She perched on the edge of the couch in the living area while he made himself comfortable in one of the chairs he’d uncovered. “Now, we have a choice to make. We’re supposed to stay here at the palace. There are three honeymoon suites. One each in the two largest apartments. One is for the monarch and one for the Crown Prince. William is moving into the vacant apartment soon. There’s another suite for everyone else. We could stay there tonight or we could go for a drive so I can show you around the rest of the property and forget to come back here.”
“Where would we go?”
“The mountain residence a day early. No breakfast with my parents tomorrow. No awkward conversations. What do you think?”
She nodded. “I think I’d like that.”
“I thought you might. I talked to my security team earlier to let them know it was a possibility. They know how difficult my parents can be.”
Should he tell her about the security teams? How they worked? How she’d always have at least one and usually two or more people with her when she left the palace? Or should he give her a few more days of oblivion?
No need to tell her now, he supposed. “Why don’t we get a few things together that we need for tonight? We won’t want to take a suitcase with us but do you have a big purse that could double? You could put some pajamas in it. There are toothbrushes and all that at the residence, so unless you have something specific or medications that you need, that’s all we want to take. They’ll bring the rest tomorrow.”
“I have a bag.” He had to strain to hear her.
“All right, then. If you want to go get your things together, I’ll talk to security, and we can get going.” He already had clothes at the residence, left there so he wouldn’t have to take things when he went on a spur of the moment trip.
Five minutes later, he showed her the way to the small elevator that took them down to the motor pool level. He grinned at the guard manning the area. “I’m going to take my bride for a drive around the property.”
The guard, one Malachi knew by sight but not by name, smiled back. “Of course, sir. Your car?”
“You know it.” He winked at Jessabelle who blushed. The guard walked off and drove up a minute later in Malachi’s favorite thing, a sleek, black Lamborghini. He left the engine purring while Malachi opened the door for his wife. The guard held Malachi’s door open as he thanked the man. “We’ll be back later.”
“Of course, sir.”
The garage door lifted in front of the car, and Malachi eased out. He waved to the guards at the gate, silently thanking his security team for paving the way.
“How far is it?” Jessabelle stared out the window as he maneuvered his way through Erres.
“It’ll take us about an hour to get there. Usually it wouldn’t take so long, but I don’t think the roads are completely clear yet.” A black sedan with heavily tinted windows pulled out in front of them. “And there’s our escort.”
“Escort?”
So much for not mentioning it. “My security team. There’s not much of a threat to the family, but we always have security with us.” Traffic was light as they went through the city, likely familiar to her as she’d grown up there. “So tell me about yourself, Jessabelle. That’s an unusual name. Does it have history or did your parents just like it?”
She fiddled with her engagement ring. “It’s my grandmother’s names mashed together. Jessica and Isabelle.”
“Have you ever gone by a nickname? Like Jessa or Belle?”
A quick shake of her head he could see out of the corner of his eye was his answer. “What’s your middle name?”
“Grace.”
He’d known that. He’d have to think about it. Come up with a nickname for her that only he used. “How old are you, Jessabelle Grace?”
“Nineteen.” Right. She’d told him that earlier.
“You’ve been out of school almost a year or almost two?”
“Two.”
“Have you been attending university?”
Another shake of her head. “I’ve been helping my father.”
“Did you want to attend university?”
This time he got a shrug.
“What did you want to be when you grew up? If you couldn’t be a princess?”
She seemed to turn that over in her mind for a minute. “I’m not really sure. Something behind the scenes somewhere. I don’t like being in front of people.”
“Is there something you’re especially good at?”
“Not particularly.”
Malachi didn’t believe that. There had to be something she excelled at, even if she wasn’t sure what it could be. So he moved on. “You have no brothers and sisters?”
“No. Only child.”
“Your mother died when you were how old?”
“Eight.”
“What did she die of?”
“A car accident caused by a man who had a stroke.”
“That’s awful. I’m so sorry.”
“Your parents were at her funeral. My father always said that’s how he knew the king still appreciated what he did when they were younger.”
“What exactly happened? I’ve never heard.”
“Our fathers had gone to the same school since they were quite young. They were swimming with a group of friends in Lake Mevendia when they were about eighteen. I’m not quite sure what happened, but your father was hit in the head by something. An oar from the boat they were in perhaps. An accident. My father swam to shore with him because no one was strong enough to pull him back into the boat without tipping it.”
The next question probably required finesse. Malachi had to ask anyway. “Did you always know you were to marry a prince?”
Chapter 5
“My father told me about the statement your father made several days after the incident. That one of my father’s daughters would marry one of your father’s sons. I never put much faith in it.” She looked at the ring she’d been twisting around her finger. “The last two years, I didn’t think he would survive long enough to see it come to pass, even if he wanted it to. In fact, I’m surprised he didn’t start pressing your father for the marriage contract as soon as I turned sixteen.”
She glanced over at him out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to be thinking about her comment. “I believe he may have. I overheard part of a conversation with William a few years ago. My father said something about a marriage contract. William said he wasn’t interested in one yet. I didn’t think there was anyone specific in mind, but perhaps there was. He would have been...” She could see the wheels turning in Prince Malachi’s head. “...about twenty, perhaps? He’s mentioned in passing to me that he is in no rush to get married, without mentioning a potential partner.” He put his hand on hers as they took one of the roads leading out of town. “I don’t know that it had anything to do with you in particular. At least that’s always been my feeling. In fact, I didn’t know my father had approached him about the contract until a few weeks ago when he told me he’d negotiated this one. I’m not sure William really knew about it either.”
That was a small comfort. Perhaps Prince William hadn’t been rejecting her but rather the idea of marriage for now.
She saw a grin on Malachi’s handsome face. “Since royalty can get married as long as both people are over seventeen, you could have married William two years ago. You wouldn’t have been able to have champagne at your own wedding.” A wink followed.
Jessabelle turned that over in her head. She’d forgotten royals could marry that young, not that she was much older.
“At least we’re not in the States. I went to a friend’s wedding there not too long ago. You have to be twenty-one. I’ve only been old enough to have a glass of wine there for a few weeks.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad we can have a toast tonight if we want to, though.” She didn’t say anything and he went on. “So we’ve determined you’re a couple years younger than I am, your mother passed a long time ago, you’re not sure what
you’d like to be when you grow up, and that your father saved my father’s life. What else should I know about you?”
What was with the twenty questions? And why did his hand still cover hers? She really wanted to know why she liked it so much. Instead, she just gave him a quick shrug. “I have no idea what else there is to tell.” She really didn’t think there was much.
“Do you have any questions for me?” At least he offered to turn it around. But Jessabelle simply shook her head. She’d done her research and learned far more about the royal family than she cared to know. “All right. Then why don’t you pull out the tablet and phone? Some of it I’ll have to show you, but you can play around with them while I drive.”
She reached into her bag to pull out the electronic devices. Prince Malachi walked her through turning them both on and how to set a password. Only the tech security folks could override her personal password, and she wasn’t required to share it with anyone, not even him. Jessabelle thought for a moment before choosing a ten digit code she’d remember.
Prince Malachi talked her through how to access her palace email account and change the password. He sheepishly admitted to needing to change his far too often when he couldn’t remember what it was. The floor plan for the palace had its own icon on the main screen of the tablet. She pulled it up as he told her it would always have a “you are here” dot. She could either tell it where she wanted to go, and it would plan a route, or she could select a location with a tap so it could do the same.
“That way, you won’t get lost,” he went on. “And if you’re ever not sure where you are or where on the map our apartment is, you can always click the home button and it’ll take you straight back to our floor.”
“And the whole floor on that side of the building is ours?” she clarified.
“Yep. The top two floors on the front of the palace are my parents’. That’s where we all grew up. The top two floors on the opposite side, above the cliff face and overlooking Erres, belong to William, though he’s not moved in just yet. My sister will take either the apartment below ours or the one below William’s. When William’s heir comes of age, as long as William is already king, he or she will move into what is currently my parents’ apartment unless William and his wife choose to. Basically, the two floor apartments belong to the monarch and the Crown Prince or Princess, but it’s not specific to either one.”
“Got it.” Maybe.
“If there’s a location that needs a security code and you’re not certain if you’re allowed in the area, punch in the passcode you’ll set. If the door opens, you’re welcome. If not, it’s an area that’s off limits for some reason. And if you ever don’t have your phone or tablet with you, you can use the touch pad to call the security office, and they’ll either direct you to where you need to go or send someone for you. I grew up there, often exploring the unoccupied apartments and the offices and so on, and sometimes I still need to think a minute about where I need to go. It will take you some time to figure it out, and anyone will be happy to help you.”
She ran her fingers over the sleek screen. “So if I wanted to visit with your great-grandmother, how would I do that?” He walked her setting a starting point since they weren’t at the palace, then through finding the correct name, and the app gave her three options. One took her outside since the shortest way was to cut across the courtyard and the other two took her through different sections of the palace.
By the time he finished showing her as much as he could while driving, they were in the mountains. Jessabelle could practically feel the tension radiating off of him as they wound up the partially ice-covered road.
“This road’s a lot more fun when I can open it up a bit. We’ll come back in the summer sometime when the roads are clear, and we can go faster.”
Jessabelle simply nodded. She wasn’t sure she’d like taking the hairpin curves at a much higher rate of speed. She watched the landscape pass until they rolled to a stop behind the sedan as it waited for the wrought iron gates to open. The long tree-lined drive gave way to a view of an enormous rock house, a mini-castle, Jessabelle supposed. Much smaller than the palace, but definitely very castle-like.
“What do you think?” Prince Malachi leaned towards her, grinning as he pulled to a stop at the front.
“It’s nice.” Really she just wanted to get out of the corset and garters. It made sitting incredibly uncomfortable and was nothing she would have chosen to wear. But everything she wore for the wedding had been chosen for her. She prayed there would be some nice lady who she could ask to take pity on her and help with the closures in the back.
Prince Malachi exited the vehicle while she reached down to put the phone and tablet back in her bag. By the time she finished, he had opened her door and held out a hand. Jessabelle gave him a small smile as she took it. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He leaned closer, closing the door behind her. “My pleasure.”
Her hand remained nestled in his as he led the way up to a side door. They didn’t see anyone as they walked through the hallways and up two flights of stairs. So much for hoping she could find help getting out of the uncomfortable clothing. Would she, at some point, have to ask Prince Malachi for assistance? Her face colored as he opened a heavy wooden door.
“Our home away from home for the next two weeks.” Prince Malachi turned and grinned at her.
Rather than the formal atmosphere the apartment in the palace, this suite was far more relaxed. More informal. Plush couches and chairs inhabited a living area dominated by a stone fireplace and flanked by gigantic windows looking at the snow-covered Alps of northern Mevendia. One of the far slopes contained skiers winding their way down the fresh snow. Flames licked at the wood stacked in the opening of the fireplace. “It’s lovely.” If only the new apartment was more like this. He said they could decorate it however they wanted.
“There’s a kitchenette where we can make our own food or at least keep drinks and reheat something.” He walked around turning a couple of lights on. “Are you hungry? I don’t think either of us ate much at the luncheon.”
Jessabelle’s stomach chose that moment to rumble. Not that she could eat much in the stupid girdle.
Prince Malachi chuckled. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes, I’m hungry’ response.” He pulled open French doors, turned, and bowed slightly her direction. “Your dinner, Princess Jessabelle.”
* * *
Malachi stood to the side to allow Jessabelle to enter the room ahead of him. Yes, it was the master bedroom, but a table for two was set up next to one of the large windows overlooking the ski slopes in the distance. Closer to the residence was snowed over gardens with shoveled paths and frosted trees. The staff had been informed a few hours earlier but assumed the two of them would want to be alone together.
Two plates of salad had been left out. The chef would have known when Malachi and his bride would be there. The plates were probably set out as he and Jessabelle walked through the building. They ate in silence, though Malachi noticed something perplexing. “Do you not like the salad?”
Jessabelle shook her head. “It’s wonderful.”
“You haven’t eaten much.”
She shifted in her chair. “I wanted to save room for the main course.”
“You don’t even know what it is yet.”
She set her fork down and patted her mouth with her napkin. After a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, she spoke. “It’s embarrassing.”
“Okay.” Something told him he’d get more information with patience than pestering.
Sure enough a minute later, she spoke in a rush. “I couldn’t get out of the corset they put me in for the wedding. It’s too tight to eat much.”
Whatever he expected, that wasn’t it. “You need help?”
Jessabelle nodded but didn’t look at him.
A corset? Wasn’t that a bra like thing? “And you’d rather it not be me?”
She nodded again.
> Malachi wiped his mouth on his napkin and stood up, holding his hand out to her. She cautiously took it and stood. “I understand why you would be uncomfortable asking for my help, but for reasons I’d rather not get into now, it is best that you do. For the most part, we’ll be left alone, so we won’t need to pretend much. But it does mean that we need to sleep in the same bed as long as we are in the same place and that I help you with this. I will do my best to preserve your modesty and promise to be a gentleman.”
Jessabelle closed her eyes and gave the slightest of nods. “All right.” She turned her back to him. “Um, it’s probably easiest if I take my shirt off. The corset covers me almost like a swimsuit, but it fastens all the way up the back and I knew I couldn’t reach all of them.”
All right then. “Whatever you think is best.” He reached out and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Once we get this taken care of, why don’t you change into your pajamas? I will, too, and we’ll both be much more comfortable.”
He could feel her muscles trembling under his hands as she undid the buttons on the front of the shirt. His breath caught in his throat as she let it slip off. She was right, though. There were straps over her shoulders, and the fasteners started below her shoulder blades.
“If you could just get the top half done, I think I can manage from about here.” She twisted an arm around to show him how far she could reach.
Malachi swallowed hard and stepped closer so he could see what he was doing. His big fingers fumbled with the first couple but as it loosened, and he had more space to work with, it got easier. Each fastener revealed a bit more creamy skin, soft against his fingers as he accidentally grazed it. When he reached the middle, Malachi decided to keep going, to make it easier for her. The last one gave way and she took a deep breath, much deeper than he’d seen her take before.
She looked over her shoulder, her eyelashes lowered shyly. “Thank you. I feel like I can breathe again.”
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