The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 4

“Are you going to leave your stall unattended?” he finally spoke breaking the silence.

Naledi stopped her in her tracks. His voice was rich, deep and sensual. And she felt it deep in her stomach. Naledi closed her eyes for a second, as though to savour it.

Anthony stared at her mesmerized. He had a niggling feeling he'd seen her somewhere before. But if he had how could he forget someone like her?

She was strikingly beautiful. The spectacles perched on her nose gave her a geeky look that was adorable. He felt like lifting them from her face. And touch her, from the bridge of her nose to her full rosy lips. What would her skin feel like to the touch? He asked himself.

She had caramel skin that looked creamy soft and appealing. Her full rosy lips couldn’t be denied with or without lipstick. Her dark long lashes hid sensuality in her eyes no man could deny. And Anthony felt it hit him full in the stomach. His gaze became fixed on her lips. He couldn’t think of anything in that moment but kissing her.

His first impression of her was wrong. She was an angel. A familiar angel, he suddenly realized. But he couldn’t pin-point where he’d seen her.

“What?” Naledi looked at him perplexed, for a while it didn’t register what he was talking about. She caught herself as she openly stared at him. She wondered where he had come from and what had prompted him to walk around and end up at Dineo’s stall. She looked around her, and failed to come up with an answer.

The prince wasn’t known for walking around when he did come home, his older brother was the more friendly and approachable one. The prince brothers were as different as night and day. And Naledi could see why. He had an aloof demeanor, and a poise that was princely and unreachable.

Naledi turned to him again, and quickly looked away as she found him staring at her with an unconcealed hunger that had everything within her sizzling, making her acutely aware of him.

She fidgeted, moving as far away from him as she could.

He didn’t mean to look at her like that, she reasoned panicking. She was fantasizing again, seeing things.

Breathe Naledi, breathe, she told herself.

And she didn’t mean to react to him like that. It was this talk about finding love that was making her feel like this about him.

Goodness he was a prince, Naledi thought, and she was a …. She was their maid.

“Your stall…” Anthony said pointing behind her.

“Oh…I’m not…” Naledi looked behind her at the empty stall. Dineo was at the clinic finding her love, and she had left her to watch over it.

She forced her mind to work and stop panicking. He didn’t know he was affecting her, Naledi thought trying to relax.

“Yes, may I help you make a choice?” Naledi asked surreptitiously looking at him. He was big, tall, dark, handsome, broad shouldered and very, very powerful, much the prince he was supposed to be. And he was taking her breath away. Naledi wanted to disappear right there and there. She should be thinking about the doctor or something… not him.

Anthony momentarily looked at her, still agonizingly aware of her. Her eyes shifted from dark brown to a lighter shade that matched her skin tone, they even sparkled a bit.

Where had he seen her before?

Naledi looked away unable to hold his stare. Holding her breath, she quickly pulled out a gold delicate thing made of glass beads she knew Dineo was proud of. It was one of her best work, and it was also very expensive.

Naledi knew it could be something a lady would want a man like the prince to buy for her.

She’d raved about it when she’d first seen it too, knowing it deserved to be in a jewelry gallery somewhere important.

“I think this one will do,” Naledi said showing it to him.

“Perfect,” Anthony said his eyes going to the necklace. Naledi handed it over to him and watched him study it.

The prince of Ga-Tloung – he was a very attractive man in every way, Naledi thought as she ran her eyes all over him. He was built like an African warrior of old – tall and muscled. His dark skin had a healthy glow that made her wish she could touch him. His hair was cut close to his head, and was trimmed at the sides framing his face. His lips, Naledi remember the glimpse of his lips when he’s stared at her. They were luscious, thick with the upper one slightly curled at the side making him less standoffish, and very much kissable.

Naledi’s heart accelerated and other parts of her body were awakened by his mere nearness. And in that moment she wished she wasn’t who she was. But that was something she couldn’t change.

From the corner of her eye Naledi spied Dineo returning to her stall. Quickly, Naledi made her way towards her. Dineo smiled as Naledi pointed to Anthony.

“Thank you, we’ll talk later,” she said pointing to the clinic, beaming.

Naledi waved her goodbyes, glad to leave the prince of Ga-Tloung behind. She plodded up the road that led to the royal homestead. Duty called, she thought.

“May I help you?”

Anthony looked up to find a strange woman standing beside him. He looked around him wondering what happened to the brown eyed girl. He looked at the gold necklace not sure what to do with it.

“Yes,” he said handing it over to be wrapped. He handed her the money. With his bought merchandise under his arm he made his way back to his car.

The brown eyed girl still lingered in his mind. She was a beautiful woman who could have a man enthralled by her presence, she was…Anthony tried to find the words to describe her. Exotic, the word popped into his mind.

Anthony got into his car. He closed his eyes, trying to dispel the brown eyes that had uncharacteristically lodged themselves into his mind. He started his car and headed to the homestead as the traffic had lessened somewhat.

The great gates loomed before him, and the mountain air surrounded him. He never knew how much he missed his home until he came back to it. The fresh air, the evergreen vegetation and lush environment gave him a sense of warm welcome that reached him to his soul.

He was home, Anthony thought as he came to a stop in the wide driveway that was already filling up with cars. It seemed most of their guests were arriving.

His eyes turned to the open field down the mountain on the right side of the house where the dance will take place. Chairs and a makeshift stage was being set up for the event.

It looked serious and imminent. There was no way he could turn around and disappear.

Duty called, Anthony thought as he got out of the car.

He walked to the large double doors. Two totem elephant of their clan stood on each side of the door, beneath the porch.

When he got there he found Koko Seale standing just inside the door, warmly greeting and welcoming guests. A maid stood to the side with a tray of refreshments.

The old lady has worked for his family for as long as Anthony could remember. She had been like a mother to him when his own mother died, leaving him alone in the world. Anthony still mourned her lose, she had been the perfect queen, and the only woman who’s ever understood him. Anthony stopped his thoughts, because thinking about her always made him forlorn.

He stood to the side and waited for the guests to disappear into the house before he approached her. He smiled at her as he came to a stop next to her.

“I see we had to open the gates for the whole world for you to come home.” She said sternly, but her joy at seeing him was evident in her eyes. She bowed slightly at him, even though she knew he didn’t like it.

“I guess so.” Anthony said shaking his head.

She turned to the maid standing there with the tray of refreshments, “Help the guests, I’ll be back.” She turned to Anthony and started to walk into the house.

“You look healthy.” She told him.

“Yes, I had a stern woman who taught me how to cook. Said no woman wanted a man who couldn’t look after himself.” Anthony laughed remembering her refusing to make him lunch, insisting he learn to make his own food.

“She must have taught you well.”

Anthony smiled to himself. The house was immaculate as ever. The marble floors gleamed, and the white and gold furniture his brother had insisted on was spotless and looked very opulent.

The house looked royal indeed.

Anthony let her usher him to the sitting area, where his father used to meet his advisers and guests, even though he could easily find his way in his home. Anthony had learned long ago not to interfere with her work. She loved it, and it made her feel important. She bowed and left them alone.

“Father,” Anthony said as a form of greeting and sat down. He looked at his father noticing the added wrinkles that hadn’t been there the last time he was home. He felt guilty for not coming home often. Anthony pushed that feeling away. His reasons for not coming home often were because he and his father didn’t get along.

And it seemed their usual tug of war was about to begin. Anthony stared at his father. He could see by the seriousness of his face there was something he wanted to say. Automatically Anthony became on guard.

His father had a way of making people do things they didn’t want to do. As the second born son Anthony had been given free reign for as long as he could remember. He’d done anything and everything he’d wanted to do without anyone questioning him.

And as a result he had a rebellious streak that was born from making his own way in life without the restrictions that had bound his brother. But deep down Anthony knew there was responsibility and respect that came with carrying the Batloung name. And one of these days he’ll be called to honour it. Anthony sat down, somehow knowing that day had come. And it seemed there was another reason he was there other than the Pulo ya Dikgoro dance.

“A long time ago,” his father began. Anthony looked at his father and forced himself to listen. He wasn’t sure he was ready for this, “in the time of the Pulo ya Dikgoro dance a prince would choose a bride. Their union would be blessed beyond belief and their kingdom prospered like no other. It’s a tradition we have practiced for many years.”

Anthony felt his father’s wise eyes on him. He held his stare not looking away.

“That’s how people came to believe there was magic in the dance. They believed and accepted everything that happened at the dance as truth, and nothing to be taken lightly. That’s the reason why they still come to the dance, to find that glimmer of hope that makes their lives worthwhile.”

Anthony looked at his father not sure what he was talking about. Was he talking about choosing a bride or the significance and history behind the dance?

“And the duty of a prince lies in making things right for his people. By making alliances and marrying a woman that will bring joy and prosperity to his people,” his father continued.

“I thought Mogale did that,” Anthony said unable to take his father’s evasiveness any longer. “He united the clans, making it right, as you say.”

“Yes.”

“But…” he said forcing himself to calm down. He knew there was a ‘but’, otherwise his father wouldn’t make him endure this conversation.

“You need to understand son that ruling a kingdom is a political struggle that never ends. This alliance will benefit the clans for years to come.”

Anthony sat still, digesting his father’s words. He spoke as though everything has already been done – the alliance was already formed and all he had to do was step up to seal the deal. Suddenly his rebellious side reared its head. But it was only for a moment as he saw himself being trapped in something he didn’t want. He calmed himself. Honour, responsibility, he thought, those were the very things that made a man.

Anthony knew what his father was talking about. Kingdoms didn’t thrive by themselves. They were made through marriages of convenience. His brother was in one such marriage. But could he marry for duty to make an alliance that will bring prosperity to his clan? He wasn’t looking for love, that he was sure of. But could he marry a woman chosen for him by his father? Anthony didn’t know.