Contents
Title Page
Description
Copyright
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Epilogue
Thanks for Reading
Other Books By
About the Author
The Reluctant Royal
by
Laura D. Bastian
Lily is fascinated by the idea that a matchmaker has just been given the ability to grant wish fulfillment. When the purple haired matchmaker actually manages to send Lily into the past taking the place of Princess Liliana, betrothed to the Prince of Aragonia, Lily is excited to play along.
Eduardo, Prince of Aragonia, has only had his parents’ horrid marriage to compare to and is less than eager to make a similar match. When Liliana arrives, she’s different than expected, and he finds himself less bothered at his parents forcing him to marry. Can the two of them find happily ever after, or will the dangers of the past and Lily’s strange ways keep them apart?
Copyright © 2019 by Laura D. Bastian.
All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the author.
Cover Design by EDHGraphics
CHAPTER ONE
Lily just laughed inside at the idea that anyone could possibly travel through time and end up living in the past. It happened in books. Not real life. And just because she liked reading stories about common girls who fell in love with a rich prince and lived happily ever after didn’t mean she was actually going to end up that way. No matter what this Dr. Lachele Simpson with her purple hair and fun-loving personality said.
A few of the other girls sitting in the back of the small bookstore where they met for their book club were all abuzz at the idea and some jokingly laughed about putting in their requests just like Beth had. Lily wouldn’t tell Dr. Lachele what time period she wanted to end up in. Or anything about what she needed to have to fall in love. If this woman had been granted fairy godmother-like powers, then Lachele would just have to put Lily down in the right place at the right time and count on fate to make thing align like they should.
***
Lily opened her eyes and stared, open mouthed at the change in front of her. One moment, she had been sitting peacefully in front of Dr. Lachele and, the next moment, she was standing in a forest in a dress she’d never seen before with the sounds of dogs, men, and horses closing in on her.
“No way,” Lily whispered. “It can’t be possible.” She pinched her arm and squeaked in pain at the sensation. She was completely alive and in the real world. Yet it wasn’t any world she knew.
“Mistress Liliana!” a voice shouted.
Lily turned around and caught sight of a man, wearing completely different clothing than anything she’d seen in her time, holding a walking stick and escorting a frail looking woman.
“Come quickly,” the woman shouted. “Your carriage is ready to leave any moment now.”
“What?” Lily asked. “What are you talking about?”
“The carriage that is to take you to the ships. Your belongings are all packed inside.” The man bowed as he stopped in front of her.
“Where am I going?” she asked.
“To your betrothed,” he said. “Across the waters to Aragonia.”
“But I don’t speak Spanish,” Lily said, surprised that was the first thing that came to mind.
“Of course you do, Princess,” the woman said. “You’ve learned it since you were a child.”
Lily stared at the woman. “Princess?”
“My apologies, Mistress Liliana. I know you prefer to avoid the title when you are walking in your solitude, but it is time. The farewells have been made. You are now only moments away from what you were born to do.”
“And what is that?” Lily asked, though the sinking sensation in her stomach told her she already knew.
“To marry the Prince of Aragonia and forge an alliance with our two countries.”
Lily shook her head. It was preposterous, but at the same time, she found it oddly thrilling. Somehow Dr. Lachele had done it. She had sent her back in time to a place where she was needed. Trained for this moment from birth according to the people with her. And though she thought she didn’t know Spanish, she had a sneaking suspicion that if she tried, the words would actually come out of her mouth without any effort whatsoever.
As she walked with the old couple, she felt almost as if she really did know them. Like it was a previous life she had lived. When she left the shelter of the forested area she had been walking in, she caught sight of a great stone castle up on the hillside. She could almost see herself within the walls, living a life of privilege and enjoying the love of her parents and sisters.
Her oldest sister would become queen at the passing of their parents, but Liliana and her other sisters would be married to nobility throughout the area in order to strengthen ties. As odd as that sounded, Lily felt it easy enough to accept. She must have lived this life once before, and if it was her life, she had enjoyed it, she was sure. That must have been why Lachele knew to return her to this place.
And that must have been why she had always loved those kinds of novels. She would be able to meet her prince charming and the two would fall in love and live happily ever after.
What a thrill it would be.
CHAPTER TWO
Eduardo paced the floor of his mother’s private rooms. He had already had this battle with his father, and knew he could not win against his parents. Not when they were united as they currently were. Though they rarely did anything as partners, apparently ruining his life was one thing they both agreed on. Still, he had to fight this once more. Just to let his opinion be known.
“Absolutely not, Mother, I won’t do it.”
“You have no choice, my son. It is your duty. Just as it was my duty to marry your father and bear him a son.”
“And you have hated every moment of your life with him, Mother. You despise the man.”
“But I do not despise you. You are the one thing in my life that has been worth doing. And if an arranged marriage has blessed me with the likes of you, then you can do this thing as well.”
“But I will not bear a son.”
“Of course not, but you will sire one. And this marriage will do so much more than just produce an heir. It will unite our beloved land of Aragonia to Durham.”
“But why through marriage? I haven’t seen anything good come from the other treaties of marriage. In fact, it almost seems as if there are more trials and hostilities. They will expect so much from us without giving us anything more than a single woman.”
“You will do better, Eduardo. You have been raised from birth to do whatever is best for Aragonia.”
Eduardo closed his eyes briefly, holding back the frustration that threatened to rise within his breast. He would do all he could to ensure his beloved country prospered, but he hated that he would actually have to marry a complete stranger he cared nothing for. One from a land that was so far away there would be nothing they could gain in military strength or even in trade.
“It must be done, Eduardo. You and I both know there is nothing that will change, no matter how much we want to fight against it. Your father has already signed the marriage contract and the trade agreement. You will do your duty unless you wish to be hung as a traitor to the crown.”
Eduardo shook his head. His father was rather tyrannical, but he would never hang his own son. Flog him, sure. Banish him and humiliate him, Eduardo had no doubt, but he would never be put to death. That would be too merciful. Instead he would be forced to marry a woman he was sure would hate him as much as his mother hated his own father.
“Forgive me, Mother. I shall leave you to your rest. Be assured of my love and devotion to you and for that reason alone I will do as you say.”
His mother’s dark eyes seemed to brighten with hope for just a moment. She had feared for him and no doubt for the wrath she’d have to endure from his father if Eduardo didn’t comply. He knew going to his mother for help would have no effect on his father’s wishes. It has always been so, but his mother had always been able to help him see reason. To help him maintain just a little bit of humanity as he tried to find his way in the world.
“The ship should arrive within the week. If you have anything that needs to be done before she arrives, I suggest you do it quickly. Once she’s here, the two of you will be expected to show a united front, and you can’t run off to take care of any other business. The wedding will happen the day after she arrives.”
“I’m not even wed to the girl yet, and already it’s like a noose around my neck.” He barely managed to refrain from slamming the door as he left his mother’s chambers. Though as he walked briskly through the hallways, he wasn’t surprised to see all the servants slip away to the sides to avoid being in his path.
Good. He didn’t want to deal with anything right now. What he needed most at this moment was a bruising ride across the fields on his white steed.
That way, perhaps, he might feel a small amount of freedom before he was chained to duty.
As he strode past all his servants and found himself inside the stables readying his own horse, he envied the ease and freedoms his servants had. None of them would be forced to marry against their wills. Every one of them could chose for themselves who they’d spend their lives with.
Eduardo almost thought he could give up his wealth and title for that chance. But it was unrealistic. He could no more give up his name and lineage than he could change the color of his hair or remove inches from his stature. He was trapped more thoroughly than a fox in a snare.
***
Lily didn’t realize how difficult a journey it would be to travel across the waters in such a primitive ship. Though she was given every accommodation and amenity the ship could offer, there was nothing that was even remotely convenient by the standards she was accustomed to. It would take some time to get used to chamber pots, and sponge baths and lack of running water. Hopefully when she reached the other shore and was taken to her future home, there would be more personal comforts available.
At least she didn’t suffer from motion sickness. Her poor servant was rather pale. But Lily had been promised they would arrive at the harbor in Aragonia soon. She hoped so, because Mrs. Shosted could hardly take much more of the journey. And Lily didn’t want to listen to her apologize any more for being unable to do everything for her. Lily was actually relieved she’d been left alone to dress herself. Other than tying the laces on the back of her gown, she really didn’t need any help.
Lily occupied her time by walking the perimeter of the ship, practicing her skills of Spanish with a few of the crew members who spoke it. They had been almost scandalized to think she’d want to talk to them, but Lily wanted to know as much as she could about the world she found herself in that she’d finally managed to convince them to talk with her. Of course, it helped that Mr. Shosted had nodded his agreement to the crew members when she’d made the initial request.
Lily just walked the ship and talked to anyone who had a moment to spare. Over the past few days, she’d come to understand enough of what life was like here, she figured she wouldn’t embarrass herself too much when she met the man she was going to marry.
Thoughts of him swam around in her head. No one could really tell her what he looked like, but she hoped he was decent looking. She did know he wasn’t an old man. A few years older than her own twenty-three years. And Lily was sure she really was herself, and not just trapped in some other person’s body here. Everything about her was the same, even down to the freckle patterns on her upper thigh and the scar on her ankle from when she’d cut it on her bike as a kid.
But it wouldn’t do to dwell on what she couldn’t change. She’d just have to trust that this prince of hers was exactly what she wanted in a husband. Because she was going to be forced to marry the man in less than a week. Not for the first time, Lily had a fresh wave of panic. She once again found herself repeating the thoughts that Dr. Lachele would not have transported her back in time for something awful or horrible or dangerous. And if this woman was a fairy godmother, then she would have sent Lily to a place with a man that could be the one she fell in love with. For real and for true. Because there was definitely no one like that where she’d come from.
A shout from above brought Lily out of her internal conversation and she watched as the crew began to move in earnest. They must be nearing their port because Lily was met by Mr. Shosted who insisted she go below to be out of the way and prepare herself to meet her new people.
“You’ll need to look your best. Do not come up until I come to get you. It’s important to make a grand entrance.”
Lily nodded, willing to go along with it. When she reached her cabin, she wasn’t surprised to see one of the fancier dresses had been pulled out of the travel trunks and the woman who’d been sent as her lady’s maid was ready to help her dress.
Excitement washed over her as she changed into the beautiful gown and then she sat and allowed Mrs. Shosted to work on twisting her hair into an intricate up-do. Would this prince smile at her when she appeared at the harbor? Would he be there waiting to meet her? What would all the other people there think? Were they excited to have her come, or was this something the whole country dreaded?
Lily tried to calm her rising fears.
“Everything will be fine,” she said to herself. “You can do this.”
The boat shuddered as it brushed into the dock, but no one else seemed concerned, so Lily let it go and continued finalizing her preparations.
Long minutes later, Mr. Shosted knocked on the door of the cabin, and when they bid him enter, he opened the door.
“They have sent a carriage. You will ride with a girl named Ana. She is to be your lady’s maid here. We will follow behind you in a different carriage with your things.” Mr. Shosted took his wife’s hand for a moment, and Lily smiled. It made her heart happy to see how sweet they were together.
Lily then followed Mr. Shosted and his wife up the stairs and then to the edge of the ship where she’d be able to depart by walking down a ramp. Mrs. Shosted held onto her arm, to make sure she didn’t fall.
Lily looked around the harbor, surprised at the lack of interest her arrival had brought. There were a few people watching with curiosity, but no one seemed to care that the future wife of their prince had arrived. She wasn’t offended, since she really didn’t know the people here at all, but the thought worried her.
Would the country of Aragonia dislike her? Would that cause a problem for her marriage to the prince?
Lily hated to think that she had never once considered whether she would be welcome here or not. And how could she actually consider marrying a man she’d never met? One who obviously wasn’t excited to marry her since he hadn’t even made the attempt to be present at her arrival.
As the panic began to rise, Lily felt a calming sensation wash over her. She hoped it was something to do with Lachele. If she had been sent here by a fairy godmother, then things would work out. They had to
.
Lily held her head up high as she walked down the ramp to the wooden dock next to the ship she’d arrived on. She smiled and nodded as regally as she could, hoping to make the people there feel good about her arrival. She received a few shy smiles in return and a couple of people bowed their heads a little. Well, that was better than nothing.
A man dressed in fine clothes bearing an official looking crest met her and bowed at the waist.
“Welcome, Princess Liliana. I am Benito. The king’s adviser. We’ve long awaited your arrival. Please follow me.”
Lily was only a little surprised to hear him speak English. Unsure whether she should answer in English or Spanish, she nodded instead and followed the man toward a beautifully designed open carriage. He assisted her in, then helped the girl Lily assumed to be Ana in as well. Lily’s other two servants oversaw the loading of her bags into the next carriage while Lily and Ana were whisked away through the street.
“Hello, Ana. May I call you by your name?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Please, call me Lily.”
“Oh, no my lady, I could never do that.” Ana’s eyes were wide and Lily wondered how long it would take to convince the girl to relax. It would be different to learn how to deal with having a lady’s maid. Deciding to take things slowly with Ana, Lily just smiled at the girl.
“I’m pleased to meet you all the same, Ana. I do hope we’ll be a good match.”
Ana bowed her head briefly, then looked into her lap, leaving Lily to occupy herself.
Lily looked around, studying the area and trying to see as much as she could. The people looked relatively healthy, but none looked overly happy or optimistic. Was there something wrong with this nation? Was the man she was going to marry someone who didn’t care for his people? Would she be able to do anything to help the citizens here?
RELUCTANT ROYAL, THE Page 1