The Crown Prince's Bride (Royal Duology 2)

“His loss, Raoul. They’re wonderful.”

He smiled at her. “And they feel the same about you. I hope that remains, Steph. You’re the one bit of family from their mother’s side that they still have.”

The words stabbed like a knife to the heart. And she was thinking of leaving. How could she do that, knowing she’d leave the children behind? But then, she wouldn’t be like their grandfather. Of course she’d visit. If she was the only family that the children had left, the reverse was also true.

The conversation had a sobering affect, and Stephani was quiet through her coffee and dessert. After dinner, Lucy took the children back to the nursery while everyone moved to the drawing room for after-dinner drinks and socializing. Wedding plans were in the air. Diego and Rose would soon say goodbye and Rose would depart for the seaside hotel where her bridesmaids waited and where they’d all get ready for the wedding tomorrow. So much celebration, and Stephani found herself on the perimeter of the room, watching it all.

“So,” came a voice beside her. “That’s a nice frock.”

Rose’s sister, Hayley. Stephani pasted on a smile. The compliment didn’t quite sound genuine.

“Thank you.”

“Bet it cost a lot.”

Stephani didn’t know how to answer that, so she merely smiled and offered, “I hope you’re having a nice visit. Rose said she doesn’t see you often.”

Hayley merely shrugged. “So you and the crown prince . . . how long have you been having it off, then?”

“Having it off?” Stephani frowned, puckering her brows together. But then Hayley raised one eyebrow with a knowing glint in her eye and Stephani resisted the urge to sigh at the girl’s crassness.

“His Highness,” she emphasized firmly, “is my boss. And he was also married to my cousin. I’m fortunate to have a close relationship with the entire family, which of course does not include ‘having it off’ with him.” She wasn’t generally up on Brit slang, but the meaning had been made plain enough.

Hayley laughed. “No need to get so defensive. It’s clear to anyone who cares to look.” She tossed back whatever was in her glass.

“I’m afraid you’re mistaken. I do hope you enjoy the palace’s hospitality while you’re here. If you’ll excuse me, I have a few more details to attend to before tomorrow’s event.”

She maintained her pleasant smile; after all, she’d spent many years working in a delicately handled world of diplomacy. This one, though, had been unexpected and personal. It was inaccurate but not entirely incorrect. Tonight, the look on Raoul’s face when she’d shown up in her dress had been utterly gratifying. He’d been tongue-tied for a few moments. And when he’d offered his arm, she had felt ridiculously like they were a couple. His equal, in everything except perhaps official titles.

She belonged here. And that was what bothered Hayley, wasn’t it? Thinking of it that way, Stephani was able to put her feelings aside. She knew what it was like to be on the outside looking in.

Lucy returned with the baby on her arm, and everyone ooohed and aahed appropriately. Still, it wasn’t long before Rose and Hayley disappeared with the other bridesmaid, Becca, heading to the hotel. Diego and Brody made a late-night trip to the stables, probably to look over the latest additions to the polo stock and Imogene gathered the children and saw them to the nursery suite. Lucy took her jetlagged self off to bed, and as the staff cleaned up, it left just Raoul and Stephani.

“Nightcap?” he suggested. “Or do you have to leave, too?”

She didn’t. She’d brought everything she needed for the wedding day and had requested one of the smaller rooms so that she could be up and on duty first thing in the morning. “I’m actually staying in the north wing tonight. I thought it would be easier seeing as tomorrow’s an early start.”

“I won’t keep you, if you want to get some rest.”

She knew she should go. But she didn’t want to. Now that the palace had quieted, she found she needed a little time to unwind before trying to sleep. If she went to bed now, still keyed up, she’d start running to-do lists around in her head.

“A brandy might be nice.”

His smile was so warm she nearly melted. “Perfect,” he said, and went over to a table, took two snifters, and poured a generous amount of brandy in each. He handed one to her, and she took a deep inhale of the bowl before touching the liquid to her lips. After the wine at dinner, this one drink would be enough to lull her to sleep when she went to bed.

“Mmm,” she murmured, and let out a sigh.

Raoul took a similar sip. “Come,” he invited, “let’s sit for a bit. Tomorrow will be chaotic enough.”

She smiled and sat in a plush armchair, crossed her legs, and rested her wrist on her knee, the snifter dangling casually from her fingers. “Tomorrow will go off like clockwork. The chaos will be contained to my brain. That’s how it works. Crazy on the inside, outward appearances run smoothly.”

“And you’re incredibly good at it, Steph. I don’t know how we’d run things without you.”

She wondered if now might be a good time to tell him she was considering other employment. But then he’d ask her why, and she’d have to come up with an excuse that didn’t hinge on her feelings for him. Tonight she was too tired to do that, so she let it go.

“You’d find someone,” she said quietly, taking another drink. “No one is irreplaceable.”

“I don’t know about that.” He leaned forward in his chair, rested his elbows on his knees. “I meant what I said about you having your own assistant. I’ve been relying on you too much.”