The Making of a Princess

by Teresa Carpenter

  “Is it Xavier? He told me of your time together.”

  “He did?” Her eyes went big as her heart sank. She couldn’t believe Xavier betrayed her again.

  “No.” He lifted the chin she’d lowered, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You must not blame him. I saw the way you clung to him and guessed there was more to it. He very reluctantly confirmed my suspicions. He held his silence much longer than I, his Ruler and your father, cared for.”

  “I’m not sure you get to be both at the same time.” Did she get to be mad at Xavier for answering a direct question from his Prince? She didn’t think so. She wouldn’t lie to the President of the United States.

  “But I am both.”

  “Not when it comes to my love life. Promise me there will be no politics, no persuasion, no undue pressure, no hint of a preference from you to Xavier regarding anything to do with me.”

  Clearly he did not care to have his hands tied. “I just want you to be happy.”

  “I know and I appreciate it, but my relationship with Xavier is over,” she assured him, ignoring the mortifying heat in her cheeks in the hopes it would soon recede. “He ended it.”

  “And if he hadn’t?”

  Good question. She eyed him through her lashes. “He says we could never be together.”

  “Because he is a guard and you are—”

  “Your daughter, yes. Is that true?”

  For the first time since she met him, he didn’t seem to have an answer. “I—I do not know. There is no precedent.”

  He stood and paced in front of the fireplace. She held her breath unsure why she let him struggle with the question when it didn’t change anything. She’d given up on any future for her and Xavier. Hadn’t she?

  “I think in the past it may have been a problem, but these are modern times. Whether you agree to stay or only come for occasional visits you will be an honored citizen, and I would be most pleased if you found one of my people to make a life with.”

  “Oh, Papa.” Such acceptance humbled her. “Then you need to let us find our own way. I cannot be with a man if I don’t know that he is with me of his own free choice because he loves me.”

  “Of course he cares for you. Who would not love you?”

  “Papa,” she chided him, both pleased and exasperated. “It is not as simple between a man and a woman as between a father and daughter. But even in this short time I have also come to love you.”

  “Ah.” He inclined his head to her. “A proud man does not always find it easy to express emotion. But you are smart as well as beautiful and you read me well. Yes, you have burrowed your way into my heart. I will be quite distressed if we were to become separated again.”

  “Me too,” she said softly. “Papa, how did your relationship with my mother end? Did she just leave at the end of the summer?” He’d told her much of her mother, but not this.

  “There are times when you look so much like her it takes me back twenty-five years. Those were not my best years. I was arrogant and felt entitled. And I was hurting, as it seemed certain I would lose my grandmother.” He led her back to the sofa, urged her to sit.

  “Haley made all that go away. When her time to leave Pasadonia came, I asked her to stay and she did, allowing her friends to travel on to Italy without her. I believe she wrote letters to her parents and had her friends mail them for her. She never liked to talk about them much.”

  “But she returned with her friends to the United States.”

  “Oui. Again I asked her to stay, but I could not give her assurances of a future together. I was not ready to settle down. I could not think of such with my grandmother’s illness.”

  “You never tried to find her?”

  “I had no reason to. Life moved on. If I had known of you, I would have stopped at nothing to find you.”

  “I know.” She believed him. Believed also that her mother had lacked the courage to reach for forbidden love so far from everything she knew.

  If given the chance, would she have the guts to do what her mother hadn’t?

  “Enough of this seriousness.” He walked to the table and picked up the black case. “I came to give you this.” Lifting the top, he revealed a glittering diamond necklace. A web of descending scallops ending in a teardrop diamond as big as her thumbnail.

  “It was Vivienne’s. It seems appropriate you should have it.”

  “Oh, no.” A hand to her throat, Amanda stepped away. “I couldn’t possibly.”

  “I want you to wear it.” He lifted the jewels from the case.

  “Bernadette,” she said helplessly.

  “She agrees these will look beautiful on you.”

  “Someone may recognize them,” she argued, even as she stopped her retreat.

  “Doubtful. The only portrait of her wearing the jewels has been on tour for nearly six months.”

  “That’s right.” She remembered the piece now. “This necklace was on the tour. I saw it in San Francisco.”

  “I had it flown back just for tonight.”

  “Goodness, I guess I can’t let that extravagance go to waste.”

  “Excellent.” He had her turn and fastened the clasp. Then he walked her to a gold-framed mirror. “Absolutely stunning. No doubt about it. You will be the belle of the ball.”

  * * *

  Amanda slowly made her way to the ball. Her father had given her much to think about. Not least of which was clearing the way for her and Xavier to be together. Would he be pleased by the news or find another excuse for them to break up?

  And how did she feel? Did she want another chance with Xavier?

  The sharp spike of lust and longing she’d experienced in the courtyard earlier surely indicated yes. The simple truth was she loved him.

  And she missed him.

  All week he’d been close by, either keeping an eye on her and the kids, or her and the Princess, or escorting her to some event or another. Those were especially trying times, when he actually touched her. How bittersweet to have him hold her hand or drape an arm around her shoulders when she knew it was just for show.

  She wanted to go back in time to when they were a couple and pretend the breakup never happened. But she hadn’t played make-believe since the year Grandmother refused to let her go back to Princess Camp.

  So the question remained, did she love him enough to put the past behind them and move forward together? Assuming he even wanted her.

  Who was she kidding? She knew he wanted her. The flash of heat in his eyes today, the way his hands lingered on her longer then circumstances warranted, and his overstimulated protective instincts made it clear. He couldn’t hide his feelings any better than he could lie to his Prince. Honor and honesty were built into his DNA.

  Being so hurt she’d lost sight of that for a while. Not anymore. She had a future to plan and where he fit into it played a big part in the decisions she had to make.

  Reaching the top of the staircase leading to the foyer of the ballroom, Xavier suddenly came into view. He waited to the right of the entrance, out of the flow of traffic.

  Her breath caught in her chest. He looked magnificent in his dress uniform of black trousers and white jacket, with braiding and medals draped and pinned on him to show his rank and mettle. He stood as tall and proud as any Prince Charming she had ever read about.

  But this princess had found her prince in her father and now she just wanted an ordinary man, to live an ordinary life.

  No, she corrected as she walked toward her future, an extraordinary man to live an extraordinary life.

  His eyes gleamed his approval when she reached him. He bent over her hand, kissing the backs of her fingers.

  “Never have I seen anything more beautiful than you in this dress. You are a moonbeam sent down from heaven.”
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br />   Pleased, she beamed up at him and ran a proprietary hand along his lapel. “I feel beautiful tonight. You look gorgeous yourself. I’m going to have to find a stick so I can fight the girls away.”

  “I have eyes for no one but you.” He tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow and led her inside. “You must save every dance for me.”

  Hearing their names announced together gave her a thrill and set the tone of the evening. After proceeding through the receiving line where she exchanged warm glances with her father and Bernadette and wary gazes with Carlo, Xavier led her through the glittering crowd to a cocktail table where his parents stood with drinks waiting.

  There would be no sitting in the ballroom, but a few salons opened off the east wall and the terrace doors were open, inviting the guests to enjoy the evening air.

  “My dear, you are simply enchanting.” Yvette greeted her with a kiss on each cheek.

  Philippe also claimed a kiss as Amanda admired Yvette, the woman’s lush curves shown to advantage in a scooped neck midnight blue gown that belled gently from a dropped waist.

  “This room is spectacular.” Amanda turned in a complete circle to take in the huge room framed by elaborate molding in antique gold, while white marble columns marched in matched pairs down the length of the room, separated by side tables topped by white rose bouquets bigger than she was. Three crystal chandeliers glimmered overhead and a dropped balcony housed a full orchestra. A lovely stage for the festive attendees dressed in lavish gowns, slick tuxedos and sparkling jewels.

  “I love these affairs,” Yvette confessed. “It is the one night of the year I feel important.”

  “My dear.” Philippe pulled her close and planted a kiss in the curls piled on top of her head. “You are important to me every day of the year.”

  “Mon amour.” She gave him a loving glance and he took the opportunity to steal a kiss.

  Amanda sighed. Such love after being together for more than thirty years. That’s what she wanted.

  “I know what Yvette means. Tonight has a special feel to it, a fairytale feel.” She lifted her glass of champagne. “So I propose a toast, to happily ever after.”

  “Perfect.” Yvette gave a delighted laugh. And Xavier and Philippe indulged her by clinking glasses.

  Music swelled through the room and Jean Claude and Bernadette took to the floor to start the dancing. When other couples joined them, Xavier held his hand out to her and inclined his head in invitation.

  Placing her hand in his, she followed him to the dance floor and flowed into his arms. Time flew after that as the music moved from one piece to the next and she danced with one charming partner after another—including her father for a few brief minutes, and for which she received a fierce glare of disapproval from Carlo.

  Xavier seemed content to watch her, taking to the floor only a few times. Once with his mother and a couple of times with women who were obviously friends of his mother’s. When Elayna asked him, he politely declined.

  Seeing the exchange, Amanda smiled brightly at her current partner, and pleading the need for some air, excused herself. Once free of him, she threaded her way back to Xavier, who immediately opened his arms and moved them into a slow waltz.

  Yes. She sighed and relaxed against him, letting him lead them through the crush. For a few minutes she just enjoyed the moment. The lilting music, the ambiance, the solid feel of his arms around her.

  Had there ever been a more perfect moment?

  Except it wasn’t perfect was it, if he was only here out of a sense of duty?

  Enough already. She was tired of wondering, tired of almost being with him. She needed to know how he really felt, and not just what was expected of him.

  Lifting her head, she met his intense gaze and hope swelled within her. Surely that much heat must have some feeling behind it.

  “Who would you be with tonight, if you weren’t required to put on this act with me?”

  His dark brows lowered into a frown. “I am not now, nor have I ever put on an act when I was with you. And I would not wish to be here with anyone but you.”

  “Truly?”

  “Truly.”

  “Who did you come with last year?”

  “I came alone last year.” He gave a half smile. “I was a great hit with my mother’s friends.”

  “It’s very sweet of you to dance with them. I’m sure it’s the highlight of their night.”

  “Hmm.” He swung her around, tightening his arm around her waist and pulling her tighter to him. “Does this interest in my past activities mean you’ve forgiven me?”

  She tilted her head to gaze up at him. “Why do you want my forgiveness when you’ve chosen not to fight for any future together?”

  “I have been rethinking my decision. Having you so close this week but not being able to really talk to you, share your laughter, has shredded my heart every minute of every day.”

  The rawness of his voice ripped right through any lingering doubts. She threaded her fingers in the crisp softness of his hair and pulled his head down to hers. With a hoarse groan he closed the distance between them, claiming her mouth as if starved for the taste of her.

  And she savored his ardor because it had been forever since she felt the press of his lips, the sweep of his tongue, since she drank in the very essence of him. But after a moment she pulled back. It wasn’t going to be that easy.

  “So I should forgive you? But you were just doing your job, fulfilling your duty to your Prince and your country?”

  “Yes. But I was clumsy about it and my actions hurt you. For this I am sorry.”

  “Because I was too much temptation for you?”

  He lifted a dark eyebrow and his gaze roved over her cleavage, her bare shoulders, her hair, before he looked her square in the eyes. She expected a playful lob, but he gave her total capitulation.

  “Yes,” he confessed. “You stole my ability to think clearly.”

  Oh she liked that. This confrontation may not be as bad as she thought. Still, he deserved a little torture for the heartache she suffered while he was being stubborn.

  “So you’re saying it was my fault?”

  “Yes.”

  She lifted both brows at him.

  “I mean, no.” He quickly backpedalled. “Of course not.”

  When she smiled brightly, he narrowed stern eyes at her. “You are playing with me.”

  She blinked innocent eyes. “Would I do that?”

  “Yes. I do believe you have a bit of a vixen in you.” He tightened his grip on her waist, hauling her closer and bowing his head to whisper in her ear, “I like it.”

  And she liked the way his breath tickled her skin. Angling her head up, she nipped at his jaw then kissed it better. He made a noise deep in his throat and then his mouth was on hers, claiming her as his in a kiss just short of savage.

  With a hum of approval she surrendered to his unleashed passion, standing pliant in the wake of his ravishing demand. Giving so he didn’t have to take, receiving such intense pleasure, she trembled with the need for more.

  The press of his body against hers revealed his desire equaled hers. He finally lifted his head enough to drag his mouth to her ear. “Have mercy.”

  She gave him a closed-mouth smile, took his hand and headed for the door.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  AMANDA STOOD WITH Xavier saying their goodbyes to Yvette and Philippe when suddenly trumpets blared and into the following silence two names were announced, Philippe and Xavier. She noticed the LeDuc family seemed surprised but happy.

  With a squeeze of her hand, Xavier left her to join his father to walk to the front of the room where marble steps led to a raised section where her father and Bernadette sat in elaborate thrones. The night took on even more of a fairytale aspect
as she followed an excited Yvette in the men’s wake.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, once the two of them stood ringside at the bottom of the stairs where the men stood shoulder to shoulder. Xavier was by far the youngest of the group.

  “The men are being knighted,” Yvette whispered. “It is the highest honor a guard can achieve. He must be proficient with three weapons, have acquired ten citations, and have the recommendation of three superior officers. Many years we have no candidates. I have never known of a father and son being knighted in the same ceremony.” Tears spilled from her brown eyes. “I am so proud.”

  A gentleman with a chest full of medals and a sleeve full of stripes stepped forward and recited the list of Philippe’s and Xavier’s accomplishments, which took some time but was thankfully done in English as the many visiting dignitaries made it the most common language.

  Finally her father rose and came forward. A page followed with a large sword balanced on a velvet pillow. Once Jean Claude reached center stage Philippe and Xavier climbed the stairs and knelt in front of him.

  Pride swelled in Amanda. Xavier had worked so hard for this. For a few moments she’d feared her father might have interfered by preempting Xavier into the honor because of her. Xavier would hate that, as would she. But as his qualifications were announced there was no doubt he’d earned this prestigious acknowledgement all on his own.

  And with that realization came another. She had to let her anger go. How could she blame him for acting like a soldier when that was exactly what he was? He may have harbored secret hopes for another occupation at one time, but that only inspired him to dig deeper, try harder, push himself more.

  She got it now. The fact he allowed the man inside to rear his head at all was a huge compliment. That’s what his mother had been trying to tell her.

  No wonder he found it hard to communicate his feelings to her. He had no experience dealing with them. The one relationship that even came close was due to a family connection from his youth.

  Well, he was just going to have to suck it up, because she needed to hear how he felt. From him.