Free Maggie Malone Gets the Royal Treatment by Jenna McCarthy Page B

a full stop right in front of my face. “What do you call this dance?”
    â€œThis is the Cowgirl Booty Scoot, Your Majesty!” I answer, all out of breath.
    She lifts her eyebrows and nods and then—and I know this is hard to believe but I triple pinkie promise you it happens—she starts dancing. In line. Right next to me.
    â€œOh my, Princess,” the Queen of Wincastle says with a laugh. “It is quite amusing!” And then she smacks her royal booty , right there for all of Wincastle to see.
    The dance floor is a total mob scene. In fact, Penelope is practically the only wedding guest not out here slapping her backside. I see Lord Harold leave the floor to invite her to dance, but she just smacks his hand away. I can’t help but find it absolutely hilarious how much Lord Harold seems to love Penelope. Positively priceless! I think to myself and laugh out loud, but no one can hear me over all the stomping and booty slapping.
    Eventually, the orchestra slides into a slow song—probably a waltz or something like that—and the dance floor starts to clear because booty-slapping is pretty exhausting. I’m pooped. I plop down in a comfy, out-of-the-way chair to catch my breath. About three whole minutes pass before I look up to see Prince Henry smiling down at me with two tall glasses of ice water and the cutest sideways grin I ever saw.

Chapter 17

    When I Find Out the MMBs Come with a Catch
    â€œYou look to be one thirsty princess,” Henry says, handing me the ice water, which I immediately put to my forehead because this big fat baby dress is made of the kind of silk that traps in all the heat. It’s like an EasyDoesIt Oven under these bajillion buttons. I can’t believe my knickers aren’t sliding right off.
    â€œWould you care to get some fresh air, Mimi?” he asks. Without having to think about it at all, I float up from my chair and take his arm.
    We walk just outside the tent, and I swear it feels about a hundred degrees cooler out here. It really is a beautiful night—like one of those nights you see in a movie where there’s not a cloud in the sky, the stars are blinking, and a big white moon looks like a spotlight on the pond until a swan swims by and leaves little waves in his wake. Seriously? It’s like I’m in a fairy tale. And hello , I am chatting with a handsome prince out here so…
    â€œMimi?” Henry says, leaning forward to get my attention.
    â€œHuh?” I say.
    â€œYou look like you’re a hundred miles away,” he says with a smile.
    â€œOh, I just…I…I was just thinking it’s such a pretty night,” I say, shaking my head a little. Wake up, Malone! Be royal!
    â€œCan I ask you a question, Mimi?” Henry says, strolling as we talk.
    â€œYeah, I mean, of course, Henry,” I say, remembering to talk like a princess. “What is it?”
    â€œIt’s just…I just…well, I wanted to say that you’ve seemed quite different today. More…I don’t know…and please don’t take this the wrong way, but more fun?” he says with a grin, tilting his head to the side as we walk. “Perhaps, more real? I don’t know what I’m trying to get at. I guess I wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed your company today.”
    â€œAwww, Henry,” I say, hitting him hard in the arm. “That’s so sweet!” I don’t know why I do that—punch a guy in the arm after he says something nice to me. It’s like a twitch or a nervous habit or something, sort of like the way I chew the inside of my cheek when I talk to a cute boy, which I’m trying really really hard not to do right now.
    â€œWow!” Henry says, rubbing his shoulder. “That’s quite a left hook you’ve got there, Princess!”
    â€œSorry!” I say. Really, Malone? Did you have to punch the prince? I sure know how to mess up a