The Princess Bride

by Rebecca Winters

  Alejandro stared at the attractive, stylish women carrying boxes into the palace’s large music room. These weren’t members of the normal staff. Not with those long legs and short skirts. His curiosity piqued, he decided to take a closer look and entered the Grand Hall.

  Enrique paced with his hands clasped behind his back. Wrinkles creased his forehead. Sweat beaded at his brow. The crown prince looked nothing like the oil paintings of the island’s rulers hanging on the walls alongside him.

  But Alejandro had seen his brother this way once before, when he prepared for what would turn out to be a disastrous date with a famous movie actress. The spoiled, pampered, egotistical couple had clashed from the moment they said hello. Each expected the other to cater to their whims.

  “What are you up to, bro?” Alejandro asked.

  “I wondered when the scent of perfume would lead you here.” Enrique dabbed his forehead with a linen handkerchief. “Look, but don’t touch. The women are being paid handsomely for their services.”

  Alejandro raised a brow. “I didn’t realize you paid for female services.”

  “Not those kind of services, moron.” Enrique sneered. “This is a surprise for Julianna.”

  “A surprise. Really?”

  “Don’t sound so shocked.” He continued pacing. “She is going to be my wife.”

  Alejandro wasn’t about to forget about that. He’d resisted tasting her lips last night for that very reason. But her agreeing to be his helmsman made up for the lack of kisses.

  Asking her to join his crew wasn’t his smartest move given consequences involved, but he believed La Rueca had a better chance of winning with her behind the wheel. She’d also looked so happy sailing. He wanted to show her how beautiful life could be here. All he had to do was douse his attraction for her, and things would be fine.

  “I know.” He tried to sound nonchalant, even if he was a little…envious. Enrique hadn’t had much luck in the dating department, but he’d hit the jackpot finding a bride. Not that Alejandro was in the market for one himself. “But you’ve never gone to so much trouble for a woman before.”

  Any trouble, really. Enrique expected women to fall at his feet. Those with dreams of being a princess and queen would until they tired of his self-centeredness. But Julianna was different…

  “The royal wedding will generate a tremendous amount of publicity.” He lowered his voice. “Julianna must be dressed appropriately for the ceremony and reception.”

  Too bad Enrique needed to feed his ego, not please Julianna the way she deserved to be pleased and cherished. Alejandro rolled his eyes in disgust.

  “The princess is always at the top of the Best Dressed Lists.” He hadn’t been able to sleep last night. He’d searched the internet to learn more about Julianna. “She is a fashion icon for women, young and old.”

  “In everyday clothing, yes,” Enrique said. “Being a princess bride is different. I have assembled the top experts here. A dress designer and her team, makeup artists, hairstylists and many others. This is all for her.”

  Alejandro rolled his eyes. “Don’t pretend any of this is for Julianna. It’s about how you want her to look when she’s with you.”

  “This is important. The royal wedding will change the island’s fortune and future. Everything must go perfectly.” Enrique sounded more like a spoiled child than a crown prince. “Today’s trial run of our wedding day preparations will work out any kinks and problems. The dress designer will also take care of alterations needed on the wedding gown.”

  Practical, perhaps, but so not romantic. Julianna was practical. Her words last night about her embracing her marriage told Alejandro that. But the woman who had sailed with stars in her eyes also seemed like the kind who liked the hearts, flowers and violin type of romance. Arranged marriage or not.

  “Alterations?” he asked. “I didn’t think Julianna had a wedding dress yet.”

  Enrique smirked. “She has one now.”

  The look on his brother’s face worried Alejandro. “What have you—?”

  “Good morning, gentlemen.” Julianna walked toward them with Brandt at her side and her maid following.

  Julianna looked regal wearing a bathrobe and slippers. Every strand of her hair, worn loose this morning, was perfectly placed. She’d applied makeup, too. Not as much as she usually wore, but enough for him to notice the difference from her clean face last night. No one would guess the perfectly groomed princess had another side, one that had taken her out onto the sea with him until early this morning.

  She stopped in front of them. “I was told you wanted to see me, Enrique.”

  Her formal tone contradicted the casual way she’d spoken on the boat and during the walk back to the palace.

  “I do.” Enrique beamed. “I have a surprise for you, my lovely bride.”

  The corners of her mouth tipped up, but her eyes didn’t sparkle the way they had last night. Of course, no one would notice that except Alejandro. He found it strange she showed no hint of the woman he’d spent hours sailing with. Her mask was firmly in place, a disguise like the sailing clothes she’d worn.

  Julianna rubbed her hands together. Excited or cold, he couldn’t tell. “I love surprises,” she said.

  Alejandro didn’t think she would like this one. She wanted freedom, not be told what to wear and how to act on her wedding day. He needed to warn her so she would be prepared. “Why don’t you grab Father, Enrique? I’m sure he’ll be interested in seeing this.”

  “Father is attending his weekly breakfast meeting with the head of the Courts. Something you would know if you had a clue about what went on around here.” Enrique extended his arm, and Julianna laced her arm around his. “Ready for your surprise?”

  She nodded with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

  The woman always hoped for the best. Alejandro respected that about her, but he knew she would only be hurt that much more.

  The doors to the music room opened.

  Alejandro stared at the floor. He didn’t want to see her disappointed.

  Julianna gasped.

  His gaze jerked up. White satin, tulle and miniature white lights covered the walls of the music room. A thick, white rug lay on the hardwood floor. A white silk curtain separated a third of the room from the rest of it. No expense had been spared in transforming the space into a spa complete with a private beauty salon and a massage table.

  Impressive. Enrique had managed to get it right this time. If only his motivation had been for his bride and not himself. Alejandro glanced over at Julianna.

  She surveyed the entire room with wide-eyed wonder. “What is all this?”

  “Everything you’ll need to prepare for our wedding day,” Enrique said proudly. “This will be your bride room.”

  “Oh, Enrique.” Her smile widened. “I can’t believe you would go to all this trouble.”

  Don’t believe it, Alejandro wanted to shout. This was nothing but smoke and mirrors on the part of his brother. Ambition and pride run amuck à la Lady Macbeth. But Alejandro saw how moved Julianna was. He wanted her to be happy, even if that meant she was happy with his brother. Enrique might get Julianna the princess, but Alejandro took fierce delight in getting Julianna the sailor.

  “This is amazing, Enrique,” Brandt said. “Thank you so much.”

  Even Brandt had been fooled.

  Enrique kissed the top of Julianna’s hand, the gesture as meaningless as the over-the-top display in the music room.

  “It was no trouble at all.” Enrique’s smooth tone made Alejandro want to gag. “Anything for my princess bride.”

  Julianna’s eyes didn’t sparkle, but they brightened. She looked relieved, pleased with what she saw in the music room and with her fiancé. “Thank you.”

  Warmth and appreciation rang out in her voice. Perhaps she would be content, even happy, in this marriage. But Alejandro couldn’t shake his misgivings.

  Enrique’s chest puffed out. “There’s more.”
r />   Alejandro had to admit he was curious, but in a train-wreck-waiting-to-happen kind of way.

  With a grand gesture of his arms, Enrique motioned for the curtain to be opened. Two young women, both dressed in the same hot pink above the knee dresses and black sling-back stilettos, opened the white silk curtains to reveal a wedding gown on a busty mannequin wearing a diamond tiara and a long lace veil.

  “Surprise,” Enrique shouted with glee.

  Julianna gasped again. Not in a good way this time. A look of despair flashed across her face before her features settled into a tight smile.

  Alejandro didn’t blame her for the reaction.

  A cupcake. That was his first impression of the gown. The frilly dress with big puffy sleeves, sparkling crystals and neatly tied bows would look perfect on a Disney princess, but not on Julianna. She would look like a caricature of a princess bride in that dress.

  Julianna should wear a more sophisticated, elegant gown with sleek lines to show off her delicious curves. He imagined her walking down the cathedral aisle in such a dress and pictured himself waiting for her…

  What the hell?

  Alejandro shook the image from his head. He wasn’t looking for a girlfriend, let alone a bride. Especially one who was already engaged and held the key to his freedom.

  Julianna stared at the spectacle of a dress in front of her. Tears welled in her eyes.

  “I told you she would like this.” A smug smile settled on Enrique’s lips. “She’s crying tears of joy.”

  Alejandro balled his hands. He barely managed to keep his fists at his sides. He wanted to punch his brother in the nose and knock some sense into his inflated, ego-filled head.

  The guy had to be a narcissist not to realize Julianna was horrified, not joyful. Either that, or Enrique was that dense about women.

  “That is my sister’s wedding dress?” Brandt asked with a tone of disbelief.

  Enrique nodded, visibly pleased with himself. “I told the designer to create a royal wedding dress fit for a fairy-tale princess bride.”

  “When?” Julianna muttered. “When did you tell her that?”

  “A while ago,” Enrique admitted. “When my father decided I should wed.”

  Julianna pressed her lips together. Alejandro didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what she was thinking. Enrique had requested the gown for a generic bride, not with Julianna in mind.

  More proof this show today was for Enrique’s benefit, no one else’s. He knew exactly how he wanted things. Who cared about anyone else, including his bride who hadn’t even been considered in the dress design?

  Alejandro had come up against his brother’s ego many times. He’d lost most battles and won a few, but he’d never been so angry with Enrique as he was now.

  “Try on the dress,” Enrique urged.

  Alejandro waited for Julianna to speak up, to say she wanted to pick out her own wedding dress.

  She squared her shoulders.

  He smiled. This should be good.

  “Let’s go see how the dress looks on me, Yvette.” Julianna set off toward the wedding dress with her maid in tow.

  Alejandro stared in disbelief. Julianna had no problem yesterday speaking up to him, showing sass and spunk when it came to Boots’s name and being helmsman. He couldn’t understand why she remained silent now.

  He glanced at Brandt. Surely the crown prince would stand up for his big sister? But he followed Julianna without saying a word.

  What was going on? Alejandro watched from the other side of the music room as they approached the atrocious wedding gown.

  “I knew this was a good idea,” Enrique said in a low, but singsong manner.

  Alejandro gritted this teeth. “A bride should choose her own gown.”

  “This was part of the wedding negotiations with King Alaric.”

  “The king approves of Julianna wearing a dress you picked out?” Alejandro asked.

  Enrique nodded. “King Alaric paid for all of this, including the wedding gown I commissioned months ago. The old fool is so desperate to have grandchildren he agrees to anything I ask for. He’s giving me an extra ten million if I keep Julianna from ever sailing again. Imagine that.”

  “I can’t.” Outrage tightened Alejandro’s jaw until it ached. For that amount of money, Enrique would never change his mind about Julianna sailing again. “Especially since she seems to enjoy the sport.”

  “She’ll get over it.” Enrique’s brush-off bothered Alejandro more than usual. “Remember, she has me. That will be enough for her.”

  His brother’s uncaring attitude roused Alejandro’s protective instincts. Someone had to take a stand for her. “Julianna might be happier if—”

  Enrique cut him off. “Her happiness isn’t my priority. I only care about her dowry, ability to produce heirs and obeying my orders.”

  Alejandro had never seen his brother act so callous. “This is wrong.”

  “I’m treating her the way she expects to be treated. Women in Aliestle are used to being ordered about. It’s all they know.”

  “Enrique, don’t—”

  “Enough.” Enrique sneered. “If you say a word to Julianna or Brandt about any of this, I’ll shut down the Med Cup this year.”

  “You can’t cancel the race.”

  “I can, and I will.”

  With the threat hanging in air, he strutted toward the others like a proud peacock.

  Alejandro seethed. He needed his brother to marry if he wanted to be released from his princely duties and obligations. But what would the cost of that freedom be?

  He stared at Julianna. She touched the skirt of the wedding dress with a hesitant hand. She claimed marrying Enrique was better than returning to Aliestle. Alejandro had his doubts.

  The women in pink removed the frothy confection of a wedding gown from the mannequin. Julianna and her maid followed them behind a white, fabric-paneled screen.

  Enrique’s threat made it impossible for Alejandro to take action. Not that he could stop the royal wedding since Julianna wanted to marry his brother. But Alejandro could do something else.

  He could make the Med Cup race memorable for Julianna. He could show her how skilled and talented she was. He could make her see she deserved the best from the crew, the staff and most especially, her husband.

  That was the least Alejandro could do for the beautiful princess bride. And he would.

  I look like a puff pastry.

  Jules stared at her reflection in the three-part mirror with horror. She couldn’t believe Enrique wanted her to wear this monstrosity at their wedding. She’d thought for a few short moments he’d wanted to make her happy and gone to all this trouble to make her feel…special. But he hadn’t.

  Do you really think Enrique’s going to send you back to Aliestle and walk away from a hundred-million-dollar dowry because you went sailing?

  Alejandro’s words reaffirmed what she knew in her heart and her mind. Enrique only cared about her dowry. He’d made it sound like all this had been for her, but it was really for him. She’d overheard the manicurist talking to the hairstylist about putting together a list of improvements for the crown prince. No one cared about Jules’s opinion.

  Thank goodness Enrique hadn’t stuck around long. Otherwise she might have said something impolite. At least she didn’t feel quite so guilty about agreeing to sail in the Med Cup and going behind his back.

  One of the women in pink raised the hem of the dress. Tulle scratched Jules leg. “We’ll need to add another ruffle.”

  No. Her stomach churned. Not another ruffle. The dress had too many as it was.

  She inhaled to calm herself. The potent mixture of the different perfumes the women wore made her cough. Her eyes watered.

  Delia, the dress designer, and her team jotted notes and marked the dress with pins.

  Jules tried to ignore them. She needed a distraction. A quick survey of the room yielded nothing. Alejandro must have left before Enrique. She would have t
o rely on her own imagination.

  She imagined being on La Rueca and holding the wheel in her hands. The metal felt smooth beneath her palms. The boat heeled and water splashed against her face and wet her clothes. Alejandro manned the jib sheet, his flexed muscles glistening from a combination of sweat and water. He glanced back at her. His handsome face filled with pleasure, his dark eyes gleaming with hunger for her. An answering desire sparked low in her belly as the wind whipped through her hair—

  “With the dreamy look in your eyes, you must be picturing your wedding day,” a woman’s voice broke through Julianna’s thoughts.

  She turned off the romantic scene playing in her head and brought herself back to the present.

  “You look gorgeous, ma’am.” Delia motioned to the women in pink. “Let’s button up the back to see how the gown fits.”

  Jules didn’t—couldn’t—say anything. She’d rather daydream about sailing with Alejandro than think about marrying a man who would have a wedding gown designed for a nameless, faceless bride. A dress more suited for a younger woman who wanted to be a fairy-tale princess, not a woman a couple of years away from turning thirty. The thought of walking down the aisle wearing the dress filled her with dread.

  Don’t think about that. She imagined herself with the wind on her face, the taste of salt in her mouth and Alejandro next to her.

  Someone pulled on the left side of dress. “It’s a little tight.”

  Jules pretended the lifeline tugged against her, keeping her attached to the boat. With iffy weather and big waves, falling overboard could be fatal.

  As would be continuing to fantasize about Alejandro.

  “It’ll fit,” another woman said.

  The pressure around Jules’s midsection increased. She felt as if she were caught in the middle of a tug-of-war game. The air rushed from her lungs, forced out by whatever was being tightened around her.

  “Can’t breathe,” Jules croaked.

  “Release the buttons and strings,” Delia ordered.

  The women did.

  “Thank you,” Jules said.

  “Sorry, Ma’am.” Delia’s cheeks flushed. “The dress is too large in the bust and too small in the waist. I’ll take measurements so I can alter the gown.”