In Search of a Happy Ending
The Prince realised that things had started to become unstuck on their wedding day. He was so used to being referred to as Prince Charming that he had forgotten that he would have to be married under his given name and Ella’s reaction when the celebrant intoned, “Do you, Algernon, take this woman ….?” was less than sensitive. She could, at least, have saved her splutter of laughter until they were back in the privacy of the palace. He would have been able to explain to her that Algernon was only a family name and he rarely used it, and then only for official documents. Of course, his mother professed to love the name and insisted on using it whenever she came to visit. It was like a bludgeon to remind him that he was still her little boy and not the celebrated leader of the most prosperous kingdom on this continent. “Algernon, it’s so lovely to see you, Algernon, and your lovely wife, er, umm Ella. Co...