In the castle? With the king?
“Oh,“ Alex continued. “I should also make you aware that there is a monetary prize for winning the competition. It’s small. I believe just five grand or so.”
Jan truly resembled a fish out of water. Her mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. Esme knew her friend needed the money. Despite how much customers loved her pies, she just didn’t have enough business these days.
“You’d retain it all,” said Alex. “I just want the bragging rights. The Duke of Mondego and I have a bit of a rivalry, you see.”
“Duke?” said Esme. “There are kings, princes, and dukes in Cordoba?”
“Dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, barons, lords and ladies we have them all. And, I know a certain princess would be delighted if a certain kindergarten teacher came.”
Alex turned his attention to Esme as if she needed more convincing. She was already planning her wardrobe.
“You’ve made quite the impression on Pea,” he said. “Those cookies were the best math I’ve ever tasted. What do you two say?”
Esme looked to Jan. She pleaded with her eyes. When Jan still hesitated, Esme pressed her hands together in prayer.
Finally, Jan sighed. “Two tickets to paradise.”
“Pack your bags, we leave tonight,” said Alex. “You’ve got about six hours before wheels up on the royal jet. Plenty of time to get your affairs in order.”
The two women looked at each other in horror, true doubt finally crossing both of their faces. Plenty of time for a man to pack, maybe. But two single women going overseas to a land filled with royalty? This was a crisis fit for a fairy godmother. Unfortunately, neither Esme nor Jan had one.
Chapter Thirteen
“Here, let me help you with that.”
Leo reached for Lady Teresa’s designer luggage. He considered himself a strong man. He had never been the type of monarch to simply sit on a throne. He was an active man and visited the gym every day. Sure, the gym was an actual gymnasium in the west wing of his castle. So, there should be no trouble with him lifting a woman’s suitcase.
He gripped the handle of the suitcase and gave a tug. It did not budge. He gave it a shove in an attempt to tilt it onto its rolling wheels. It stayed upright. Before he could wonder if the future Duchess of Almodovar had made off with an American bronzed statue, she stayed his hand.
“No need,” she said. “My father’s valet’s got it.”
The valet in question, a strapping man with muscles bulging out of his dark jacket, used two fingers to tip the case over on its side. Then he picked it up, one handed, and carried both it and Lady Teresa’s slightly smaller carry-on away.
Leo rubbed at his arms. He may have given the muscles there a squeeze just to make sure they were still there. Luckily, Teresa had missed that display, or lack thereof, of royal masculinity. Her nose was in her handheld, tapping away.
“Are you sure I can’t give you a ride across the pond?” Leo chucked his thumb toward his private jet. Spain was just a hop, skip, and a jump from Cordoba.
“No need,” said Teresa, without looking up. “I’ve got my own family jet.” She chucked her own thumb at the jet next to his. Then she tapped a few more keys on her phone. “And I’ve got to stop over in London for an afternoon meeting with Sir Jorge Barry.”
“Ah, Jorgey. I know him. We went to school together.”
“I know him too. We dated a few years back or so.” With a few more taps on her phone, she finally slid the device in her purse and looked up. Her head tilted to the side like an inquisitive bird. “Don’t tell me you’re the jealous type?”
“No, I’m not.”
He wasn’t. Not jealous, anyway. He struggled to understand what he was feeling.
Perhaps annoyance. But why?
Leo glanced up at the valet handing the luggage into the aircraft. One handed. He looked down at the highly successful, highly connected woman he was considering making his wife.
Did she even need him at all? What exactly was he bringing into this merger? Other than his title, lands, and waterways?
“I’m very excited about our venture,” she said. “I look forward to getting to know you better, your majesty.”
“You can call me Leo.”