Victoria
The storm outside continued its relentless assault as we wound our way through the Smoky Mountains, the truck's tires gripping the slick, winding roads with a tenacity that seemed to match the man driving it. I was seated in the front passenger seat, engaged in polite conversation, attempting to keep my composure.
I could almost hear my mother's voice: No matter the situation, a Lady keeps her composure. A Lady does not raise her voice. A Lady keeps her smile. You apply your superior upbringing. You do not panic. When in doubt, smile.
I observed our rescuers. The girls, Lily and Maya, were sitting in the back with Samantha, who had drifted back into a fitful sleep. Ethan, the man who had saved us, was focused on the road ahead, his hands steady on the wheel despite the treacherous conditions. I had yet to fully comprehend what had happened—how we had gone from a quiet evening at a charity gala to being stranded in the middle of a storm, rescued by a stranger who now seemed like our only lifeline.
I glanced at Ethan, taking in his rugged appearance. He was a big man. Tall and muscular though how much so was hard to tell in the car. His long hair was still damp from the rain, and his beard gave him a wild, almost untamed look. But it was his eyes—blue-gray and intense—that caught my attention. There was a depth to them, a kind of quiet strength that made me feel, for the first time that night, that we might actually be safe.
"I can't thank you enough," I finally said, breaking the silence. My voice sounded steadier than I felt. "If you hadn't found us…"
Ethan glanced at me briefly before turning his eyes back to the road. "Just happened to be in the right place at the right time," he replied, his tone gruff but not unkind. "I'm just glad I got there before things got worse."
I nodded, though his modesty didn't do justice to what he had done. "Still, you saved our lives. I'm not sure how we can ever repay you."
He shrugged, a small movement that seemed to carry the weight of the world. "No need for that. Just doing what anyone else would've done."
Somehow, I doubted that. He had gone out of his way to help us, risking himself in the process. That kind of bravery wasn't as common as he made it out to be, especially since he appeared to have no idea who Samantha or I were.
Now that was a refreshing change.
We drove in silence for a few moments before I spoke again, this time with more curiosity. "Do you mind if I ask what happened? I remember the crash, but everything after that is a blur."
Ethan took a deep breath, as if considering how much to share. "I can only assume you hit a rough patch of road, probably hydroplaned. You probably remember that part. When I found the limo, it was almost on its side, and the water was rising fast. Didn't have much time to think. Just knew I had to get you all out before it was too late."
His words were straightforward, matter-of-fact. It was then I realized something. This man had acted on instinct, no hesitation, no calculation. He saw someone in need and acted without regard to himself and without thought of reward.
"You, sir, are an idiot. What kind of man pulls three people out of a sinking car in the middle of a thunderstorm?" I said quietly, more to myself than to him. "We were so lucky you were there."
Ethan didn't respond right away, and I got the sense that he wasn't used to being thanked or praised. Instead, he kept his focus on the road, the lines of his face set in concentration. A small smile graced his lips.
I turned my attention to the back seat, where Lily and Maya were whispering softly to each other. They had been so quiet during the drive that I hadn't really had a chance to speak with them, to learn more about these girls who had been so kind to us.
"How are you two holding up?" I asked gently, trying to put them at ease.
Lily, the younger of the two, looked up at me with wide eyes. "We're okay. We didn't do much," she said, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "Is Samantha going to be alright?"
I smiled reassuringly. "Of course she is. We will have the doctor check her out when we get to our house. Right now, I think she just needs some rest. Thank you for looking after her."
Maya grinned shyly. "We didn't do much, really. Dad did all the hard work."
"Well, you both helped in your own way," I said warmly. "And that means a lot."
The girls exchanged a glance, seeming pleased with the compliment. It was clear they adored their father, and I could see why. Despite everything, they had a kind of calm about them that I could only attribute to Ethan's influence.
Not that I had anything to compare it to.
"What about you two?" I asked, hoping to keep the conversation light. "What do you like to do when you're not rescuing people from storms and certain death?"
Maya smiled, and Lily giggled, the tension easing. "Art!" said Lily excitedly. "I love to draw and paint. My dad even said that I could paint the walls of his restaurant if we can ever get it off the ground."
"Oh," I said with a smile. "You want to be an artist, and your dad wants a restaurant. I was not expecting that of you. I was thinking more like a model because you're so pretty! But if you like art, remind me to show you my gallery when we get to the house. I have lots of pictures and paintings. Some of them are quite famous. Do you have a type of art that you like?"
Lily nodded. "I love wet-on-wet painting styles; they are so fun! And drawing portraits, but I also love photography. Pictures printed with steel backs are the best. They are super pretty. I like landscapes a lot and have even tried some myself. It is not easy."
"That is great, sweetheart! What about you, Maya? What are you into?"
Maya considered me for a moment. "I love doing outdoors stuff with Dad. We do this camping trip every year, and on it, we camp, fish, shoot archery, and cook outdoors. We even forage for our own food. It's super fun. I also love volleyball. It's sort of my thing when I'm not taking care of Dad and Lily."
Lily snorted. Ethan just smiled.
"That sounds amazing," I said. "I am not a camper myself, but it sounds like you have a lot of fun."
"Oh, we did, Aunt Victoria. It's like one of my favorite things to do."
"Maya," Ethan said. "You shouldn't just call Ms. Harrington 'Aunt' like that."
"Oh sorry Ms. Harrington. Ms. Samantha back here keeps muttering it. It just kind of slipped out."
"Actually," I said with a mild chuckle. "It's Lady Harrington, but she can call me whatever she wants."
The girls continued to tell me about their lives—school, friends, and the things they enjoyed. It was delightful. When was the last time I spent so much time talking to children? It made me miss the youth of my boys and Samantha.
As the girls continued to talk, their nervous energy seemed to dissipate, replaced by the innocent curiosity that only children possess. I found out the girls were eleven , Lily, and thirteen, Maya. I loved this age group. The girls were old enough to have genuine conversation and insight but young enough to keep the righteous vigor of youth. It was beautiful.
I found my discomfort waning just a bit. The road ahead was still treacherous, the storm showing no signs of letting up—perhaps even getting worse—but inside the truck, a new warmth was beginning to grow—one that had nothing to do with the temperature.
Lily's voice interrupted my musings, tinged with curiosity. "You have an accent," she said, looking at me with wide eyes. "Where are you from?"
I smiled at her directness. "I'm originally from England," I explained, softening my tone to match hers. "I split my time there at my family estate and here."
Maya leaned forward eagerly. "That's why you talk all fancy," she said with a grin. "It sounds really cool."
I chuckled. "I suppose it might sound that way. What about you, Lily? Do you like accents?"
Lily nodded enthusiastically. "It's like how people talk in those old movies Dad loves so much, the ones with the castles and stuff. It makes you sound really… important."
"Yeah," Maya agreed, her eyes lighting up. "Like a queen or something."
I tried not the laugh. The irony. Queen Victoria! There have been a few of those in the history of the monarchy. Oh, these dear children, how utterly adorable.
"Well, I'm not a queen," I said with a playful wink, "but I do have a title. I'm Lady Victoria Harrington, Countess of Ashbourne. It's my pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Both girls' eyes widened in unison. "Lady Victoria?" Maya echoed, the title clearly fascinating her. "What does that mean?"
"It's nothing fancy, just a noble title," I explained. "In England, titles like 'Countess' are often passed down through families, and they come with certain responsibilities and traditions. As the Lady of Ashbourne, I have to take care of my family's ancestral lands and finances and be ready to defend the empire, though not much of that last one these days."
"So, you're really like a real-life princess?" Lily asked, her voice filled with awe.
I laughed softly, charmed by their fascination. "Not quite a princess, but I suppose it might seem that way…"
The girls exchanged excited glances, clearly enthralled by the idea. "That's so cool," Maya said, her voice almost reverent. "We've never met anyone with a title before."
"It's like something out of a fantasy novel," Lily added, her gaze now fixed on me with a kind of admiration that made me blush slightly. "All we need is a dragon."
"Lily," Maya said in a loud whisper, "Dads the dragon. Remember. Get it together girl."
The girls laughed at their joke. Bloody precious.
Their wonderment was endearing, and it reminded me of how I had once viewed the world—full of fairy tales and grand adventures. It was easy to forget, in the chaos and responsibility of adulthood, that there was still magic to be found in the simple things.
Ethan, who had been silent during our exchange, glanced over at me with a small, almost amused smile. "You certainly know how to make an impression," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that hadn't been there before.
"I suppose," I replied, feeling a bit self-conscious under his gaze. His approval, however subtle, seemed to matter more than I expected it to.
"I didn't know we were in the presence of royalty," Ethan teased gently, his tone light but respectful. He turned to look at me with those deep blue-gray eyes. He gave me a slight bow—just slightly, because his eyes were still mostly on the road. "Your highness."
I admit I felt my face heat up a bit; I grinned at his playful tone. "Silly man…and technically it would be your Grace."
"Well, you're pretty much a princess to us now," Maya said as if she were announcing some major breakthrough. Lily giggled beside her.
The conversation flowed naturally after that, with the girls asking more questions about England, my life there, and what it was like to grow up with such traditions. For my part, I shared stories I hadn't thought of in years—tales of grand estates, formal dinners, and the strict etiquette that had shaped much of my early life.
In return, Lily and Maya told me more about themselves—their favorite books, the games they played, and the adventures they dreamed of having. Their openness, their willingness to share their world with me, was a gift I hadn't expected.
We hit a snag when I mentioned their mother.
"So, girls, you are here with your dad," I said. "Can you tell me where your mom is?"
The girls exchanged sour looks. It was fast but definitely there. "Mom is probably at the country club with James," Maya said.
"Yeah," Lily continued. "Probably playing bridge or other stuff rich people do. What about you, Aunt Victoria? Is Samantha your only family?"
Wow, that dismissal wasn't exactly subtle. Note to self: don't talk about their mother, at least until you know them a bit better.
"Yes… I have two sons. They are at school right now, so I don't see them much."
Maybe the girls heard the sadness in my voice, but we switched to lighter topics, and the laughter returned. As the conversation continued, the girls' enthusiasm for all things related to nobility and titles evolved to questions about castles and then somehow to Loch Ness, then back to being a Lady. Their curiosity was infectious, and I found myself relaxing more with each passing minute, allowing the storm outside to fade into the background, if only for a while.
"I have to ask, is it fun to be a Lady?" Lily asked, her eyes wide with wonder. "You get to do all those fancy things and live in a castle, right?"
I smiled at her innocence, appreciating her excitement. "It does sound glamorous, doesn't it?" I replied, thinking back to the grand estates and the formal gatherings that had once been a regular part of my life. "But the truth is, it can be rather dull at times."
"Dull?" Maya echoed, clearly surprised. "How can it be dull when you're, like, a real-life princess?"
"Well," I began, choosing my words carefully, "when you're raised with certain expectations, you're often required to follow a lot of rules. There are always events to attend, people to impress, and appearances to maintain. It can be exhausting, and sometimes it feels like you're living your life more for others than for yourself."
The girls listened intently, their wide eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and empathy. "That sounds hard," Lily said quietly.
"It can be," I admitted, nodding slightly. "But it's also given me the chance to meet wonderful people and experience things I wouldn't have otherwise. It's just that, sometimes, the titles and the traditions can make life feel a bit… well, scripted."
Maya looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking up again. "So, if being a Lady is kind of boring, what would make it more fun?"
I couldn't help but laugh softly at her question, charmed by her earnestness. "I suppose what would make it more fun is a little adventure—something unexpected to shake things up."
I glanced over at Ethan, who was still focused on the road, his expression calm but attentive. In that moment, I realized how much of an adventure this night had turned into—an adventure I never would have anticipated.
"And maybe," I added with a smile, "having someone around who isn't afraid to step in when things get difficult. Someone like a knight in shining armor, perhaps."
The girls immediately perked up at that, their eyes darting toward Ethan, who seemed to sense the shift in attention. He glanced over at me, his blue-gray eyes meeting mine with a mixture of surprise and amusement.
"A knight in shining armor, huh?" he said, his voice carrying a hint of a smile. "I don't know about that. Like I said, just there at the right place at the right time."
"To me, that's exactly what a knight in shining armor is," I replied softly. "You've protected us, taken care of us, and made sure we're safe. That's more than enough to earn the title in my book."
Ethan's expression softened, and for a moment, I saw something in his eyes—a flicker of uncertainty, perhaps, or maybe just a recognition of the compliment. He looked away, focusing on the road again, but I could see the corners of his mouth lifting into a modest smile.
"Well, if I'm your knight, then I guess that makes you my princess," he said, his tone light but sincere. "But I'm not sure how well the armor fits."
I chuckled, noting the attempt to deflect the praise. "Maybe not, but you wear it well enough."
Lily and Maya were clearly delighted by this exchange, their earlier nerves now fully replaced by excitement. "Dad's totally a knight!" Maya exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Yes! He's your knight!" Lily added, looking at me with the same wide-eyed admiration as before.
"Wait!" Maya said, her tone going serious. "If Aunt Victoria is a princess and Dad is a knight…dad saved his princess…that means…"
Lily picked up that thought. "Yes! Oh my, I cannot believe we didn't see it. Daddy and Aunt Victoria are totally going to have to kiss now."
"Lily. That is totally in—"
"Yep. You two are going to have to make out. Its like expected. Tradition."
I paused. Wait. What?? Tradition. That little trouble maker.
I looked at Maya. Who had a shit eating grin if I have ever seen one.
Lily leaned up between the console. "Sorry, Dad. Aunt Victoria. Those are the rules."
For the second time that evening, I felt my face heat up. What was happening right?