The Spare and the Heir

by Carol Moncado

  This had to have been in the works for a while. His grandfather had likely been talking about it with his father for a year or more. The decision to announce on this day had probably been planned for quite some time, though it could have been changed.

  The date for the abdication would have had to change as well, and his grandfather couldn’t have that. He was legally required to give a certain amount of notice, which meant the date had been chosen far in advance.

  That almost made it worse.

  A knock on the bathroom door interrupted his musing.

  “Gabe?” Esme’s voice floated through the air.

  He contemplated a towel and modesty for her sake, but even if she’d opened the door all the way, she wouldn’t be able to see in the shower.

  “Your brother’s here.”

  He reached for the knobs. “I’ll be right out.”

  After drying off and dressing in pajama pants, he grabbed a shirt and walked out. Tossing the shirt over the back of the sofa, he turned to Esme and winked at her. “Thanks, love.” She looked comfortable in his chair. So comfortable, he leaned over and gave her a soft kiss.

  He turned to Steven. “Congratulations on moving up a spot.”

  Steven sat on the couch and grimaced. “I never understood why you didn’t get a new one of these. You’ll move up a spot, too.”

  Gabe shook his head. “I was never going to be king, even if I didn’t marry a future monarch. You and I both know that.”

  “I don’t have any children. I think that’s part of the reason Grandfather didn’t change the announcement, even though you’re touring on your honeymoon. If something were to happen to both me and our father before I do, then what?”

  “Uncle Graham takes over.” Gabe didn’t want to hear the arguments. Their grandfather might not like Graham, but he was perfectly competent, kind, and even well-liked. He’d always been more of an artist than an athlete, and that irritated Grandfather to no end.

  The animosity had been passed on to their father, and the two brothers didn’t get along.

  “Grandfather would never let that happen.”

  Gabe snorted. “You think he’d take the throne back if he’s stepped down, and you two die in a tragic cricket accident? That’s not how it works. You don’t get a do-over. Besides, who would take over then? My children certainly won’t be in the Auverignonian line of succession.”

  Steven stood. “You don’t think Grandfather would try to get your spare, and bring him or her here?”

  “Don’t call him that.” Gabe surprised all of them with the force behind the words.

  “Call who what?”

  Gabe glanced at Esme and tried to tone it down. “My second child. Don’t call him the spare.”

  “You don’t have one child, much less two. It’s a pointless discussion.”

  For the moment, Gabe let it drop. “Regardless, the laws of Sargasso are such that my children will never be in the line of succession, or if they are, they’ll probably be required to rescind their claim should it ever get to them.”

  “There’s another solution.”

  Both brothers turned to look at Esme. “If Auverignon is left without a direct heir, it could always be absorbed into one of the Quad Countries. It’s always been presumed Auverignon and Eyjania would combine if needed, but with the joining of our two families, it would only make sense to absorb Auverignon into Sargasso. The monarch would appoint a Governor General of Auverignon, most likely one of the monarch’s descendants whenever possible. The heir when of age, to gain experience, or the monarch’s sibling perhaps.”

  Gabe sensed something in her that told him she wasn’t entirely serious. From his brother’s sputtering, he doubted Steven saw it.

  She waved a hand. “Of course, it’s a ludicrous idea, just like this discussion the two of you are having.” After lowering the footrest, she stood. “Now, Steven, would you mind taking yourself elsewhere? I have something I need to discuss with my husband before the ball later this evening.”

  Because Steven had been raised to be a gentleman, he stood, bowed his head toward Esme, said a goodbye, and left.

  Gabe turned to her. “What do we need to talk about?”

  She didn’t say anything but walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his still-bare chest.

  He could get used to this. Gabe folded his arms around her. “What’s this for?”

  “You’ve always been the extra one. The spare. The extraneous one. Right?”

  Tightening his hold, he leaned his chin against the side of her head. “Basically.”

  “One who could be given to a whole other country without them even feeling the loss in their family unit.”

  Her insight surprised him. “More or less.” Gabe pressed a kiss against her hair. “Doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

  “I can’t imagine it does. Always being seen as the heir isn’t always easy, but at least I know I’m needed, even if it’s the happenstance of birth order and not for me specifically.”

  He’d never thought of it quite that way. “I’m used to being left out of conversations.”

  “It’s more than that, though, isn’t it?”

  “I won’t be at my father’s coronation.”

  “Is that bad? You’re still an Auverignonian, but it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever live here again permanently.”

  Gabe found himself rubbing a hand absentmindedly up and down her back. “It’s not that.”

  “What is it then?”

  He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly before replying. “The coronation is on my birthday.”

  Esme didn’t respond for several seconds. “There’s no good way to respond to that, not without resorting to language I don’t generally use.”

  A half-smile tugged at one side of his mouth. “Thank you.”

  She leaned back and looked up at him. “We have a long way to go, Gabe. We may never get there, but that doesn’t mean I want to see you hurt.”

  He reached up and brushed her hair back. “I’ll take that for now.”

  Esme leaned up and brushed her lips against his. “It’s a start,” she whispered.

  Then she kissed him again.

  13

  For the second time, Esme drifted off in Gabe’s arms, but this time was very much different than the first.

  She didn’t regret what happened between them, but beyond that, she didn’t know what she felt.

  Except warm. Cherished. Almost loved even.

  That shocked her.

  Given Gabe’s history - a history she struggled mightily to forget as she lay in his arms - it surprised her that she would feel those things. She’d thought herself too jaded.

  Or maybe he’s just that good at making women feel special when they’re not.

  Esme pushed the voice away. She didn’t want to even entertain that idea. True or not, it had no place in her mind.

  Gabe’s arm tightened around her stomach as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder to wake her up from her catnap. “I’m going to get a bottle of water. Do you want anything?”

  She had to try three times to get any words out. “No, thank you.”

  He chuckled and kissed her shoulder again. “Why don’t I get you a water anyway? Sounds like you could use it.”

  “Thank you.”

  While he was gone, Esme stayed still, trying to absorb the last few hours since they’d stopped for lunch. This certainly wasn’t the outcome she’d expected for the day.

  Gabe returned from his closet. There must have been a refrigerator in there. He wore sweat pants but still hadn’t put a shirt on since his workout and subsequent shower.

  He held out the water bottle.

  Clutching the sheets to her chest, Esme sat up then took it from him.

  Gabe walked away from her, twisting the cap off his bottle as he did. “You know we have the ball in a couple of hours, right?”

  “I’d forgotten,” she admitted.

&nb
sp; He grabbed his shirt off the back of the couch and tossed it to her. “We have to be in the anteroom near the ballroom at quarter to eight.”

  She set her water down and tugged the shirt over her head. “Can’t we leave early? Just go back to Sargasso?” Esme knew she sounded like a whiny child, but she didn’t want to spend time playing nice with in-laws who would purposely overshadow a second son because of their antiquated belief that he mattered less.

  “Not before the ball, but we could leave immediately after if you wanted.” He sat on the bed with his back to the headboard, but not close enough to actually touch her.

  “I would like that. I’m ready to go home.” Not ready to face life as a married woman, with Gabe always at her side, but ready to be out of Auverignon. She reached for her phone to find it wasn’t on the side table. “I’ll let Judy know. She and Karen should be here in a few minutes to help me get ready.”

  And that meant she needed to get up and start. Esme wasn’t quite sure the protocol for that after sharing something so intimate with a man.

  Gabe saved her. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I have a little bit of work to do before I start getting ready. Don’t let me keep you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ninety minutes later, she met him near the door to the hall. He’d changed into his most formal tuxedo, complete with sash and medal. The medal and sash were both from Sargasso. The sash indicated he was a senior royal in Islas del Sargasso. The medal was for bravery above and beyond, though sometimes given for service to the crown. In this case, it was believed to be given as the queen’s new son-in-law, but Esme knew it was really for how he protected her and others during the hostage ordeal.

  “Is there a subtle dig in your attire?” Esme asked as she reached up to straighten his tie.

  “I’d planned on wearing these anyway, but there might be a little more satisfaction in it now.”

  “Why were you going to?” She thought she knew but needed to hear it from him.

  “My first allegiance is no longer to Auverignon, despite my citizenship. I need to declare that publicly this first time out. That’s not to say there won’t be times when I wear Auverignonian colors and insignia, but not tonight.”

  He took her hand as they left his suite. She could already hear their things being packed in the closet. In fact, it had started while they finished getting ready.

  Esme’s teal gown was one of her favorites. She hadn’t planned to wear it this evening but decided to at the last minute. Originally, it would have been a new gown that would have set the what’s-she-wearing media afire. Instead, they’d be perplexed that she’d chosen something previously worn.

  It would probably get more attention than the new dress would have.

  “We need to talk later.” Gabe kept his voice low. Though the ball was being held farther away from where they were, staff bustled about.

  “I know.” Despite that, she’d avoid it as long as she could.

  Esme had been to balls at the palace before but had never come from the direction of the family’s private quarters. The increase in noise level indicated they were getting closer.

  “Are we eating at this ball?” She hoped they were.

  “There will be food, but there’s not a banquet.”

  Fabulous. Small hors d’oeuvres. Barely a bite if she wasn’t in public. Two because she was and couldn’t be seen as snarfing down even the smallest bit of food.

  “I’ll have Russell make sure there’s something to eat on the plane as soon as we take off.”

  “Thank you.”

  Anything else she would have said remained unspoken as her in-laws appeared. Gabe’s grandmother greeted her with a hug and air-kiss, but none of the others said much of anything to either of them.

  His grandmother also gave Gabe a hug, holding him for a moment and whispering something in his ear. He nodded but didn’t reply.

  They were announced first out of the royals assembled. It grated on Esme’s nerves, not because she felt they were more important, but this ball was in their honor. Protocol would generally indicate they be announced last, as the guests of honor, with Gabe’s grandparents directly before them.

  Instead, they stood to the side while the king and queen had the first dance, then were joined for the second with Gabe’s parents.

  Princess Genevieve of Eyjania stood next to Esme. “Sorry they’re being so ridiculous,” the other princess whispered. As Steven’s date, she’d been announced directly after Gabe and Esme. “They don’t get it.”

  Esme took a sip of her champagne and gave a slight shrug but didn’t say anything.

  “My brother didn’t either, not until Katrín got through to him. Maybe it’s too late for Granddaddy dearest, but perhaps the soon-to-be monarch will figure it out. If not, maybe Gabe can knock some sense into his brother someday.”

  Unable to hide her smile, Esme nodded. “One can dream.” The song changed. She set her glass down. “Until then, I think I’m going to dance with my husband.”

  Gabe was already bowing her way before sweeping her into his arms and twirling her around the dance floor.

  * * *

  The ride to the airport didn’t take long, even without an official escort. Esme changed out of her heels into flats, but Gabe didn’t even undo his tie. Pictures were possible from a distance. Unseen shoes were one thing, looking sloppy was another. The only thing they might notice about Esme’s shoes was that she didn’t look quite tall enough next to him.

  The SUV pulled up a few steps from the stairs. There was no crowd this time. Shouts from reporters off in the distance were easy to ignore.

  Gabe planned to talk to Esme as soon as they were in the air, but she went to the back of the plane, taking her stylist with her, closing the door behind them.

  He took off his tie and sash, dressing down as far as he was able. After about twenty minutes, he went to the back and knocked. A few seconds later, Esme’s stylist opened the door and left, muttering an excuse me, sir as she brushed past him.

  Gabe closed the door to the small bedroom. Esme sat in front of a mirror and pulled a pin out of her hair.

  “Need some help?”

  Her eyes met his in the mirror. “Not particularly. Just taking the pins out. I’ll put it up in the morning before we land.”

  It only took a step and a half to stand behind her. “Let me help,” he said softly. With the pads of his fingers, he massaged her hairline, working his way back toward the part of her head where the pins would be. Every time he encountered one, he gently removed it. It didn’t take long for him to finish.

  “You were trying to avoid me, weren’t you?”

  She let her head fall forward as he began to knead the base of her neck with his thumbs. “The thought of being asleep by the time you made it in here did cross my mind,” she admitted. “I’m not sure I’m ready to have the discussion you want to have. I don’t understand what happened this afternoon, or why it happened, and until I do, I’m not sure a conversation is going to be productive for either one of us.”

  Gabe pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “That’s almost exactly what I was going to say. We need to figure out what’s happening between us, but I’m not ready to talk about it either.” He’d been unprepared for the emotions that went with being so close to her, both here on the plane and earlier in his suite.

  No. Not his suite anymore, but his former suite.

  He didn’t live there anymore.

  The knots in her muscles began to release as he continued. “Regardless of what happened earlier, I don’t have any expectations, Esme. I hope you know that.”

  “I didn’t know what you expected.” It sounded almost like a confession.

  Picking up a hair band off the table, he pulled her hair into one hand and put it in a ponytail. It wouldn’t do for public, but for a few hours of sleep it would be all right.

  “Get some rest,” he told her, kissing her head again. “After you get in bed, I’m going to
change and join you. We both need some sleep.”

  Esme nodded as he moved away from her. As she moved toward the side of the bed, she redid her hair. “It was decent,” she told him. “But had a weird bubble that I know would keep me up.”

  “You’ll have to try a lot harder than that to offend me.”

  As soon as she was curled under the covers, he changed then joined her. She didn’t turn toward him like he hoped she would someday, but she also didn’t object when he held her loosely.

  The ride was smooth enough that he fell asleep easily, even given the trauma of the day. About an hour before they were to land, his assistant woke them both up. Gabe dressed quickly in a pair of slacks and a collared shirt then left Esme with her assistant and stylist. When she emerged, she wore a bright sundress with a light sweater over the top. Her hair was done in a low twist of some kind, but he couldn’t see any remnants of the mess it was the night before.

  “Is there a greeting party?” he asked, looking back at the paperwork on his tablet.

  “I don’t believe there will be, especially since we’re landing twelve hours early.”

  “Good.” They still needed to look put together, though. The photographers would have been warned of the early arrival.

  “And we’re on our own for the day.” She took the seat next to him and buckled in.

  He swiped up to the next page. “I have some work to get caught up on, so that’s good.”

  “I do, too.” Esme took her tablet from Judy. “We need to start coordinating our schedules and appearances, as well as the charities we support.”

  He nodded his agreement. “I’ll begin gearing up for the 2019 Games of the Sargasso Sea starting next week.” Gabe had never been given tasks of any significance to take care of before. It was a new feeling, leaving him a bit heady, and he prayed he was up for the task.

  Carlotta wouldn’t have given him the job if she didn’t believe he was. Prince Kensington of San Majoria had already reached out and offered any assistance or advice Gabe might need, since he’d been in charge of the last Games.