Pretend Princess (Cordillera Royals Book 1)

by Carolyn Rae

  She couldn’t help smiling. She moved all her painting stuff, but left the picture with Lawrence in it on the easel. Serena covered the table with a gold linen tablecloth. A servant wearing a white cook’s shirt wheeled in a cart loaded with covered dishes.

  Soon, she sat next to Lawrence on the balcony in the warm twilight, facing green manicured grounds and shrubs. A bayberry scented candle glowed in a glass holder, its smell mingling with the orange sauce on roast duck. Duchess potatoes looked creamy enough to melt in her mouth, and tender baby peas were garnished with toasted, slivered almonds.

  Beneath the tablecloth, Lawrence took her hand and squeezed it. “I would kiss your palm and much more, if only I dared. However, we are in full view here and must appear as cousins, not lovers.”

  His warm smile brightened his face, making her want to nestle against his firm chest. He put his arm around her waist. “The sentry in the guard tower at the gate is the only one who can see us now. However, he is facing this way, so I won’t kiss you now.”

  “At least the tablecloth shields us below our chests.”

  His arm warmed her back, making her want to cuddle even more. “You are beautiful, with or without clothes. I cannot forget how soft your body felt against mine on the mountain top, or how your hot little derriere felt in my hands.”

  She felt heat rise from her breasts to her neck and face. “We shouldn’t have been so impulsive.”

  He grinned. “I don’t regret it for one moment. It was wonderful being with you. I cannot wait until we can be together again. Maybe we could take a trip to some little town in France, spend a weekend someplace where they wouldn’t know us. We could be Patricia and Larry Schmidt.”

  “Isn’t that the German version of Smith, America’s most common name?”

  He nodded. “But it won’t seem so common in France.”

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Just the thought of being naked in his arms, feeling his caresses on her skin and letting him send her into ecstasy again set her pulse racing. “That would be wonderful.” She’d make sure he used protection. She didn’t want to take a chance on getting pregnant.

  She sighed. “We can’t risk being recognized. Besides, you need to keep looking for Allysa. If Roberto has her, I wouldn’t worry about him hurting her. He only wants to be seen with a princess so he can feel important.”

  Lawrence looked worried. “That may be true, but you can’t be sure how she’ll deal with him. Knowing her, she might just tell him she won’t go out with him.”

  “You need to find her soon. Have you any idea where she might be?”

  “We searched the old castle where you said he kissed you as well as Roberto’s house where he lives in town. We found nothing to show he’d been to either place.”

  Tricia pointed. “Look, they’re changing the guard.”

  Lawrence smiled. “Perfect.” He pulled her close and touched his forehead to hers. Then his lips were on hers, warm and nibbling. His mouth captured hers, kissed her with such intensity she began to hope he really was serious about her. His hand moved up to caress her breast and squeeze it.

  Her flesh quivered and heated, making her want to open her blouse so he could touch her bare skin and yes, suckle her breast until she let him lay her down on the floor of the balcony.

  Glancing at the open bars of the railing and the cold stone floor brought her back to her senses. “We mustn’t,” she whispered.

  Lawrence grinned. “Must not what?” he teased.

  “Go any farther.” She felt her face grow even hotter.

  “I was only kissing you.”

  “But your hand—”

  “What about my hand?” He grinned.

  Feeling the lack of his warm touch, she saw he’d dropped it to the table. He was only touching her plate.

  He smiled. “I am merely making sure your food does not slide off the table. This balcony must be slanted. Things keep sliding toward me,” he said as he pulled her onto his lap.

  Startled, she tried to move back, but he held her firmly. “Won’t they be able to see what you’re doing?” she asked.

  “Not if you keep facing the gate. The tablecloth will shield us.” He shifted her so that she faced the gate, but his hand pressed between her legs until she squirmed.

  She gasped. “You keep that up, and I won’t be able to resist lying with you on the stone floor, no matter how cold it may be.”

  He beamed. “Now that’s what a man likes to hear. Shall we?”

  “No. We can’t.” Putting a hand on his thigh, she pushed away and reached for her chair. He let her go, but patted her fanny as she slid back to her chair. Her breaths came in quick gasps. She caught her lower lip between her teeth. How was she ever going to keep him away when she wanted him so badly? She took a deep breath.

  He smiled. “Do that again. I enjoy seeing your breasts rise and fall like that.”

  She met his gaze. “You’re impossible.”

  He shook his head. “Not really.” He took hold of her hand and caressed it between his. “I fail to see how any man could resist you.”

  A knock sounded on the door, followed by Serena’s voice. “Your Highnesses, I have urgent news.”

  Prince Lawrence almost knocked over his chair in his haste to step back inside the room. “Is it about Allysa?”

  Tricia followed him inside.

  Serena stood there with an envelope in her hand. “The messenger said the note was about someone close to you.”

  Lawrence grabbed the envelope and tore it open. He frowned.

  “What does it say?” Tricia asked.

  He read, “’Attending the play at the opera house tomorrow night could be most fortuitous, especially if you wish to see the royal family reunited.’ The note is not signed.”

  “But,” Tricia said, “there’s no demand for money.”

  “True, “Lawrence admitted. “I do not doubt that will come later.”

  “What else does it say?”

  “The writer says I should bring the lovely representative from America as my guest.”

  “That must be from Roberto. I will wear the dress I had on when I danced with him. Maybe I can distract him.”

  “Not as much as you would me,” Lawrence muttered.

  “I will assist Your Highness to dress tomorrow night,” Serena said.

  Tricia figured she’d have to flirt outrageously with Roberto. “Perhaps by now,” she said, “he has become tired of Allysa.”

  Lawrence nodded. “Knowing her, I imagine she won’t give in to any of his demands. I only hope he hasn’t shackled her as he did me.”

  He frowned. “I must leave now and plan my strategy. I will ask Pierre and Jose to accompany me but keep weapons concealed about their clothing.” He lifted her hand to his mouth, kissed the back of it, then strode out.

  Tricia walked toward the armoire and pulled out the dress she had worn to Rosalita’s the night she danced with Roberto.

  Serena shook her head. “Not that one. It shows too much flesh. ‘Tis not seemly to appear in public.”

  “But Allysa wears it.”

  “Her bosom is—how shall I say it, less full than yours. That dress does not reveal as much on her.”

  “But I need to entice the villain who has Allysa, to distract him.”

  “Oh, then it is he you wish to distract, not Prince Lawrence.”

  Tricia nodded. “While I am distracting him, the prince can take the opportunity to rescue his cousin.”

  “I see.”

  * * *

  The next evening, relieved to learn she wasn’t pregnant, Tricia wore the green dress with Allysa’s emeralds, hoping the princess wouldn’t mind. Serena arranged Tricia’s hair into a ponytail fastened at the top with a sparkling rhinestone circlet. Her maid then dusted her hair with a touch of glitter. Tricia sprayed on the princess’s most exotic perfume and applied make-up generously.

  Feeling like an impostor, Tricia waited in the palace foyer for Prince Lawren
ce. His arm and his look of appreciation warmed her as they walked to the waiting limousine.

  Inside the opera house she walked on the red carpet beside Prince Lawrence. They strolled beneath huge crystal chandeliers and ascended red carpeted stairs, rising between Corinthian columns. The theater reminded her of the Teatre del Liceu she had seen in Barcelona. The rustle of silk and taffeta filtered through the muted conversation of ladies accompanying gentlemen in tuxedoes. None appeared as handsome as Lawrence in his gray tuxedo jacket, white silk shirt and pleated cummerbund.

  His hand clasped hers, his thumb caressing the back of her hand, but his attention was focused on people climbing the stairs and those in the vestibule. His aides walked beside them, their eyes scanning the area.

  She let her gaze roam the well-dressed patrons, looking for a glimpse of Roberto. He might even bring Allysa as he promised. A colorful poster sporting a donkey and a Fairie Queen announced the bill of fare was “A Mid-Summer’s Night’s Dream.”

  Lawrence led her to a box high above the main floor. As the orchestra tuned up, the lights dimmed. Straining to adjust to the diminished light, she scanned the main floor and the boxes for Roberto or the princess.

  During the first act, she laughed at the antics of the actor with a donkey head, who acted bewildered at the spell cast upon him.

  Lawrence touched her arm. “It’s almost time for intermission. I am going to look over the audience to see if I can find Roberto with my cousin.”

  “He may have been lying about bringing her, just to draw us here.”

  “True, but I will stay alert for any tricks.” He rose and walked into the hallway, followed by his bodyguard.

  Minutes later, a strong hand grabbed Tricia’s wrist. Someone whispered, “Come with me.” She rose to go with the prince, but saw Roberto instead.

  She tried to shake off his hand, but couldn’t. “Let go of me. Is Allysa with you?” she whispered.

  “I ought to slap you for impersonating the princess. You had me fooled for a while, but now I have the genuine princess.”

  “Where is she?”

  He pulled on her arm.

  She planted her feet firmly on the floor. “I’m not going anywhere with you unless you tell me where she is.”

  People in the next box stared. “Shhh,” someone hissed.

  Roberto pulled her close. “You don’t want to cause a commotion. They might wonder if you really are the princess. Come. She’s been sitting with me in the upper balcony with a scarf over her hair so no one will recognize her. I’ll take you to her.”

  He led her to some stairs, but instead of going up, they went down. He shoved her into a narrow dimly lit hall. She took a step and balked. “This is not the way to the balcony seats.”

  “I should have known I couldn’t fool you for long. But I have help.” Two men dressed in black suits stood in the shadows. Each one grabbed one of her wrists and pulled so hard she almost tripped.

  “Hold her still,” Roberto said. He shoved a pair of dark sunglasses over her eyes, then draped a long scarf over her hair. Putting an arm around her shoulders he said loudly, “You are too ill to stay any longer. I am taking you home, my dear.”

  Then he whispered in her ear. “If you cry out, that will draw attention to us, and I will not take you to Allysa.”

  Tricia clamped her lips shut. “Okay, I won’t scream, but you must take me to the princess immediately.”

  “As you wish.” His gaze centered on her bosom.

  She wanted to cringe, but smiled instead, hoping to distract him.

  He grinned. “I must say you look ravishing tonight. Too bad you aren’t the real princess.”

  Tricia frowned. “You’re a snob.”

  He smiled. “I am only looking out for my best interests. If it’s known I have the ear of the princess, I will not only be admired, but I will be able to do business with the most influential people in town.”

  She glanced at his henchmen, from the ferret faced short one to the hefty muscle man. Their dark hair and olive skin marked them as Spaniards, perhaps of Moorish descent. “If you are trying to win friends and influence people, this isn’t the way to do it.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “I won’t hurt you, but if you want to see Allysa, you must come this way.”

  “You lied to me. She’s not here, is she?”

  “No, but she is close by. Now come along.”

  Outside, he led her to a limousine. “Oh, no you don’t. I’m not getting into a car.”

  His lips formed a thin line. “Very well, then, we will walk. I don’t want to hear any complaints about walking in those pointy toed shoes.”

  Tricia gritted her teeth. He was right. Her feet would hurt if she had to go very far, but she

  wouldn’t complain.

  He put an arm around her waist. “This way.” He crossed the street and headed down an even narrower one.

  It was dark and smelled of onions, garlic and garbage. She paused. “Where we are going? I’m not letting you take me down some dark alley to get beaten up.”

  He pointed. “Only to that flat at the end of the street.” The street dead ended a block away. “And I promise I won’t hurt you.”

  “What proof can you show that you even have Allysa?”

  He held out a note written to Lawrence. It said, “Please come rescue me.” It was signed with the same flourish Tricia had seen on the note they’d gotten in Capri.

  “Okay, I’ll walk to the end of this block, but no farther.” Glancing at ferret face and the bodyguard type, she decided she didn’t have a lot of options. She surely couldn’t run far in these shoes. Her feet already hurt. Kicking off her shoes to run barefoot on cobblestone streets would hurt even more. And running away wouldn’t help her find the princess.

  At the door to the flat Roberto indicated, she paused. “I’m not going inside unless I know Allysa’s there.”

  Roberto looked up at the window behind a balcony. “Allysa, show yourself. Your double wants to see the real princess.”

  The window creaked open and a voice called, “Why should I?”

  “If you don’t want to be punished for disobedience, you had better do what I say.”

  Now, Allysa’s head and shoulders appeared as she leaned out of a window. “Don’t tell Cordillera’s princess what to do. You had better let me go or my father will toss you in the dungeon and throw away the key. I wish we had one of those oubliettes where you have to climb up a ladder to get out. Like in olden days, we could order the jailer to forget to feed you for a month or two. Then you’d be completely forgotten and die. And speaking of food, where is the dinner you promised to bring me?”

  “Have patience my pretty one. I brought you a companion.”

  Allysa disappeared from the window.

  “Release her,” Tricia said, “or I’ll scream for help.”

  Roberto nodded at the bodyguard type. “I don’t think so. Juan, it’s time for a little persuasion. Roberto’s sturdy henchman bent Tricia’s arm back until she bit her lower lip from the pain. The ferret-faced man snatched Allysa’s emerald necklace Tricia was wearing. The clasp came loose. Grinning, he stuffed it in his pocket. Damn. She wished now she hadn’t worn it. She opened her mouth to scream, but Roberto held a finger to his lips. “Be quiet or I’ll tell Juan to pull harder.”

  “But he could break my arm.”

  “That would be a shame, but it’s up to you.”

  She gritted her teeth. “What do you plan to do? Hold the both me and the princess for ransom?”

  “I want more than just money. I want a title.”

  “Suppose I get the king to grant you one, will you let us go?”

  “That’s not enough. I want the old castle and the land that goes with it. I can open a museum and charge admission. Now step inside, and I’ll take you to the princess.”

  Knowing the queen planned to make the old castle into a museum, she figured they would never agree to that, but she kept silent. Perhaps if she waited
until later, she could help the princess escape.

  Roberto unlocked the door to the flat and entered. Still holding her arm, Juan shoved her forward. She stumbled inside a dark room. “Why don’t you turn on some lights?”

  Roberto flipped a switch. A small living room with a brown vinyl couch flanked by dark wooden end tables stood against the wall. Heavy brown draperies kept out what little light came in from outside. Two rust colored pillows on the couch provided the only color.

  Roberto grasped the wooden stair railing and started up. Juan twisted her arm again. “Follow him,” he grunted. Ferret face grabbed her other hand and pulled her toward the stairway. Frowning, she followed.

  At the top of the steps Roberto pulled out a long thin key and unlocked the door. Inside, her tone imperious, Allysa said, “It’s about time. I need something to eat.”

  “Later,” barked Roberto. “I brought you some company.” He shoved Tricia in the room.

  She thought about making a dash for it, but the obstacles, Juan, Roberto, and ferret face were too much. “Nice to see you again, Your Highness,” she said as Roberto slammed the door behind her. The click of the key in the lock echoed in the silence.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Allysa looked at Tricia across the sparsely furnished bedroom. “Now both of us are locked up. I hope you told Lawrence where you were going so he can rescue us.”

  Tricia frowned. “I didn’t have a chance.”

  The princess stared at Tricia. “You have on my emerald earrings, but why didn’t you wear the necklace?”

  “I was wearing it,” Tricia said. “I’m sorry, but Roberto’s henchman grabbed it.”

  “The nerve of him. I will have him thrown in jail.”

  Tricia held a finger to her lips. “That’s not as important as getting out of here. Be quiet so I can hear what they are doing.” She listened to the footsteps of the three men going downstairs. The heavier clomps must be from Juan. She hoped they’d all leave. Then she and Allysa might have a chance to escape.

  She ran to the window. The heavy-weight man and ferret-face were walking down the street. That left Roberto here. She tried the door. Still locked. She could kick herself for being so naive. She tried calling Lawrence on her cell phone, but got no answer. She tried leaving a message, but the bars disappeared, and she couldn’t get a signal anymore.