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The driver hesitated, then finally said, “Africa.”
The word hung in the air between us, absurd and heavy.
Caleb laughed. “It sounded like you said they went to Africa.”
The driver nodded. “I did, Your Highness. I dropped them off at the international terminal at the Kastonia airport.”
Caleb’s laughter faded away as the driver’s words sank in.
I tried to wrap my head around this revelation. “Why Africa, and why on earth would they use a commercial airline instead of the royal jet?”
“King Gustav and Queen Camille need the jet to fly to France directly after the dinner,” the driver said.
“Wow,” I said. “Imagine the chaos at the airport when everyone sees Veronica.”
“They may not recognize her,” the driver added.
“Why wouldn’t they?” Caleb asked.
The driver shifted on his feet, uneasy under our scrutiny. “We made a stop at a particular souvenir shop on the way to the airport to pick up a few things. Princess Veronica and Miss Daphne are going incognito.”
“Incognito?” I repeated, my voice tinged with incredulity. “What in the world are they up to? And Africa is a mighty large continent. Where exactly are they going?”
“They did not say,” the driver answered. “Only that the flight leaves at nine.”
“This shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out . . .” Caleb was busy on his phone, scrolling, tapping. “The only flight leaving for Africa at that time is to Nairobi, Kenya.”
“And do you know where they might stay?” I asked, a note of desperation creeping into my voice since I had traveled to Kastonia for the explicit reason of seeing Veronica, and nothing more.
“No, Your Highness, I don’t,” the driver admitted. “She only mentioned that she needed to get out of town, and she was in quite the hurry.”
A pang of guilt washed over me, realizing the extreme measures Veronica was taking to avoid me. I hadn’t been proud of my past behavior, the mistakes I had made with her, leaving her behind as I roamed across South America on a motorcycle. As a result, she wanted nothing to do with me. This realization cut deeper than I expected, but it wouldn’t deter me from finding her and making amends. That would be my challenge and my mission. I would prove to her that I had changed, that she could count on me, and that I’m the same man she once loved.
“Did you overhear any parts of their conversation?” I asked. “Anything at all to give us a clue where they might go?”
“I overheard them mention Sir Richard Branson, Victoria Falls, and something about sleeping in a tent,” the driver said. “They were loud despite the music. I wasn’t eavesdropping, I assure you.”
“Sir Richard Branson? What does he have to do with anything?” Caleb said. “And sleeping in a tent surrounded by wild animals? Have they lost their minds?”
“I think I know where they are going,” I blurted out. “Sir Richard has a safari camp in the world-famous?—”
“Maasai Mara,” Caleb finished for me. “You’re right, I completely forgot. It’s right in the path of the annual Great Migration. Veronica has always wanted to go there. Okay, now that we have this information, what exactly are we going to do with it?”
“I will take care of it,” I declared firmly, the decision setting in my mind like cement. “I’m going to Africa.”
“Not without me, you’re not,” Caleb added quickly.
I tilted my head to the side. “And why exactly do you need to go?”
“Veronica is my sister,” he said. “I’m worried about her.”
“Now, tell me the real reason,” I said.
A smile grew on Caleb’s face. “Do I really need to answer that?”
“You do not, unless it’s a reason other than Daphne,” I said, very aware that he had been pining for Veronica’s best friend for almost as long as I had known him.
He shrugged. “You’re right, although I have always wanted to fly in your jet. It’s much bigger than ours.”
