章節 218: Chapter 218
Pearl searched for anything she could find on Charles Thomas. His last name was one of the most common in England and would be difficult to find specific information on. She searched public military records and found his birthdate. And then she searched birth records. She found his birth certificate after a few hours and paying a website for it.
He was born Charles Fournier Thomas. His mother was listed as Charlotte Thomas and his father, listed as unknown. Unknown? And his middle name was unusual. It was a last name, a French last name. It struck her as something she needed to look into.
"Pearl. Let's take a break. We have been at this for hours."Sebastian said.
She stretched her arms and neck. She didn't want to stop but her eyes and body hurt. And she was starving. They walked out into the the main room to check on the others.
"Pearl." Edward said. She stopped and looked down. Their last conversation wasn't the sweetest and she was dreading him interacting with her again.
"Yes, your majesty?" She said.
"You need to be out. You need to make appearances so no one suspects. He's been missing for five days. We are running out of time. We need to drag this out a little longer. Sebastian, take Pearl somewhere to eat. And out. Pretend you are having fun. Getting to know the family. We will tell our press informants that you are in town to meet Pearl and are helping her with planning a surprise party for Erik." Edward said. Sebastian nodded. Pearl wasn't thrilled. She was no good at acting.
The car dropped them off at the Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London. It was a posh restaurant at a luxury hotel in the city. Pearl had made an attempt at dressing nicely and Sebastian wore a suit. He opened the door for her and the camera and press were waiting for them at the door. The press tip had worked. The maître d' greeted them with a bow. "Your highness, Prince Sebastian." He said with a bow. Pearl looked at him, puzzled.
"You didn't realize I have a title as well?" Sebastian laughed as he sat down at the table.
"No. I didn't. I'm sorry. I'm new to how all of this works." Pearl said quietly.
"My father is Edward's brother. I am fourth in line for the throne. And therefore; a prince." He explained.
"I'm sorry thank you for the explanation." Pearl said, slightly embarrassed.
"So, tell me about yourself. We are supposed to look casual and relaxed, nothing like a good conversation detailing our intimate selves to really calm the nerves." He joked.
"Well, what do you want to know?" She asked.
A waiter came and poured them wine. Sebastian ordered some small plates and told him to take his time.
"I want to know why he chose you. And so adamantly. There were so many women that his parents attempted to arrange for him. So many other family members did as well. Not me. I wanted no woman within a mile of him." Sebastian said. "And yet, he knows you less than a year and pops the question. An American. A divorcee." He looked at her with inquisitive eyes. Pearl felt she was being analyzed now at every word and action.
"I don't know. I ask that myself, often." She replied truthfully.
"And yet you saved his life. I admit, I considered the possibility of you seeking fame. Or even money at first. Then you did that. That wasn't an act of someone using him for personal gain. That was an act of love." He said. "So I found myself wondering, how does a woman fall in love with a man like Erik and what does a man like Erik see in her?"
"He's not what you described him as. He is different with me. Kind. Timid. Loving." She said.
"Yes. If that is true, he is quite different than I know him to be." He said. "So, tell me about you."
Pearl wasn't sure what he wanted to know.
"I have a marketing degree, I am from Michigan." She began. He shook his head.
"No. I mean, thank you for sharing that but that's not what I'm asking. Tell me who you ARE." He said. "When are you the happiest?" He asked.
Pearl looked confused. No one had ever asked her anything like that. She paused and started to say she didn't know but he insisted. "Don't think too much on it. Just answer." He said.
"Ok, I am the happiest when I am reading or writing." She said softly.
He smiled. "What do you like to read?" He asked.
"Nineteenth century British romance, mostly. The classics, and poetry. The darker the better. Bukowski, Plath, Baudelaire..." He looked at her, looking as though he was the puzzled one now. "Sorry. I just didn't expect you to be interested in that sort of thing." He said.
"Did you expect to find me a vapid, brainless floozy?" She asked, joking.
"Yes." He said, seriously. She stopped smiling and realized that he was telling her the truth. That is what he and most likely many thought she would be.
"When are you the saddest?" He then asked. She was starting to feel a little uncomfortable now. She shifted in her seat. He looked at her to answer.
"Um", she cleared her throat. "When I think about people I love, in pain. Physical or emotional." She answered.
"Do the people that you love include yourself?" He asked.
Who was this man? He has a lot of nerve asking her things like this, Pearl thought to herself. He was prying and looking deeply into her and she was becoming concerned with his intentions. Or maybe she just hadn't experienced anything like this so she felt defensive.
"What about you? When are you the happiest? Saddest?" She asked.
"I am happy now. And I am most sad when happy moments pass, but it is still very important to recognize them as happy moments, none the less." He answered, with perfect timing.
"Oh." She said quietly.
"When do you feel most alive?" He asked next.
Pearl was completely off guard. "I. I don't know." She said. "I guess I feel most alive when recognizing beauty. Art. Something special. Something sacred. Or maybe even something forbidden." She answered, then realizing she may have revealed too much. He smiled and raised an eyebrow. "What about you?" She quickly asked.
"I feel most alive confronting death. And protecting those that I care about. Being strong. Loyal. Fearless. It makes me feel like a man." He answered. She nodded. That was a good answer.
"When are you most afraid?" He asked. She felt a nerve hit the pit of her stomach.
"Right now. For Erik. And anytime I feel like I am not safe. Like someone could hurt me." She said. Which is always, she wanted to add but didn't.
"I imagine that is quite often." He said. She looked up and into his eyes, deeply, for the first time. What was going on? How did he see her like this without even knowing her?
"What hurts you the most?" He asked, still looking at her.
"A lie." She answered. The silence between them was palpable. "What about you?" She asked.
"The truth." He answered.
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