I laughed and turned the phone off. When I looked up, I realized everyone was staring at me. “What?”
“Who was that?” Jess asked, her eyes amused.
“Alex.” I cleared my throat and turned back to the shop owner. “I’d like to get this one. Do you have anything else made by this designer?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” The shop owner’s eyes lit up and I realized I hadn’t thought to ask the price. I tried to see the tag under my arm, but there were no numbers—never a good sign. I looked back at the mirror and decided that at this point, it didn’t matter. I was getting the dress.
I tried on several more: a ball gown, a pearly silver sheath with a boat neck, covered in sequins and jewels; a red tea-length dress; and another black dress Jess had insisted on. It was form-fitting with short sleeves and a slit in the collar that went well into my cleavage. It was daring and beautiful. I couldn’t imagine ever wearing it.
After the dress store, we stopped at a few more boutiques, grabbing a few business suits, jackets, and the normal necessities. It was dark by the time we headed home, but I had one last stop to make.
The car pulled up to the curb at the largest bookstore in town. I ran inside, knowing exactly what I was looking for. An idiot’s guide to Lilaria and a language program to listen to on the plane. I sent Jess to the cash register with my card and waited in the music section with Becca. A few people seemed to recognize me, but thankfully no one said anything. We were back in the car and on the way to my dad’s in no time.
Sarah had left to go over things with Rose, so it was just me and Jess with Dad. And the contingent of bodyguards waiting outside or in the living room. Dad made dinner and we talked about things to do when he came to Lilaria. Patricia was there, refusing to let me help clean up.
I sorted Dad’s medicine for the next week and went over things with Patricia. Dad had been happy and cracking jokes, but I caught him closing his eyes a few times. My heart clenched and tears sprang to my eyes. There was a picture of him and Mom in Hawaii above his chair and I wanted to cry at seeing them so happy. No matter how much he pretended, I could see the toll that cancer was taking on him. When it was time to leave, I could barely bring myself to get out of my chair.
“Hey, is there anything you want to take from here with you? A picture, maybe?” Jess asked. We’d known each long enough that she understood how hard this was for me.
“There’s a picture in my room, on the nightstand. Would you grab it for me?”
“Sure.” Jess left the room, leaving me and Dad alone.
“Stop it.” Dad’s voice drew my attention back to him.
“Stop what?”
“Worrying. You’ve got those little lines between your eyebrows.” He used his thumb to try to smooth them away. “I’m going to be fine. And I’m going to come see you soon.”
“I know. I just feel like I shouldn’t be leaving you right now.” I frowned and looked down at the table.
“You’re giving me something to look forward to.” Dad grabbed my hands. “Do you understand that, Sam? I’m looking forward to going to Lilaria and seeing the land you and your mother came from. I got a travel book today and highlighted some of the stuff I want to do.”
He stood up slowly and shuffled over to the kitchen counter before coming back with a dog-eared book. He handed it to me and I flipped through some of the pages.
“Wow. There’s a waterfall?”
“Yes! And it’s huge. I want to have my picture taken in front of it.” Dad laughed. “And there is a huge lake in the Rousseau holdings. The book says there’s good fishing.”
“I saw that one on the map.” I frowned. I really needed to spend some time on the Internet tonight.
“Yes! And there’s a very popular local dish I want to try. Some kind of fish and potatoes. It looks delicious.”
“Hm.” I closed the book and looked at him. “Promise you’ll be okay.”
He squeezed my hand and smiled. “Promise.”
“Have you talked to Patricia about coming with you?” I needed a subject change.
“Patricia? You think she should come with me?” Dad looked surprised. “I hadn’t thought about it.”
“Why not? She’s not working anymore and I’d pay for everything.” The money was certainly a perk and while I was terrified to spend it, having my family—even my adopted family—with me would be worth it.
“I’ll think about it.” Dad’s eyes turned thoughtful. He and Patricia got along well, and while I knew there was nothing romantic between them, they seemed to complement each other.
“Think about it. She’s retired and her son never calls her. Why not bring her with you? It’s the least I can do for her after all she’s helped us.”
Jess came back into the kitchen carrying the photo frame that held the picture of my family. “Got it! Was there anything else?”
“That’s it for now. I don’t know how much I’m allowed to bring. I’ll just come back for the rest when I can.”
“Ready to go then?”
“Yeah. I still need to pack and do a little research.” I leaned over and wrapped my arms around my dad. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Yes, you will! Make sure there are fish for me to catch.” He kissed my cheek and I caught the shimmer in his eyes.
“I’ll order more if there aren’t.” I kissed his bald head and grabbed my coat. If I stayed much longer I was going to turn into a blubbery mess.
Later that night I sat on my bed with my laptop and stared at my empty room. There were four suitcases crammed with all my stuff, several giant garment bags, and a box with some books I refused to leave behind. I’d had to borrow a suitcase from Bert because I hadn’t been able to fit everything in mine. The furniture would stay since I wouldn’t need it, and Jess promised to take the rest of my stuff to my dad’s next week.
I looked back at the search bar on my computer. I typed in Lilarian Royalty and waited for the results. It didn’t take long before sites popped up. There were articles about the line of succession, scandals, history. I clicked on the one that detailed the line of succession, then clicked on the tab for the queen and smiled at the picture that came up. Alex favored her a great deal. I read the facts quickly. She was a little older than my dad, was an avid outdoorsman, and had three children. That made me pause. In all this time, I hadn’t asked Alex much about himself.
His Royal Highness Alexander Patrick Fitzwilliam, the Duke of D’Lynsal and heir to the crown of Lilaria, was the oldest child at twenty-seven with a younger brother, Maxwell Jameson Trevor, and a sister named Catherine Marie Rose. I clicked on the tab for Alex and read about his schooling, charities, and hobbies. I chuckled at the thought of him fishing and building things. Then again, I remembered his strong hands and decided it made perfect sense. There were several pictures of him alone, professional shots, and some candid pictures of him with his family or working with children.
I went back to the main menu and scrolled through some of the other royals. I stopped on Rousseau in surprise. Surely they wouldn’t have me listed yet.
But they did. Thank goodness there was no picture, but my full name, date of birth, schooling, and honors were listed. There was a short explanation about my upcoming reinstatement, but not a date. I was the twenty-fourth person in line for the crown. I almost shit my pants when I saw that little detail. I sat up straight and barked a laugh. I was in line for the crown. May every soul ahead of me live a long and prosperous life because that was not something I would ever want.
Below my information was a beautiful black-and-white picture of my mother with her birth and death dates. I ran my fingers over the screen and wondered where they had found the image. She was smiling at the camera, her head angled as if amused by something. Her biography and a list of her publications were listed below the picture. It was a small thing, but I was glad they had included her on the list.
I left that page and looked back through the other names. I looked through a list of charities the family was involved in and at pictures of state events. Jess deserved something nice for saving me from looking like an idiot in my jeans and boots. Thankfully, from what I could tell, my new clothes would fit in perfectly. The site didn’t really offer too much else for me, so I closed that page and went back through the other search results.
After a while I gave in to my impulses and typed Alex’s name into the search bar. I instantly regretted it. Headlines about a sex scandal popped up, links to stories about women he could be tied to, and speculation about what royal he would eventually marry. There were stories with the words player, model, stud, betrayal, and heartbreak in the titles. Like watching a train wreck, my eyes were drawn to the images icon. Maybe it was a sick impulse to torture myself or the need to make him feel even more unattainable, but I clicked on the link.
There are some things you can never un-see, and images of Alex in bed with another woman were on the top of that list. His bare back with sheets barely covering his hips and the look on the woman’s face would forever be etched into my psyche. There were pictures of the woman taking off her clothes while he watched from the bed. Pictures of her sitting on top of him that had to be from another day because she was wearing a different bra. It made me insanely jealous—angry enough to push my computer away and get up and pace around the room. I counted to ten. And then to twenty. I closed my eyes and scrubbed at my lids with the palms of my hands. I needed to calm down and think about this rationally. I knew he was a flirt and of course he had been with other women. It wasn’t like I hadn’t slept with guys before. Alex and I hadn’t shared anything but a couple of kisses. And yet… and yet, it still bothered me. After a few minutes I grabbed the computer off the bed and started to close all the windows, but a headline grabbed my attention.
“BETRAYED BY LOVER” was in huge letters over one of the pictures that thankfully had the more indecent parts fuzzed out. I needed to know, needed to see if this was something important. Maybe I just hoped it was important.
Prince Alex D’Lynsal of Lilaria is currently in a legal battle over pictures that were sold by an on-again, off-again ex-lover. In an official press release, the prince claimed the photographs had been taken without his permission and then used as blackmail. The royal family of Lilaria has taken a firm stance on the matter and refuses to answer any questions by the press.
It’s been speculated that the woman in the photos, Melissa Piaf, was trying to force the prince into marriage, but we’ve found no information to confirm those rumors. One thing is clear—the former model has made a name for herself. She announced on a national television show that several publishing and production companies had offered her money for her story. It remains to be seen if any of those deals come to fruition.
I sat back away from the computer and chewed on my thumbnail. If the press release from Alex was true, this Melissa woman was a real bitch. I couldn’t imagine waking up to find pictures of me with Chad or Thomas in the paper one morning. It must’ve been a terrible day—to have your personal bits flashed all over for the world to see. I checked the date on the article and sighed. Six months ago. I went back through the listings to see if there was any recent information. There wasn’t much else I could find. In fact, there were no recent images or stories about Alex until he came to the States. A few stories with pictures of us on campus or at the restaurant. It made my stomach turn. They talked about him like he wasn’t a real person, as if he shouldn’t care what they said about him. Now instead of feeling jealous, I just felt sick for Alex.
The thought of searching for my own name crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. Just the idea made me shudder. I closed the laptop and stuck it in my carry-on bag. Staring at the ceiling, I tried to turn my brain off, to stop thinking about the pictures and how terrible it was to imagine someone selling images of your intimate moments. Rolling onto my side, I punched my pillow, trying to get more comfortable.
He had told me he shouldn’t chase me. Was this what he had been talking about, not my questionable heritage? Did it matter?
I was asking myself that question a lot when it came to Alex. I still wasn’t sure of the answers.
No Pumpkins Here.
Cinderella Leaves for the Palace in a Shiny Gulfstream.
—Minnesota Daily
The three hours of sleep I had managed to get did not go well with my hatred for mornings. All my stuff was piled into the cars waiting outside and I was looking around my room for any last-minute items. My outfit was dressy yet casual—jeans, riding boots, and a comfortable shirt with a big chunky scarf—since I knew the press would be taking pictures. Jess was standing by the door holding my new black pea coat and looking a little misty-eyed. Tears this early in the morning were scary.
“I’ve got your coat.” Jess sniffed and I looked up at her with wide eyes.
“Oh no.”
“You’re going to need it. I checked the weather and it’s snowing there.” She sniffed again. “Don’t want to get sick right when you get there.”
“Jess, don’t do this.” I shook my head, frozen in place.
“I know that good-byes aren’t your thing, so I’m just going to give you this and then go to my room.” Sniff. Hiccup.
“C’mon, you’re killing me.” I felt the skin around my eyes tighten and I blinked quickly.
“I’m going to miss you.” She thrust the coat out in front of her.
“You’re going to come see me this summer, right?” I didn’t take the jacket. “This isn’t good-bye forever.”
“But I’m going to miss your grumpy morning face and the way you double-check all the dishes I’ve cleaned.” She pouted.
“Bert’s grumpy in the morning, you’ll be fine.”
“Am not.” He grunted.
“Right. Not grumpy at all.” I shook my head. Jess gave up waiting on me to take the jacket and threw her arms around me anyway. I hugged her back, knowing it would be a while before I got to see her again. No one else would understand me the way Jess did. I squeezed her a little tighter and then let go.
“I’ll send you a souvenir. Maybe one of those little figures that’s pooping in a lawn.” I hugged Bert too and turned quickly to walk out the door. The news vans that hadn’t left in the last few days were still there, the reporters standing on the curb with cameras and microphones.
“Sam! Sam! Are you excited about going to Lilaria for the first time?”
“Are you going to stay in Lilaria?”
“Are you and Prince Alex an item?”
“Samantha! How do you feel about being America’s Duchess?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the last comment and looked over at the reporter. “America’s Duchess?”
“Our very own royalty! What do you think?” He seemed elated I had found his comment funny.
“I’m a grad student.” I shook my head and ducked through the open door of the car. It was weird that I had gotten used to having a driver already. Even though my truck was a pain in the butt, I did miss the old thing. Bert and Jess were going to use the truck to move the rest of my stuff to my dad’s house and then leave it there.
The trip to the airport was surreal. We passed some of the landmarks that had been part of my life for the last ten years, buildings I had known forever, it seemed. Vans full of reporters and cameras followed us at a respectable distance—thank goodness. I’d hate for them to photograph the tears that were running down my cheeks.
Duvall had come to escort me and I was starting to wonder why I was being protected by the head of the detail. Thankfully, he hadn’t said anything about my crying, just handed me a tissue and turned back to the front of the car. As we neared the airport, I checked my bags again to make sure I had everything I would need. It was pointless because I had already checked twenty times while at the house. The anal retentive in me was satisfied, so I sat back and wiped at my face to make sure there was no moisture left to betray my emotions.
When we pulled up to the drop-off point, there was a huge area blocked off by a police escort. Alex was standing at the curb, smiling and chatting with a few people wearing press badges. I wondered how he could look so chipper talking to the people who would just as happily post embarrassing pictures of him. When Duvall exited the front seat, Alex excused himself with a wave and came over to my car. I put on a small smile and let him help me out.
“Ready?” His eyes studied my face and I wondered what he saw there. I was a giant ball of emotions and wasn’t even sure myself what the most prominent was at this moment. Sadness, definitely, but there was also a thread of excitement, and to be honest, I was happy to see Alex.
“Think so.” I took a deep breath and shouldered my bag.
He smiled at me, but I could see a little guilt in his eyes. “Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you think it will be. Lilaria is just a place. It’s what you make of it that counts.”
His voice was quiet, so I knew no one else could hear us except for Duvall, who hadn’t left my side. Becca was standing close as well, but she had given Alex a little space when he obviously wanted to say something privately. I nodded to let him know I had heard him. He was right—I could make this as good or as bad as I wanted.
“My lady, may I take your bag? I’ll see to it that it’s on the plane before you leave,” Becca said quietly.
I handed it over, feeling naked without anything to do with my hands. Alex was wearing a suit and I suddenly felt underdressed in my skinny jeans and boots. At least I would be comfortable on the flight. I frowned and hoped I wasn’t breaking some kind of protocol by not wearing a dress. Okay, so I wasn’t going to wear a dress just to please them, but I could have at least worn nice slacks.
“Smile at least a little, okay?” Alex smiled widely to illustrate just how little I was supposed to smile and I laughed. I could see all his teeth.
“Got it.”
“That’s my girl.” My breath hitched at his words and he seemed to catch my response because his smile widened even more.
“Samantha! Samantha!”
“Sam! Over here!”
“Are you excited?”
The last question made me stop and I turned to smile at the cameras. It was early and I’d only had one cup of coffee before leaving, but it was time I at least said something to the press. Especially if I was leaving. I might not like being a news story, but I loved my home and saying good-bye seemed appropriate.
“I hate leaving Minnesota, but I’m looking forward to seeing my homeland.” I smiled widely and let them take a few pictures. Not exactly a good-bye, but I hoped it would work. “Hopefully it won’t be as cold there.”
My last statement produced a few chuckles and I gave a quick wave before going through the sliding doors to the airport. Alex walked next to me, not touching, but close enough I didn’t feel alone.
“Well done.” He winked down at me. “You’re already slipping into the part.”
Rose was speaking to some officials near a door and I let myself be guided toward her.
“Yes, thank you. That will be perfect.” Rose smiled graciously and I studied the way she handled the people, mentally taking note of how she spoke to them. Friendly, but with a small sense of detachment—most likely to keep them from overstepping any bounds. “We appreciate all you’ve done for us.”
“It’s been a pleasure, ma’am.” The airport official smiled at her before turning to me and Alex. “Good morning, Highness. Duchess.”
“Good morning.” Alex reached out and shook hands with him.
“Morning.” I was still on the fence over how good it was. I let him shake my hand and tried to hide my nerves.
“Samantha, have you ever been on a private jet?” Rose leaned forward and kissed my cheeks in greeting. She linked her arm through mine and led me toward a side terminal.
“I flew on a Cessna once while on a trip to South America.” Did that count? Not exactly a jet, but it was privately owned.
“Oh, you’re in for a treat. We have a Gulfstream. The seats are comfortable and much better than flying long distances in those of a large airline.” She patted my arm, her fingers squeezing gently, and I knew she was trying to put me at ease. Rose did make me comfortable and I didn’t want her to think I was unhappy, so I smiled enthusiastically. Probably a little too enthusiastically because I heard Alex snort.
The security guards didn’t even stop us. There was no going through the metal detector, they just unclipped a rope and led us straight past. I smiled at the men and women gaping at us. Airport workers were peeking out of shops, the cleaning crews had parked their carts in the hallway. At the end of the terminal, we were led out onto the tarmac.
The plane glowed a beautiful pearl white in the early morning light. A long pinstripe of blue and green ran along the plane, matching the flag that hung in the cockpit window. A blue rug led straight from the exit all the way to the jet. A row of Marines stood along the rug, saluting us. There were also a few members of the press, but I was more shocked by the military. I looked up at Alex, the confusion in my eyes obvious.
“It’s customary when a member of royalty comes to a country that the military serves as an honor guard.” Alex ducked his head so I could hear him over the wind. “I believe they are also showing their support for you. The Governor was very taken with your story and excited you are from his state.”
“Um, wow.” I smiled at the men and women who lined the carpet. They had gotten up at a God-awful hour just to stand in the cold for us. I murmured thank-yous as I passed them even though I knew they wouldn’t be able to respond since they were at attention.
At the plane, Rose entered first, taking the steps smoothly. Alex motioned for me to go ahead of him. I had to duck in the door and there wasn’t much space between my head and the ceiling of the plane in the center. Even with the height restrictions, there was a spacious feel and sense of opulence. Leather seats, all the electronic conveniences, and special lighting. Soft classical music played over the speakers and there were throw blankets on some of the chairs.
“Good morning, Duchess.” A woman smiled at me and motioned for me to move to the center of the plane. She was wearing a flight attendant uniform with a little Lilarian flag attached above her heart.
“Morning.” I looked at the seats, not sure where to sit. Finally I decided on one of the large seats next to a window, opposite of Rose. I’d always enjoyed flying. One of my favorite parts was watching the takeoff and landing.
Alex nodded to the woman at the door before taking the seat across from mine, a small table separating us. The attendant brought him a satchel and a stack of newspapers, which he flipped through quickly. Rose had a similar stack of things on her table. She was watching me and Alex, though, her shrewd eyes moving back and forth as if searching for invisible strings.
“What do you think?” Rose asked.
“It’s beautiful. Certainly puts flying coach to shame.” I ran my fingers over the buttons on a panel next to my chair. “None of these will accidently open a door or flush the toilet, will they?”
“Don’t worry about the doors, but I’m not sure about the toilet.” Rose laughed.
“You can use your new phone to control the lights and call the attendant.” Alex looked at me over the paper he was holding. “Even turn on the television, if you want. There is a large selection of movies. The little icon at the bottom.”
“Oh.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the new phone. There was a text message, so I opened it quickly. There was a picture of Bert in my bed eating cookies, with crumbs everywhere. I laughed and pointed out I wasn’t the one who was going to have to clean it up. I showed the picture to Alex, who smiled.
“Will they come to visit you sometime?”
“I think they’re going to try to come this summer. I’m betting I’ll be back for a wedding soon too.” I smiled thinking about it. “I’m kinda relieved I won’t have to go dress shopping with Jess.” I shuddered.
“Isn’t that supposed to be one of the enjoyable parts?”
“Not for me.” I shook my head. “Jess would drag me to every store in the country to go dress shopping if she could. Of course, I’ll probably end up wearing a puke-green bridesmaid dress now.”
“How long have they been together?”
“Almost four years.” I sighed, remembering how Jess had hated Bert at first. “She thought he was a pompous putz; he thought she was a spoiled shopaholic. Love at first sight. Couldn’t keep their hands off each other.”
He laughed, amused by the obvious contradiction. “Sounds like a movie.”
“A book. Classic love story.” I laughed. “Very Jane Austen.”
“Do you read often?”
“Not as much as I’d like. Lately it’s been all journals and textbooks.” I looked around for Becca. “Actually, I brought my e-reader for the flight. Thought I might actually read something fun for a change.”
“And what kind of book will it be? Romance? Science fiction? Mystery?”
“Paranormal romance.” I sighed. “The Elemental Mystery series by Elizabeth Hunter. The last book came out a while ago and I haven’t had the time to read it yet.”
“So, vampires? Ghosts?” Alex smiled like this amused him.
“Hot, sexy vampires with a good helping of historical mystery. Perfection.” I leaned back in the chair when the engine started. Sarah came up the steps, followed by Becca and Duvall. Sarah took the seat across from Rose and Becca handed me my bag before moving to a couch in the back. A pair of guards came up the steps carrying one of my garment bags and carry-on. I sighed in relief. When the engine had started I’d worried I would have to meet the queen in my blue jeans. As it was I wasn’t sure how I was going to change into my dress in the plane.
“I wish I had been able to meet your father before we left,” Rose mentioned while going over her papers and I realized she was talking to me.
“You were very busy. Maybe you’ll get to in Lilaria.”
“That would be wonderful. Perhaps if he is feeling up to it, you could come out to my estate for dinner.”
“He would love that.” And he would. Getting to go to another country had seemed to excite him.
“Then we’ll set it up!” Rose smiled before turning back to her paperwork.
I fished through my bag for my e-reader and earbuds. I’d loaded the language CD so I could listen to it while I was reading or staring out the window. I really hoped some of it would stick.
Alex settled into his paperwork and I watched out the window as the workers cleared the plane for takeoff. It wasn’t long before we were in the air and I was watching my home disappear.
After a while I pulled my headset off and set down my book. Alex was sketching in a notepad and I’d been curious to see what he was working on. “So, you draw?”
“Some. Not much.” He looked at me over the pad of paper, his eyes thoughtful. “When something strikes me.”
“Can I see?” I leaned over the table and tried to peek at the paper.
“Hm. I don’t know.” He tilted the book away from me. “I’ll play you for it.”
“Play me for it?” I sat back in my seat. “Play what?”
“Don’t do it, Samantha. He never loses.” Rose didn’t look up from her paperwork.
“We’ll see.” I narrowed my eyes at him. He was smiling like he had already won. “What is it?”
“Well, wait a minute. If you win, you get to see my sketch. What do I get if I win?” He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling.
“I warned you.” Rose shook her head and stood up from her seat, stretching. “I think I’m going to try to nap for a while.” She moved back to one of the open benches and pressed a button. It slid out from the wall to make a small bed. I shook my head at the idea of a bed on a plane.
“Well? My prize?” Alex brought my attention back to him.
“What could you possibly want?” I had been thinking he had everything, but as soon as the words left my mouth I realized my mistake. His eyes flashed with triumph and his smile made my blood race.
“Oh, there are a lot of things I want.” His eyes ran over my face. “What are you willing to give?”
“Friends, Alex,” I hissed at him under my breath, worried the others had heard him.
He chuckled and leaned closer. “If you win, you see the sketch. If I win, you have to volunteer at the FBT.”
“Seems a bit uneven.”
“Take it or leave it.” He leaned back in his chair, his eyes watching me carefully.
“What would I have to do at the FBT?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Whatever I think appropriate.”
I studied him for a minute, considering what he could possibly force me to do. Clean out bird cages? Been there, done that. Cut up mice? Didn’t bother me anymore.
“Fine. But I get to keep the sketch if I win.”
“Deal.” He held out his hand and I shook it even though he still hadn’t told me what we were going to play. Hopefully not cards. I hated poker.
He stood up and moved toward the back of the plane. When he came back with a box in his hand, I laughed.
“Monopoly?”
“What? You’re too good for Monopoly?” He set the box down on the table and proceeded to set up the game. “What do you want to be?”
“The shoe.”
“The shoe?” He looked at me doubtfully. “Are you sure?”
“My mom was always the shoe.” The words popped out of my mouth without thought. I hadn’t thought about that in a long time.
“Very well. The shoe it is.” He set out the shoe and the top hat before distributing the money.
It didn’t take long to see why Rose had told me to not take the deal. Alex was incredibly lucky when it came to the game. Always passing GO, always collecting money, never landing on any of the spots normal people feared.
“You’re cheating! Give me the dice!” My sad stack of paper money was shameful.
“How dare you!” He mock-glared at me.
“No one is that lucky. How are you doing it?” I reached over the table, trying to swipe the dice from his hand. He laughed while I tried to pry his fingers loose.
“I don’t cheat! I’m just incredibly smart. And it’s my turn again.”
“Being smart doesn’t get you to land on the Pass Go spot every time!” I sat down and Alex opened his hand to show me the dice.
“Normal dice. Nothing to see here.” He rolled double sixes and I groaned loudly. Another good move.
“You’re so cheating. Magnets or something.” I grumbled as I collected the dice for my roll. Eight spaces put me on one of his hotels. Cursing under my breath, I took half my remaining money and threw it at him.
He laughed. “Thank you. I appreciate your patronage.”
“Shut up and roll, cheater.”
The Royal Price Tag
—Financial Tally
In only a few more rolls I was completely out of money and Alex was gloating. “Ah, what shall I do with you?”
“Again?” I raised my eyebrow. He was competitive, but so was I.
“But I’ve already won.” He smiled. “And I like to win.”
“Bet you can’t do it again.” I narrowed my eyes. We still had two hours before we landed to refuel.
“Oh, I can do it again.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “But I’ll only play again if we up the stakes.”
“What are you betting?” The last couple of hours had gone by in a flash as I laughed and joked with Alex. I hadn’t realized we’d started flirting until I was almost out of money.
“If I win I stop pretending we’re just friends.” His voice dropped an octave and he glanced at my lips. “And I get to kiss you. Whenever I want.”
My body temperature rose as I considered what he was asking. “One kiss?”
“Maybe.” He leaned even closer. “But we both know we’ll want more than that.”
“And what do I get if I win?” I licked my lips, his smell invading my senses. A kiss didn’t sound too bad. In fact it sounded like a pretty good idea right now.
“What do you want?” He smiled cockily, knowing exactly what I was wanting right this minute.
“You teach me Lilarian.” I frowned. “I don’t want to sound like an idiot at the ceremony.”
“You realize this means I win either way.” He ran a hand over the scruff on his jaw and I was mildly fascinated by the sound it made under his fingers.
“No. If I win, you have to teach me Lilarian while keeping your hands to yourself.” I picked up the dice and rolled. “Like a good friend.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He kept his voice low. “I can think of some really fun ways to teach you my native tongue.”
“I bet you can.” I let out a nervous chuckle, thinking about the things I’d like him to do with his tongue.
“I can think of some things I’d like to hear you say in Lilarian, too.” His eyes stared holes into me as he moved his top hat five spaces. “Loudly.”
“Then you better bring your A game.”
“I always bring my A game.”
“Is that so?”
We set up the board for another game. Alex’s eyebrows had drawn together as we worked our way around the board and I realized he meant business. It excited me to know how serious he was about winning a kiss, but it also scared me. Possibly because I was excited by the idea.
Eventually I bought a hotel and put it on Park Place. I needed to reel in my hormones and focus. Even if he won, I wasn’t going to just give in to him. It was too complicated.
Alex landed on my carefully laid trap. “Pay up, Prince Yummy.” The nickname burst out of my mouth as I mentally screamed in slow motion, trying to stop my lips from uttering the words.
“Prince Yummy?” He threw his head back and laughed loudly. When he looked back at me, there was heat in his eyes. “Care to explain that one?”
“Jess.” I shook my head, trying to not look embarrassed. I was going to kill her the next time I saw her. “That’s her nickname for you.”
“I’m liking her more and more.” He leaned forward again. “Looks like you agree with her.”
“There goes your ego again.” I narrowed my eyes. “If you hear something enough it gets stuck in your brain.”
“Hm.” He pushed the dice toward me. “That’s one explanation.”
“I’m going to kill her.” I frowned at the game board.
“Just make sure you hide the body well.” He chuckled, his hand reaching out to brush over my fingers. “I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a game of Monopoly this much in a long time.”
“I’m developing a deep hatred for it.”
“That’s because you’re losing.” He narrowed his eyes. “In fact, you’re losing so badly I’m starting to think you want to lose.”
“Har, har.” He was right. I was losing. Badly. “Maybe we should try another game.”
“Nope. You agreed to Monopoly.”
“That was before I realized you had some kind of Monopoly Jedi skills.”
“This is not the hotel you are looking for.”
“Shut it, Obi-Wan Cheater.”
Something shifted, and I began to take the lead. Alex looked miffed, and eventually frustrated. When he landed in jail I stood up and did a little dance in the aisle. He watched me with hooded eyes and it dawned on me I was shaking my butt in his face. I sat back in my seat but couldn’t stop smiling. He leaned his elbows on the table and stared at the board with confusion.
“I can’t remember the last time I lost.” He looked at me with a small smile. “I might lose more often if I get treated to your victory dances.”
“Oh, c’mon. I’m sure you’ve lost before.” I started putting the pieces back in the box. The captain had started the descent for Ireland. I wanted to watch out the window and try to catch a glimpse of rolling green hills. I’d always wanted to visit Ireland but hadn’t had a chance.
“I was distracted.” He smirked.
“That’s not my fault.”
“On the contrary, it’s completely your fault.” He gave me a slow smile that made me want to knock the rest of the pieces off the table and pull him on top of it. “You may have won this time, but I still think we won’t last as friends for very long.”
“Why? I have plenty of guy friends.”
He narrowed his eyes briefly. “There’s something here, Samantha. Deny it if you can, but I don’t think you’ll be able to for long.”
“Seriously. Your ego is at dangerous levels.” I bit my lip and focused on cleaning up. He took the stack of money out of my hand and sorted it into the right places.
“You can deflect all you want. It doesn’t make it any less true.”
“You said there were two options.” I didn’t meet his eyes.
“I have a clear preference.”
We lapsed into silence as we waited to land. Sarah woke Rose as we started the descent and I stared out my window. I pulled my feet up into my seat and leaned on the wall to try to see better. It was late in the day and the sun made the clouds glow a soft golden hue. It was beautiful, but I wanted to see all the green. As if listening to my thoughts, the sky split and I had my first hint. The greens were blurring into blues in the dusk and then we were over Dublin.
Fueling the plane didn’t take near as long as I thought it would and after a fast meal, we were back in the air. There was a renewed sense of energy in the plane. Sarah was making phone calls and Alex had opened up his laptop. At some point Duvall and Rebecca changed into suits that would blend into the background but still had a formal look. Rose went to the little area in front of the kitchen and pulled a curtain shut. She called for Sarah to help before coming out in a silver dress with a matching jacket. It was simple but elegant.
“We don’t have much longer if you want to go ahead and change.” Alex nodded toward the little curtained area.
I stood up and made my way to the alcove. I pulled the curtain shut and opened the tiny closet that held my garment bag. I quickly undressed and fought the dress out of the bag before remembering that I needed to put on panty hose. Cursing under my breath, I dug into the bottom of the bag. The plane hit a bit of turbulence and I bounced into the wall before almost falling through the curtain in nothing but my underwear.
“Holy crap!” I stood up and prayed I hadn’t knocked the curtain open.
“Samantha?” Alex’s voice was nearby and my eyes grew large. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine! What are you paying these pilots?”
A few people chuckled while I wrestled the panty hose up. Worried about more turbulence, I slid the dress on as fast as possible. Reaching behind me, I tried to grab the zipper but ended up spinning in circles like a puppy.
“Sarah?” I called for Rose’s assistant, giving up.
“I’ve got it.” Alex’s voice made me freeze. I heard the curtain whisper as he stepped into the area. “Zipper?”
“Um, yeah.” I turned my back to him. The zipper started low and I was highly aware of the fact that he could see the lace panties and bra I was wearing. His warm fingers grazed my skin as he unhurriedly pulled the zipper over the top of my butt and up my back.
“Lift your hair.” He leaned down and whispered in my ear.
Slowly I reached up and gathered my hair in my hands. He slid the zipper into place before reaching down and sliding his hands around my waist. He pressed his chest against my back while he looked over my shoulder. Deftly, he pulled the belt through the loops and fastened it in the front. It was painfully erotic to know that he was taking his time dressing me and my breathing was matching the excitement of my thoughts. When he pulled back, I let my hair fall and turned to face him without stepping out of his hold.
He was already wearing a tux, the bowtie hanging open, and no shoes. It was a look that worked for him. He looked down at me with hungry eyes. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you.” His hands were still on my waist and I was having flashbacks to our kiss.
“This is going to be difficult.” He leaned back a little so he could run his eyes over my body. “Very difficult.”
“All good things are worth the work.” I didn’t have to ask him what he was talking about because I was thinking the same thing. Being friends with Alex would be one of the hardest things I’d ever done.
“It would be difficult either way.” Alex’s voice was serious. “I’m not sure I can keep my hands off you, but I swore off women in the public eye. You make me want to take that back.”
“Anyone in a relationship with you would be in the spotlight.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “I don’t want to be in the spotlight; I just don’t think I could handle it.”
He leaned forward and whispered something in Lilarian.
“What does that mean?”
“Consider it your first lesson to find out.” With a small smile, he turned away and left the curtained area. I stood there, trying to catch my breath before going back out. After a minute I grabbed my shoes and carry-on. I went to the bathroom to put on makeup before twisting my hair into a messy knot at the base of my head, then put on diamond stud earrings that had been my mother’s before going back to my seat.
“Perfect, dear. You look absolutely perfect.” Rose touched the dress gently.
“Thank you.”
“Are you ready?” Rose sat down. “When we land, the authorities will board the plane to check passports and then we will be taken to cars that will deliver us to the palace.”
“I would suspect there will be a bit of fanfare for our arrival. Bringing back one of the royal families is an important occasion.” Alex was sitting across from me and his voice took on a hard edge. “There will be a great deal of media no matter what. Don’t do or say anything you think you might regret.”
“I understand. People will try to hurt me just to make a few dollars.” He caught the undertone in my voice and regarded me with sad eyes.
“Yes.” He looked out the window at the lights of the city below. “There are those people.”
“Do not forget there are also people worth trusting. Those who will love you for you and nothing else.” Rose looked at Alex sadly. “Who will love you in spite of your title and money. They are out there.”
Her eyes darted to me before looking at the paperwork on the desk. Was she warning me? Or was she worried I would hurt Alex? I turned back to my window and watched as we circled the airport.
When we touched down, my anxiety rocketed. I was here, I was doing it. And I was so nervous I wanted to puke.
“How do I greet Queen Felecia?” I scrubbed my hands together.
“When you’re introduced, you’ll curtsy once just inside the door and then again a few steps into the room. Go straight to her and introduce yourself. She will shake your hand and welcome you to the country. After that, you’ll be introduced to several other people.” Rose waved her hand in the air as if she was explaining how to get to a class in a new building. “A few of the nobles that are in town will be there, as will a few key members of parliament. They always love a good reason to come to the palace. After the initial introduction, it will be less formal. This isn’t the official ceremony for your reinstatement.”
“Okay. Curtsy, walk, and curtsy again. Shake her hand.” I took a deep breath. “Monopoly. Why did we play a board game when there is so much I need to know?”
“You needed to relax.” Alex grinned devilishly. “It was one of the only ways I could come up with to help.”
One of the ways. I could imagine the other ways he could have done to help me relax. Shaking my head, I pushed aside the thought and frowned. “And what do I call her? Your Majesty?”
“That’s appropriate the first time you meet her. Then you can switch to something simpler. Ma’am is the most common.” Rose smiled at me. “You’re going to be fine. No one is going to expect you to know everything tonight.”
“The staff is used to walking people through first meetings. Don’t worry,” Alex said.
The plane was taxied to an open area and I was shocked at the amount of people. A blue rug was rolled out to the plane and a line of cars pulled up. There was a military honor guard in place and a sea of flashing cameras. The door to the plane was opened and an official in a suit stepped up to the entrance.
“May I enter?” His voice held the interesting accent that Alex spoke with.
“Please,” Alex said. Even though Alex had been laid-back in the States, I realized that as the highest-ranking royal, everyone would defer to him.
“Welcome home, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Jeremy.” Alex stood up and shook his hand. They must interact with this official often.
“Welcome home, Duchess.” Jeremy shook Rose’s hand and then turned toward me. “A heartfelt welcome to you, Duchess Rousseau.” Jeremy smiled warmly at me.
“Thank you.”
“I’m afraid I need to see your paperwork.” He looked embarrassed.
“Of course.” I handed him my passport.
“Excellent.” He looked over the passport, and I found it oddly comforting that he hadn’t just waved me on. He pulled a stamp out of his pocket and quickly used it. “I hope you find Lilaria to your liking.”
“I’m sure I will.” I smiled at him and tucked my passport back into my bag.
Alex stood up and held my coat out for me. I slid into the sleeves and buttoned up the front. I was about to set foot on Lilarian soil, the homeland of my ancestors and my new life. Rose walked to the exit and waited for Duvall and Becca and Sarah. Duvall jogged down the stairs to the cars, a finger to his ear as he listened to something on his earpiece. Rose turned to me and smiled.
“Welcome home, Samantha. I’ll be waiting in the car for you.” Rose winked at me and then quickly made her way down the stairs. There was a cry from the photographers, calling her name, but she simply waved and went straight to the vehicle. The air blowing in through the open door was cold but that wasn’t why I shivered.
“I’ll be right behind you.” Alex put a hand on my back.
“You promised you wouldn’t throw me to the wolves.” I tried to smile, but it came out weak.
“Trust me.”
“I do.” I took a deep breath and stepped out into the cold night air.
The Reluctant Royal
—American Today
The sound was almost deafening. The flashes of the camera were blinding. I froze at the top of the steps and looked out at the people chanting my last name. Alex’s warm presence at my back jarred me back to reality and I started down the steps, careful to not trip on my dress. There was a roar from the crowd at the sight of Alex, and it grew when he stepped down from the bottom step next to me and placed his hand on my back.
“Smile and wave.” Alex ducked his head down so he could speak in my ear.
I did as I was told, completely overwhelmed. I smiled and waved because I had no idea how to handle all this attention. For the most part, I ignored the people shouting my name and made eye contact with no one. When we got to the car, Duvall opened the door and Alex helped me in. My skirt made it difficult, but I finally managed to take a seat. Rose was sitting on a bench across from me, a smile stretching from ear to ear.
“Brilliant. I knew people were excited, but I hadn’t expected it to be quite this large of a reception.” Rose patted my knee. “You did great. It’s very overpowering at first, but you’ll get used to it.”
I didn’t say anything. I had no words to explain what I was feeling. Terror with an edge of excitement and adrenaline pumped through my system. I just looked out the windows at all the people and tried to not jump when Alex slid into the seat next to me. He kept his gaze focused out his window, smiling at the people, but where no one could see; his fingers slid over mine and clasped my hand tightly.
Some of the panic fled at his touch and I didn’t feel so alone. The pressure of his fingers helped ground me. If Rose noticed, she didn’t say a word, but I saw her smile at us before turning her attention back to the crowd. The trip through the city was winding and I had a chance to see some of the buildings and statues. It looked a lot like the pictures I had seen of France. People lined the route with signs and cameras, hollering our names.
“Are they always this excited when you come home?” I looked at Alex.
“That’s not my name they’re shouting.” Alex met my gaze with an easy smile. His fingers tightened on mine. “This is an important day for our country. For your family.”
I bit my lip and looked back at the crowds. I raised my hand and gave a small wave when we passed a group of children holding a sign with my name on it. They jumped up and down, the little girls giggling. Soon the gates for the palace came into view. I leaned forward in my seat and craned my neck so I could see out Alex’s window. He scooted over a bit so I could see better, his hand never letting go of mine.
It looked like something out of a fairy tale. The walls were made from stone and old brick. When I finally got a good look at the castle, I smiled my first real smile since landing. The palace was made from the same stone as the walls. A huge door was in the center of the old building, flanked with guards in ceremonial dress. It was breathtaking. Duvall opened our car door and Alex helped Rose and me out. A man in a tux took pictures as we climbed out and I tried to not look frustrated. I had hoped we would be through with the photographers at this point.
“That is the palace photographer. You can trust Cecil.” Alex seemed to sense my hesitation.
“Duchess Rousseau, may I have you stand here in front of the car? Look up at the castle for me. That’s perfect!” Cecil snapped pictures quickly before standing up. “Duchess Sverelle, Your Highness, will you stand with Duchess Rousseau for a moment?”
They moved next to me and gave practiced smiles for the camera. Alex didn’t put a hand on my back like I was growing accustomed to, but kept a friendly but respectful distance. I blinked at the flashing and hoped my smile didn’t show all my teeth.
Once Cecil was satisfied, the guards saluted Alex and opened the front door for us. I digested everything around us, staggered by the amount of history contained in the walls. Rose and Alex looked like they were just coming home. Their relaxed expressions made me wonder if they were going to kick their shoes off and go dig through the fridge. Instead, we were greeted by a group of people just inside who bowed and curtsied to Alex before taking our coats.
“It’s good to have you home, Your Majesty.” An older man smiled at Alex. “And lovely to see you, as always, ma’am. Welcome home, Duchess Rousseau.” He dipped his head at Rose and me.
“How are things tonight, Ryan?” Alex asked.
“Good. Dinner should be ready shortly and your mother is waiting in the front sitting room.” The man checked a clipboard he was carrying. “The prime minister and his wife are here along with your sister, Duke Constal, and Duke and Duchess Marion.”
“Excellent.” Alex smiled at the others. “Chadwick, let me introduce you to Duchess Rousseau. Samantha, this is Chadwick. He’s offered to be your assistant until you decide on something permanent.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Duchess.” Chadwick was a tall, thin man. He bowed his head in a formal greeting.
“You too, Chadwick.” I held out my hand to shake his. His hands were gentle, but firm. “I think you’ve got your work cut out for you.”
“I do love a challenge.” He smiled.
“Well, then. Let’s go meet Mother, shall we?” Alex turned away from the aides he was speaking with and looked at me.
“Let’s.” I took a deep breath.
Alex held his arm out to me, and I slipped my hand in and let him lead me down a long, formal hallway. Portraits of monarchs lined the walls, interspersed with images of gardens and forests. There was a man in a tailcoat waiting next to golden double doors. He stood to attention when we neared and opened the door.
“You’ll enter last, but we’ll be waiting inside.” Rose patted my shoulder as she nodded at the man. He knocked on the door and waited for an answer. When he heard what he needed, he opened the doors and stepped inside.
“The Duchess of Sverelle, Your Majesty.” Rose followed closely behind him, curtsying once just inside of the door. She walked out of sight and I fought the desire to peek around the corner.
“His Royal Highness, the Duke of D’Lynsal.” Alex stood up straight and winked at me before turning the corner. I could hear voices inside, but not what they were saying. Or maybe they were speaking in Lilarian.
“The Duchess of Rousseau.” The man announced my name and I took a jerky step forward. There were ten or eleven people standing in the center of the room. The queen was right in the center, complete with tiara and flowing dress. She was an attractive woman and I could see a great deal of Alex in her features.
I remembered to curtsy once inside the door and took a few more steps before pausing and doing it again. I didn’t curtsy too deep, scared I would fall in my heels. When I looked up, the queen was smiling. When I reached her, she held out her hand and I shook it.
“Your Majesty, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I looked down at her, surprised that such a small woman had given birth to such a tall man like Alex.
“Welcome home, Duchess Rousseau. We’re very glad that you’ve come.” The woman smiled. “We were very excited when we found you.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Let me introduce you to everyone.” The queen placed her hand on my elbow, gently guiding me away from Rose and Alex. I tried to keep a hold on the beating of my heart. It was beating faster than that of a kitten facing down a dog. “This is my daughter, Catherine.”
A tall girl with blond hair and Alex’s bright eyes smiled at me. She held out her hand and I shook it. There was a lot of handshaking in my future, it seemed.
“Nice to meet you, Samantha. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Catherine smiled widely. She was breathtaking—model perfect. Her eyes were bright and she seemed genuinely happy to see me.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’d be happy to show you around the city if you’d like. It can be a bit confusing the first time you visit.”
“I’ve already set up some time to take Samantha around.” Alex’s voice rumbled behind me. I looked over my shoulder and into his eyes. “I promised I wouldn’t throw her to the wolves.”
“I’m not a wolf!” Catherine shook her head and laughed.
“You would want to take her shopping, and I have it on good authority that Samantha is not a fan.”
“That’s because she hasn’t been with me.” Catherine smiled and I wondered if men threw themselves at her feet. “Well, we can just go sightseeing if you’d like.”
“You could come with us,” Alex replied. I hadn’t known he was planning on taking me around town.
“Not letting her out of your sight, hm?” Catherine gave me a thoughtful look. “Okay. It’s a date.”
“Sounds like fun.” The queen was already leading me away from Catherine, but Alex stayed with his sister.
“This is Prime Minister Tomas Derry.” Catherine smiled at the man. He had lively eyes and curly gray hair. “Prime Minster, this is Samantha, Duchess of Rousseau.”
“My pleasure.” He took my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles.
The queen didn’t waste any time moving me to the next few people. The members of parliament seemed very interested in the fact that I was American and then I met a couple with two small children.
“This is the Duke and Duchess of Marion.”
“Call me Heather.” The woman held out one hand while keeping a tight grip on the smallest boy. “This is Leo.” She pushed him forward and I leaned down to shake the young boy’s chubby hand. He smiled at me before rubbing the back of his hand across his nose.
“Nice to meet you, Leo.”
“Barry.” The duke shook my hand with a friendly smile before motioning toward the little girl in his arms. “And this is Violet.”
“Nice to meet you both.” The little girl was leaning against her father’s shoulder with her eyes half closed. “I’m sorry we got in so late.”
“Don’t be sorry! We’re glad to meet you. I know you must be tired after all that travel.”
“I’m happy to be here.” The queen pulled me away from the young family and toward a grouping of young men. Two of them were smiling in a bored sort of manner, but one of them leered in a way that made me wish I hadn’t taken my coat off.
“The Dukes of Minsington, Bowdell, and Sheferd. Otherwise known as Daniel, Barney, and Kyle.” The queen leveled her eyes at the men and they shifted where they stood. “This is Samantha, Duchess of Rousseau.”
They all shook my hand, Kyle lingering a little longer than was necessary. “A pleasure to meet you, Samantha.”
I smiled at him, not really thinking the meeting was so pleasant. He reminded me of the school reporter. The one you wouldn’t leave your drink with while you ran to the bathroom.
“Kyle and Daniel both went to the university here in town. Perhaps you can find a program to finish your studies with.” The queen smiled at me as if this was a brilliant idea.
“I’ll have to look into it when I have some time.” I really hoped I would be able to escape this conversation soon.
“Maybe I could take you to the campus and show you around. There are a lot of great places to study.” He emphasized the last word so I knew he meant something else entirely.
“Right. I’ll let you know if I need the help.” I had no poker face and I was certain Kyle could see my irritation.
“I look forward to it.”
“Your Majesty, dinner is ready,” a man in palace livery said. I hadn’t even noticed him approaching.
“Excellent. Samantha, I will leave you with these gentlemen while I check on things.” The queen squeezed my elbow gently before walking away. I watched her leave and my eyes landed on Alex. He was laughing with the Marion family and was holding the little girl against his chest, patting her back while she drooled on his shoulder, sound asleep. I wanted to go to them and put as much distance as possible between myself and Kyle.
“What did you study, Samantha?” Daniel looked at me, interested.
“Good God, Danny. Don’t you read the papers?” Barney took a long sip from the tumbler in his hand. “She’s a biologist of some sort.”
“Wildlife biologist,” I explained.
“You know I don’t read that trash. It’s a waste of time.” Daniel frowned at his friend. “Good for you, Samantha. You’ll have a lot in common with Alex.”
“Is that so?” A woman came over with a tray of drinks. I picked a glass of white wine and sipped.
“Yes, our illustrious future monarch has a degree in wildlife biology. He specialized in birds, I believe.” Daniel smiled. “What’s your specialty?”
“Raptors.”