by Bella Grant
Royal Baby
Bella Grant
All Rights Reserved.
COPYRIGHT
BELLA GRANT
2018
No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the author.
Contents
Prologue
Eli
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Jason
Elena
Epilogue
TRUST FUND BABY
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Lucas
Debra
Epilogue
INTERNET BRIDE
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
Raymond
Anna
DOCTOR’S ORDERS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
About the Author
Prologue
It is the year 2017, but it doesn’t always seem that way on the small remote island of Caspian in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of France. This island has always been ruled by monarchies, and for the last century and a half, the Burgesses have been in power. Their closeness to civilization affords them bits and pieces of information they occasionally incorporate into their primitive culture. The persons most exposed are those who live in the metropolitan area and who witness the frequent arrivals of royalty. They notice fashion and entertainment and who possesses the few cars the island boasts.
The people, however, who are more rural and make up most of the island in small villages scattered throughout, are, for the most part, cut off from such exposure except when they have to visit the city. They do so either by carts or taxis which come to the villages once or twice weekly.
Life is simple on this island, and the people are content. They are mostly farmers, fishermen, and cattle breeders, supplying the city with their produce. Few villagers have televisions, telephones, or any media support, mainly because they don’t think they need it or because they can’t afford it.
Time passes slowly on this island, but the people are stirred when they experience neglect from their king and taste the hope of a better life when a challenge is issued to the royal family by another European monarchy.
Eli
(ELI: KING’S SERVANT)
Eli pulled his cap over his head and turned to close the door just as his granddaughter ran up to him.
“Papa, where are you going?” Her spiral golden curls bounced on her shoulders as she jumped around and held her hands up for him to lift her.
He lowered himself and rested his palms on his knees. “You know I have to go to the castle in the evenings, Fran.”
The pout clouded her face immediately. “But why do you have to go every evening? It’s almost night.”
Eli ruffled her hair. “That’s just how it is, cupcake. I’ll be back before you fall asleep, okay?”
“Okay,” she relented and hung her head as she turned to go back inside.
He turned once more to the dirt-trodden path he had walked so many times before. The stone steps led away from the small wooden cottage he occupied with his wife and their granddaughter. Their only son had left years before in search of a better life, and they had been charged with looking after Fran when her mother disappeared shortly after. The last they heard, she was auditioning for Broadway plays in New York City, a dream all the girls on the island wanted to achieve. And he couldn’t blame them.
There was nothing much to do on a remote island in the middle of what everyone labeled as nowhere. The amenities were few, and farm life dominated the time of almost every resident scattered in the several districts across the island. Entertainment was limited, except what the king and queen provided, held twice annually – at Christmas and on New Year’s Eve. The rest of the year was spent trying to make lives for themselves with their meager sustenance and finding backwater ways of entertaining themselves, which often took the form of drinking, revelry, and the occasional village squabbling.
One main metropolitan area was centrally located and housed one hospital and a few government buildings and small diners. Very few people had cars in the city, and those who had, used the cars as cabs. Only members of the royal family had any real luxury.
“I wish her luck,” Merl, his wife, always said of their granddaughter’s mother. They had never liked her anyway. She had called two times in the four years since Fran had been there. Matthew hadn’t returned, but when he did, he knew he had a home with them. With any luck he had found something better he could pass on to his daughter. Eli loved being the king’s servant, but he hoped for more for his granddaughter.
Eli pulled the hat lower over his face and walked briskly down the stone pathway bordered with anthuriums, magnolias, and a collection of plants he didn’t know. Merl visited the garden, tending to it, and he smiled as he glanced at them accentuating what was otherwise a very modest home, though a little better than some the other villagers lived in. He had such amenities solely because he was the king’s ear and trusted servant. He had one of the best plots of land, excellent for gardening and farming since it was closest to the river. But it didn’t earn him any favors with the villagers. He knew they were jealous, and he avoided them for the most part – he didn’t care what they thought or felt.
He pulled the picket-fenced gate shut and stepped into the street that led to the bridge. He glanced up at the orange sky, barely noticing how the light illuminated the city, bouncing off the bronze towers set inside the marble walls of the castle. Usually, he would be at his window watching the spectacular display just before he made his usual castle visit. He had been called earlier than he normally would go, and that piqued his curiosity. His feet got heavier, and his breathing became anxious as soon a
s he saw the gold-trimmed white suits the guards wore, starched and set on them like the towers in marble.
One of them moved forward when he approached but nodded and stepped back when he recognized the visitor. Eli could easily be a resident, and he was offered privileges most of the people didn’t have access to – he could fish in the castle river at whim; his granddaughter was taught by the tutors from the castle, and he received the occasional gift from the king, such as a farm animal or produce, outside of when regular supplies would flow to the rest of the island. The villagers resented him for it, although Merl thought they were just jealous of his ‘high standing.’ Eli tended to agree, and he sometimes walked with an air of royalty, which kindled their wrath even more.
The castle was even more overwhelming up close, and he admired it every time he walked there. The bridge was painted white with gold railings that reached to huge oak doors stretching twelve feet tall that greeted marble columns that towered above. Several flags fluttered in the slight wind bearing the lion with the shield – a family mark, he had been told. Surveillance cameras dotted every corner surrounding the huge structure, and Eli could almost feel the power radiating from within.
It was the one place on the island worth looking at, but he was the only person allowed to come and go freely – anyone else would have to be invited, and that was only when there was a grand ball. Even then, they were kept away from the ‘sophisticated guests.’
The doors creaked open when he was only a few feet away. He entered the large hall with the high, vaulted ceiling like a cathedral, or so he had heard from Prince Jason when he had returned from one of his numerous trips overseas. The architecture was picturesque, with engravings in the white marble stones that made up the interior of the building. It reminded Eli of a cathedral in Rome he had seen in a magazine once. The chapel on the island paled in comparison, with its worn carpeting and rundown ceiling fans that creaked when they spun.
As he walked, his steps echoed on the pearl-white tiles as he approached the throne room, the place he most often found the king and queen when he visited the castle. He had passed the circular stairways that stretched to the top of the castle every time he visited the king or queen, but he had no idea what laid beyond them. He could only daydream and gaze in wonderment each time, hoping one day he might have the privilege.
They knew he was outside the door as he raised his hand to knock. “Come in, Eli!” the king boomed. Eli pressed against the brass bars and the double doors leaned inwards.
“What took you so long?” Queen Clarise barked as soon as he was inside. She was pacing the floor, her eyes wild and her spirit obviously ruffled.
Eli quickly removed his hand and stood just inside the door. “I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I hurried here as soon as I received the message.”
She paused long enough to hear his words before she started pacing again.
“Tell me something, Eli,” the king said as he rose from his seat. “What have you noticed lately about my subjects?”
Eli shifted his weight from one leg to the other, unsure of the reason for the question. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“The people! The people! What have they been saying?” Clarise bellowed, her usually pale face reddening as traces of anger became evident on her face.
“Clarise, that’s enough.” King Jaimie shushed her. “It’s not his fault.”
Eli knitted his brows in confusion and waited for further explanation. King Jaimie pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes, and turned around. Eli waited, but they were silent, exchanging suspicious glances.
“It has to be done,” King Jaimie finally said gloomily. “Eli, we need you to go to town and talk to the people. We want to know where their loyalties lie.”
“With you, Your Grace,” Eli responded right away.
“Is that what you think?” Queen Clarise replied, stepping forward. “Do you know the Wyatts?”
“The Wyatts, Your Grace?” Eli was perplexed by their questions. “Yes, I’ve heard of them. But I don’t understand. What do they have to do with the people?” The Wyatts had made several trips to the island in recent months, but he had never given much thought to their visits. Royalty and other wealthy families often visited the king and queen – he didn’t think they were anything special to make a mental note of.
“That’s exactly what we would like to find out. That’s why you’re here,” King Jaimie told him. “We want you to find out what’s going on. Apparently, the Wyatts have their eyes on the crown and have been bribing my subjects with luxury items.”
“But that’s not possible,” Eli rushed to answer and stepped forward in his excitement. “Your family has ruled for one-hundred and fifty years.”
“That’s right,” Queen Clarise pointed out. “But someone ruled before us, and if another family has more power, they can challenge us. If the people rebel against us, then another family will take over.”
Eli stood before them with his mouth agape. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t understand why the people would want another king or queen. Jaimie and Clarise were kind and sensitive to their needs. Maybe he could understand why they didn’t like Jason, their only son and a pompous jerk, but not Jaimie and Clarise.
“But, how…what am I supposed to do? Just walk around and ask random people what they think?” Though he was a servant, he was sometimes treated like family, which explained why he was able to speak freely in their presence.
“Yes!” Clarise snapped. He could tell she was frustrated, and he easily understood why she would be. He was getting more anxious the longer he thought on what they had said. “Find out why they haven’t been showing us much respect. They don’t even attend the royal balls in great numbers. When we pass through town, they barely notice us. I want to know why, and more importantly, what should be done about it. We cannot lose this kingdom,” she said, her voice wavering. “We cannot!”
“We won’t,” King Jaimie told her, moving to her side. He pulled her into his arms and she rested her forehead on his large chest. Her head bobbed as she cried, and Eli was shaken as he watched them.
They were really frightened, and so was he. “I’ll go right away,” he told them and hurried to the door. King Jaimie nodded his approval, and the last thing Eli saw before the great doors closed was the king holding the queen like his life depended upon it.
Eli had expected a request to go to the city in the morning to run an errand or gather correspondence sent from other kingdoms. He hadn’t expected this. How could the people want anything else? He couldn’t understand it. The present situation weighed heavily on him when, instead of returning home, he had to go into town. The mile and a half walk was one he was accustomed to, but this time his legs felt heavier the closer he got to the village square. It was not yet dark, only twilight, and he saw the spots of lights through the windows of those who already welcomed the night.
He had been in the village square enough times to know it would still be teeming with people. They never seemed to sleep—every night was like an endless bacchanal party of revelry, booze, and women. He was glad he didn’t live so close to them. When he got closer, one of the men—who was busy slugging a can of beer—wiped his hand across his mouth and gave him a toothy grin.
“Well, if it isn’t the man who would be king,” he mocked, and the other men and women turned and laughed.
“I wonder how he made it this far,” Julianne, one of the local whores, chimed in as one of the men groped her. She giggled and bent her head back as the man buried his head in her neck and grabbed her breasts.
“I’m here on the king’s business,” Eli told them promptly. “Where’s Nathaniel?”
“What do you want with Nathaniel?” the man asked. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to see you.”
Eli pretended he didn’t hear and pressed through the crowd as he tried to find the one man he thought he could reason with. He ran the only produce store in the square. He sold both farm
and household products, and everyone knew and respected him.
“Hold on just a minute!” someone else called, and grabbed Eli by the shoulder.
“What’s going on out here?”
Eli was relieved when Nathaniel intervened. “Nathaniel. I was just looking for you.”
“For what?”
“He’s on the king’s business,” someone mocked, and several others listening snickered.
“We know, and we don’t care,” the first man said. “Just go away!”