The Playboy Prince and the Nanny (Royal Duology 1)

Raoul gave a short nod, then gestured toward a small seating area. “Would you like some tea?”

She caught Diego’s eye and nearly smiled at the impish expression on his face. He’d definitely called it.

“Tea would be lovely, thank you,” she replied. She shouldn’t have been surprised when an assistant immediately came in with a tea tray, but she was.

“Thank you,” she said to the woman, who placed the tray on the table in front of her. “Shall I pour, then?”

There were only two cups on the tray. Diego held up a hand. “None for me, thanks.”

Raoul took a seat in a china-blue chair, looking absolutely regal as he did so. “I assume you’re joining us, Diego?” He looked over at Rose. “Diego took on the job of searching for a nanny,” he explained. “I found in the days after the funeral I was very distracted. Now I’m trying to catch up on state business as well as get on with . . .”

He cleared his throat. Rose’s nervousness was temporarily forgotten as her heart softened. “I’m so very sorry for your loss, Your Highness,” she said quietly. She handed him a cup of tea and he smiled and took it gratefully.

“Miss Walters, I think you’ll find that amid all the formalities here, our family is a close one. I’m at a loss with the children.” He put down his teacup and met her gaze. “I don’t know the right thing to say or do. If I should talk about Ceci or not, if they need hugs or space. I apologize for being so personal but . . . I’d like it very much if you could give me your thoughts as you care for them. I’m depending on you to under

stand what they need and to help me provide it.” His expression was one of extreme humility. “I’m the heir to Marazur, but I’m also a father.”

Oh, she was doubly impressed now. Of course, it added to her pressures but at least she felt as if they could work together to ensure the children’s happiness.

“Of course,” she replied, resisting the urge to reach out and pat his hand. “I’m looking forward to meeting them both. Getting them back into a normal routine will help a lot. And so will knowing that there are people who love and care about them. I’ve only been here a little over an hour and I can already see that they’re very loved.”

Diego had been silent so far, but he leaned ahead a little and looked at his brother. “I’m here to help you too, Raoul.”

Raoul smiled thinly. “Thank you. But I’m fine, really. Work is the best thing for me now. As Miss Walters said . . . a normal routine.”

Rose looked over and saw Diego frown, but she didn’t have time to think about it as the next ten minutes were filled with Raoul asking various questions about her and her plans. When he was seemingly satisfied, he stood and offered his hand.

“Thank you, Miss Walters. I don’t want to keep you from settling in or meeting Max and Emilia. Perhaps we can talk again tomorrow.”

“Of course.” She took his hand briefly, and bobbed another quick curtsy.

For the first time during the meeting, he smiled. “Miss Walters, it’s going to be tedious if you keep bobbing up and down all the time.”

Her cheeks heated. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Do you need someone to show you where to go? Senora Romero is our housekeeper. She’ll provide you with household schedules and the like.”

“I’ll take her,” Diego offered. “I promised Max we’d kick the ball around in the garden before dinner.”

She held her smile, torn between being annoyed at Diego’s continued nearness and grateful for his assistance. It was nice to have an ally, but she couldn’t allow herself to be too familiar with the family. The truth was, she needed to get settled in her place, which was not drinking tea with princes but in the nursery with children and with the other household staff.

Where she belonged.

CHAPTER THREE

Diego led her back to the nursery, and she was glad of it as she would have taken a few wrong turns otherwise. He knocked on the door next to hers and a maid opened it, stepping aside and smiling. “Good afternoon, sir,” she said respectfully. “And Miss. I’m Ernestina. I’ve been looking after the children since . . .” She halted as her speech stumbled. “For the last few weeks. We’re so glad you’re here.”

“Thank you, Ernestina.” Rose held out her hand. “I’m Rosalie, but you can call me Rose.”

Squeals interrupted what conversation they might have had, and Rose saw Ernestina wince. The maid was easily in her mid-forties, and Rose guessed she’d been nominated as temporary nanny and preferred her household duties to those of child-minder. Diego came around the corner with a small boy tucked under his arm and a little girl only a step behind, looking up at him like he hung the moon.

Oh dear. She really shouldn’t have to remind herself to be professional, but men with kids . . . Not to mention hot men with kids. She was human, after all. And a woman. A woman who cared for children for a living. Knowing that his niece and nephew loved him—and he loved them—said a lot about the kind of man Diego Navarro was. In only a little over an hour, her preconceptions of Diego were melting away one by one. The charm was there, but she hadn’t expected the warmth, or the honesty of his emotions with his family.

Ernestina’s voice interrupted. “The children were just about to have tea. Dinner is promptly at seven. Unless there is a function, the children eat with the family. That’s how their mother preferred it.” Tears glimmered in Ernestina’s eyes. Cecilia had been well loved, by family and by the staff, it seemed.

“I’ll be sure to have them ready,” Rose assured her.

“Senora Romero asked me to tell you to come to the kitchen for your dinner once the children are in the dining room. She’ll give you the household schedule then. I’ve written the children’s schedule out for you as well.” She went to a small desk and picked up a Moleskine book.