Let It Snow... by Jennifer LaBrecque, Leslie Kelly Page A

film about a prince and his very handsome, talented, witty, well-dressed manservant, coming to America to find the prince a bride who would love him for himself.”
    Shocked, Philip felt his mouth fall open. “What happens?”
    “They go to work in a fast-food restaurant, mopping floors, and live in a tenement building much like this one.”
    Teeny broke in again. “At one point, the manservant pretends to be the prince and woos the heroine’s sister with talk of his—the real prince’s—wealth.”
    Shelby glared up at the bodyguard. “That’s beside the point.”
    “Don’t you dare,” Philip warned his cousin.
    “I wouldn’t dream of it!”
    Sure he wouldn’t.
    “Does the prince win the maiden?” Philip asked.
    “He does, Your Highness, although he fears all is lost when she finds out he has been lying to her. In fact, he goes back to his kingdom in sadness and disappointment, and it isn’t until he is at the altar about to wed another that he realizes she has come after him.”
    Claire wouldn’t be able to come after him if Philip left without her. As of right now, she didn’t even know his world existed. Few on Earth did, though most Elatyrians knew about their neighboring world, some even moving back and forth between them on a weekly basis. But she certainly would have no way of finding it.
    “Are you saying I need to tell her the truth?” he asked.
    Teeny nodded and Shelby did too the very same instant. These two never agreed on anything.
    Philip answered his own question. “I will,” he stated firmly. “I need just a few more days, then I’ll be completely honest with her and ask her to come back with me to Elatyria.”
    “She’ll say yes,” Shelby insisted loyally.
    Teeny didn’t look so sure.
    “What is it?” Philip asked the frowning man.
    “Well, that brother of hers...”
    “Have you seen him?”
    “I saw him,” Teeny admitted. “He and another man were up the block this afternoon. Mr. Freddy was pointing toward the shop, appearing nervous and guilty.”
    Philip’s blood raced through his veins. He could think of no reason for Claire’s brother to be skulking around, showing people where she lived and worked, unless he was in more trouble and was counting on his sister to get him out of it.
    It was time to teach that pup a lesson. Past time.
    But until Philip got hold of him, it was back to full-time guard duty for him and his friends.
    “I know, I know,” Shelby said, as if reading his mind. “I’ll take the first watch tonight. Teeny will relieve me in four hours. I assume you intend to guard her tomorrow?”
    “I certainly do,” Philip said. He’d planned to give her some time, to perhaps wait until late afternoon to stop in and see how she was feeling about things, after all that had happened tonight. Now, knowing she might be in danger, he couldn’t afford to wait. “Thank you, my friends.”
    Murmuring good night, Philip went into his sorry little apartment, which, he had to admit, looked much better than it had ten days ago, when he’d first seen it. Though he hadn’t spent a great deal of money, in case Claire or anyone else should come up and wonder how he could afford it, he and his friends had invested some physical labor. It had felt good to scour, fix walls, seal windows and clean. Philip was used to a lot of physical activity at home—mainly riding, jousting, and occasionally leading a battle against the brigands who sometimes invaded the kingdom from the desert. Other than walking around the city, he’d had no outlet for his pent-up energy here, so working on these rooms had been cathartic.
    He wondered what Claire would think when she saw them. He also wondered how she’d feel about leaving this behind.
    Part of him suspected she would not want to go, since she appeared devoted to her small shop. But there were candy shops in his world, too, and while she might be the first royal princess to have a job, that’s what she would have if that’s