Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow

by Gardiner, Jenny

  “You?”

  “It’s the old style of life in the royal world here. Technically all my father’s assets transfer to me. I am now the lord of the manor. And that doesn’t sit well with Edouardo, which is entirely understandable,” he said. “But what I don’t understand is why he’s blaming me for laws that have been in this country for hundreds upon hundreds of years. I did nothing but be born first. He’s acting as if I’m betraying him or planning to deny him what is rightfully his.”

  “Or that women are out to steal everything you have.”

  Darcy shook his head. “I promise you some day he will regret his actions. Right now he’s just being blind to his anger and grief. If it’s any consolation, I haven’t spoken a word to him since then.”

  “Oh, Darcy. I don’t want to come between you and your brother.”

  “You didn’t. He did. You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and for that I’m deeply sorry.”

  Caroline dipped her head, feeling wistful. “Yeah, me too.”

  “I hope you can find it in you to forgive him, and while you’re at it, maybe me as well.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she said as the waiter brought the porchetta to them. “Wow, this smells divine. You sure we have to share it?” She winked at him.

  By the time the tiramisu con lampone, the cantucci, and a 1998 Avignonesi Vin Santo arrived at the table, Caroline and Darcy had shed their uptight skin and settled into their old selves, talking and laughing with ease.

  “I can’t believe you made me swim in the bitterly cold Atlantic Ocean in December,” he said.

  “I made you?” she said. “Are you kidding? You practically dragged me into the water!”

  “Ha!” he said with a cackle. “I vividly recall you peeling my shirt and pants off, then smacking me on the rear end to hurry me up. And then you grabbed my hand and pulled hard until I relented.”

  Caroline shrugged. “Ah, well, guilty as charged. But it was worth it. But that thing...” She held up her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. “So tiny!”

  Darcy started to laugh. “Stop! The water was incredibly cold. Shrinkage happens. But seriously, we need to change the subject. If I focus on that, I can’t be responsible for my actions, and you know where that leads. And right now, well...”

  “Gee, these raspberries are so juicy. I don’t think I’ve ever had such flavorful berries.” Caroline closed her eyes, savoring one. “How was that for changing the subject?”

  “Thanks. Fun fact: they pick these raspberries up in the mountains where they continue to grow till the end of summer. We’re known for them in Monaforte,” he said. “Maybe we’ll take a day and try to find some of the many mountain berries before the season ends.”

  “I’d like that very much. If you’re sure you can get away.”

  “I think this dinner proves that I need a little escape in my life.”

  He dipped his cantucci into the thick, syrupy vin santo, then tipped it up to hers before taking a bite.

  “Cin cin?”

  “Cin cin, indeed. Cheers, Darcy.”

  ~*~

  Once in the car, Caroline nestled her tired head against Darcy’s shoulder as they gazed out the window at the canvas of stars hanging low in the sky.

  “This is a beautiful country you have, my friend,” Caroline said with a yawn. “A girl could get used to it.”

  Darcy insisted the driver deliver Caroline back to the palace before returning him home. Of course it was the gentlemanly thing to do, but it also avoided potentially awkward decision making.

  Caroline was too sated and sleepy to object. “It was a perfect evening, Darcy. Thank you. I’m glad we can be friends.”

  Darcy gave her a half smile. “Yeah, me too.”

  Caroline wondered if that half smile meant he wished it could be so much more.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  THE next several weeks passed in a blur of activity. Caroline spent most of her days with Gareth and a host of artisanal craftsmen, and attending to woodwork upgrades, selecting window treatments, paint colors, and upholstery at both the apartment and the country home. It was downright amazing to see how quickly things got done for the right people.

  Caroline was supervising kitchen installations when she heard someone calling to her from somewhere in the front of the house.

  “Anybody home?”

  Caroline passed through the dining room and through the long hallway with repeating arches, past the large living room, to find Darcy’s sister Clementine and an extremely handsome man with scruffy dark hair, his eyes hidden by a pair of wraparound sunglasses even though they were indoors.

  “Caroline!” Clementine said, reaching out to give her a hug. “Zander and I were out grabbing lunch and decided to stop by to see what sort of progress has been made.” She wandered around for a moment, stroking the wood paneling, admiring the floors and the décor that was rapidly coming together. “You’ve done a marvelous job. Hasn’t she, Zander?”

  “Ah, the elusive Zander,” Caroline said. “I’ve heard stories of you, but we’ve never quite had the pleasure.”

  Zander cocked his sunglasses atop his head, revealing a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes. He gave her a boyish, crooked grin and reached out a hand. “The pleasure’s all mine. And don’t believe what you hear about me. It’s all lies.”

  Clementine burst into laughter. “And don’t believe him for even a minute. Zander lives to get into mischief. He thrives on it, to his mother’s great dismay.”

  “What’s a spare prince to do?” he said in a woe-is-me voice, shrugging his shoulders and making a pouty face, which got the women laughing even more. “But seriously, I might get in a few little dustups, but my aim is true.”

  “Uh, yeah. You aim to get into trouble and you do!”

  “You need to stop reading the tabloids, Clem. There’s more to life than gossip rags.”

  She gave him a little push. “Your Royal Highness, Prince Alexander, Duke of Garibaldi, we have known each other since we were this high.” She reached down to knee level. “And even back then you were a feisty one, always causing a commotion. Trust me, I’ve heard many tales of your governess having fits over the things you got into, including, but not limited to the time you found yourself wedged in a storm drain. And it grew from there: you went from petty crimes to larger ones, like that naked pool party in Vegas.”

  “Will I never live that down?” he said with an eye roll and a devilish grin that said he hoped not.

  “Okay, enough about my reprobate friend here,” Clementine said. “Any word from my brother?”

  Caroline shook her head. “Look, we had a lovely time of it when we went to dinner, which, by the way, I still need to thank your mother for. Darn it, I keep forgetting that.” She hit her forehead with the heel of her hand. “But nothing more will come of it. We’re going to remain friends.”

  “Friends?” Clem blinked, clearly dumbfounded. “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. What is wrong with my brother?”

  “Now calm down,” Zander said. “Nothing wrong with friends. Especially with benefits. Am I right?”

  “This is why Zander and I will never be more than friends. Without benefits, I might add. He is such a male oaf.”

  “Male oaf? What a sexist remark!” Zander’s broad smile lit up the room, and Caroline could tell he was a charmer from start to finish.

  “What’s sexist about that?”

  “Had you simply said oaf, then I’d be okay with it. It has nothing to do with my being male.”

  “I beg to differ. It has everything to do with your being male. You’re one of those men who want to dabble in women, and even if you find what seems to be the perfect one, well, it doesn’t matter one bit. God forbid you seize upon the opportunity and make some sort of commitment. I mean, there could be a better-thinner-prettier-easier one right around the corner!”

  “I notice you didn’t say smarter,” Caroline said.

 
Clementine reached out and shook her hand. “You’ve got that right, sister. I don’t think brains is high up on their shallow lists. Which is why we women need to stand up for our rights and not let these simpleminded males dictate the rules of the game. If my brother just wants to be friends, then let him. I’ve got better plans for you.”

  She crossed her arms and tapped her finger to her chin. “What would make Darcy supremely jealous? Another man. Now to find one.” She held up a finger. “Wait! I’ve got it. Of course! What about you and Gareth? You’re spending lots of time together, and there’s a huge party at my friend Pippa’s ocean villa next week. I’m sure Darcy will show up as he’s great friends with her brother Harry.”

  “Pippa. What a cute name!”

  “It’s short for Philippa. They had to do something to make it better,” Zander said with a wink.

  “Just because Pippa shut you off,” Clem said.

  “Shut me off? Be serious. I have much bigger fish to fry than Lady Pippa Grimaldi.”

  “I think you mean she hit you over the head with that pan you hoped to be frying fish in.”

  “Getting back to Gareth, ladies,” Zander said. “While your grand conspiracy sounds entertaining and all, I’ve got news for you both.” Once he had their attention, he continued. “I’m afraid Gareth doesn’t play reindeer games with the fawns. He’s all about the bucks.”

  The two women looked at each other, frowning.

  “Are you sure about that? I’ve never heard a thing about his preferring men,” Clementine said, her lips pursed in thought. “Well, that is most inconvenient under the circumstances.”

  “And I can’t believe my gaydar didn’t pick that up. Emma speculated about it, but he just seemed to be very style-conscious is all. Although I didn’t have a thing for Gareth in that way anyhow. But you’d think I’d have figured that out. We’re practically sleeping together, we’ve been working such late hours. I’m afraid protracted jet lag has destroyed bits of my brain.”

  “Or maybe just the stress of my brother being such a blithering idiot,” Clem said. “But it’s no big deal. Because we have a Plan B and his name is Zander.”

  Zander looked at her like she’d sprouted a horn. “Are you mad? I’m not jumping into that briar patch. Uh-uh. No way.” He motioned like a referee overruling a goal. “Man Code rule number one: don’t fuck with your friend’s head.”

  Clementine blurted out a laugh. “Well, that one’s hardly fixed in stone. What about that hideous creature you were caught with, the one who was dating Edouardo. You know, what was her name?” Clementine kept snapping her fingers as if it would help her to recall the woman in question. “Eugenie, that was it,” she said, turning to Caroline, who visibly grimaced at the mention of Edouardo’s name. “Everything all right? You look like I said something offensive.”

  Caro just shook her head. “No, it’s fine.”

  “So my brother dated Eugenie for a while. He was besotted with her, absolutely over the moon. But what he didn’t know was that she was sleeping around with all sorts of men. Pretty much if you had money or power, she was there to be found. Poor Edouardo—I think it forever left him unable to trust women.”

  Poor Edouardo, my ass, Caroline thought.

  “Just to clear my good name,” Zander said. “I had no idea she and your brother even knew each other, let alone were exclusive. So it’s not as if I was a home wrecker or anything. Besides which, she came on to me!”

  “Sounds like ‘poor Zander’ is more in order,” Caroline said, changing the subject. “While I’d love to talk more about this compelling subject matter, I need to be getting back.” The last thing she needed was to be reminded about that lousy git, Edouardo.

  “But wait, we’ve got to strategize how to wake my brother up from his sudden responsibility stupor,” Clem said, nodding toward Zander. “Zander, you willing to pitch in for the cause?”

  Zander looked as if he’d wandered into the middle of a bridal shower and wanted out stat. “Um, Clem, how is it that I got roped into anything? I thought I was just going to have lunch with you and catch up on gossip.”

  “Yes, well, funny thing happened on the way to the café,” she said. “We happened upon a damsel in distress. And now you get to don your prince hat and help the poor girl out. C’mon, Z. You want to see Darcy happy, don’t you?”

  Zander scratched his head in confusion. “Why is it to you women, happiness equals monogamy?”

  “Why is it with you men monogamy is a four-letter word?”

  “Lady Clementine, you are one tough bird,” he said. “I haven’t the slightest idea of why I would agree to this silly game of yours except that I’m bored and like silly games. They keep me on my toes. But you need to understand if I happen to run into anyone in whom I might have a vested interest, well, then, all bets are off. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Clementine said, not even giving Caroline a chance to weigh in on the deceptive scheme.

  “I’ll pick you up Friday afternoon. Bring a bathing suit!”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  CAROLINE had seen more unbelievably unbelievable homes in the past couple of months than she’d seen on every cheesy reality home show she’d ever watched out of boredom on a Saturday night, which was plenty. And Pippa’s home was no exception: a buttery yellow, sprawling Italian-style villa set up from the water and connected by a very steep staircase that led to a sandy beach along a protected cove. Just before the beach was a vast swimming pool with a swim-up bar, obscured behind a waterfall. Caro tried to imagine owning a private swim-up bar. Or a private waterfall, for that matter. Then she made a mental note that once she got back home she should try to find something better than the shitty one-bedroom hovel of an apartment for which she was currently paying rent. And home was going to be mighty hard to return to after splashing in the pool of landed nobility in which she’d been wading. While fun, it sadly served as a constant reminder that she didn’t come from this paradise and at some point would be returning to her old world.

  She felt like a complete party crasher showing up at a strange woman’s house party, but Clementine insisted it would be fine. And at this point, Caro felt acclimated enough to the locals that she knew she’d see at least one or two people she’d met since arriving for her extended stay in the fantasyland of Monaforte. Plus there was her “date,” Zander.

  Clementine had arranged for Zander to ride with them both so that Caro could come in on his arm. Which of course raised all sorts of eyebrows, and as they paraded through the museum-quality rooms of the home, women simply stared at Caroline as if they had X-ray eyes that could see right through her. Make that laser beams that would burn right through her.

  “I feel like a cow about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder for immediate slaughter,” she whispered to Clementine, who just giggled.

  “Don’t worry about them,” she said. “Chances are half of them have already slept with your date, and they’re just jealous he ditched them for you.”

  She’d almost feel better if she paid Zander to do this, but truth be told, she was sort of a silent member of this ruse, unwilling to refuse it because she didn’t want to be the naysayer with her new friend Clementine. Plus the idea of this party did seem awfully intriguing.

  Clementine pulled Zander aside for some final instructions. “So here’s the deal, Zander. My brother is clueless enough to not know he’s got a keeper with Caroline. We need to enlighten him. What that means is it’s up to you to make good and certain that he becomes acutely aware that other men are waiting in line for her. So I want you to lay it on thick. Be all over her, like icing on a cake. You got it?”

  Zander nodded. “I’m down with that. Except—”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. If something better comes along. But do me a favor and try to go just one night without that wandering eye taking over. Let’s do this for Darcy, since he doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

  ~*~

  Caroline decided that a world in which fine
champagne was practically used interchangeably with water was a world she could totally settle into for the long haul.

  “I’d absolutely love another glass of champagne,” she said to the bartender in the swim-up pool bar. The weather was hot enough that keeping hydrated was a necessity, and hey, champagne hydration was as good as any.

  She and Zander had parked themselves in a shallow part of the pool, which was really an unfair description of this outdoor playland Pippa’s family had created. The pool, designed to blend with its natural setting, consisted of concentric sections of swimming areas that swirled on a serpentine Italian-glass-tiled path that reflected the sunlight and featured a raised hot tub in the center. Grottoes had been created toward the deeper part of the pool, looking like something you’d find in a romantic Bali getaway. The pool itself was tiled in tiny iridescent squares of mother-of-pearl in cobalt, gray, and white. Caroline felt like she was bathing in a jewelry box. They both sat facing each other on a built-in ledge along the side of the pool, keeping an eye out for Darcy as guests made their way down the steps.

  A little deeper in the pool, a bunch of guys were playing water basketball. Toward the front, a group of impossibly beautiful women congregated at the swimming pool steps, avoiding the splash zone while trying to look as if they totally didn’t mind getting wet even though they’d kill the first person to splash them. Caro wondered what the locals-to-groupies ratio was at a party like this. It seemed impossible that everyone here came from title and money and just naturally fit into the scene. Surely there were other Carolines at this thing. Meanwhile, Caroline had to pretend she deserved to be here, guest of a prince, of all things. Make that girlfriend of a prince. What a crock! If only my mother could see this, she’d probably elbow me out of the way to get a piece for herself.

  “So, Caroline,” Zander said. “I suppose we should get to know one another if I’m to have my hand settled on your perfectly lovely ass for the afternoon.”

  Caroline turned that charming shade of red that only a ginger can, which embarrassed her even more, causing her to flush brighter still. She was wearing an emerald-green bikini that showcased her gorgeous eyes, and the good news was she felt pretty good about herself even amongst the model-esque women on the pool steps.