Beauty and the Brit ‐Chapter 23 ***PATRONS ONLY*** (Patreon)

I'd like to thank all you patrons for your wonderful support on this story! This is the last chapter that will be publicly launched and once I have a better understanding of the timeline for a completed copy to be released I will inform you at once! Meanwhile, I hope you've enjoyed this far into the Journey of Paige and Derick and I absolutely love hearing your feedback —whether it be what you're looking forward to or what you loved so far!Love,Britt xoxoxo

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: SOLO SOJOURNRae did indeed flip out when she heard the news about her friend and the British gent. "Whaddid I tell you? You'd kiss the man before a week was out!"Paige rolled her eyes on the other end of the phone but was blushing and grateful that Rae couldn’t see her right now. They were meant to have a video call later but Rae couldn’t wait to hear what Paige’s "news" was. Paige had obliged the quick voice call knowing it would be a lot of nervousness on her own part to tell about moving from casual friend to kissing with affection Mr. Derick DeBurgh.Rae for her part also had a bit of news. “Well, sadly, Nate still hasn’t miraculously divorced his wife and moved in with me— with us….”“Ah gosh I’m sorry,” Paige expressed playing along with sympathy.“I am too but alas we can’t both have epic love stories playing along at the same time! Otherwise, how would we properly play the supporting friend character in the other’s narratives?” Rae pointed out wisely which Paige could only point out the sense of.“Now tell me more about London. You weren’t with Derick much today right?”“No, he had work to attend to so I tried things solo today. I was terrified!”“But you’re still alive right? Or am I speaking to your spectral ghost form?” Rae’s comment made Paige laugh before she recounted her day.Martin had driven her and Derick into London then dropped Paige off at her chosen destination: The British Museum. She was reassured that she could spend a number of hours in there and if she got bored or finished up before Derick and Martin came back for her, she could contact Martin directly to get her early and head someplace else.With that in mind, she explored every inch of the place that she could not only wanting to use up as much time as possible but mostly knowing she didn’t need to rush at all. And it was a wonderful day indeed —if not tiring for her feet. The collections were wondrous, yes, and old, yes, but the fact that she was able to get in for free boggled her mind. First the two art galleries with Derick last Thursday and now this. London was shaping up in her short time already to be a place of wonderful sorts and of pleasant surprises.She had also been grateful for Martin’s guidance as he had before her arrival driven her past a number of shops in the streets surrounding the museum so that she could see where she might grab food and drink and, if she so fancied, pick up some semi-tacky tourist souvenirs —all of which were a block or two away depending on where she went. Assuring him that she was comfortable (and could also locate herself anything she required via a moveable map app on her phone), she’d started her first solo day out in London.What had started out as daunting in her mind soon was swept away with feelings of excitement and elation as she explored the levels of the museum and emerged hours later only to grab a bite before heading back to finish the rest that she hadn’t seen.The timing of Derick and Martin could not have been more perfect as they arrived back to her just as she was ready to admit to a full day and the need to sit. Derick’s vehicle supplied both the relief for her feet but promises from the man himself of dinner. “May I?” he asked tenderly, a soft blush in his cheeks and in his tone.“Date?” she wished to clarify.“Only if you want?”She considered it and suddenly felt nervous. “Well… it’s just…” She took a breath and wondered how to phrase her thoughts coherently. Derick encouraged her to go on and to speak the truth so she did, “My feet hurt a bit and I… I totally forgot to dress for going out together so—”“Oh of course!” Derick exclaimed with immediate understanding and acceptance, “How’s about McDonald’s by Holborn or some Pret? O-or even pizza we can pick up. We can just have a home-cooked meal that they can have for us by the time we get back home,” he added on and Paige wanted to kiss him for his cute, open and giddy wish to please her desires whatsoever they may be.So she pressed a kiss to his cheek and told him, “I’d love to get takeout pizza and hang out for a movie or by one of your many fireplaces and chat about our days and just… have a date night inside.” The words “date night” had made her insides flutter around with nerves and excitement as they came out of her and hung around in the air as something now tangible, possible and real.Derick grinned at her choices and fully agreed to them.Now some hours later as he was off on a late-night business call (having already bid her goodnight after a successful and warm first official “date” which had been easy on the both of the new couple), she gushed to Rae that today had been wonderful. Paige tried to hold back just how in-love she felt when it came to Derick but she had a correct feeling that Rae already knew without Paige having to say much more than she already had.“Well I hope you come back a duchess,” Rae expressed and Paige laughed nervously. “No, that’s right you wouldn’t come back a duchess,” she agreed to a short protestation that Paige had issued with the idea, “you wouldn’t come back a duchess because you won’t come back at all! You’ll stay there: I predict it now!”The bibliophile laughed. “I love my bookstore too much to just not come back,” Paige pointed out with amused laughter, “but you’re right if I got a title I’d definitely want to start taking my duties seriously…”The two friends laughed over their fictional scenario. Then Paige yawned. It was late where she was.“On London time already? So easily? So soon?” Rae proclaimed.“I’ve been here a week to the day already!” Oh my God. A week to the day. She’d been in London for a week to the day!“You’ve acclimated. I’m proud of you. Now give Derry a big smooch from the maid-of-honor at your inevitable nuptials —on the cheek, mind you— and get yourself to bed. Duchesses need all the rest they can get managing estates and...being rich and all,” Rae teased.Paige could only laugh. “That’s where you’re wrong,” Paige retorted. “I want the throne or nothing at all!”