The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 11

“So you’re going ahead with it.”

Anthony stared at his cousin, Sello, over the rim of his glass. He took a sip of his drink. The amber liquid burned a satisfying path down his throat to settle in his stomach. He could hear the disapproval in Sello’s voice.

“And what about her?”

Anthony gritted his teeth, not in the mood to reminisce about what happened at the dance and later at Naledi’s house. He was one of the few people he knew who could complicate a very simple situation. But from this moment on as far as he was concerned it was over. She refused. He said goodbye. And that was that.

Anthony took another sip of his brandy ignoring Sello’s hard stare.

“Anthony?”

“What about her?” Anthony asked irritably. He hadn’t come there for this. After his meeting with Gauta and his subsequent visit to Naledi’s house – a visit he will forget even if it killed him, he’d returned home to inform his father that he’d decided to think about marrying Gauta and create the alliance. But his father hadn’t reacted the way he’d thought. No. His father wouldn’t stop ranting about duty, responsibility and other qualities Anthony clearly didn’t possess.

After a while Anthony had grown tired of his father’s disproving words and stares that at the break of dawn he had gotten into his car and drove to his cousin’s farm on the other side of the mountain.

He had used his key to barge into Sello’s study and pour himself a much needed drink. Anthony had sat down near the fireplace and enjoyed his solitude. He loved Sello study, it was cozy. It had wood panels on the walls and bookshelves overstuffed with books they had shared when they were kids. He wasn’t an avid reader like he was when he was young, but books comforted him.

Sello had woken up thirty minutes later, to find him staring at the dying flames of a fire in the fireplace. Sello had poked the fire to life, poured himself a drink and sat silently with him.

Anthony missed that silence.

Why didn’t people know when to keep quiet? His father hadn’t kept quiet or acknowledged the fact that he might have salvaged, what might have seemed like an unsalvageable situation. Even when he said the words there was nothing in the old man’s eyes, only censure. He wasn’t his brother but a little approval would be nice

“I didn’t come here for this,” Anthony swirled the brandy in his glass. The liquid caught the flames and created a glow that was reminiscent of the orange haze that had filled his eyes right before she had appeared before him. Anthony closed his eyes, forcing the image of her bathed in moonlight, her brown skin glowing from the flames out of his mind.

He opened his eyes to meet Sello’s stare.

“Why did you come? You knew I would ask you.” Sello’s chair squeaked as he moved forward to lean close to Anthony. “I know you don’t like anything that has to do with emotions because of what happened to your brother and father. But you can’t be this cynical. You felt something for that girl otherwise you wouldn’t have asked her to marry you.”

“Leave my brother out of this. He…” Anthony bit back before he could say anymore.

The unsaid words between them festered like the scandalous secret they were. Mogale had raised him, while their father was busy drowning his sorrow in his women.

“You idolize him,” never one to be deterred Sello continued. He threw his hands in the air as if Anthony should understand his logic. “Seeing him distraught and weak because of a woman, and seeing your father nearly crazed because of your mother’s death must have done a number on you. You see I think, you say you don’t believe in love because you don’t want to feel it. But you felt something tonight, didn’t you?”

“In case you haven’t notice Sello, she said no.” Anthony said through clenched teeth. He really didn’t want to talk about this.

“That’s not what I asked you.”

“She said no,” Anthony repeated hoping Sello will get it into his thick skull so he would stop bothering him.

Sello looked at him as if he was crazy. “And you accepted that. Mr I-always-get-what-I-want. In all the years I’ve known you Anthony you’ve never taken no for an answer or followed your father’s commands, much to his disapproval. But regardless of the consequences, if you want it you’re going to get it.”

Of course he didn’t take no for an answer. But in this situation even he couldn’t be single-minded and selfish. She was beyond his reach.

“I’m trying to be responsible.”

“By marrying a woman you don’t love. How is that being responsible?”

Anthony flinched. He drained his glass, stood up and walked to the fireplace. He stared at the flames flying above the wood. A lithe body leaped into his mind, dangling beads cascading down a naked sloped back, and glimpses of caramel skin bathed in moonlight teased him. Other images of Naledi sleeping in her bed filtered into his mind, but he ignored them.

“You’re not your brother, Anthony,” Sello said cautiously.

Anthony turned to Sello anger in his eyes. Sello was the closest thing to a best friend Anthony has ever had, apart from his brother. They grew up together. And they’ve been through a lot of things together. But at that moment even Sello knew when he was treading on thin ice. Sello raised his hands in surrender.

Anthony turned away from him back to the fire.

“I never said I was.” The words tumbled out of Anthony’s mouth, before he could think them through. They felt like they were ripped from his very soul.

Sello was silent for a while. Anthony turned to him. He could tell he was trying to choose his next words careful.

“Yes, but you think he made the same sacrifice you’re about to make,” Sello finally said.

“I was there. I know what my brother did.” Anthony returned to his chair and sat down with a sigh. He couldn’t wait to get back to work. The Batloung Enterprises, the company he owned with his brother, was waiting for him. He shouldn’t have taken time off anyway – they were in the midst of adding hospitality to their numerous business ventures. Maybe it wasn’t a good time to go away.

Anthony sighed, it didn’t matter. He’ll go back to work. And he’ll shut his mind and concentrate on what he was good at, making money.

“I think you’re forgetting one thing. Your brother loves his princess, always has. He wouldn’t have married her if he didn’t want to.” Sello set back in his chair and closed his eyes. “You know, this year dance’s was far more magical than the other years, which means prosperity and Mother Nature will look kindly on us for several years.” He said lifting his glass in salutation.

“So says the farmer.” Anthony quipped glad of the change in subject. He didn’t like talking about his past or his brother.

“Of course. To success!” Sello lifted his glass taking another sip.

“I cannot believe you believe in those things.”

“There is magic in the dance. People have been known to find healing, and wives,” Sello laughed, “by just attending the dance. Didn’t your father tell you?”

“He might have. But I wasn’t listening.” Anthony got to his feet, picked up this car keys where he’d thrown them on the desk.

“Of course you were not listening.” Sello said bringing his glass to his lips.

Anthony walked to the door, and stopped abruptly. “Will you do me a favour?” he asked without turning around.

“Yes, I’ll look after her.” Sello said solemnly, “she’ll be the second female you asked me to look after.”

“Where is princess? I didn’t see her when I came in.” Anthony looked around him as if the dog will materialize out of nowhere.

“I think she’s angry with you.”

“Why?”

“You left her here, and you haven’t been to visit her. She misses you,” Sello stated.

“She’s a dog.” Anthony said gruffly. He walked to the door. “I miss her too.”

“Of course you do,” Sello said as he watched him leave as silently as he had arrived. The lone prince that’s what he was. Never really belonging or connecting with anyone. But this woman, she could be the very thing their prince needed. Whether he knew it or not.