure the right ears hear about that.” His drawl softened slightly turning to Victoria. “And you, remember who you are. Can’t wait to tell yer mom what you’ve been up to this time, since she likes to blame me for yer sister’s rambunctiousness. Ha, yer proof it’s HER genes makin’ for wild kids, cos my Jackson is a good kid and listens. Look, I kept our secret, Vic, like I promised, told nobody about me catching ya sneak out here and there, cos I get it, but now ya got hurt and fun’s over! Told ya before, there are people out there wantin’ to hurt ya and yer siblings. Been that way since yer momma was little and only got worse when she married a royal! Already told yer brother same thing, and yer daddy will tell him again too, I am sure. And if he don’t, I’ll sing that tune to ya kids until y’all are finally hearin’ me! I can be a real noisy sunnovabitch if need be.”
Liam’s father stepped closer, his gaze stern. “Liam,” he said, “don’t even think about what you are thinking about now. I can almost read your thoughts—don’t. Remember what Jack told Victoria: ‘Remember who you are.’ Moreover, remember who SHE is, my boy. Let’s get back to work and pray we will have work to return to tomorrow.”
And just like that, Victoria was carried away in Jack’s arms, her dreams fading like morning mist. Jack’s status with the royal family allowed him to do what no one else dared—to speak truth to princesses and stable boys alike.
Following his father and the others on foot the long way back to Cromwell Stables, Liam watched Victoria being carefully lifted onto Jack’s horse Trapper, before he rode off hard with her towards Cromwell Palace, her golden hair flying in the breeze as she clung to the former horse rancher, fading like a sunbeam in the morning mist.
Liam couldn’t shake this strange unfamiliar feeling that he didn’t have words for—the way her laughter had echoed through the stables, the way her eyes held galaxies. She was a princess, larger than life, yet here she was, real and normal and lovely. Prettier than any girl he ever laid eyes on before. He had seen photos of the royal family, but always assumed they were all photoshopped and airbrushed. Clearly unnecessary in her case.
How could she be part of a world he’d only glimpsed from afar, yet feel so close, as if he’d always known her? It was a puzzle—a collision of realms that left him breathless.
Cromwell Palace
The following day
The sun-dappled castle gardens held an air of quietude, interrupted only by the distant hum of bees and the rustling of leaves. Princess Victoria, her ankle encased in thick, pink bandages, sat on a stone bench, her gaze drifting across the manicured hedges and groomed flower beds. The incident with Royal Symphony—the spirited mare she’d stolen for a reckless ride—still weighed heavily on her mind.
As if summoned by her thoughts, pebbles sailed through the air, landing near her feet. Victoria frowned; her curiosity piqued. She followed the trajectory and found Liam, the stable boy, half-hidden behind the high hedges surrounding the entire castle gardens, as he now found a loose bar of the iron fencing and squeezed through it.
“There are guards patrolling…” Victoria began, her voice a blend of reproach and intrigue.
Liam emerged, brushing off grass stains from his trousers. “I know. I think I have about five minutes left until the guard comes back ’round. Just wanted to see how you are doing.”
Victoria gestured to her cast. “Well, it could have been much worse, according to the doctor, but it feels plenty bad to me. Thank you for helping me that day. And please sit. Hurts my neck and my eyes having to look up at you against the sunlight.”
“No problem,” Liam replied, sitting down on the bench after one quick look around. “I’m sure anyone would’ve done the same. Royal Symphony is doing well in her training. Better runner than jumper, but she’s making progress. As am I, turns out I have a knack for training horses.”
Victoria’s eyes sparkled. “When I’m rid of this thing, you have to teach me how to jump. I have been begging Jack to teach me, but everyone treats me like a raw egg.”
Liam hesitated. “Sorry, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I got into so much trouble for helping you. But at least my dad didn’t get fired.”
“Trouble?” Victoria scoffed. “That’s not right. You should have been rewarded. I will talk to those responsible!”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Trust me, just drop it, let’s not dwell on it, if you were to say something they’d ask how you knew. If anyone finds out I came here I’d be in a world of hurt…I was specifically forbidden to go near the castle, let alone to ever approach you again.”
“Palace,” Victoria corrected, her tone prim. “Not a castle. I abhor when people mix them up. It’s even called Cromwell PALACE, not Cromwell Castle.”
“They’re the same thing,” Liam argued.
“Not at all,” Victoria countered. “Palaces are for living; castles are fortified and for warfare. Big difference. My family is peaceful. We want nothing to do with war.”
Liam’s gaze flickered toward the imposing structure behind her—the turrets, the ancient stones, the secrets held within. “I don’t think war is usually a choice, but okay, I think I get what you mean. Then again, palace or castle,” he said softly, “both are usually a world of grandeur and tradition. Make you wonder if you’re not more trapped within those walls than I am with my very limited choices. After school I have the choice to be a farm worker, a day laborer, or a stable worker for the royal family, like my dad, his dad, and his dad, and so on. Oh, the choices. It’ll be tough. Either hard work and be underpaid with very little time off alongside my dad or be underpaid for hard work and have hardly any time off without my dad there.” he grinned.
Victoria’s giggles tinkled like wind chimes. “The stable boy who dreams of freedom? From where I sit, you have all the freedom they deny me. You can go wherever you want, whenever you want. Dreamy. To be you for a day. Oh, all the things I would do.”
He met her eyes, and for a moment, the divide between them blurred. “Except I have chores that take most of the day to finish. I am not any freer than you, princess. It’s all the same, in a way. Let me put it to you in a way you’d understand: I’ve seen the stars from the hayloft,” he confessed. “They’re the same ones that you see from your palace gardens. Oh, I think my time is about up. Gotta go.”
“Wait, that was almost poetic. I love poetry. Didn’t think you’d be so deep. Will you be back?” Victoria asked, her vulnerability laid bare. “Please…”
Liam’s jaw tightened. Duty tugged at him, but the enchantment of a real-life princess asking him to return whispered louder. “I’ll find a way,” he promised. “Even if it means throwing more pebbles and possibly getting into serious trouble. Bye princess. Rest that ankle. Maybe one day I will show you a secret spot where I go to read. I think you’d like it there.”
And with that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Victoria with a regret she couldn’t name—a collision of realms that left her confused. A secret spot? He liked to read? Oh, she was intrigued. She would absolutely take him up on that offer if he ever really would make it. However, in Victoria’s 14 years she had learned that a lot of people would say a lot of things, but not always mean them. Remained to be seen where Liam would fit in.
Queen Aria-Grace, her regal demeanor softened by maternal concern, discovered Victoria in the sun-kissed courtyard. The air carried the heady fragrance of blooming roses as she approached her daughter, who perched on a stone bench—a blend of defiance and vulnerability etched across her features.
“Victoria,” the queen began, her voice a velvet whisper, “we should have a talk, my sweet.”
Victoria glanced up, eyes wide. “Mum, I—”
Aria-Grace raised a hand, silencing her. “I understand your need for freedom, my dear. But these escapades—sneaking out, riding horses without authorization—they endanger you. Jack told your daddy and me that this wasn’t the first time. He’s been lenient with you cos he understands, as do we, but remember, you’re not just our daughter; you’re the princess royale. And as your parents it is your daddy and my foremost duty to keep you and your siblings safe. And before you wonder, your brother was told the same thing. We cannot have the Crown Prince and the Princess Royale endanger themselves like that. There are many bad people out there who wouldn’t think twice about causing you harm. It would kill your daddy and me. And your grandparents, your aunts and uncles, even Jack. So many people love you, my darling.”
Victoria’s jaw tightened. “I’m tired of feeling like a caged bird, Mum. Always within these walls, unless it’s an orchestrated outing and then there is guards and security everywhere. Always, everywhere, all the time. I love you and Papa, but sometimes it’s suffocating. And Liam—”
“Liam,” the queen echoed, her gaze piercing. “He’s a stable boy. Kind-hearted, no doubt, and rather charming, if I may say so. If I were your age I’d probably think he was very cute. Plus, who could not appreciate the irony that his name seems to be a repeating theme in our lives. But—”
“No Mama, it’s not like that!” Victoria’s voice trembled. “I am not a silly girl with a sillier crush, and he’s not a novelty, and definitely not evil. He sees me. Me, Mama. Beyond the title, beyond the crown. I can feel it. Talking to him is like talking to William or Ryan or Maeverette. I don’t feel as if I have to place each word on a gold scale before I say it. Even with the other aristocratic girls my age, my supposed ‘friends’, I know they only reason most of them talk to me is so they feel in good standing with William, once he starts looking for a partner. If I told any of them a dubious secret, I know they would use it. I can tell Liam isn’t like that.”
Aria-Grace sighed. “Victoria, love, I understand how you could feel that way, I used to be just like you and I remember all those feelings, the instant highs, the quick affection, the misplaced trust, all that, but let me tell you, sound decisions aren’t made in fleeting moments. You may think you know him, but you only met him briefly twice now, that is never enough to understand a person’s character or intentions. Yes, I said twice, I know he was just here, I watched you two from the window, which is why I came down. I also can appreciate the irony—I, a former commoner, cautioning you, a highborn, about mingling with commoners. When your daddy and I met, I had no idea he was a royal. I didn’t find that out till much later on. And then there is Jack. He tried to avoid his feelings for me, cos I was from a famous background. Him and me not working out has nothing to do with ranks, but it certainly magnified any other ways we didn’t fit. He and I had our own story, and it wasn’t meant to be. Our paths diverged, and I became part of this lineage again. Yet, I empathize with your desire for authenticity and adventure. But I have the experience with all of it to caution you. For every one way those things work out, there are ten on how they don’t, and that can quickly become dangerous. Intenionally or otherwise, it makes no difference.”
Victoria’s eyes welled with tears. “I know all this, and I wouldn’t have told him who I was, had it been different circumstances. I wasn’t there to meet a boy, I wanted to ride Symphie and feel free. I know life without my parents and the guards can be dangerous, but I also don’t want to be a mere figurehead, a pawn in a strategic game. I want to live, like you did. Like you showed Papa how back when things were bad, but for William and me, they were still good. An adventure, because we didn’t understand what really had happened. We lived in San Myshuno, in Windenburg, in Del Sol Valley and we saw things, experienced things. Whenever Ryan comes with Uncle Nick and Antie Addie, it’s like William and I belong. He teaches us the latest terms and cool things kids our age do, which channels to follow, so we at least aren’t teenaged antiquities whenever we go to college with regular kids. Liam is like that too, the things he said and the way he spoke, it’s..so interesting to me.”
The queen’s touch gentled. “Living doesn’t mean recklessness. Not everything you might be curious has to be firsthand experience. Living means being in the moment, letting yourself taste, feel, smell, all those senses, but it also means balancing heart and duty. William accepts his role, his destiny is already written for him, for you and your sisters it’s different. Perhaps you’re meant for stages, like Grandma Vivien, or to wield the law, like Grandpa Liam and Uncle Nick. Who knows? I don’t know, but neither do you, at least not yet. As far as pawns and strategic games go, I assume you are implying forced marriages and such from times long gone, you know your daddy and I would never do that, but we would veto truly unsuitable choices for all you kids, as is our duty as your parents. And customs bind us to make certain introductions, so we do. Who is to say that one of the young aristocratic men you will meet when you are your brother’s age doesn’t pique your interest. If he were of a certain standing it would certainly make a lot of things easier for both of you. But if you find a young man one day who isn’t aristocratic, then I am sure there is a way we’ll find a balance, if he is worthy of you. However, I have to caution you to the dangers you can’t possibly know, nor identify yet, because you are still so young. All young ladies are at risk for such dangers, but that doubles if you are also royal. Some boys your age are sweet, like your brother and your cousin. But some, Victoria, are not even though they seem to be. Whether or not they know who you really are.”
Victoria nodded. “Promise me this, Mum: I’ll tread carefully—for my sake, yours, Papa’s, my siblings, and even Liam’s, if you and daddy don’t forbid me to see him. I like him. Jack likes him and you know Jack is good at reading people, plus he knows Liam’s father.”
And so, in the sun-dappled courtyard, mother and daughter forged an unspoken pact—a fragile bridge between crowns and hearts as AG leaned forward and kissed her oldest daughter’s forehead, triggering Victoria to wrap her arms around her mom and snuggle in tightly.
Cameron Lineage 