The Crown Prince's Bride

by Donna Alward

  Lucy nodded. “And sleeping. We flew most of the night. I brought noise-cancelling headphones and slept. Brody didn’t, and dealt with the kids.” She sent Steph a wicked grin. “Sucker.”

  They were both laughing when Raoul came out of his office.

  “Luce!” He came forward, a broad smile on his face, and enveloped his sister in a hug.

  Steph couldn’t remember the last time he’d smiled quite that big or so easily. When he did, his face transformed and it was a glorious, beautiful thing. No lines of grief or responsibility etched there. Just happiness.

  “Hello, big brother. You’re looking well.”

  “So are you. You brought Alyssa, too, along with Alex?”

  Lucy nodded. “At this age she’s super easy. She just started sleeping through the night but she’s not mobile yet.” She laughed. “I left the children with Emilia and Max in the nursery. Alex and Max were planning some sort of battle on the grounds and Emilia and Imogene were fussing over Alyssa. I like the new nanny.”

  Raoul nodded. “Rose recommended her, and the children adore her.”

  Lucy stepped back from Raoul and looked at Stephani. “I expect you could use some help right about now. What needs doing?”

  Stephani let out a breath. “You’re a lifesaver, but you’re not here to work. You’re family.”

  “Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Lucy laughed while Raoul grinned at his sister’s eye-rolling. “For that matter, so are you.”

  It echoed a little too closely to what Raoul had said last night. There was no denying that she’d always enjoyed a “familiar” relationship with the Navarro family because of Ceci. For a long time it had been wonderful, but now it added a layer of complication to what had once been fairly straightforward.

  She’d always found Raoul attractive; when he and Ceci had started dating Stephani had been more than a little awestruck. Once they’d become engaged, she got to know him better and liked him as a person and not just as a king-in-waiting. But it had been when Emilia was born that she’d fallen for him.

  It had been a strange, defining moment. She’d gone to visit her cousin and discovered Raoul in the nursery. Ceci was asleep and Raoul was holding the baby in his arms as Stephani peeked in the door. The conversation he’d had with his baby daughter had been so tender, so heartfelt, that he’d ceased to be a prince in that moment. He’d been a husband and a father and a man, and she hadn’t been able to turn off her feelings since.

  She couldn’t tell Raoul how she felt, and certainly couldn’t “make a move.” But she wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye, either. Because Lucy was right. This was her family. Both the Navarros and also the household staff. To leave would mean starting over in so many ways.

  “Yes, but I’m on the payroll,” she said lightly, trying to cover the turmoil of her thoughts.

  Lucy laughed again and linked her arms with Stephani. “Payroll, schmayroll,” she argued. “Show me your to-do list and I’ll see what I can take off your plate. I’ve got about two hours before I need to be at the nursery again.”

  Raoul disappeared into his office and Stephani opened up her spreadsheet, too glad for the help to turn it away.

  “My brother looks good,” Lucy remarked quietly. “Is he doing okay?”

  Stephani’s pulse took a little jump, surprised that Lucy would ask her such a question. “Um, as far as I know, I guess.”

  “Don’t sound so surprised that I asked. You know him better than anyone, including Father or Diego. And he trusts you.” Before Stephani could absorb that statement, Lucy continued. “He was really, well, dark for so long. He looks . . . I don’t know. Lighter, somehow.”

  Stephani shrugged. “Maybe it’s wedding fever?”

  “Or maybe it’s letting go of some of his grief. He has to move on sometime.”

  Stephani’s fingers paused over her keyboard. Raoul moving on . . . of course he must. Marazur needed a queen when the time came for Raoul to sit on the throne. He couldn’t remain a bachelor forever. And the idea of seeing him with someone else made her stomach tangle up in knots.

  “Something wrong?”

  “Oh no, of course not.” Steph clicked on one of the task lists and brought it up on the screen. “What would you like to help with, Lucy? We have Rose’s family arriving from Heathrow tomorrow morning. Maybe you can help with that?”

  Lucy nodded. “Rose has a niece, right?”

  “She does. A little older than Emilia. And there’s Rose’s sister, brother and sister-in-law, and parents.”

  “No grandparents?”

  “None that could make the trip, no. And Diego’s friend Ryan and his sister are flying in tonight.”

  “Give me the details. I’ll organize their welcome and get them settled and make sure they’re where they need to be for tomorrow. The day of the wedding, though, I’ll be trying to get my own family whipped into shape.”

  “That would be fabulous.” Steph printed off the details and schedule for Rose’s family. “There’s also a family dinner tomorrow night. Formal but not overly so.”

  “You’re attending, of course?”

  Steph looked up to find Lucy’s gaze steady. “Well, I wasn’t planning on it.”

  Lucy frowned. “Stephani, I know you’re Raoul’s assistant, but you’re also Ceci’s cousin. You meant a lot to her, and you’ve been with this family for what . . . seven, eight years? But you’re always in the background.”

  “Where I belong,” Stephani asserted.

  “Not always. Look, at public functions, that’s one thing. But you’ve been through it all with us. You should be at the dinner to celebrate, too. I insist.”

  Stephani reached for the papers coming out of the printer, then spun her chair back to face Lucy. If she were honest with herself, she’d love to go to that dinner. It would be relaxed, and far less structured than the official reception the next day. Rose and Diego would be happy and nervous. There would be children, and lately she hadn’t had much time to spend with Max and Emilia. She missed them. All things she loved about the Navarro family and enjoyed vicariously since she had no real family of her own.

  Lucy touched her hand. “Come on. You know you love us.” Stephani choked out a laugh as Lucy added, “And we love you, too.”

  “You are so used to getting your own way.”

  Lucy smiled softly. “It’s being a baby sister that does it. And having a husband like Brody. But seriously. I’ll have your name added to the list and seating plan. Leave it all to me. In fact, leave the rest of the dinner to me. I’ll check with Señora Ortiz and all you have to do is put on a pretty dress and show up.”

  She should say no. After all, it wasn’t Lucy’s job to show up and go straight to work. But the offer meant taking several items off her list for tomorrow. And it meant actually enjoying at least part of what was to be a joyous occasion for both the family and the principality. A new princess.

  “I shouldn’t, but I’m going to let you do that. Though if anything comes up—and I mean anything—I want you to let me know. You have the children with you, and jet lag, and you need to enjoy the wedding, too.”

  “Leave it to me. Do you have a dress for tomorrow?”

  Stephani raised an eyebrow. “I think I can find something in my closet.”

  There was a sound from Raoul’s office and Lucy looked at his door for a moment, and then turned back. “Make it pretty. None of those straight, businessy lines you’re used to. And no black. That’s fine for state dinners but this is different. Make it . . . celebratory.”

  Stephani laughed. “Usually I’m the one playing fairy godmother.” She’d picked out the dress Rose had worn to Raoul’s birthday party, as a matter of fact, and that night had ultimately led to Rose and Diego’s engagement. It was also the party where Raoul kissed Stephani senseless and then run away with his tail between his legs.

  A kiss could only sustain a girl so long. And the Versace still hung in her closet, but she wasn’t about to wear it again.

&nb
sp; “Blue,” Lucy suggested. “Raoul loves blue.”

  The knots tangled up again. “What difference does that make?”

  Lucy met her gaze. “Oh, no difference at all, I suppose. Hand me the lists and I’ll get started.”

  When Lucy was gone, Stephani sat back in her chair and pondered the last twenty minutes. Lucy was different than the rest of the family. She hadn’t grown up with the protocol, nor lived in it for the past years since she’d discovered she was a real princess. Inviting Stephani to a family dinner was no big deal to her, but protocol-wise, it was a precarious line. Then again, the situation had never been black and white, because of Ceci.

  But the comment about Raoul liking blue . . . Stephani knew that already. Which was beside the point. Lucy had suggested she wear blue. Why? Because Lucy might play fairy godmother but she surely wasn’t playing matchmaker.

  Steph wasn’t about to wear blue just because Raoul liked it. He’d made his feelings plain enough six months ago. And trying to pretend otherwise was just punishing herself.

  * * *

  Raoul made his way to the dining room with a bounce in his step. Tomorrow his little brother was getting married. Despite his own personal heartache, Raoul was happy for Diego. Rose was a spectacular woman, strong as steel but with a softness that spoke of compassion and understanding. Despite her commoner upbringing, she’d be a wonderful princess. And the fact that Diego had finally left behind his questionable behavior was an added bonus.

  And Lucy was here, too, with Brody and their children. He’d looked outside his window today and had seen all of them—Emilia, Max, Alex, and Rose’s niece, Alice, playing in the garden. Imogene was watching over all of them while the baby napped in a stroller. This was what the palace had been missing. Laughter. Home.

  And if there was a little ache in his heart that he was going through this without Ceci, that was okay. At least now it was an ache and not an emptiness that brought him to his knees.

  He stopped at the threshold of the dining room and simply watched.

  Everyone was dressed up. Rose and Diego were here already, looking radiant, and holding wineglasses as they chatted to another couple Raoul assumed were Rose’s parents. Lucy and Brody chatted with a couple about their age—Rose’s brother and sister-in-law, he assumed, and a woman who looked younger than Rose, but with similar features and hair. Instead of Rose’s easy smile, she had a strained expression around her lips. Ah. The sister who was a bit of a wild card. Should be fun.

  “Bit of a full house tonight, ¿sí?”

  Raoul turned to see his father standing just behind him, a soft smile on his face. “It’s good, I think.”

  “Me too. All of my family here together, and Rose’s, too.”

  “And lots of children.”

  Alexander chuckled. “I’m hoping Rose and Diego will add to that number, too.”

  “Add to what number?”

  Stephani’s soft voice interrupted and Raoul momentarily lost his capacity to speak.

  Her dress was the color of a peacock’s feather, a bright blue that shone against her bronze skin. The satin fell in a straight sheath, draped from one shoulder by a jeweled brooch, while her other shoulder was bare. And the hem . . . Dios mío. It fell to the midpoint of her thigh, showcasing her long legs.

  His gaze lifted to her face again and she raised an eyebrow. “Add to what number?” she repeated, and he realized he hadn’t answered her question.

  “Grandchildren,” Alexander supplied. “Four is good. But a half dozen or more would be better.” He put a hand on Raoul’s shoulder. “We should probably go in.”

  “I’ll be in shortly,” Raoul answered. In a more formal setting, there’d be protocol to follow. But for tonight, they’d put all that aside and had decided to treat the evening like a big family dinner.

  He turned to Stephani. “You look beautiful. New dress?”

  She met his gaze, a soft smile on her lips. “I’ve had it a while, but haven’t worn it. It’s a little . . . bright for official functions, when I’m supposed to be more invisible.”

  “Shame. The color is perfect.”

  Her cheeks colored and his heart gave a solid thump against his ribs in response. For six months now he’d ignored his . . . well, if not attraction, his awareness of Stephani. It hadn’t been easy. He saw her every day. And he’d never forgotten the sweetness of her kiss in the alcove, even if he had been a little too deep into his bottle of Scotch.

  “I’m glad you approve. It’s not too much? Lucy said it wasn’t formal, but a cocktail dress was required.”

  “It’s perfect. And I’m glad you handed off some of the duties to Lucy. She’s a great organizer and a little less official as far as the palace is concerned. Perfect for making Rose’s family feel at home.”

  Imogene arrived with the four oldest children. “Papa!” Max came forward, bouncing on his toes. “Alex and I had a sword fight today!”

  “Is that what you were doing out in the garden? I saw lots of commotion.”

  “It was fun.”

  Emilia was standing close to Stephani. “Oh, Tía Stephani, your dress is beautiful.”

  “Thank you, Emilia. You look lovely as well. Is that new?”

  The girl nodded vigorously. “And I have a new one for the wedding tomorrow, too.” As an aside, she reached over and pulled Alice closer. “And so does Alice. And she has shoes that look like ballet slippers.”

  “Oh, that sounds beautiful. I hope you’re enjoying your time here, Alice.”

  Alice answered and the little girls then exclaimed over Stephani’s rather high heels. Raoul couldn’t help staring at her toned calves as she turned her heel this way and that. He also noticed that Emilia said something funny and Stephani dropped an easy kiss on his daughter’s head. She cared for his children, and they loved her, too.

  Because she was family. And too often he treated her as an employee.

  “Shall we go in?” he asked, and offered her his arm.

  “Oh. Of course.” She smiled up at him, then turned to the children. “Gentlemen, perhaps you could escort the ladies to the dining room?”

  Max and Alex rolled their eyes but stepped forward. Alex immediately held out his arm for Alice, which left Max with his sister, but other than a put-upon sigh, nothing was said. Raoul laughed and nodded at Imogene, who would retire to the nursery with the baby over the dinner hour.

  He put his hand over Stephani’s as it rested on his forearm. “Nice work. Do you suppose Alex and Alice have a budding romance?”

  She chuckled. “At their age? I doubt it. Alice is still at the ‘boys have germs’ age.”

  Raoul was laughing as they entered the dining room, and several pairs of eyes turned in their direction.

  He hesitated for a moment and looked down at Stephani, who was smiling and beaming. Beautiful.

  It felt very right having someone on his arm again.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Lucy had seated her next to Raoul.

  Stephani didn’t make a fuss or move any place cards around. She simply took her seat after all introductions had been made with Rose’s family. Raoul was on her right, Alexander at the head, and across from Raoul was Mr. and Mrs. Walters, lovely people who were still obviously agog at their surroundings. Alice and Emilia sat with them, along with Rose’s siblings and Rose and Diego. On the same side of the table as Raoul and Stephani were Lucy, Brody, and the two boys.

  At first it was slightly awkward, but then Diego fired up his charm, the second course arrived with more wine, and everyone loosened up a bit. Stories of the bride and groom popped up with regularity, and even Alexander chimed in with tales of Diego’s antics as a small boy. Stephani laughed with the rest, though she caught some rather intense stares from Rose’s sister across the table. Rose had warned her that Hayley was a tad resentful of others’ good fortune when she’d become a single mother as a teen. Regardless, Stephani found Alice to be a lovely child, she clearly loved her aunt, and she and Emilia had a
lready forged a friendship. It wasn’t worth worrying about.

  “Having a good time?” Raoul murmured in her ear.

  “It’s like the big family dinners we used to have, remember? Only a bit more formal.”

  He nodded. “Ceci’s family was good that way. Lots of food, wine, teasing.”

  “Do you never hear from her father?” Ceci’s mother had passed on years earlier, just after Emilia’s birth, from cancer.

  Raoul shook his head. “The odd phone call. I’ve invited him over many times, but I think he finds it too hard without Ceci here.”

  “But he’s missing out on the children.”

  “I know.”

  “His loss, Raoul. They’re wonderful.”

  He smiled at her. “And they feel the same about you. I hope that remains, Steph. You’re the one bit of family from their mother’s side that they still have.”

  The words stabbed like a knife to the heart. And she was thinking of leaving. How could she do that, knowing she’d leave the children behind? But then, she wouldn’t be like their grandfather. Of course she’d visit. If she was the only family that the children had left, the reverse was also true.

  The conversation had a sobering affect, and Stephani was quiet through her coffee and dessert. After dinner, Lucy took the children back to the nursery while everyone moved to the drawing room for after-dinner drinks and socializing. Wedding plans were in the air. Diego and Rose would soon say goodbye and Rose would depart for the seaside hotel where her bridesmaids waited and where they’d all get ready for the wedding tomorrow. So much celebration, and Stephani found herself on the perimeter of the room, watching it all.

  “So,” came a voice beside her. “That’s a nice frock.”

  Rose’s sister, Hayley. Stephani pasted on a smile. The compliment didn’t quite sound genuine.

  “Thank you.”

  “Bet it cost a lot.”

  Stephani didn’t know how to answer that, so she merely smiled and offered, “I hope you’re having a nice visit. Rose said she doesn’t see you often.”