Prince and Single Mom

by Morgan Ashbury

  He completed the circuit of the pen and brought the horse to a halt.

  “Thank you, Doctor. May I please get down now?”

  “You may. Did you like that, Anna?” he asked as he lifted her down from the animal.

  “Yes, thank you. And now I must say thank you to Francois.”

  He continued to hold the animal still as Anna gravely walked to its head and thanked it for the privilege of riding it. Then she turned and walked to the gate, going through when a young man opened it and then proceeded slowly to the porch. Once there, Philip knew, she would sit quietly and wait until it was time to board the bus to return to the Home. He looked forward to the day she felt free enough to run and laugh and play with the other children.

  The skin along his arms pebbled with goose bumps, stirring him away from his contemplation of the little girl. He had actually forgotten about the woman as he’d been helping Anna. But now he could see her and her son leaning against the railing of the paddock. Or rather, the little boy was leaning, verging on climbing up and over, and the woman simply stood there, her eyes scanning the area carefully. Watchful, he thought with approval. With her cub in a strange place, she was on alert.

  At that moment, he impulsively decided to give her something to be on alert about.

  Clicking his tongue at Francois, he led the horse to the pair at the railing. After assuring himself that she knew he’d really looked her over, he turned his attention to the little boy.

  “Can I go next, Mom, please?”

  “There are other children waiting, Jamie. They should have their turns first.”

  Philip looked around. He’d thought there’d been other children waiting, too, but they all seemed to have taken themselves off to other activities.

  “It looks like you and Jamie have jumped to the head of the line.”

  He watched as wide-eyed, she looked around and saw the truth for herself.

  Philip crouched down and met Jamie eye to eye. “Hi Jamie. I’m Philip.”

  “Hi. How come that girl called you ‘Doctor’?”

  “Well, because I am one. So, your mom doesn’t have to worry about you coming into the paddock and riding Francois, here. All right, Mom?”

  When he looked up, her rueful expression told him she knew he’d boxed her in. He grinned, hoping she would take that as a sign that he hadn’t done so maliciously.

  “I guess it would be all right. I’ll be right here.”

  Philip pointed to the gate, and Jamie ran to it. As he slowly got to his feet, some inner demon had him wink at the woman. “Do not fear, madam. I am very experienced at giving a good ride.”

  Chapter 3

  “Does someone need to hold your reins, too?”

  “Cherie, your hands look more than capable of the task.”

  Catharine blinked. Had that sexual innuendo come from her? And had he just implied what she thought he had?

  Before she could think of a better comeback, the man had turned and walked away.

  Catharine took another visual scan of the farm. She thought there had been other children lined up to ride when they’d approached the fence. Children abounded, certainly, but all seemed occupied elsewhere. Shrugging, she wondered if something in the food and water of this European country disagreed with her. She could have sworn the air had been…sparkly, earlier, too.

  She turned her attention to the man she’d heard the little girl call “doctor.” Lean, with sandy brown hair and twinkling blue eyes, Catharine had admired his gentle, friendly way with the child as he’d led the horse around the corral. She would have bet he had children of his own. Hell, he still might at that. Just because he’d flirted with her didn’t mean he wasn’t married. Men, in her limited experience, rarely concerned themselves with the vows they had spoken, or the promises they had made. In fact, with the possible exception of her eldest brother, she bet every last one of them was a lying, cheating, son-of-a-bitch. Likely Philip was no different.

  Catharine closed her eyes. At the oddest times, her emotions would sail back seven years, to when she’d been a naïve and needy fifteen-year-old girl. Seduced and then abandoned by that smooth-talking, well-healed William Corey, and then left to fend for herself and her baby, alone. She’d tried to control this migration of mood, and for the most part succeeded. She never knew what would trigger it. She really did know better than to paint every man with the same brush as that bastard who refused to acknowledge his own son. She knew better, but being human, it happened from time to time.

  “Wow. Philip must have said something really outrageous to make you that mad.”

  Catharine jolted, and turned to face the young woman who had spoken. “You startled me. I didn’t hear you come up.” And then the words the pretty redhead said came back to her. “Is he your husband?”

  The woman’s robust laughter had Catharine smiling. “Good Lord, no. Oh, yuck. It’s hard enough being his sister. I can’t imagine what it might be like to be married to him.” Catharine smiled as the woman turned and looked at her brother for a long moment. “He’s handsome enough, I suppose,” she said grudgingly. “But no woman has had the nerve to take him on yet.” Then she turned her laughing eyes back to Catharine. “I’m Rachel.”

  “Hi Rachel. I’m Catharine Jones.”

  “You came from the resort?”

  “Yes, with my son, Jamie,” she said, gesturing at Jamie who, noticing he had her attention, grinned and waved. “We arrived yesterday from Canada, with my mom. When I saw this activity listed for the Children’s Club, I had to bring Jamie. He’s absolutely mad for horses.”

  “What I have noticed over the last two years that we’ve been bringing children here is that it’s usually girls who are horse mad.”

  “That’s what the people at the riding stable back home said, too. Jamie wants riding lessons in the fall, and I’m trying to find a way to make that happen.”

  “I grew up with the beautiful beasts,” Rachel said. “And I have always considered myself very fortunate to have done so.”

  Catharine turned her attention back to her son. “Despite his outrageous flirting, your brother seems to have an affinity for children. And horses.”

  “He does, yes. Especially children. He’s a pediatrician. A gifted one, I’m told. And the outrageous behavior—in any arena—is just Philippe. Oh, sorry, Philip. He prefers the English pronunciation, though I have no idea why. Will you join me on the verandah for some refreshment?”

  Catharine liked this young woman and would have loved the opportunity to sit and chat. She didn’t have that many friends back home. She knew the blame for that rested squarely on her. A lot of her girlfriends had turned away from her when she had Jamie so young. A baby in tow wasn't exactly every high school girl's idea of an ingredient for a good time. Because of that, and the condemnation total strangers had felt free to heap on her for being a young, unwed mother, Catharine had learned to keep to herself. Only in the last year or so, since going off welfare and starting to work full-time, had she gotten some of her starch back. Still, she tended to be cautious in making friendships. But something about Rachel really set her at ease.

  “I don’t want to leave my spot, here. It has nothing to do with your brother.”

  “I understand. Well, then, the refreshments can come to us.”

  Catharine thought Rachel meant she would go and get them herself, but that wasn’t it at all. She raised her right hand in a gesture Catharine thought rather imperious. A young woman on the porch nodded and walked quickly toward them.

  “We have a selection of soda, tea, and coffee. What would you like?” Rachel asked.

  “Anything cold is good, thank you.”

  Catharine had her eyes back on Jamie, whose attention seemed riveted on Philip. She could see the wide smile on his face as he nodded vigorously then took the reins of the horse himself. Catharine opened her mouth to protest, but stopped herself when she saw the tall man stayed close to her son. She knew the hardest thing she would ever do
as a mother would be to step back from time to time and let her child grow.

  “Gina, Ms. Jones and I would each like some ginger ale, please.”

  Catharine turned just in time to see the young girl execute a curtsey and reply, “I’ll get them at once, Your Highness.”

  * * * *

  “Very good, Jamie. I think Francois likes you.”

  “He’s a really nice horse, Philip. I think he likes having me on his back. I wish we could come here every day.”

  “The resort brings children out here every Saturday, as well as Mondays. If you’re still there at the end if the week, maybe you can come again, and bring your dad.”

  “I don’t have a dad. He didn’t want me and Mom says that’s his loss.”

  “Your mother is exactly right.” Philip had assumed the pretty lioness watching her cub so closely to be a married woman—a shame, because he definitely felt attracted to her. Delighted to discover her unattached, he considered for two seconds that it would probably be pretty low of him to question her son about her. Then he decided to do it, anyway.

  “Does your mom have a boyfriend?”

  “You mean like someone to kiss and stuff? No way. My mom says it’s just her and me. Davey Thompson’s mom has a boyfriend and do you know what?”

  Philip couldn’t help but grin at the devilish look in Jamie’s eyes. Because Jamie leaned closer and his voice had gone to a whisper on the last word, Philip leaned closer too and whispered, “No, what?”

  “He said they had a sleepover in his mom’s bed and they didn’t even wear any pajamas!”

  The look of disgusted humor on Jamie’s face called to mind his own younger years when he, too, thought girls icky. Not to disappoint, Philip made a similar face and said, “Gross!”

  Jamie giggled, and Philip felt his heart melt.

  “Don’t tell my mom I told you!” Jamie pleaded.

  “Never!” Philip agreed. “So, what’s your mother’s name?”

  “It’s Catharine. I don’t know what her other name is. Mine is Patrick, and she only uses it when she’s real serious. You know, like, ‘James Patrick Jones, you come over here right now!’ But Grandma never gets serious with Mom, so I don’t know what her other name is.”

  Philip looked over at Catharine. She and Rachel had been chatting for a few minutes, and Catharine seemed easy with her. But then most people responded that way to his youngest sister. As he watched, Rachel signaled at Gina to join them. Catharine looked back toward him and Jamie, and he quickly averted his eyes.

  “Would you like to take the reins again? You remember how to hold them?” Philip handed them over, but kept one hand on Francois’ bridle. He appreciated Jamie’s concentration, and nodded with approval when the boy held the reins properly.

  “Good. Now gently, tap his sides with your feet. I’ll be right here with you.”

  Philip could tell that Jamie had been raised with love and discipline. Comfortable in his own skin, the boy certainly didn’t suffer from any lack of self-confidence.

  “Is my mom watching?”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “Then maybe she will see how good I am and when we get home and school starts, I’ll get to take riding lessons.”

  “If you like, you can go have some juice and cookies on the verandah with the other children when we’re done here. I’ll be glad to tell your mom that you’re already a good rider and should have those lessons.”

  “You will?”

  Philip didn’t feel in the least guilty. True, he wanted a moment to speak to Catharine himself, but Jamie was a natural in the saddle, and he’d be sure to fit that comment in. Then as he turned to look at the lady in question, he saw her jaw drop in shock as she stared at his sister.

  He’d seen that expression too many times not to know what she’d found out. Damn. He’d hoped to be able to get to know her a bit before she discovered his identity. Now he wouldn’t be sure if her softening toward him had anything to do with him, or was because of his title.

  And then a miraculous thing happened. She turned to face him and the look she sent wasn’t filled with admiration and longing at all. More like animosity and loathing, he thought. It left him unbelievably tickled—and challenged.

  Sending her what he knew to be a roguish grin and wink, he turned to his new young friend. “Maybe I can talk your mom into bringing you out here on her own, before Saturday.”

  “Really?”

  “I’ll give it my best shot. Come on, Jamie, I’ll introduce you to my sister Rachel, and she’ll get you that juice and cookies while your mom and I have a little chat.”

  Philip signaled to the groom waiting nearby. When he lifted Jamie from the horse, the groom took the animal’s reins. Not bothering to lower the boy to the ground, he walked over to the women. He smiled when he heard Rachel’s laughter and the disbelief in Catharine’s voice as she said, “But you said your name was Rachel.”

  “It is Rachel.”

  “But you’re a princess, and he’s a prince!”

  Philip’s smile widened because no respect or reverence existed in the way she’d pointed at him. There’s far too much fire in this woman’s eyes for a staid name like Catharine.

  “And this young man,” he interjected, setting Jamie on the top rail of the fence so he could jump down on the outside of the paddock, “is a natural-born rider, and in need of juice and cookies. And riding lessons.”

  He sent his sister a subtle visual signal, smiling gratefully when Rachel didn’t miss a beat.

  “You’re Jamie. I’m Rachel. Come with me, the juice and cookies are very good today.”

  As they walked away, Philip heard Jamie’s unabashed question. “You’re a princess? Did you have to kiss a frog?”

  He watched Catharine’s eyes and knew the exact instant she’d decided to bolt. He placed his hand over hers on the railing, forestalling her.

  “Rachel will take good care of him, and you can see him from here. Relax, Kate. Stay and chat with me for a little while. Please.”

  “Is that a royal command, Your Highness?”

  “Not at all, Kate. It’s a simple, heart-felt request.”

  “My name is not Kate. It’s Catharine.”

  Too good an opening to pass up, Philip smiled as he said, “You lie, in faith, for you are called plain Kate and bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst. But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom.”

  He watched, greatly entertained, as her eyes widened, then narrowed coolly in speculation.

  “Are you calling me a shrew?”

  Frost had coated every syllable and he couldn’t help but laugh. “No, darling. I’m calling you Kate.”

  * * * *

  Everything about Hannah appealed to Alex.

  When they’d arrived at the marina, she’d shot him a look of disbelief as soon as she saw the name of his boat. He immediately recalled having quipped the night before that their meeting had been fate.

  “I swear to you that I’ve had this boat for many years. It has always been called The Destiny.”

  “I believe you,” she replied, laughing.

  He really liked her easy laughter.

  Just before setting off he’d handed her a scarf. When she seemed confused, he explained, “There’s a good breeze off shore today. We may end up going fast.”

  “Oh, but I love the feel of wind in my hair!”

  He’d never known a woman so at ease with herself, so unafraid to simply enjoy the moment, as Hannah Jones.

  While he’d known a lot of women, he’d had sex with very few. In his position, and before the universal use of birth control, it hadn’t been a wise course of action for a Crown Prince. Then he’d married Liana, and despite the fact that sex in his marriage bed became a rare occurrence, he’d been a faithful husband. After her death, Alex simply hadn’t been interested in sex. He’d had his hands full trying to be a good father and govern his country. In fact, he’d worked hard at being both father and mother. He knew Liana hadn’
t been very affectionate or loving with the children, but he’d no idea exactly how unaffectionate until after she’d died. The last thing on his agenda had been getting laid.

  But now his children were all grown, and he had met a woman who attracted him, one with a wonderful sense of humor and a strong sense of self. He knew Hannah thought he’d thrown her a line when he’d spoken the night before about fate. But what he’d said had come straight from his heart.

  She indeed seemed thrilled with the sensation of the wind streaming through her hair. The occasional sea spray, caused when his small sailboat navigated the wake of larger, faster ones, brought out her delighted laughter. What a joy she was to be with! After an hour, he regretfully pushed the tiller to bring the boat around, adjusted the sails and began heading back to the marina.

  “The sun is strong today,” he said by way of apology when he saw the look of disappointment on her face. “I don’t wish to give you a sunburn as a souvenir. But I have no intention of leaving you. We could go to the dining room and have lunch. Or we could go somewhere more private. We could have lunch delivered to my suite.”

  “Choices,” she said softly, and he knew she understood his meaning.

  It took him a few minutes and all of his attention to lower the sails, start the small engine, and maneuver the craft into its slip. The resort staff waited attentively, grabbing the rope and tying it off.

  Alex helped Hannah onto the dock himself, before either of the two strapping young men could.

  “I had so much fun. Thank you, Alex.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, where to next?” He was careful to ask that only when they had walked far enough from the dock that no one could overhear them.

  He wondered what Hannah was thinking when she looked around to see if anyone else wandered close.