by Kate Tilney
Bare Noble Rumored to be the Duke of Orkhis
“Why would anyone think that’s the duke and me?”
“Because it’s the story the papers were fed.”
“But who . . .” That’s when it hits me. “It was you.”
“I had a job to do.” Ona’s face remains stern. “It is unfortunate you were caught in the crosshairs, but it was necessary. Of course, when we originally devised the plan, we hoped the duke would in fact stray for the beautiful, young nanny. But he never looks anywhere but the princess. So, we had to be creative.”
My eyes return to the paper, where my virtually naked body is there for everyone to see. “What could you possibly think you’re going to accomplish by starting a rumor that the Duke and I are having an affair?”
“It is obvious to everyone who knows anything that the princess is crumpling under the pressure.”
“You hope this news will break her?”
Ona gives a short nod. “Everyone in the know understands she will put saving her marriage above the crown. She’ll abdicate. Henry will step back into the role that should have been his all along.”
I shake my head. “You’re staging a coup.”
“We’re righting a wrong.”
Henry was right. Though it had seemed impossible to me, there are people who will stop at nothing to keep a man on the throne.
“The only thing wrong is your backwards thinking.” I throw the papers on the floor just as there’s another knock on the door. “I assume that is the royal guard here to escort me out of the palace?”
“You have ten minutes to get your things.” Ona folds her arms across her chest. “It’s nothing personal. But the royals had to be protected.”
“They do need protection. From you.”
There are at least a dozen other choice things I’d like to say to her, but the guards are now in the room, and I need to pack. As I pull out my suitcase, my heart aches. My whole world is falling apart. I won’t even get a chance to say good-bye to Henry.
The possibility that he might come find me flashes through my head briefly, but I dismiss it. No, regardless of the pull that drew us together, Henry is honorable above all things. He will stay to help his family and sister.
Maybe, someday, when all this blows over we can be together. I tell myself that even as I know it will never happen.
Henry
Someone in the palace is going to be sent packing.
I may not have much influence around the place anymore, if I ever did. But after seeing such an intimate moment between Lauren and I plastered over the Internet, I will use whatever pull I have to get to the bottom of this.
Either we have someone selling family secrets to the press inside the palace, or we have someone giving the press unauthorized access to our family. Regardless, we have a traitor on staff, and they should be sacked.
Poor Lauren must be beside herself. I did not have a chance to see her before I left the palace for the cathedral. It was only after I was in the car and saw the photos that I realized I do not even have her number to send her a quick text. I nearly turned the car around, but I am fairly certain my father would replace me as godfather if I were to arrive even a moment late for the service.
I cannot let my sister down today. Especially not when I am the nude backside being labeled as her husband’s all over the Internet.
How anyone could believe Ryan would cheat on Sarah is beyond me.
I barely have time to say hello to my sister, who just whispers she needs to speak with me after the service. She looks worried, but not sad or angry, which I take as a good sign. Though I try my best to pay attention to the words the priest says, I find my mind wandering to Lauren. I hope she is not too upset. We can get through it. Together.
We barely finish the processional out of the sanctuary when Sarah grabs me by the arm and tugs me into a room. Ryan, who is holding Catherine, closes the door behind us.
“Before you say anything, it was me in the photos. And I will get to the bottom of this.”
She blinks at me in surprise. “Of course I know it was you. I could spot any of my brothers—not to mention my husband—in a line-up front, backwards, or upside down.”
“I am still sorry it broke today. I am going to find the mole.”
“We already know who it is.” Sarah frowns. “One of our father’s undersecretaries is apparently a hold-out from the previous administration who . . .”
“Who falsified our birth order on the records.”
“Precisely. And the undersecretary had his undersecretary—”
“There are too many damn undersecretaries if you ask me,” Ryan mutters.
“Is the one who took and sold the photo.” Sarah shakes her head. “Both of them will be fired by the time we finish lunch.”
“Oh.” A weight lifts from my shoulders. “Thank you for taking care of that so quickly.”
“Not so fast. There is still the matter of Lauren.”
“What about her?” Wait a moment. “Do not tell me you disapprove. You married your—”
“Of course I do not disapprove. You are both consenting adults.” She rolls her eyes at me. “However, father says they fired Lauren this morning.”
It is like a punch to the gut. “Is she okay?”
Sarah shakes her head. “I wish I knew.”
My jaw tightens. “If you do not mind, I think I might skip the luncheon.”
“There is a car waiting for you out front.”
I press a quick kiss to her cheek and Catherine’s head, then I am out the door. I wonder if I still have any contacts in the aviation security office who can find out what flight Lauren is taking. With any luck, she is still here in the country. I can meet her at the airport. Otherwise, I will be on the next plane out—wherever she is going.
A few feet away from the car, a small pack of journalists appear. They thrust microphones in my face.
“How is the princess taking news of the alleged affair?”
“Did you have any idea your brother-in-law could be a two-timer?”
“How has this affected your niece’s christening?”
“Will the king make an official statement?”
Really, they should all know that no member of the royal family will respond to gossip. I nearly slam the door on their questions to illustrate the point but freeze.
Wherever she is, Lauren might see this. To hell with royal protocol.
“Actually, I would like to make a statement of my own if I might.” Stepping back out of the car, I stand tall, straightening my suit jacket. “The photos published earlier today are of myself and a young woman I am seeing. It is regrettable that someone in our household violated a private moment between us. Just like it is regrettable those photos were used to frame my brother-in-law for something he would never do.”
My jaw ticks. “The men in my family are fiercely protective of the women we love. We would never do anything to intentionally hurt them. I am sorry for any pain this caused my sister, her family, and the woman in the pictures. I hope the press will do the right thing and stop promoting the images and the lies around them.”
The reporters stand in stunned silence for another moment. Then the questions start up again.
“Can you confirm the woman’s identity?”
“Is this serious or is it a fling?”
“What can you tell us about the person who leaked the story?”
I give a stern look to the press corps and they fall silent.
“I will leave any statements about the leak to the palace.” I swallow hard. “Out of respect for the woman in the pictures, I will not confirm, deny, or clarify her identity. I will also not share specifics about our relationship. But a word of advice to you all.”
They remain silent, hanging on to each of my words. Suckers.
“I would be respectful of her going forward. I intend to have her at my side for at least the next fifty years or so.”
Lauren
I am standing in the airport lobby staring at a TV screen, my jaw wide open. Did Prince Henry, the man who has completely captured my heart, just tell the world he wants to spend the rest of his life with me?
It’s almost enough to wipe away the pain and humiliation of the rest of the day.
It’s almost enough to make me want to call a taxi and have it take me back to the palace. To bang on the door until they let me in to see him. To risk being thrown back out in the streets.
It’s definitely enough to give me hope that he will give me a call using the phone number I managed to sneak under his door before I was escorted out of the palace hours ago.
Still virtually paralyzed with shock, it takes me almost a full minute to realize a familiar voice is calling my name. I turn in time to see Henry sprint across the lobby.
“Oh thank God you have not left already.” He wraps his arms around me. “I do not have enough words to tell you how sorry I am.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I should have protected you better.” His arms tighten around me. “I will protect you better in the future.”
Then he pulls back suddenly. “ Lauren, there is something I must ask you.”
He begins to lower to one knee, but I grab his arms before he can.
“But the pictures of me.” I shake my head like that will somehow knock the images out of my head. “I’m basically naked on the cover of every paper in Europe. And half the ones back home.”
“For what it’s worth”—He wraps his arms around me and strokes my back—“you look fucking hot in those pictures.”
I gasp and push away from him. “That’s such a man thing to say.”
Henry loosens his hold, but doesn’t let go of me completely.
“I do not mean to undermine the seriousness of the situation.” The sincerity on his face lessens some of my irritation. “Someone betrayed your trust and sold you out to advance a bogus political agenda.”
Then his eyes narrow. He looks mad enough to punch someone. And, unfortunately, there are way too many interested eyes with camera phones pointed at us to risk a fistfight with a stranger.
“It’s okay,” I assure him.
“It is not. We will get to the bottom of this.” His jaw tightens. “In the meantime, she has been fired. And we have the option to file charges.”
My eyes widen. “You would file charges?”
“Of course.” His gaze softens then. “I meant what I said in that interview. You are my present and my future. I love you.”
My heart flutters. Even as I start to imagine spending the rest of my life with him, and maybe a couple of kids of our own along the way, I can’t get ahead of myself.
“I love you too.”
Just saying those words makes them feel even more true. I love him. And I love being able to say that.
Henry’s lips break into a grin and lower to mine. I press a hand against his chest to hold him back.
“How will this work?” I gesture to our audience, their phones still focused on us.
“Hmm, I see what you mean.” He nods. “Well, what would you like? I can renounce my title and we can move to Idaho or wherever you want to live.”
My stomach drops. “You’d give up your family for me?”
“We will of course have to pop around for the occasional wedding and christening, but as for being a working member of the royal family?” He lifts a shoulder. “I would give all that up for you in a heartbeat.”
“But the king?”
Henry just lifts a shoulder. “So what do you say? Shall we run away together?”
“We could.” I trace the lapel of his jacket with my fingertips. “But neither of us are really the runaway from trouble types.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting . . . ?”
“Wouldn’t it be more interesting to plant some roots here in Rhodon?”
“It would.” A slow grin spreads across that handsome face of his. “Especially if we make a big splash with a big community service project.”
That sends a new thrill through me. “I’m listening.”
“And I have ideas about that to discuss with you, but first things first. Lauren, love of my life, I hope you will do me the honor of sticking with me through it all.”
“Till death do us part?”
“Through thick and thin.”
“I will.” Then I lean up on my toes to seal that promise with a kiss.
Cameras around us flash. I’ll have to get used to that if I am serious about taking on this man and his baggage. And I am. Because a love like this is worth it. Besides. It’s easy to forget about cameras—and everything else in the world—when he’s kissing me.
I’ll just have to spend the next fifty or sixty years kissing him all the time. That’s a pretty good way to spend the rest of my life.
Epilogue One
Lauren
one year later
All around me, cameras flash while journalists with microphones elbow each other to get to the front of the crowd. My hands are shaking as I grip onto the oversized pair of scissors.
Then, Henry arrives at my side and places a gentle hand to the small of my back.
“Okay?” he asks through a bright smile while waving to the crowd of journalists and spectators.
I suck in a breath and nod. “I will be.”
“It’s your first official appearance as a full-fledged member of the royal family.”
I glance down at my still shaking hands and catch the glitter of light from the oversized emerald and matching band. Seeing both, I can’t help but grin. Henry had given me the engagement ring just a week after Catherine’s christening.
We waited almost a year to get married. Not because either of us had cold feet. But I really wanted to finish the last year of my master’s degree in early childhood development. And Henry, always wanting to see me happy, agreed to set our wedding date for two weeks after my graduation.
By the time our wedding rolled around, I half expected royal watchers worldwide—let alone in Rhodon—to be over weddings. What with all four of the king’s children tying the knot in such quick succession.
Instead, all four siblings—two pairs of twins—marrying so close together seemed to add even more hype. I’m sure it didn’t hurt that all of their spouses were American.
While the King of Rhodon had been less than thrilled to see all four his children marry title-less Americans, he enjoyed the good publicity it gave him and the whole family.
And now they are my family. It still seems impossible. Like I will wake up one day and Henry won’t be lying next to me in bed, and I’ll realize it was all a dream.
Because I am living a dream.
Even if facing a loud crowd of people trying to get my picture feels a bit like a nightmare.
Henry’s hand gently caresses my back, reminding me that we’re in this together. We really are on this particular project of ours.
With a parting squeeze to my shoulder, Henry steps toward the microphone.
“Creating opportunities for future generations of Rhodonians is a cause my wife and I are particularly passionate about. It is with great pleasure that we open the Rhodon Center for Child Development and Discovery.”
Henry turns to flash me a grin, and I nearly melt into the floor. I will never, ever get used to this handsome, charming husband of mine.
“My wife and I are committed to seeing this center prosper, which is why she will be teaching in one of the classrooms, and I will work with the administrators.”
There’s a murmur of excitement throughout the crowd.
“We would like to thank the people of Rhodon, my father the king, and particularly my sister, the Crowned Princess Sarah who helped to make today possible.” His jaw sets as he looks out. “We will not let you down.”
He steps away from the microphone. While applause thunders around us, he returns to my side. My hands steady as he covers them with his own.
“Ready?”
I nod. Together we cut the ribbon to our passion project. We share a glance, and a smile. The past year has been a whirlwind. I would bet the next fifty will be just as chaotic. But as long as I have Henry and he has me, we’ll keep each other steady and grounded.
Epilogue Two
Henry
twenty years later
“Long live the queen.”
Lauren raises her contraband glass of champagne to clink with mine. Technically the toasts are supposed to come after the coronation of Queen Sarah of Rhodon, but we have a lot to celebrate.
It has been a year since my father, the King of Rhodon died. While we had a complicated relationship, I am grateful that in his final years, he seemed to mellow. He made time to enjoy his sixteen grandchildren. And while I am not sure he ever entirely came around to liking that all four of his children married fiercely independent and ambitious Americans, he at least gave us all his blessing.
At the end, all four of his children were at his side when he peacefully passed away. In the end, he knew that no matter what had happened in the past, his children loved him and he loved us.
While we and the nation mourned, we also carried on. It was what our father had ingrained in all of us. A sense of duty to the people of Rhodon. I see now how lucky we are to also have somehow learned a sense of family and unity. If we were close as children, we are thick as thieves now.
Particularly on my sister’s coronation day.
“A toast,” I say, after we swallow our first sips of champagne, “to my intelligent, beautiful wife, the Duchess of Kryos. The woman who has grown one early childhood development center to a whole network, now making Rhodon a world leader in education.”
She grins as we drink. Then, Lauren raises her glass once more.
“To my husband, the new minister of state.”
Though my father had come around to much later in his life, he never had believed his children should be more than public figures. I am fortunate my sister thinks otherwise.
“To our children.”
All four of them—Stella, Jasper, Asher, and Nora—are down the hallway with Sarah’s children. With the queen and her prince regent set to arrive last for the ceremony, Lauren and I have the honor of escorting two pre-teens, four teenagers, and two college students home on vacation to the cathedral.