The drive was quiet. Amelia was lost in our own thoughts. Her mind still not able to accept the fact that she has accepted his offer of help. Samantha looked very pleased and she hugged her as soon as she sat on the car, happily patting her back for the wise decision she had taken. Zach eyed her from the rear view mirror. Her deep brown eyes looked dreamy and there was a hint of sadness in them. Feeling responsible for most parts of it, he vowed to help her overcome her grief and give her a healthy and happy environment.

Amelia realized that they are not driving towards the town, but away from it. Her eyes forming a question met his gaze in the rear view mirror. Feeling awkward, Both tried to look away.

"Where are we going,?" Amelia echoed

"To Harrogate. That is where I stay," Zach simply answered.

"Oh, Lovely. I heard the place is beautiful," Samantha chimed in.

"Of course, it is." Zach smiled.

"I thought we will be leaving here...," Amelia voiced her confusion. Zach turned his face around, smiled still her and said,"I did tell you that I live in Harrogate and I was here to meet a friend."

Amelia gave a nod and drifted her eyes outside the windows of his car, enjoying the breeze as they drove away towards the airport.

The flight to Harrogate is cozy and pleasant. The three of them were taking naps as the plane flew in the clouded sky, flowing to Harrogate. They were all tired for their own reasons.

Zach opened his eyes and turned to face Amelia and he felt a tingling feeling in his heart, watching her sleep so peacefully, resting her head inclined on the seat and her hands were on her tummy as if she was making sure her baby was safe. He felt something he never had felt before. His motives to help her is pure and clear but deep down he knows it's for him as well for her. Somehow, he feels his life has become more worthwhile after she agreed to accept his offer of help.

For a brief moment, while looking at her he had the urge to move the layer of hair away from her face. It looked beautiful that way, but it was disturbing her sleep as it lightly touched her face. He didn't want her to be awake. He wanted to watch her and keep on watching her, but he shrugged his broad shoulders, joining his hands together. He darn do that.

Samantha awoke, was watching him with affectionate eyes and smiled. A peaceful expression formed on her face as he caught her looking at him. He was embarrassed.

"You really admire her, don't you?," Samantha'query made him uncomfortable and he didn't know what to say. To accept or deny. Can he trust Samantha with his little secret? He has a feeling he can but he better not make it own. He must not even think or let him flow away, hoping for something that might never happen. He reasoned to himself.

"Don't you?,'" He questioned giving a funny look on her.

"It's hard not to like her, not because she is beautiful, but because of everything she is as a person," Samantha said approvingly.

Zach's smiles deepened as he watched Amelia appreciatively, "I do not know as much as you, but from what little I know about her by now I’d say, yes, I admire her a lot," He accepted. "She is a remarkably a strong and determined woman."

"She is," Samantha said quietly remembering all that Amelia had to face, but now seeing the positive change in her life, she is certain Amelia will learn to love life again and will find her true happiness soon. She thanked god for giving Amelia this baby, for if it wasn't for this baby, Amelia's life would have been the same torture as it had been. With this baby, almighty has given her a second chance to live a second chance to be happy again and maybe a second chance at love too, she thought and smiled as she watched Zach and Amelia.

The almost four hour flight from Edinburgh to Harrogate had given Amelia much time to prepare herself for going to live with him in his family's home. It wasn't Enough but was still better. She felt nervous at the thought of who else might there be and how will she answer their curious questions about why she is not living with her husband.

Her mind was full of questions, but she didn't dare utter a word or Samantha and Zach will think she is finding yet another excuse to argue with him.

She mentally prepared herself to deal with whatever might come, though she was sure that Zach will definitely take care of things. He will not let anything ruin her peace. He has proved that much to her.

She knows she can trust him this much, at least.

Zach looked down at her bent head intently, "You're thinking something?"

She grimaced, not knowing he was observing her. Her eyes widened,"Kind of," She said truthfully.

Zach's lips twisted in humor as he saw her guarded expression. "What is it that is making you worry now?"

She fluttered her lashes at his teaseful question. They seem to have developed a friendship between them. A silent one, but quite comfortable and reliable one, she thought. "I'm not worried," She told him. "I was simply wondering who else live with you and what are we going to say about me and Samantha living there."

He could see her discomfort. He knew, she wouldn't want it to be known that she has left her husband so he thought he would make something up for everyone's benefit. Questions would be there, he had always known it. Relatives, staffs and the people around are more interested in knowing things than the family, but he knows how to deal with them. "I'll take care of things, you do not have to stress over anything."

                                                                *********

Was Zach's Mc Cord some sort of Modern World Prince Charming? Amelia thought as his eyes went big and wide with wonder and amazement and her mouth fell open when she saw his villa on reaching Harrogate. So much greenery around and a beautiful fountain at the center was remarkably beautiful.

"Oh My...," Samantha exhaled almost feeling breathless at the sight of his villa.

Zach felt proud and in a gentlemanly way welcomed them inside his house accepting their compliments and saying thank you repeatedly to Samantha who went on and on praising his great taste. Amelia was quiet. It's not that she had not seen richness. She and no such issues with Jacob, but Zach seemed to be much more beyond than Jacob could even dream to be. And she felt uncomfortable, like she is taking advantage of him - his kindness, richness and helpfulness.

He, indeed, is A Prince in the making. She had known, had guessed of his power and authority from the way he had dealt with Jacob at his work, but, watching with her own eyes, made everything so real and true.

She quietly savored the pleasures coming here had brought to her senses. She loved his garden. The trees and the bushed. Everything was beautiful. And, life looked so peaceful here.

The elegant house had been running efficiently by her housekeeper under his grandmother's guidance. Zach mentioned that her grandmother is away in London for some time. She will join them shortly.

An awkward expression ran over Amelia's face showing her discomfort for living under someone else roof in their absence. Even if this property now belongs to Zach, but Her grandmother is the real owner, the guardian of this house.

"You do not need to worry about my granny, Amelia," Zach said as he sensed her awkwardness while he took her towards coir door, leading to the room he has asked to keep prepared for Amelia and Samantha. "She is a wonderful person and very warm-hearted. I'm sure she would love to have you here." He said with conviction.

"I'm sure she is as good as you say but...," She said, thinking maybe such generosity and kindness runs in the blood,"...It would have been good if we had come in her presence."

Samantha nodded in agreement, sharing the same awkwardness.

"She knows about your arrival. I told you she will be joining both of you soon." Zach assurance did nothing to ease her awkwardness, but she smiled politely and walked behind him towards the rooms.

The house was spotlessly clean and had a scent of fresh flowers coming from the passage containing long vases of flowers on the row. The crystal chandeliers on the ceiling at each stop was attractive.

Zach led her to her room first and she gaped with wonderment as she entered it. The room relatably showed her own self-indulgence with a four-poster bed and large French windows. The shades on the wall were of soft link color and the curtains were in white with matching pink floral prints on them. The dressing table matched the floral decor, carved on the head of the bed. It had an adjoining bathroom and three cupboards were lined up on the right side of the wall, facing the bed. The room was a complete luxury. Something she had always wished as a child while growing up reading fairy tales and believing in them.

Zach was convinced Amelia would like this room. He had specially ordered the staff and maid to arrange this room for her. The maid has done all she could do with the little time she got to make sure Amelia finds everything she needs, available in the room in the right places.

This was the first time Zach had brought someone home to stay with him and his grandmother. The staff was certain the guest was an important one so they had efficiently taken care of everything, as they had been trained and instructed to.

"I hope you will feel relaxed here," Zach said as he asked her to get comfortable and rest till they meet for lunch after a few hours.

"You got some sense of humor, Zach,"

Zach chuckled and said, "Why?." 

"C'mon, don't pretend you didn't notice my amazement," Amelia said admiring the room. "Your house is beautiful and this room is more than I could ever ask for," She said with innocence and honesty.

"I'm glad you liked it," Zach said happily, having pride that something he chose for her was acceptable to her. Knowing her pride and self dependence, he felt she would raise questions on everything he would do for her, but it seems she has given his words a thought and also Samantha just have made her talked into being obedient and nice towards him. Or, the change is because of what she had witnessed last night. The experienced has made her more sober and quiet.

He let her alone to rest and took Samantha to her room. Samantha, too, was awed by the room he had shown her into. She was a housekeeper herself, but now being addressed as 'Madam' by his staffs and maids, Samantha felt more awkward, but she hid her feelings and played the role of his guest well, not wanting to make Zach worry about her uneasiness.

Amelia had immensely loved his place and his hospitality yet the new arrangement was making her uncomfortable.

Amelia had made a promise to herself that she would not let another man rule her life, that no other would have power over her again, that freeing herself from Jacob she will protect this freedom and yet she is doing just the opposite of it. She touched her growing belly as a tear took birth at the corner of her eye. She knew she was making a compromise again, only this time, it's about her baby and Her baby”s welfare deserves all the compromises she has to make in life.

A maid comes to inform her that the lunch will be served from noon and she would come to take her and Samantha to the dining room. Amelia was resting on her bed, overthinking as always. She hurriedly got up and taking a look at her watch, she precisely had 45 minutes to be fresh and ready. She took out her cloth from her luggage bag and went to have a bath.

Amelia dresses up in a black fitted gown touching her toes and combs her shoulder length hair, letting it stay open, applies a lip balm and waited for the maid to arrive.

She was holding on her anticipated breath when she heard a footstep outside her room and then the door open to reveal Samantha and the maid. Samantha too looked fresh and greeted her with love and warmth.

Samantha was free from all tensions now. She was certain Amelia will get all the care she needs, here, at Zach's house.

The maid guided them towards the dining room and went to the kitchen. Samantha and Amelia walked towards the dining room and was greeted by Zach, who too had changed his clothes and looked refreshed... And charming in the white silk shirt and black trousers he was wearing, Amanda thought appraisingly. She didn't like him before, but she could never deny that Zach is not just a kind person, but also has a great personality and looks. He was a gentleman in the making. She guarded her thoughts, then, reminding herself that she once felt the same about Jacob and how he proved her wrong.

Zach might not be the same as Jacob, but she does not want to keep high hopes and expectations. The growing civility between them is turning into a good friendship and she intends to keep it that way. They exchanged smiles as they sat on the chair.

It was a warm and cozy room. The dining table was adorned with beautiful blooms in varied colors and species  in the center and silver candle-stand holding white candles, but since it was afternoon, they were not lit up. Amelia wondered how this beautiful room would look at night, with lights off and just candles burning. A smile formed on her lips as she remembered her childhood wishes that arise from the fairytale her aunt use to weave for her.

A Prince Charming. A beautiful palace. The Romance between The Prince and the princess. He saving her from the dragon. How she believed in all of them. Being an orphan and with only a foster aunt who cared for her, she felt deprived of parental love and used to indulge in fantasies to keep her happy. A mean to escape to the happy land in her mind.

But, life showed her the real face of it.

"Please make yourselves comfortable," Zach said when he noticed their uneasiness.

Amelia gave a friendly smile as she said "Thank you" and took in the aroma coming from the food placed on the table. She was not  hungry, but the rich smell of the food did a riot on her senses and she wondered if she really has an appetite or not.

"The food looks really tempting," Zach said happily and asked the maid to serve them. Amelia took a fair amount and looked at Samantha, asking her to start eating. Samantha was hesitant and Amelia could guess why. She could understand her feeling uncomfortable eating with them and receiving such hospitality. It was not that Amelia had treated her any less when she was at Jacob, but she never dined with them together, except with Amelia few times, but that was because she and Amelia had a great rapport send they had grown to take each other as mother and daughter over time.

Here, at Zach's, Samantha was having time to settle with the same ease and comfort as she was having at Jacob's.

"If you'll feel uncomfortable, then how will I cope with this change, Sam." Amelia said in a low voice, audible enough only for Sam's ears.

Samantha looked at Zach and then back to Amelia quietly as the maid served food on her plate. Amelia touched her hand to urge her to not think so much,"You know this awkwardness were what I was wanting not to feel when I was rejecting his offer."

"I'm fine, Love," She whispered back. "I think a word with Zach would solve my problem."

Amelia eyed her intently not understanding heat Samanta is up to now, but on Zach's teasing "Now, the ladies must not whisper each other on the dinning table and begin eating" both blushed. Amelia wet her dry lips as if she was caught cheating in school exam.

Zach laughed and Watching him laugh, Sam joined in sportingly. Amelia felt too embarrassed to laugh, she quietly began eating. Her mind thinks about Sam, wondering what must be on her mind.

Zach was watching her in-between the bites he was taking of his food. Amelia kept her gaze low and was eating in silence. Sam and Zach exchanged a few words about the food and Samantha praised him on his good hosting. Amelia too smiled and gave a pleasing nod at that when Samantha asked for her input. Zach was very pleased to see Amelia softening for him.

                                                     ❃ ❃ ❃