Kitabı oxu: «A Royal Christmas Proposal»

Chapter One

Princess Fredericka hoped her brother wasn’t going to be impossible.

She knew she had made more than her share of mistakes. She’d been a wild child when she’d been a teenager and terrified her family with her antics. Everyone had breathed a sigh of relief when she’d gotten married, because she’d appeared to calm down. In many ways she had, but she’d learned things didn’t always turn out the way one expected. She’d managed to make the best of what life had dealt her. Ericka knew her brother Stefan, the ruling prince of Chantaine, however, would have a hard time seeing her as a competent single mother to her adorable son, Leo.

She resisted the urge to fidget as she waited to be invited into her brother’s office. She nodded at staff members as they hung holiday greenery and put candles in the window. Ericka suspected the Christmas decorations had been ordered by Eve, her brother’s wife. Ericka barely remembered seeing Christmas decorations when she had been growing up in the palace. With the exception of the huge Christmas tree in one of the formal rooms, one might not have known the holiday existed. Of course, the deep chill between her mother and father hadn’t helped matters.

Her father, Prince Edward, had been a philanderer and an absentee father and husband. Her mother had felt trapped and bitter. Ericka remembered wishing only that she could run away. She’d done exactly that in more than one way, which was why she suspected this was going to be a messy discussion. Stefan was extremely protective.

The door to Stefan’s office finally opened. “Your Highness, Princess Fredericka, please come in,” Stefan’s assistant said.

She nodded. “Thank you very much,” she said, then entered her brother’s office while the assistant left the room. “Stefan,” she greeted, walking toward her brother. She noticed a wisp of a couple gray streaks on the sides of his dark hair. The burden of his position was obviously weighing on him.

She kissed his cheek and he kissed hers. “How are you?” she asked.

“I’m well,” he said. “I’m more concerned about you and Leonardo.”

Ericka smiled. “Leo and I are great. I’m happy to be back in Chantaine after spending the last year with Tina in Texas.”

“You could have spent the last year here in Chantaine,” he said, and rounded his desk to sit in his chair.

Ericka sat in the chair across from her brother, watching him as he tented his fingers and studied her. “I think it was good to be with Tina in Texas during my pregnancy and delivery. She and her husband were supportive, and it was fun having their daughter, Katarina, around. She’s quite the spitfire. Little ones put everything in perspective.”

“True,” Stefan said, giving a serious nod. “I think it would be best for you and Leo to live at the palace.”

Ericka’s stomach twisted and she bit the inside of her lip. She hated to go up against Stefan but knew it was necessary. “I think not,” she said. “I’ve found a lovely gated cottage and a nanny. I think this will be best for Leo and me.”

Stefan frowned. “But what about security? You and Leo need to be protected. That would be much easier within the palace walls.”

Ericka shook her head. “The palace isn’t the place for me. If you think about it, it’s not the place for most of us. None of your siblings live here. I apologize for how this may sound, but the palace feels claustrophobic. I don’t want that for Leo.”

“He’s a baby,” Stefan said. “How will he know?”

“Babies sense more than you think. He would sense my tension. Leo and I need our own place. As I said, I have found a wonderful nanny and I’ve arranged for therapy for his hearing disability.”

Stefan pressed his lips together. “Is there any chance you’re wrong about his hearing? He’s so young.”

“No,” she said, remembering the grief she’d suffered when she’d learned her perfect Leo couldn’t hear. The doctors had tested Leo before she’d left the hospital with him, and many more tests had followed. “He has a hearing disability and I’m determined to make sure he gets the best treatment available.”

“I can’t believe you don’t think living in the palace would make your life easier,” Stefan said. “And your son’s life safer.”

Ericka shook her head. “Don’t try to guilt me into doing things your way, Stefan. I have to follow my best inner guidance. I have to be my own expert. I’m counting on you to be supportive.”

Stefan sighed. “This situation is going to put a lot of pressure on you. I hesitate to bring up the past, but—”

“You’re talking about the time I spent in rehab in my teens,” she said. Ericka couldn’t blame any of her family for being concerned, but if she’d successfully survived her most recent humiliation, she could handle anything. “I’m lucky I learned to avoid chemicals early on. I haven’t had a drink in nearly a decade. I learned to wake up every morning and make the decision that I’m not going to drink or use drugs that day.”

Stefan nodded. “It’s obvious you’ve come a long way, but I still don’t want you to be overwhelmed.”

“I’m going to be overwhelmed at times,” she assured him. “I have a baby. Being a mother is new. But I’m a Devereaux and I’m not the weak link you may have once thought I was.”

“I never said you were the weak link,” he said with a dark frown.

“Well, maybe you just thought it,” she said gently with a smile and lifted her hand when she could see he was going to protest. “It doesn’t matter. You’ll soon see there’s more to me than you thought. I’ll be very happy in my cozy cottage.”

“Okay,” he said reluctantly. “As you wish. However, I insist on providing you with security. You’ll have a guard within the next couple of days.”

Ericka made a face. “If you insist,” she said. “Just make sure whoever you choose is low-profile or they’ll get on my nerves. No one too pushy.”

“I do insist, and I’ll make sure you have the best security possible. You’re working for the palace, so protection is more than appropriate. The new rules specify that if any of the Devereaux family is working for Chantaine, they shall be given security. You’re taking over the coordination for the conference for The Royal Society for A Better World, although I don’t know how you expect to do it with a baby and no husband,” he said.

“Single mothers have been accomplishing great things for ages,” she said. “I’ll have a nanny and two sisters willing to help.”

“Along with Eve,” Stefan said of his wife. “She would kill me if I didn’t offer her assistance.”

Ericka smiled still amazed at the change Eve had wrought in her brother. The two were soul mates. Her happiness faded a little when she thought of her own future romantic prognosis. She wasn’t sure her soul mate existed. Brushing the thought aside, she knew it was silly for her to waste one moment on any ideas about romance. She had no time or energy for a man in her life right now.

“You’re always welcome at the palace if you should change your mind.”

“Thank you, but I won’t,” she said. “Now shall we cover a few issues about the upcoming conference?”

Stefan shot her a smile that held a hint of approval. “Down to business already?”

“I’ve been ready,” she said, and powered up her tablet.

* * *

Two days later, Stefan sent Ericka a text message informing her that one of his assistants would be bringing her security detail to her for introduction. Ericka frowned at her phone in response. This wasn’t the best time. She was tired and hadn’t even taken a shower yet. Leo hadn’t slept well and had been fussy throughout the night. Even though Nanny Marley was more than able to care for Leo, Ericka had wanted to soothe him. Ericka was finding it more difficult than she’d planned to turn Leo’s care over to someone else.

Silly. Ericka had never considered herself overly nurturing, but Leo had provoked powerful changes within her. Of course now that sunlight streamed through the windows of the cottage, Leo slept peacefully.

Yawning, she pulled her hair into a topknot and quickly changed clothes. She dashed to the bathroom to splash water on her face and brush her teeth. The introduction with her security detail shouldn’t take any longer than five minutes. After that, she planned to sneak in a little nap before working. Before Leo, Ericka would never have considered meeting someone without being turned out to as close to perfection as possible. Having a baby had changed her priorities.

A knock sounded at the door and she rushed to answer it. Leo was already being treated for his hearing disability with infant hearing aids, and Ericka never knew what sounds might awaken him.

Spotting her brother’s assistant through the glass window beside the door, she opened it. She immediately caught sight of a man standing just behind her brother’s assistant. He stood at least as tall as her brother-in-law from Texas. Over six feet tall. How was this subtle? she wondered. He would stick out like a sore thumb in Chantaine. What had her brother been thinking?

“Hello, Your Highness. Rolf here,” her brother’s assistant said as he made a quick bow. “I’m here to introduce you to your primary security detail. Mr. Montreat Walker.”

Ericka nodded toward Rolf then turned to Mr. Walker out of politeness. “Mr. Walker.”

He gave a half-hearted dip of his head. “You can call me Treat,” he said in a Texas twang.

“Oh, really,” she said, thinking he was not a treat. With his stubborn chin and too-broad shoulders, he looked as if he would be a pain in her derriere. “Mr. Walker,” she said then turned to Rolf, who appeared to be cowering from both her and Mr. Treat Walker. “Thank you so much for stopping by. I’ll be in touch with Stefan.”

“I’d like to check your home security system first,” Mr. Walker said.

“Excuse me,” she replied, unable to hide her disapproval.

“Yes,” the overly tall, overly muscular, overly American man, said. “I’ve been hired to protect you. I need to make sure your home is adequately secure.”

“I have a security system,” she told him.

“Then you won’t mind me checking it,” he said.

Actually, she would, but she couldn’t say that. She shrugged and opened her door widely. “Don’t wake my baby.”

He lifted his eyebrows for a half-beat then stepped forward. “I’ll do the best I can, but I will need to test your alarm system.”

Ericka stared at Rolf. “Please tell my brother I’ll be in touch,” she said.

“Yes, Your Highness,” he said before he dipped his head and walked away.

“I’m a done deal,” Mr. Walker said to her. “Your brother has made his decision.”

Ericka tried to look down her nose at him, but he was too darn tall. “Nothing is a done deal.”

Mr. Walker shrugged. “Good luck. I’ll check your system.”

Ericka frowned at him as he swaggered through the hallway. “I told you not to wake my baby.”

Mr. Walker paused and turned to look at her. “How strong is his hearing disorder?”

Ericka could have cried at his question. If only she knew how extensive his hearing loss was. Even the doctors had told her the measurement for his hearing disorder could change. “Profound. He’s been awake most of the night.”

Mr. Walker nodded. “I’ll check the house. I’ll have to test the alarm system some time. You let me know when I can do that without startling him.”

If only he could startle Leo, Ericka thought. If only she could make a sound that would startle him. Ericka stared after Mr. Walker, hating him and liking him at the same time. What could he possibly know about having a child with special needs? Nothing, she suspected. His life had probably been perfect. No troubles. No trials.

Leo’s future was full of trials. She stiffened her back. She needed to cushion her child in his infancy and make him strong for his future years. Her job was to provide the perfect amount of support and hope. Whatever that was.

A flash of fur passed between them.

Mr. Walker frowned. “Was that a cat?”

“Yes. The doctor said Leo would benefit from a pet.”

He frowned in confusion. “A cat? Don’t they sleep twenty-three out of twenty-four hours a day?”

“Sam is awake much more than that, plus he watches after Leo.”

“You mean, he stalks your baby,” Mr. Walker said.

She blinked. “He does no such thing. Sam protects Leo. He’s probably studying you right now to make sure you won’t hurt the baby.”

Mr. Walker lifted a dark eyebrow. “This is one more challenge for implementing a sound security system.”

She lifted her head. “Sam stays. We brought him back from Texas. My brother insisted he was neutered before we arrived. Stefan doesn’t want any more potent cats on the island. He’s afraid Chantaine will end up with too many cats.”

“Understandable,” Mr. Walker said. “Practical.”

“Mr. Walker, you need to understand that you’re dealing with a very human element. My son. I know that the people of Chantaine don’t hold a grudge against me. They’re delighted I have returned.”

“But there could be one person who’s not delighted,” he said. “And I’m here to protect you from that person.”

Ericka stared into his dark eyes and knew he would protect her from anything. She held his gaze for a long moment and saw a flash of tenderness. It surprised her. How could a man who appeared so hard be kind?

If he couldn’t be kind to her son, she had no use for him. If he couldn’t tolerate her cat, he would be dismissed.

* * *

Treat Walker looked into Princess Fredericka’s disapproving blue eyes. He’d read her file. She’d been known as the teenage wild-child beauty. She’d even made a few trips to rehab before she’d gotten herself straightened out and married a French film director.

Although the princess had returned to Chantaine frequently for public and family events, she’d seemed to prefer life out of the limelight. With the exception of red carpet appearances with her husband, Fredericka had focused more of her time on studies in fine arts.

When her husband fell for a younger actress, Fredericka’s life began to fall apart. The combination of the scandal and her pregnancy had been overwhelming, so she’d disappeared to live in Texas with her older sister during her pregnancy.

At first glance, she looked a little too perfect. With her aristocratic bone structure, she could have modeled for a Renaissance sculptor. Although she was trying to hold him in cool contempt, he glimpsed humanity and a little bit of fear in her eyes, a hint of purple shadows that showed she wasn’t sleeping well.

Taking care of an infant with serious hearing loss could be hard on anyone, especially since she appeared to be trying to do most of it on her own. “Your son,” he said. “He’s lucky you have the resources to give him the best help he needs. Not everyone can get their child the right kind of help.”

Her eyebrows knitted slightly. “Money can’t solve everything. The choices may be difficult,” she said before she turned away from him.

* * *

Ericka spent the day juggling caring for Leo and planning her work schedule. Since the nanny had gone to market, Ericka carried Leo in a cloth baby carrier against her chest as she talked on the phone. Leo quickly drifted off to sleep and Ericka answered a few calls. When he began to drool against her collar, she suspected he was ready for genuine nap in his crib. Just as she pulled him from the cloth carrier and set him in his crib, he let out a squeak of protest.

Wincing, Ericka immediately placed her hand over his tummy. Her sister had taught her this trick. Leo didn’t like the abruptness of being detached after being held. A little more of a human connection seemed to soothe him and he gave a little snorty baby sigh. Ericka held her hand on him for several more moments, staring at his rosy, plump cheeks and dark eyelashes against his perfect skin. Pride and love welled up inside her. He was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen in her life.

Carefully backing away, Ericka turned around and pulled the door partway closed behind her. Then she walked straight into a wall. Or, it felt like a wall until it swore under its breath. Her heart hammering in panic, she opened her mouth to scream at the same time she looked up into the hard face of Mr. Walker.

She slumped in relief and he immediately clasped her arms as if he thought she were going to faint. The notion annoyed her, “Remove your hands from me,” she said in the icy tone she’d learned from one of her governesses.

He immediately released her and she stumbled backward, glaring at me. “I thought you had left to get an alarm system. What are you doing here now? And why didn’t you knock?”

“First, since I’m your security detail, I’m like a member of the family. I don’t have to knock,” he said.

“Oh, yes, you do,” she said. “You’re not family. You’re staff. All staff knocks before entering.”

“Plus I didn’t want to wake your baby if he was sleeping,” he continued.

She opened her mouth then closed it, feeling as if someone had let the air out of her balloon. “Well,” she said, desperate to establish some boundaries with this man who seemed to take up entirely too much space. “You shouldn’t come up behind me like that and startle me. There’s no excuse for that.”

“I was examining the hallway for the best alarm system.”

He was so implacable, she thought, her irritation growing. “I’m not sure this is going to work,” she said, and walked past him. “My nanny and I are working perfectly well together. Your presence is disruptive.”

“Give me a couple days,” he said. “You’ll barely notice I’m around.”

That did it, she thought. Mr. Walker was going back to the States. She would talk with Stefan that afternoon.

Except Stefan wasn’t picking up his private cell phone, and his assistant said he was indisposed. Stalling tactics. Ericka recognized them because he’d used them before on rare occasions when he wanted things his way. She considered calling Stefan’s wife, Eve, but with two young children and another on the way, Eve had her hands full. Besides, this was between her and Stefan.

Ericka made another call. “Bernard, this is Ericka again. How are you?”

“Quite well, Your Highness.”

“I realize Stefan is quite busy today,” she said.

“Yes, yes, he is,” Bernard said.

“Lots of activity in his palace office,” she said.

“It’s often busy in the Prince’s office. As you know, he works hard for the people of Chantaine.”

“Of course he does. Since he is at the Palace office today, I’ll just scoot over for a quick visit. I promise it won’t take more than a moment or two. Ciao,” she said.

“But, but, but—”

Ericka disconnected the call and smiled grimly to herself. Two could play this little game. Stefan would be hard-pressed to avoid her if she was standing outside his office.

Ericka found Nanny Marley taking a well-earned break reading in the sunroom. “Marley, I need to make a quick trip to the palace. I won’t be gone long.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll keep an ear out for him.”

Ericka shook her finger at the sweet middle-aged woman. “We’ve already discussed this. You’re not supposed to address me as ‘Your Highness.’ Please call me Ericka.”

“I keep forgetting,” the woman said. “It just doesn’t feel respectful.”

“It’s my wish,” Ericka said. “So that makes it respectful. Please?”

“Yes, Miss Ericka,” Nanny Marley said.

Ericka smiled. “That’s a little closer. I’ll be back soon.”

“No hurries on my account, ma’am,” the nanny said.

Ericka drove her tiny smart car through the winding streets of Chantaine. Her route to the palace took her past the view of the azure ocean trickling against a white sandy beach. She’d never realized how much she’d missed her homeland until she’d returned. In fact, she’d fought the idea of ever returning. She’d had too many memories of feeling confined and suffocated in Chantaine. Leaving had felt so freeing.

Even now, she felt twinges from her memories, but she was determined to keep her feelings and future in perspective. One of her most important decisions had been not to live at the palace. Another important decision had been to hire Nanny Marley. The next decision would be to get rid of her assigned security man, Mr. Walker.

As she pulled up to the palace, the gates were opened and she was waved through. Parking her car at the side of the main building, she touched her finger to the sensor that would allow her inside the door. Her shoes echoed on the marble floor of the hallways as she made her way to her brother’s office. The same office had once belonged to her father, although her father had spent far less time performing royal duties and much more time on his yacht with his mistress du jour. She’d always found it amazing that her father had managed to sire six legitimate children despite his numerous affairs. Now that Ericka was grown, she could look back and see that her mother had continued to have children in hopes of truly winning her father’s heart. Unfortunately, her mother’s wish had never come true.

Ericka’s stomach knotted as she remembered feeling that same sense of desperation at losing her husband. She’d been all too aware of the deterioration of his feelings for her. In fact, she’d made love with him in a final effort to win him back. When she thought of how weak she’d been, she could hardly bear it. It had taken her over a year to find herself again and get centered. She never wanted to be that weak woman, dependent on a man again. Never.

Reaching her brother’s office, she knocked on the door and waited. Impatience nicked at her and she knocked again.

The door swung open and one of her brother’s assistants dipped his head. “Your Highness,” he said.

“I need to see my brother,” she said.

“But he’s—”

“It won’t take long. I promise. Stefan,” she called. “I know you’re in there. Do you really want me yelling outside your office?”

Her brother’s assistant groaned and seconds later, he backed away, allowing her entrance. Stefan frowned at her. “I just got off a conference call with two dukes from Spain and Italy.”

“Great timing,” she said, and shot him a broad smile. “I thought you might be signing off around this time.”

“I actually had some other items on my list,” he said, his irritation clear.

“I imagine they could wait until tomorrow. Eve and your little ones would probably love to see you tonight.”

His hard gaze softened. “You’re probably right. Eve is worn out by the end of the day with this pregnancy, although she would deny it.”

“You married a strong woman,” she said.

“So I did,” Stefan said. “I suspect you’re here to complain about your new security man.”

“Your suspicion is correct. I specifically requested someone low key, who won’t interrupt my routine or bring undue attention.”

“Mr. Jackson will work out with no problem. He comes highly recommended. I wanted the best for you and Leo.”

“You gave me the Texas version of the Jolly Green Giant. He’s been an interruption since he walked through the door. He doesn’t like the cat—”

“Can’t blame him there,” Stefan muttered.

“Leo likes the cat,” she said.

“Leo doesn’t know any better,” Stefan retorted. “Listen, you haven’t even given Mr. Walker a chance. He hasn’t been there a whole day. The least you can do is give him a trial period.”

“One more day,” she said.

Stefan shook his head. “At least a week. He left an assignment in the States at my request.”

“I don’t need this kind of invasion into my privacy. I can’t believe you think Leo or I are at risk here in Chantaine.”

“You forget Eve’s encounter with that crowd before we were married,” he said.

“That’s different. I won’t be doing nearly as many appearances since I’m focusing on the conference. Any time I’m making an appearance, you can assign someone from your security detail for me.”

Stefan sighed. “I don’t like to frighten you, but I don’t trust your ex-husband. How do you know he won’t try to use Leo to get some sort of settlement?”

Ericka’s blood ran cold at the thought. She swallowed over a lump of fear and shook it off. “My ex-husband couldn’t be less interested in Leo. He knew I was pregnant when I left.”

“He could change his mind. If he does, I want to be ready for him.”