A Royally Beautiful Mess

by Carol Moncado

  “Security approved one of the churches in town pretty quickly. I guess they already have a couple of high profile attendees, and no one pays much attention. It’s unlikely anyone would recognize us anyway.”

  Esther pushed herself up into a sitting position as she tried to process it all. “Um, sure. Let me get ready.”

  “How do you take your coffee? I’ll make you some.”

  She stood and stretched as she yawned. “Just stick one of the cups in the thing and hit the button. It’s already flavored.”

  “On it.” He started for the kitchen as Esther shuffled toward the stairs.

  “What time do we have to leave?” she called as she started up them.

  “About forty minutes. It starts at nine on the west side of Serenity Landing.”

  Enough time for a shower. Not enough time to wash her hair, unless she wanted to go with it still damp. There was enough of a chance someone would recognize her that she didn’t dare do that.

  As Esther stepped under the water, she realized her coffee wouldn’t be hot if she didn’t hurry. As quickly as she could, she showered and dressed in a pair of navy slacks and an emerald green shirt Anabelle found for her at a boutique. In keeping with their more low-key lifestyle, she decided on flats instead of the heels she would have worn at home.

  She’d come back to do her makeup. Coffee first.

  When she walked into the bedroom, Darius was already there with an insulated mug.

  “Here.” He held it out to her. “I have no idea if I made it right. There’s more buttons on that thing than the space shuttle.”

  “When you turned it on, it should have used the most recent settings.” She took the cup from him.

  “You’d think that would be easy, but I hit a button and then it blinked and made this whirring sound...” He shuddered. “I have no idea what I pushed but eventually liquid started coming out, so I started it somehow.”

  Esther sniffed at the opening in the cup. It smelled fine. Eyeing Darius, she took a sip, then a longer drink. “I think you set it to the next biggest size cup.” She’d never used this mug so she wasn’t sure how full it should be.

  “What’s that mean?”

  “It used more water than I normally do so it’s a little watered down.” She took a bigger sip. “It’s fine, though. Not so weak I can’t stand it.”

  “Will you show me how it works later? I don’t drink the stuff, but at least I could make some for you occasionally.”

  She knew he didn’t drink it. Was wanting to learn on her behalf sweet? Or just trying to butter her up for something?

  “Are you almost ready?”

  After another sip, she turned. “A few more minutes.” In the bathroom, she started to put her makeup on.

  “I think the service is only a little over an hour long if you want to get a bite to eat afterward. There’s a café that serves breakfast all day.” His words drifted in from the bedroom.

  “Sure.” That was being a married couple, wasn’t it?

  “I still haven’t gotten in touch with my brother about why my card didn’t work, though. I have some cash, but not much.”

  Had he tried to get in touch with Benjamin? Or just sort of left it so she’d pay for anything? As annoyed as she was with Darius in general, that didn’t seem likely.

  “Mother?” His voice drifted in again. “Everything’s fine, but I need to talk to Benjamin. I can’t get in touch with him by phone, though. Can you have him call me as soon as he has a chance?”

  Unless he was faking the call, he really was trying.

  “I’m good, Mother. Just attending University in the States. I know I haven’t been home in a long time... I miss you, too. Give everyone hugs for me.” He laughed. “Except Benjamin.”

  Esther turned back to the mirror and carefully applied lip gloss. Movement in the reflection caught her eye, and she looked up to see Darius in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. “Does your mother know about us?”

  He shook his head. “Only my brother and Isaiah as far as I know.”

  “Does that bother you?” Esther wished her whole family knew, while at the same time being glad they remained unaware of her indiscretion in Sargasso.

  His head lowered as he sighed. “More than you can imagine.”

  7

  Church was different than anything Darius had ever been to. The message wasn’t all that different from what he would have heard in Eyjania, but the church where the royal family attended was much more formal and far less welcoming.

  The message was generally presented in much stuffier terms, fancier language, at least when Benjamin was present. The down side of having the monarch around.

  As they left the sanctuary, Darius slid his hand into Esther’s. He didn’t want to lose her in the crowd. If she said anything, that would be his excuse, even though the crowd wasn’t nearly as pressing as it could have been.

  “Excuse me.”

  Darius looked up to see a man about his height with a smile on his face. Probably in his mid- to late-twenties, the man looked familiar, though Darius couldn’t place him.

  “Darius, Esther.” The man bowed his head slightly though no one would think anything of it, then held out his hand. “I’m Jonathan Langley-Cranston. I have some very well-connected friends in the governments of Belles Montagnes.” He leaned closer as they shook hands. “I dated Addie.”

  Addie? Darius’s mind scrambled to figure out who that was.

  Jonathan shook Esther’s hand.

  Esther smiled back at him. “You know Addie, Rick, and Ana?” she asked, clearly picking up on the clues faster than Darius was.

  “And Christiana, Nicklaus, Yvette, all of them, but I know Ana the best I think.” He turned to the woman standing next to him. “This is my wife, Kenzie. Kenzie, this is Darius of Eyjania and Esther of San Majoria. I spoke with your father last night, Esther. He’d like me to take a look at your property to make sure everything’s secured like it should be.”

  So this guy rubbed elbows with royalty regularly. He also knew they were trying to stay under the radar as it were and didn’t draw attention to their titles.

  “We’d love to have you join us for lunch after second service,” Kenzie told them.

  Esther gave them all her brightest smile. “Perhaps some other time. Darius has promised me brunch.” Her hand slid through his arm and clutched his bicep. “And I intend to collect at that little café on Highway 60.”

  Jonathan smiled and bowed his head again. “I’ll likely see you sometime this week. We’ll have you over for lunch some other time.”

  Darius let his hand come to rest on Esther’s back. As they talked, they’d moved out of the sanctuary and into the foyer. Ian had accompanied them, but stayed a distance away, keeping an eye on their movements. Jonathan and his wife were distracted by another couple saying hello. Darius and Esther used it as their excuse to exit.

  Rather than sitting in the passenger seat, Darius slid into the back by Esther. “What did you think?”

  She shrugged. “Different than I’m used to, but not necessarily bad different.”

  “Would you want to come back or try somewhere else?” With more notice, another church would be an option.

  “I’d like to come back. The fact that my father has spoken with one of the attendees about security says something to me about the safety of it at least.”

  “He looks familiar.” Darius shook his head. “But I don’t think we’ve ever met.”

  “You likely saw him on television, sir.” Ian looked at them in the rearview mirror as they sat at a stop light. “His wife already had a little girl when they married this summer. She wandered off while at a friend’s house and was missing for a time near Serenity Lake. They were on television a couple of times afterward. His brother went missing not far from here a few years ago and just recently revealed he’d gone to rehab. They were on the news programs wrapping that up as well.”

  “The little girl,” Esther said
. “I remember watching the coverage and following the updates online. I was so relieved when they found her safe.”

  Darius only vaguely recalled the story from a few weeks earlier, but clearly it made more of an impression on Esther. Because it made her think of her own lost child?

  The car pulled into a parking lot near a building Darius would normally avoid, but everyone he’d talked to said this was the place to get breakfast. The best in town. He tried to be objective. It probably wasn’t that bad, but definitely not a place he would have frequented at home.

  As they started inside, his phone buzzed in his pocket. When he saw it was Benjamin, he told Esther to get them a table, and he’d be just a minute.

  After exchanging the mildest of pleasantries, Benjamin cut to the chase. “What do you need?”

  “My credit and debit cards don’t work,” he told his brother.

  “So? You’re married to a princess. I’m sure she has enough money for both of you. Have her put you on the accounts.”

  He took a deep breath in and blew it out slowly. Those words weren’t Benjamin’s. They came straight from Isaiah. His brother might be many things, but Darius knew he wasn’t the person everyone thought he was. Not really. “That’s not the point, and you know it.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” The very noncommittal words frustrated Darius.

  “You’re the king, Ben. If you want my cards unfrozen they will be, even if some of your advisors oppose the idea.”

  Movement in the background suggested Benjamin wasn’t alone. “Like I said, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Do you remember what King Edward said the day I married Esther?”

  “Most of it.”

  “I’d work on remembering all of it and take it to heart.” The more time Darius spent away from the palace, the more he realized just how much negative influence Isaiah had on Benjamin. “You might also make sure your family can get a hold of you when they need to. Did you get my voicemail?”

  “No.”

  “I left three on your office phone because I seem to be blocked from your mobile. Finally, I asked Mother to have you call me because that seemed odd.”

  “I’ll look into it.”

  Darius wasn’t sure he would, but he’d done what he could for now. He’d do the best he could to keep an eye on Isaiah from a distance then talk to Benjamin. Maybe over Christmas. If King Edward gave him permission to see his family, and he could get Benjamin alone. Or maybe he could convince King Edward that both families, now related through marriage should spend the holiday together in San Majoria. Maybe the other king could get through to Benjamin.

  His brother disconnected the call without saying good-bye. Darius needed to get in touch with his father-in-law and put the wheels in motion.

  But first he needed to have brunch with his wife.

  Interviewing potential employees was a new thing for Esther. She thought it was new for Darius, too, though he hadn’t said.

  Their original housekeeper, a San Majorian woman, had let it be known she wanted to move back to her home on the island of San Minoria to be closer to her pregnant daughter.

  That left them with no one to instruct Esther and Darius how to “adult.”

  “Several women are coming to interview.” Jonathan Langley-Cranston had been hired by her father to double check security at their home as well as find them a new live-in housekeeper/instructor.

  Esther wouldn’t tell anyone she’d been watching some YouTube videos on “How to be an Adult.” At least she already knew everything in the “How to Choose a Wine For Dinner” video. And since she’d turned twenty-one not long after they moved to Serenity Landing, she could even legally drink in their new home if she wanted. The video about meal planning had been a bit more informative.

  “I can take the lead if you want,” Jonathan went on. “We won’t actually hire anyone on the spot. Everyone will be told that we’ll make calls later.”

  They sat in his office in a strip mall in Serenity Landing. Apparently, he normally worked from home, but he didn’t want to do this there. His wife wasn’t feeling well.

  “Mr. Langley-Cranston, your first interview is here.” The disembodied voice of the receptionist at Cranston Security crackled over the intercom.

  Jonathan pressed a button. “Send her in.”

  Moments later, a young woman came in clutching her purse in front of her.

  Though she tried to put off an air of innocence and dependability, Esther didn’t like her.

  “Do you travel for business, Mrs. Quatremaine? Is that why you need a housekeeper?” She smiled, projecting interest in what effect it would have on her duties.

  “No. Mr. Quatremaine and I travel together when we travel.” Esther kept her face impassive, but she really wanted to dump her water on the perfectly coiffed hair.

  Darius shot her a look, but Esther didn’t look back. After a few more minutes, Jonathan thanked the woman, and she left.

  “What was that about?” Darius asked as the door closed.

  “She has no respect for your marital status,” Esther told him.

  “How do you know that?” He sounded incredulous. Did he really not see it?

  “I just do.”

  “She’s right,” Jonathan told them. “I’ve seen her type before.” He snorted. “At one point in my life, I was her type.” He shook his head. “Not really. I was a teenager, but relationship status didn’t always mean much to me. Things have changed. She may change, but I would not recommend hiring her.”

  “We won’t be.” Esther was proud of the finality in her voice.

  Darius shrugged. “If you say so.”

  “I say so.”

  “Just because she might have wanted me to cheat on you doesn’t mean I would have.” Darius crossed his arms over his chest.

  “I don’t care. I don’t want her in my house.”

  “You don’t trust me?” He stared directly at her.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You might as well have. Why would you care if she worked for us if you trusted me?”

  Before Esther could say anything else, Jonathan jumped in. “Enough.” He pointed his pen at Esther. “You should trust your husband until he actually gives you reason not to. I don’t know the whole story, but I know this wasn’t your first choice.”

  She opened her mouth to respond, but his glare stopped her.

  He turned to Darius. “You need to learn to trust your wife. Women tend to have a gut instinct men don’t always have, especially about stuff like this.” Darius started to protest, but Jonathan stopped him with a raised hand. “I’m not saying you would have acted inappropriately. But you don’t want to start this marriage off with someone who doesn’t respect those boundaries living in your house.”

  Then to both of them. “You’re both young. You don’t really want to be here. But you need to work as a team. Trust each other. Be honest with each other. And get over yourselves. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.” She and Darius spoke in unison.

  That made Jonathan smirk and roll his eyes. “That’s not necessary, but take it as a word of advice from someone who learned life lessons the hard way. Then you don’t have to learn them the hard way yourself.”

  Esther exchanged a glance with Darius, certain his smirk meant he was keeping his own “yes, sir” to himself this time, much like she was.

  Jonathan just shook his head. “Okay. The next woman is older. She has some experience as a nanny and housekeeper, but not much. It says she has a lot of experience in the kitchen, though, so that could be a plus.”

  A minute later, another woman walked in. This one appeared significantly older, perhaps in her late forties. This time it wasn’t anything Esther could put her finger on, but she didn’t like the woman.

  Jonathan concurred. Darius shrugged.

  The third woman was the other way around. Esther and Jonathan had no strong feelings either way, but Darius wanted nothing to do with her.
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  “Next is what looks to be a British woman based on the spellings. Or at least from somewhere in the Commonwealth.” Jonathan read the application. “Early-60s. She’s been a housekeeper and personal assistant for years. Her last employer left the area, but she didn’t want to. She’s not looking for a lifetime commitment to a job, but plans to work for another year or two before retiring. That’s perfect for what you need. You have a year-and-a-half of schooling left. By the time you move home, she’ll be ready to call it quits anyway.”

  Jonathan flipped the page back. “Louise Butler should be here in a minute.”

  All three of them checked their phones while they waited. The first official picture of Astrid and her family with the new baby had been released. Sofia was over the moon in love with her new baby brother, and it showed.

  The intercom buzzed. “Your next interview is here.”

  “Send her in,” Jonathan responded, pressing the button without looking up from his phone.

  “I’ll send him in immediately.”

  The three of them exchanged a look. Him?

  8

  Darius didn’t know how he felt about a man working as their housekeeper, cook, and life instructor. As they’d waited for him, he’d thought back over the interactions with the first girl. Grudgingly, he could admit Esther and Jonathan were probably right.

  She likely would have had very little respect for his wedding vows. Though he believed he wouldn’t have been tempted to break them, having someone around who didn’t have scruples probably wasn’t a great idea.

  The door opened. The man who walked in reminded Darius of his father’s valet who later worked for Benjamin for a time before being dismissed by Isaiah for some slight or other.

  Jonathan gestured for the man to have a seat. “You don’t look much like a Louise.”

  The man sat and sniffed. “No. My name is Louis. I’m afraid typing is not my strongest skill. Clearly there is a typographical error.”

  “You’re Eyjanian.” Darius couldn’t stop himself.

  “I am, Your Royal Highness.” Louis bowed his head. “And I fear there may have been a bit of subterfuge in my résumé. I do hope you’ll forgive it.”