“This side is fine.” She sat on the left edge of the turned-down bed with her back to him as she plugged her phone into the cord lying on the table next to it.
“If you change your mind, let me know.” He didn’t move as she situated herself on her side, facing the windows - and Gabriel.
“What are you looking at?”
“Today’s media coverage.” He didn’t set the phone down but did look up at her.
Esme felt her nose wrinkle. “Do I want to know?”
“Probably not.”
“Why do you look?”
With deliberate movements, he set his phone on the arm of the chair. “Years ago, I didn’t, but at some point, I decided I needed to keep tabs on what was being said about me. I don’t always do it myself. My assistant helps, but often I look at the more reputable sites. I seldom visit the purely tabloid ones unless he sends me the link.”
She took a deep breath. “What are they saying?”
That half grin crossed his face. “That you looked gorgeous, and I married way up.”
Esme felt a smile creep onto her own face. “They didn’t say you looked nice?”
“Well, yes, but I already knew that.” He gave her that self-assured wink, but it seemed to be almost in jest rather than something he expected to be taken seriously.
“Do I want to know what else?”
“They released two of the photos, including one taken while we were dancing, right after we talked about making sure it looked like we were enjoying ourselves. You pulled it off admirably.”
“Thank you.” She’d look at the pictures in the morning.
Since there seemed to be more on his mind, she waited.
“They aren’t being very kind to your parents.”
That caused Esme to sit up, pushing herself backward until her back rested against the headboard. “Both of them? Why?”
He leaned forward until his elbows rested on his knees and his hands were clasped between them. “No one believes your father took sick suddenly, and no one understands why your mother puts up with him.”
Nothing that surprised her, though she hated it. “If they knew my father like I do, they wouldn’t be surprised.”
“I don’t think surprised is the right word. More like indignant on your behalf.” He stood and flipped the main light off, flooding the room in darkness. At some point he’d grabbed his phone because he used it to light his way.
When he sat on his side of the bed, Esme’s breath caught in her throat, and she wondered what exactly was going to happen next.
6
As he swung his legs up onto the bed, Gabe knew Esmeralda thought he’d try to coerce her into more. He knew she knew he wouldn’t do anything she didn’t say yes to, but that didn’t mean she believed he wouldn’t pressure her before they were both ready.
Physically, he found his wife incredibly attractive and kissing her had been a kind of sweet torture because he’d known all along it wouldn’t go any further than that. Behind closed doors, it wouldn’t go that far.
Mentally and emotionally, it was better for both of them to wait before consummating their marriage.
She knew that, too. Gabe wasn’t sure she believed they were on the same page.
As his phone dimmed then turned off, he settled onto his side facing her, the sheets pulled up under his arm. If only he could get rid of the shirt.
“What are they saying about my mother?”
The pain in Esmeralda’s voice tore at him. It hadn’t been there when talking about her father - which told him everything he needed to know. She didn’t care enough about her father for him to have the power to hurt her.
“They just don’t know why she puts up with your father. On one level, they understand why she doesn’t divorce him. Even though their unhappy marriage isn’t even remotely secret, the effects of a divorce on her legacy wouldn’t be pretty. Many people think she should divorce him anyway. Something like three-quarters of the population think she should either divorce him or permanently exile him, especially after what he pulled today.”
He hesitated before asking his next question. “Do you know why she doesn’t? It can’t be to keep up appearances because there aren’t any appearances to keep up.”
Esmeralda shifted until she was laying down again. He was fairly certain she laid on her back, staring at the ceiling.
Finally, she spoke. “I’ve wondered for years. I think she was in love with him.”
That perplexed Gabe. “Why wouldn’t she have been in love with him? I know he was supposed to marry her sister, and semi-arranged marriages aren’t uncommon in royal circles, especially thirty years ago, but why would she have married him if she didn’t at least like him?”
“My father was my aunt’s fiancé first. After she died, he and my mother eventually decided to get married. I’ve never heard of the great love story or anything of that nature, but there’s a piece of me that wonders if she was in love with him all along. His...” She hesitated long enough Gabe wondered if she’d continue. “...potential infidelities broke her, I think. They were never proved, but I think they did more than just break her heart. I think, despite being in love with him, she couldn’t stand sharing him. It’s why they were married for several years before I was born and why my brother is a number of years younger than I am.”
It made sense, and it made her fears about his publicly visible lifestyle more understandable.
“I’ve often wondered if my father believed I wasn’t his biological daughter.”
The confession, blurted out in the dark, shocked Gabe. “You think there was someone else for your mother?”
He heard her shake her head. “I don’t think so. I think my father really believes it. I was born almost a month early. If he believed I was full term, he could believe my mother found out she was pregnant by this imaginary other man then... spent time with my father to cover it up.”
Gabe tried to wrap his mind around what Esmeralda was saying. “Does anyone else believe this?”
“Not that I know of. I’ve never heard it speculated about in public, never heard rumors that my mother had affairs.”
“Maybe she didn’t.”
“I don’t think she did, but that doesn’t mean my father ever accepted that I was his child. I think that’s a big part of why he wasn’t there today.”
The sniffle on the other side the bed made the decision for Gabe. He moved closer to Esmeralda, sliding his hand across her stomach and pulling her to him. She turned onto her side and buried her head in his shoulder.
As he held her close, Gabe again prayed silently for peace to wash over her. Eventually, her breathing evened out.
Gabe rolled onto his back, taking Esme with him. Even in her sleep, she snuggled into his side.
This was a moment he would remember for a very long time. She wouldn’t believe him, not yet, but he’d never had a woman fall asleep next to him. He’d never actually slept with one of the women he’d metaphorically slept with years earlier.
With one arm holding her close, he reached over with the other and brushed the tears off the cheek he could reach, then turned his head to kiss hers.
He closed his eyes as peace washed over him in waves. He’d spent the last couple of weeks wondering if this was really the right thing to do. Deep down, he’d always known it was, but the feeling of rightness couldn’t be ignored.
When he woke, Gabe knew Esmeralda was still in bed next to him, but they no longer touched. Sunlight filtered in through the gaps in the curtains. He looked over to see her curled on her side, hugging a pillow to her chest.
Staying as silent as possible, he slid out from under the covers, visited the bathroom, then left through a side door rather than bothering his sleeping wife.
It took him a minute to get his bearings, but he found the kitchen without too much trouble. His coffee would be easy enough, but Esmeralda’s? How did she like it?
“Can I help you, sir?”
He turned t
o see Esmeralda’s assistant. Why was she there so early the morning after the wedding? “Can you tell me how the princess likes her coffee? I’ve never seen her make it.”
Judy smiled. “Of course.” She showed him how to work the machine, which was similar to one he’d used before, but not quite the same. “She also likes to let it sit to cool down, even after adding her creamer. The princess doesn’t jump on many bandwagons, but she does like her pumpkin spice creamer this time of year. I’ve offered to make certain we have enough for year-round, but she says no. August to October is plenty.”
“Thank you.” He started his own cup as he watched how much of the liquid she poured into Esmeralda’s mug.
There was no small talk as he waited for his to be done. He stirred in a couple of sugars then turned to see a tray with some breakfast pastries and fruit on it.
“The princess isn’t always hungry when she wakes up,” Judy told him. “But sometimes she wants a little something to hold her over until breakfast.”
“Thank you.” He set the mugs on the tray and picked it up.
“I can take that for you, sir.”
Gabe shook his head. “I’ve got it but thank you.” The least he could do was deliver his wife her morning coffee the morning after their wedding. It took a little maneuvering to get the door opened, but he managed then closed it quietly behind him.
But when he looked over at the bed, she was gone.
* * *
As she emerged from the bathroom, Esme tied her robe more tightly around her. The splitting headache called for copious amounts of caffeine and probably more medication before long. She tried not to think back to being in Gabriel’s arms, but it was hard not to.
He’d been gone when she woke up. Esme didn’t want to think about where he might have been.
“Good morning.” His voice reached her just as movement caught her attention. He pulled the curtains back, just a little bit, enough to let some light in but not bright enough to overwhelm her. “Your coffee awaits as does some medicine. I imagine you have quite the headache.”
She saw the tray sitting on a side table but didn’t see creamer anywhere. Oh well. She could drink it black once.
Gabriel handed her a mug. She took a sip, smelling the pumpkin spice before she tasted it. “How did you know?”
“Judy helped me,” he admitted, taking his own mug and a pastry off the tray as he sat down. “But I’ll get it right from now on.”
She took a seat in a different chair and curled her feet underneath her. “That’s not necessary.”
He shrugged. “Maybe not every day, but when I get up first and can make your coffee, I’ll get it right.”
“I wouldn’t expect that we’ll be sleeping in the same room for long.” She stared toward the window rather than looking at Gabriel. “When we return from Auverignon, you can have your own room.”
“And people won’t think that’s odd?”
Esme didn’t much care. As sweet as he’d been to her the night before, she wasn’t ready to trust him that close to her - or her that close to him.
“The only people who will know are those who work closely with us. The rooms are connected. It’s not unreasonable that one of us snores or we like the temperature different or any number of other situations where we might want to sleep in different rooms at least on occasion, if not most of the time.”
He didn’t say anything for several moments as they both sipped on their coffees. Finally, he broke the silence. “When do we leave for Isla de Paloma?”
“Sometime today. Whenever we’re ready to leave. The next week is almost completely unstructured.”
“Auverignon is going to be the definition of structured. I think my parents have something planned every day we’re there.”
After another sip of her coffee, she set it to the side and took a pastry. “I’ve seen the schedule. It looks like we won’t have a moment’s rest.”
“Probably not. Two or three engagements or appearances every day as I wrap up my charitable commitments. I’ll remain a patron of some but won’t make many appearances there anymore. There will be two formal events we’ll be attending. King Benjamin will be arriving for a state function, and there will be a ball to celebrate the wedding.”
More time in heels. More aching feet. More semi-sincere smiles. Just because she was used to it, that didn’t mean she liked it.
“Will there be any old girlfriends to deal with?”
“No,” he answered slowly. “Just like I never spent time with women here, I never did in Auverignon, not since right after school, when I dated a few girls. None of them should be at any of the events next week.”
“Good to know.”
The smile that crossed his face seemed almost tentative somehow. “Any old boyfriends I should be worried about?”
Esme slid her legs out from underneath her and stood. “No. I’ve known since I was very young that this marriage would happen. With that in mind, I kept my distance from a relationship with another man.” She turned and headed for her dressing room, so he wouldn’t see the look on her face.
There had been another man.
Once.
Despite her best intentions, she’d fallen hard, all the while knowing nothing could ever come of the relationship. Not exactly the same as Gabriel’s globetrotting.
After exchanging a few text messages with Judy, arrangements were made for a car to pick them up in less than an hour. They’d be driven to the nearby royal dock where they’d board a boat and travel to the island owned by her family. The island was about the same size as the resort they’d been at a few weeks earlier, but even more private.
She didn’t see Gabriel again until they left the apartment. Esme had changed into skinny jeans with silver sandals and a flowing ocean blue top. Gabriel wore slacks with a button-down shirt.
He took her hand as they walked through the door. If anyone was watching they’d look like a tired couple holding hands. Not an inaccurate description.
A small crowd had gathered outside the gates. Esme and Gabriel waved as they passed, but once they were on board the boat, they were out of view of prying eyes for a week. Esme put her earbuds in and listened to some music rather than trying to make polite conversation.
Once on the island, she went straight to her room and gave instructions that she was to be left alone because of a headache.
That part was true. The pain relievers hadn’t helped much.
With the curtains drawn, she changed into a pair of old shorts and a t-shirt. The sheets were cool as she slid between them. With her eyes closed, Esme finally began to relax after days, weeks even, of stress and anxiety bled off.
But the thing that struck her more than anything was how much she no longer liked sleeping alone.
7
For a couple on their honeymoon, Gabe sure didn’t see very much of his wife. For the first half of their week on her family’s island, he seldom saw her. She ate her meals in her suite and spent the rest of her time either in it or in a location Gabe knew nothing about.
Instead of getting to know her, he spent the time working with his assistant and researching charities in Islas del Sargasso. There were a few linked to his work in Auverignon. Those were the organizations he would remain a patron of, but do most of his work in his new home. The others would be new organizations, but at least some would be similar to those he had supported in the past.
The week before Queen Carlotta had approached him about taking over the 2019 Games of the Sargasso Sea. There was almost nine months before the opening ceremonies, but much work remained to be done. When he’d asked why she didn’t ask Esmeralda, she’d given a long-winded answer, but ultimately said nothing, so he’d agreed. The first of the paperwork had arrived. The woman who’d run it for the last two decades would work alongside him for the Games. Barring a momentous change, he’d be solely responsible for the 2021 Games.
At least this time, they wouldn’t be overshadowed by the kidnapping of a ro
yal child.
The Games had been held in San Majoria in 2015 and 2017. Not long before the Games in 2017, Prince Kensington’s young sister-in-law, with a relationship more like father-daughter, had been kidnapped. She had been rescued at one of the venues. With the death of Prince Isaiah of Eyjania, the biggest threat to security in the Quad Countries was gone. At least Gabe wouldn’t have to worry about anything like that.
“Is there anything else, sir?” Russell set his tablet down.
“Not right now,” Gabe told him with a shake of his head. “I think we’ve accomplished far more than expected this week.”
“Yes, sir.” Despite their years together, Russell generally refused to give opinions or offer insight outside of his job description, and never while actually on the job.
“I think I’m going to go for a swim, or maybe windsurf around the island.” He’d spent some time with Prince Jordan of San Majoria earlier in the year and the former Canadian shared his love of the sport with Gabe. He even said Gabe caught on quicker than anyone he’d ever worked with.
“I’m told the princess quite loves parasailing,” Russell offered.
There was an idea. “Is there a boat equipped with parasailing equipment?”
“I believe there is. I can double check if you’d like.”
“That would be good. Thank you.”
Gabe texted Judy to see about arranging a time for them to go together. She suggested a surprise the next evening and watching the sunset from the sky. Gabe agreed, though he didn’t like the idea that it might be another twenty-four hours before he saw his wife.
Rather than waiting, he went to find her, only to be told by one of the security guards that she was fighting another headache.
That concerned him. Did she need to see a physician? He could understand the headache the day after the wedding. She’d cried for an eternity before falling asleep. Several days in the same week? That might bear looking into.
He texted his assistant who promised to look into something else for Gabe.
The Spare and the Heir Page 5