Crowns & Courtships Compilation Volume 1

by Carol Moncado

  “Do you keep it or return it to Islas del Sargasso?”

  “It will be shipped with no return address to Queen Carlotta. She, or more likely her assistants, will immediately know where it’s from. At some point in the next six months to a year, she will send someone to replace our flag with theirs and return this one to San Majoria.”

  As soon as she said it, Astrid wondered if she’d said too much. Would he realize she had a connection to the San Majorian royal family? How else would she know when to come and take their turn at the war?

  “It’s crazy.” He didn’t ask why she was a part of it, just put the flag carefully in the bag and pulled out the San Majorian flag. She held it while he clipped it in place. Jordan bowed to her one arm out, clearly in jest. “As you are the native San Majorian, you should do the honors, Sofia.”

  Astrid smiled, and the twinge inside caught her again. She needed to tell him the truth, at least about her name. Pulling the rope, one hand over the other, she raised the flag of her homeland.

  “Do you leave whiskey?”

  She laughed. “No. Not whiskey. But you’ll find what we do leave in the bag. There’s a storage chest nearby that we’ll put it in.”

  “Whatever they leave is still there?”

  “No. The San Majorian Navy comes by and picks up whatever is left behind when the flag arrives at the palace. The Sargossian Navy will do the same when this flag arrives there.”

  Jordan leaned against a palm tree and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’d guess you’re friends with someone who lives in the palace. One of the mail clerks, maybe?” His eyes twinkled. “Is that how you know when it’s time to come fight this war?”

  Astrid managed a half-smile. “Something like that.”

  He snapped and pointed at her. “You come from a wealthy family. We established that the day we met. I bet you’re friends with the royal family. They know you’ve been having a rough time, so they sent you to fight this war to take your mind off whatever else is happening today.”

  The smile slid away. “That is much closer to the reality, Jordan. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t press me further.”

  “Hey.” He pushed off the tree and came to stand in front of her, his hands resting on her hips. The weight of them was familiar and comforting.

  And disconcerting at the same time.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. No. Not now. Just enjoy it.

  “It’s okay, Sofia.” His hands slid around her waist, and she let herself be pulled close. “I won’t try to figure it out. Promise. When you’re ready to tell me, you will.”

  How could he have more faith in her than she did?

  Astrid rested the side of her head on his chest. Her arms slid around him until her hands clasped against his back. “There is something I need to tell you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “My name’s not Sofia.”

  She felt his chuckle as much as heard it. “I kind of figured.”

  “You know?”

  “Sometimes it takes you a second to answer, almost like you’re not used to being called Sofia. I guessed that it might not be your name.”

  He surprised her when he didn’t ask what her name was.

  “It is my second name,” she blurted out.

  “I kind of figured that, too.” His hand ran up and down her back.

  Astrid found herself relaxing against him, a weight lifting off her shoulders. One that had been there so long, she’d become used to it. Her father and the rest of her family had tried to share her burden, but it had been hers alone.

  Jordan’s hold on her tightened. “I know you’re not ready to tell me your whole story, Sofia, but whenever you are and whatever you want to share, I’m here.”

  “I know.” She heaved a sigh. “I appreciate that.” After another minute, she moved away from him. “It’s been a long time since anyone’s just hugged me like that. I needed it. Thank you.”

  “Anytime.” Jordan grinned. “Well, anytime between one and four in the afternoon during the week.” His wink told her he wasn’t serious. “Which reminds me that we should hurry up fighting this war so we can get you back home.”

  “I’ve already told those who need to know that I will likely be later than usual this afternoon.” She smiled. “I have another surprise out on the beach when we’re done here.”

  Together, they unloaded the kitschy San Majoria t-shirt from the bag into the chest partially buried in the ground near the flag pole.

  Jordan surprised her by taking her hand and linking their fingers as they walked back toward the beach.

  And even more, Astrid surprised herself with how much she liked it.

  3

  Two weeks. That’s how long it had taken Sofia to tell Jordan it wasn’t her real name. He’d realized it within an hour of meeting her. She’d been distracted that day, but he’d noticed even more than when she didn’t respond to him calling her name several times.

  But now her hand nestled snugly in his, like they were meant to be there. She led him back toward the beach. When they arrived, he noticed a table had been set up and lunch set out on it.

  “I know it’s a little late in the day for lunch,” Sofia started.

  Jordan stopped and tugged on her hand until she did, too. “I had a late breakfast.” He grinned at her. “You said we’d eat late, and I decided to sleep in. I didn’t even get up until almost ten.”

  “Then it’s perfect.” She smiled at him, her eyes lighting up. He liked this side of her.

  Their feet sank into the sand as they walked toward the table. Jordan stopped and let go of her hand before kicking off his sandals. He bent down to pick them up. Sofia rested her hand on his shoulder, bracing herself against him as she took off her shoes. He gladly let her.

  She let go of him, and they resumed their walk toward the table. “Where’s the crew?” Were they really alone?

  Sofia ducked her head. “Well, you’ll be happy to know the background check finally came back clear. I knew it would, but unfortunately, until it did, we were always watched by security.”

  “I know.” He’d always felt the eyes on them, even when the watchers weren’t visible. “I’m glad someone’s protecting you.”

  She set her bag containing the Sargossian flag on the table. “Now that they know what I know, we can be more alone than we were before. They’re all still on the ship.”

  Jordan could see it in the distance.

  “But no one is specifically watching us.”

  A slow grin crossed his face. “Really?”

  Sofia glanced up from where she opened the basket. “What?”

  He didn’t let himself overthink it. Jordan reached for her, pulling her into his arms. “No one will see me do this.”

  “Do what?” Her hands rested on his upper arms, and she didn’t move away as he leaned toward her.

  “This.” Heart pounding in his chest, Jordan kissed her.

  Sofia’s hand slid to the back of his neck, but rather than pulling her even closer, Jordan moved away. A short, sweet, first kiss. Nothing more.

  It didn’t need to be anything more.

  Not yet.

  He let her go and pulled the closest chair out for her to sit down then sat next to her.

  The pink tinge to Sofia’s cheeks made Jordan smile.

  “That was nice,” she told him, reaching for the basket.

  “I thought so.” He helped her take the food out and set it on the table. “Thank you for lunch.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Over lunch, small talk continued. Jordan told her about playing hockey. She told him about horseback riding. He noticed she didn’t say much about her recent past.

  When they returned to Sofia’s cove, Jordan took a chance by kissing her again, this time a little longer, but still soft.

  “Will I see you tomorrow?” he asked.

  Sofia shook her head. “I wish we could, but I have some obligations I must see to. The day after?”

>   “Of course.” After another kiss, he took to his board and wind surfed his way back toward his home away from home.

  By the time he reached the beach, the sun was setting. After disassembling his equipment, he called the nearby resort and ordered room service for dinner. Lunch with Sofia had been nice, but not as filling as he would have liked.

  At least this was an almost all expenses paid vacation.

  Since he wasn’t going to see Sofia, Jordan slept late the next morning. Morning had nearly disappeared by the time he finished his room service breakfast and headed out onto the beach. Though his cottage was mere steps from the sand, and it was a private beach, it wasn’t the same kind of private beach as Sofia’s. This beach was available for anyone staying at the resort to use.

  It still beat the public beaches by a long shot. Only a couple dozen people were in view, and that made what he was about to do much simpler.

  Taking a deep breath, he tugged the bottom of his t-shirt up and over his head. He stood, letting the waves wash over his feet and the sun warm his chest. How long had it been since he’d been shirtless on the beach? He knew the date. It had been seared into his brain nearly two-and-a-half years earlier.

  After a few minutes of soaking it in with his eyes closed, Jordan returned to the blanket he’d spread on the sand. One thing he didn’t want to do was burn. It was far easier to put sunscreen on his chest than his back.

  “Do you need some help?”

  Jordan looked up to see a girl standing there. Girl might have been a misnomer. She was likely his age, but somehow seemed younger.

  He managed a half-smile. “I’ve got it, thanks.”

  She rolled her eyes and tossed her bag on the blanket. “You’ve got a farmer’s tan there, buddy. You’re going to burn. Let me get your back.” She held up both hands in mock surrender. “No ulterior motives. You just look like you could use some help.”

  Reluctantly, Jordan handed over the bottle of sunscreen. “Thanks, then.”

  True to her word, the girl just rubbed the lotion in, but didn’t try to make any advances. She stood and picked up her bag. “You’re all set. You might try to find someone to help you with that when I’m not around.”

  And she walked off, catching up to some friends a bit further up the beach.

  Jordan had never been one to just lay on the beach to get a tan, but this time it seemed to be just what he needed. A day to rest, to relax, and, maybe later, do a little surfing.

  Astrid slid her feet into the boring beige pumps. If she were to choose, she’d wear brighter colors and more casual clothes, but no one really asked what she wanted. Her stylist gave her options considered acceptable, and Astrid chose from among them.

  Even Queen Elizabeth II had a more colorful and vibrant wardrobe than Astrid did.

  Of course, Queen Elizabeth was the queen, and Astrid merely the Crown Princess. Perhaps when Astrid became queen she could insist on updating her wardrobe.

  Once she was done mourning the death of her father.

  Because she wouldn’t become queen until he was gone. Like Queen Elizabeth, he would not step down as monarchs from other countries sometimes did.

  “Your car is waiting, ma’am.” Jade, Astrid’s new assistant, stood in the doorway.

  “Of course it is,” Astrid sighed.

  “Pardon?”

  “Nothing.”

  Jade didn’t know her well enough to pick up on the subtle snarky nuances that occasionally slipped through.

  Astrid left her dressing room and headed for the main portico where her car waited. Jade would ride in the front seat and go over the details of the day’s events with her... again. The events were such that Astrid could likely attend them in her sleep and no one would notice, but Jade was still feeling her way in her new role, so Astrid would let her.

  Part of the reason Astrid chose her from the available candidates was because she was young enough to not be set in her ways. Some of the other candidates had already served in similar positions for other family members, such as Astrid’s uncle, or some of the San Majorian nobility. They were quite insistent that they knew the best way to do things.

  If she could just convince her father she needed a new stylist, too.

  No. That wasn’t fair to Martina. She did the best she could with what she had to work with.

  The ride was far too short, but at the same time, far too long. Everything was these days. Except time spent at the beach each afternoon. That was only too short.

  What was Jordan doing? She’d seen the disappointment in his eyes when she told him they wouldn’t be able to see each other. She’d even convinced herself she felt it in the soft goodbye kiss he’d given her. Astrid found herself wanting more.

  Not that kind of more, not yet, but more than just two little-more-than-pecks each day.

  “Ma’am?”

  Jade’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts and back to the present. Someone held open her door and waited for her to exit. The hospital administrator stood to the side and offered his hand to assist her.

  Because her genetics meant she couldn’t do anything alone.

  Maybe she’d get Jordan to teach her how to surf. Or play hockey. Wouldn’t her father love that?

  Once on the sidewalk, cameras clicked, documenting her every move. Questions were shouted by members of the media, both local news stations and gossip hounds.

  Astrid answered none of them.

  Instead, she focused on the other side of the path cleared for her. On that side were members of the community. She spent a few minutes shaking hands, posing for selfies, and accepting flowers from children.

  One little boy, in particular, caught her attention, and she lowered herself down as gracefully as she could. When her weight rested solely on the balls of her feet, she was nearly eye-to-eye with the dark-haired boy.

  “These are for you, Pwincess Ast’id.” He held out a few tropical flowers, native to the island, and clearly not from a florist.

  “They are lovely, kind sir.” She inhaled their scent. “And what is your name?”

  “And’ei.”

  Astrid forced herself to continue smiling. “Andrei?”

  “Yes, Pwincess.”

  It was as though a knife stabbed through her heart. “That is one of my favorite names.”

  “Mama say she name me for Pwince And’ei. She like him.”

  “Andrei!” Two hands appeared on his shoulders. Astrid looked up to see his mother standing there. “I’m sorry, Your Royal Highness.”

  Astrid made her smile even bigger, though inside her slowly healing heart began to refracture. “It is fine. I liked him quite a lot, too.”

  “My husband and I got married the same day you did, but in Ravenzario where his family is from,” the mother explained. “His grandfather’s name was Andrew, but we decided we liked Andrei better.” Her face colored. “We kind of felt a little connected to you both because of the wedding date, though the time zones meant our wedding day was over by the time your ceremony began.”

  Astrid and Andrei had both hated waiting for that evening wedding. “He would have been honored, of that I am certain.” Her feet began to tingle. She would need to stand soon.

  “You have been in our prayers, ma’am.”

  Young Andrei nodded. “My pray for you.”

  Astrid’s smile turned more genuine, though she had to blink back the tears. “I thank you for that. It is very appreciated.”

  “Ma’am?”

  She looked up to see barely-concealed annoyance on the face of the hospital administrator. “Of course.” Astrid stood as gracefully as she could, barely managing not to wobble. She motioned to Jade, who hopefully understood her meaning. They’d been over it often enough. “I must go, but thank you again for the flowers.”

  Walking half a step in front of the administrator, she walked to the front door of the hospital. Reflected in the glass, she could see Jade talking to Andrei’s mother. Astrid would see they were invited to
something soon - the end of summer party perhaps.

  Today’s hospital visit was both her favorite and her most dreaded. She would be spending time with children who were in the hospital for extended stays. They were always so kind and welcoming and cheerful despite their circumstances, but sometimes the reality of their situations could not be hidden, and Astrid knew their prognoses wasn’t good.

  By the time she returned to the palace several hours later, Astrid was worn out. Though she had her own quarters and access to any kitchen in the palace, her parents insisted she have dinner with them several times a week. Tonight was one of those nights.

  It would be a long dinner filled with official business, and unofficial prying about Jordan. They knew about him. They probably knew about the kisses. Her father, at least, knew far more about him that Astrid did, thanks to the completed background check.

  In her dressing room, Martina, Astrid’s lady’s maid and stylist helped her out of the beige pantsuit, though Astrid dismissed her before donning her new favorite pajama pants and a soft t-shirt.

  She collapsed on her bed. Dinner wasn’t for another few hours. The snack that had been waiting for her in the car would hold her over until then, but for the moment she just wanted to sleep.

  Maybe dream that Andrei was still with her, holding her in the bed they’d shared for far too short a time.

  And dream she did.

  But instead of the placid dreams of living life with Andrei, when Astrid awoke, all she remembered was the laughing blue eyes of a certain Canadian.

  She changed and walked to her parents’ dining room with an unsettled feeling deep inside.

  4

  Jordan moved his oar smoothly from one side to the other as he paddled his kayak into the cove. Though his body had let him down the day he met Astrid, he’d come a long way. He’d been in shape before, but was in better shape now. The miles long trek, both ways, each day had pushed him into the best shape of his life.

  He paddled right up onto the beach before getting out and pulling the kayak further away from the waves.