Forbidden Duke (Princes of Avce Book 4)

by Victoria Pinder

  “Remington is fine.” There was a glimpse of the nice guy others saw in him, she thought, captivated as he poured himself tea. Good. Cassidy tiptoed down the hall toward the sunroom. Remington said, “I hope she does come over. It will be good for her to know Blackwell is off the market, though my grandmother might not approve if I asked her.”

  Cassidy bowed her head outside the door. Soon, anything Gigi might have to say wouldn’t matter. It was fitting in a way that her sister and Remington be superior together. She ignored the barb of pain and entered the room.

  She turned, and there was Gigi, lying on her bed near the open window, staring at her flower garden, away from where Blackwell sat quietly, holding her frail hand.

  Cassidy, head low, made her way to Gigi’s side.

  Blackwell jumped out of his chair. “Hi, Cassidy. I’ll leave you two alone.”

  Cassidy blinked away tears and nodded her thanks. Neither of them said anything. Once the door closed Gigi said, “It’s good to see you, my sweet girl.”

  For years, Gigi had been the only one who had listened to Cassidy, who understood that she was different than her family. Gigi showed her simple joys in life. First in California and then when they’d returned to Avce, she’d tried to give Cassidy a green thumb—but it hadn’t worked. She squeezed Gigi’s hand. “So this dying thing you’re doing? It’s why we’re not in the garden planting a rose bush.”

  Gigi laughed low and throaty. “This was supposed to be your home, my dear.”

  If only she’d been born a Burke, she’d have been happy to be related to Gigi. Cassidy massaged the older woman’s wrinkled hand. “You’re leaving your Remy all alone now.” She sniffed as Gigi’s eyes welled.

  “I’ll be fine.” Remington stern voice sounded behind her and she jumped.

  Drat. He was here. She turned and recognized the rigid expression he always had for her.

  Remington came beside her. “Cassidy, for once be nice to my grandmother.”

  Clearly, he didn’t understand their jokes and never had just like the last time he’d scolded her over her joke about cutting all the rose bushes down.

  Gigi coughed. “Remington Burke, Cassidy is my dearest friend and she should be your wife. I wish you’d treat her better.”

  Cassidy flinched and felt her body go numb.

  “Cassidy!” Remington’s shout shook the windows. Then he took a deep breath. “Grandmother, she hates me. I won’t ruin her life that way.”

  Gigi had a firm grip on Cassidy’s hand as she glanced at her grandson. “You must marry, Remington. It would bring my heart joy to know you married Cassidy. And Cassidy, you’d do well if you left your parents’ house and moved in here.”

  Her heart pounded like a hammer to a nail in her chest. This was impossible. She shouted, “You can’t be serious!” But then lowered her voice. “I’d do anything for you Gigi, but I don’t think Remy and I would get along.”

  Remington stared at her and she felt her skin burn, but his dark eyes were hard to read—when normally she knew his every thought. He turned toward his grandmother, his shoulders bowed. “I’ll marry Cassidy if it makes you happy.”

  Her lips parted and she pushed her hair out of her face. Was he serious? Or was this another of his many pranks he’d played on her throughout the years?

  Gigi’s eyes glistened with tears as she squeezed their hands, but then she coughed so bad that she hacked and went white. Cassidy prayed she didn’t die on the spot.

  Her face felt numb but she nodded. “Okay, it’s decided, then. Remington needs to straighten it out with my father.” She didn’t mention the previous contract for Chelsea. “As long as no one stops me from working at the palace, I’ll agree.”

  Remington tensed and she lifted her head. Any second now, he’d take it back. She was prepared for the worst. He’d tell her it was too late and he was marrying her sister or Lucinda or some other woman from his past.

  Silence clung instead.

  Finally, Remington spoke, and she waited on pins and needles for his rebuttal. Rather than look at her, he turned toward Gigi. “Cassidy and I have a few things to discuss. Can you excuse us for five minutes while we settle our engagement?”

  “Seeing you and Cassidy together will make me happy.” Gigi’s cheeks flushed from her cough, but her gaze showed her approval.

  A knot grew in her stomach. This was a nightmare— marrying Remington when she knew he didn’t care.

  She’d put her desire for Remy away, dreaming that some day she’d meet a man who appreciated her, who wanted her, and she’d marry him. If she married Remy, she’d be stuck here, forever, both of them miserable.

  Remy guided her out by holding her elbow. She hurried into the hall where Donna stared at them with concern. Well, they had been shouting. Remington walked her into the small reading nook across from the day room and closed the door.

  The darkness in the room fit the bleakness of her mood, but he flipped the lights on fast and crossed his arms. “Cassidy, I can’t make promises to my grandmother that I won’t keep. She’s all I ever had and if she wants me to marry you, I need to know you aren’t lying to her.”

  “Actually, I thought you were lying to her.” Cassidy pushed her glasses back to keep her disguise, and tucked a thick mass of hair behind her ear. “I love Gigi too; you know she’s been closer than a grandmother to me.”

  He fell into a wide chair meant for reading and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  Standing over him felt awkward. Unsure of what to do, she sat beside him. Her heart pounded with the knowledge that she would marry him.

  This was real and happening, but she wasn’t sure why she had this zip of awareness in her belly. She kept her lips sealed so as not to ruin the shared moment.

  Slowly, he straightened and stared at her like a man standing on a cliff who was thinking about jumping to his death. “If I speak to the queen about a wedding this week, you’ll be prepared?”

  Cassidy was no fool and knew that the Bright family financial situation was about to change. She could hear the happy squeals and her mother wasn’t even here. She lowered her head and spoke softly, “I’ll need twenty-four hour notice to figure out clothes, and I have to tell my parents.” Would they even care about the circumstances? “I have tons of personal leave and I’d like to take time to be here, for Gigi, until the end.”

  “Move in today.” Remington stood, his jaw tight, very much lord of the manor. “I’ll have a room prepared for you. Are you sure?”

  Cassidy let her hand fall to her side. She whispered, “Yes. Go tell Gigi and I’ll be right in.”

  “Don’t run on me again, Cassidy,” Remington said coolly.

  Run? Was he talking about when they’d gone camping? She’d only been thirteen, and him, fourteen, with the other cousins. He’d sprinkled honey on her tent, thinking he was funny, and a black bear came in the night, to eat her tent, and her. Remington must’ve been waiting for her to scream because he’d been right there. He’d reached for her, but she’d thrown him in the lake and ran for her life, in the opposite direction. “No more practical jokes.”

  Neither one of them said anything else—though they had much to discuss, there were other priorities, such as rescinding Remington’s proposal for Chelsea and switching it for Cassidy. She rose and they walked out of the small room. Donna called, “Lady Cassidy, Lord Sky, are you all right?”

  Remington’s body straightened and it was clear he’d not talk to Blackwell’s bride. “It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with.”

  Cassidy winced. He didn’t have to be rude. Donna gave her a nod like they were friends. “Seriously, it’s okay if you walk away from one another as you both love your grandmother. For now, can you try to get along or at least ignore each other?”

  Remington glanced at her and placed his hand on her lower back. Again, she felt a jolt of awareness, but ignored the sentiment. No one usually touched or hugged her so anyone would get the same reaction. Or so she told her
self. “It’s not that easy,” Remy said. “My grandmother believes that Lady Cassidy should be my wife and she made it her dying wish.”

  Donna covered her lips and stepped away.

  Perhaps this was the last chance she’d get to say anything, so she took the second and brushed her hand against Remy’s. “Look, I love Gigi and want her at peace, but Remy, we both know you and I are a bad idea.”

  His shoulders were so tight he could double for a sentinel. “I know my grandmother wants us and I must marry. Cassidy, I’m speaking to your father about this.”

  She gently shoved him toward the sunroom and Gigi.

  Cassidy walked with Donna to the blue room, eyeing the tea service and lace cookies.

  Donna turned toward the foyer. “Blackwell is taking a long time with Chelsea.”

  Chelsea was alone with the duke she’d just been jilted by? Her heart raced, and she shook her head. “They’re alone? That’s a bad idea. My sister isn’t that mature.”

  Her sister’s actions couldn’t fall on her shoulders too. Right now, Cassidy had to find her parents, tell them the change in plans and pack a bag. Her mother might help her but then again she might be so excited she’d be no help at all. Cassidy walked toward the main front door with Donna.

  A hundred years ago one of the Burkes had built the phone room to the right, where Chelsea and Blackwell now were. Donna said, “Yes, Blackwell wanted to break the contract. So he wanted to tell her first before meeting with her father today. I’m going in.”

  Her sister was twenty-two and soon, she’d have far more choices in the world than just Avce nobility, if she’d be patient. Cassidy would fund a European tour for her if that is what she wanted. Donna walked into the side room to fetch her fiancé.

  Time to go. Cassidy hurried outside into the setting sun, pulling a small weed from a pink rose bush. Gigi would want the fragrant plants cared for.

  Calmer, she returned to her car and dug out her keys. She tugged the driver’s side door open and jumped in her seat. She turned the ignition and once again the engine purred like it hadn’t given her problems all day yesterday.

  She’d pulled her hair into an elastic tie when she saw Donna run out of the house and toward the front of the car.

  Cassidy rolled her window down, hoping Donna was all right. Chelsea was not an easy foe.

  “Lady Cassidy, can I get a ride?” Donna gestured to the seat beside her where Cassidy had her empty coffee mug.

  She nodded, moved the mug to the back, and Donna jumped into the passenger seat. “Sure, though I think you’re making a mistake,” Cassidy said. “My sister wanted to be a duchess, bad.”

  “Well, she can have him. I don’t marry cheaters.”

  Great. She put the car in drive and rumbled down the road. Cassidy Bright’s two main jobs were computer programmer and family mess cleaner. At least her computer program helped people find love, because her other life certainly lacked the emotion.

  But for the ride home, she chattered with Donna and didn’t think about Remy. At the back of her mind she wasn’t sure she could be his bride, not really.

  Princes of Avce

  Forbidden Crown

  Forbidden Prince

  Forbidden Royal

  Forbidden Duke

  Forbidden Earl

  Forbidden Monsieur

  Forbidden Monsieur Preview

  Early Draft; Will be Edited

  Chelsea Bright can have anything she wants. Yes, absolutely. Any man would be lucky to have her. She flipped her hair behind her back, checked her sunglasses covered her face and strutted into the reception door of her sister’s son baptism party.

  The fact the father of her nephew had stupidly been on her list once made her pause as she saw how Remington Burke, the Earl of Sky, doted on her sister and their son.

  All this vision of family and visiting royalty who cheered on the lawn of Bei Giardini Manor, her extremely rich brother-in-law’s estate meant that somehow Cassidy needed to finally do it. She took a champagne glass from a passing waiter and tried to calm her racing heart.

  No more delaying the inevitable. No more painting to express herself. It was past time. She needed to get married and support her parents so all of them fit into the royals of Avce.

  Last month, in Paris, her mother had pointed out that they were living on borrowed time thanks to her sister’s match, but it was up to Chelsea to ensure the Brights had a future now.

  She’d not let anyone down.

  She gazed the party and saw no single, eligible rich man of consequence, but then again she knew she needed to head back to Paris. Duc Astorre Manfredi was both her mother and hers most favorite bachelor in Avce, and it was past time she set out to meet the man who would likely be her husband.

  Her sister waved her over to where she stood with her baby boy dressed all in white and called out, “Chelsea, there you are. Come take a family photo with us.”

  Her sweet older sister was lucky. Chelsea saw that now. She married her best friend who happened to be one of the richest men in the country. Right now Chelsea put her champagne glass, untouched, down at the family table and headed over for that photo.

  Her sister hugged her and for the one second, Chelsea wished she could really talk to her smart, perfect older sister.

  However her husband turned her to shake hands with the Queen.

  Chelsea kept her head down in a bow until the Queen left.

  Her sister then asked, “Are you having a good time, sis?”

  “I’m just happy your happy now.”

  “Me too.” Cassidy said. “And mom tells me you and her are heading back to Paris tomorrow.”

  “Yes, it’s time to do my part.” Chelsea said and again she glanced at the outdoor spread. Everywhere royals and nobility of Avce picnicked in celebration of one of the newest members of society, her cute nephew Cristian Burke.

  Her nephew would never lack for anything and was already one of the richest men in Europe, despite being less than a month old. “Can I hold him a few minutes?”

  “Of course.” Cassidy said and handed her son to her. “You are his godmother.”

  Right. Her sister actually thought she’d be a good replacement for her? Cassidy was smart. Her computer program to find true love for the nobles of Avce was starting to get international recognition. Half of the old world was curious who the computer claimed was their true loves. So Cassidy married a rich earl and as a countess in her own right, her sister was banking.

  It was too bad she had no idea how their father lost the money he’d gotten for Cassidy’s marriage to Remington and that her husband didn’t wish to bail her father out of a jam.

  This meant Chelsea really had to do find this Duc Astorre Manfredi and charm him.

  Her nephew, Cristian, cooed in her arms and brought her back. Maybe after she married and had a baby, she’d finally be happy. The cooing was almost as beautiful a sound as visually expressing her version of beauty on a canvas.

  If only she had time to paint her new favorite godson. Her heart ached but she gave him back to her sister and said, “I have to go, sis.”

  “Hot date?” Cassidy asked. “I know the singles of Avce were all too busy to come today.”

  “You know me. The life of a party.” Chelsea winked and sashayed off like she always did.

  No one said goodbye to her when she made her way to the door.

  Her older black Mercedes now sparkled though as she made her way to the valet to claim it.

  Near the door, she saw the Duke of Oakley and his wife that her sister matched together kissing as they waited for their car.

  In another life, Chelsea might believe that loved existed because in her current life it didn’t matter. She’d kiss a frog, hold her nose and just get over herself.

  Dreams had never been worth even a penny. As the sun set, she made her way toward a different estate. As she drove onto the notorious Matteo Korbel, the Count of Golchin’s, estate, her spirits sank but she kept her head
up.

  The music was already piercing the air and she hadn’t even made it onto the driveway or the valet. She tugged off her baptism jacket and checked her makeup in the mirror. Pink lipstick and her now low cut pink dress that was properly inappropriate barely covered her top.

  Finally it was her turn to park the car. She fluffed her straight blonde hair as she stepped out of the car and tossed the keys to her valet.

  Instantly her gaze locked near the front door with the closest man she had to a friend, and one she’d never consider marrying herself, the Marchese of Normanni, Stephano Durnovo. He had one foot on a roman column as he smoked his cigarette but he tossed it the second she joined him. “You look sweet enough to eat tonight, Chelsea.”

  “I’m not on the menu, but I can totally ask my sister who your true love might be so you stop ogling.” She rolled her eyes and peeked into the party behind the front doors while covering her chest.

  He made a sound with his lips so she turned toward him. “You’re the one putting them out there on display for me and every other guy to notice, Chels.”

  If only she was attracted to Stephano. But honestly he was too handsome and he’d never be faithful to any woman. He wasn’t born that way, but he’d always been the one who knew where to find trouble which made Stephano and Matteo, the owner of the house, her best friends. While her sister was always a good girl, Chelsea preferred to know how the other half who didn’t care about anything lived.

  Stephano finally took a step to walk with her and they walked into the estate mansion that doubled as the noble nightlife of Avce’s best.

  She glanced at the bar and of course saw Olivia sitting on it with two men on either side of her pouring her more martinis. Olivia loved to play sex goddess to be worshipped at these parties.

  Chelsea kept walking past the dance floor and finally saw Matteo, with his arms wrapped around some redhead who was so white, she’d burn in the Avce sun. Or she’d burn up Matteo’s mattress tonight. She’d not interrupt.

  Some dark haired woman with rather large breasts stopped Stephano from walking with her, but that was fine.