“I can’t wait to hammer out the details with you.” Teresa practically bounced in her seat, scooting closer and holding out her handheld, pulling up a calendar. “When can you clear your schedule?”
“I suppose we’ll be very busy planning the engagement and the wedding.”
Teresa blinked, once, twice. “Right. Of course.” She put her phone down and scooted back to her side of the car.
“You still want to get married?” he asked.
“Of course. Our union makes sense. We meet all the criteria of a strong partnership.”
“You make us sound like business partners.”
“We do make good business sense.”
Leo chewed at the inside of his lip. “But not romantic sense?”
Teresa raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you were a romantic.”
“I am,” he said. “I just never got to show it.”
“Of course not, being a royal. It’s not a trait outside of fairy stories and romance novels. It’s not our tradition. Royals are practical people. Everyone else gets to dream.”
“What do you dream of, Teresa?”
She hesitated and then smiled sheepishly as she answered. “I dream of ships and the sea and charting new territories.”
“So, this business deal between us, does it need to include romance?”
“I never expected to fall in love with the man I marry. I’ll be a good wife. I like kids if you’re worried about that. I’m willing to try for a son soon after the wedding, but I want to continue working during and after the pregnancy.”
Lady Teresa would be good for Cordoba’s future, that was clearly true. “Lady Teresa, I have a different proposition I’d like to present to you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“And the first place prize goes to ...”
The announcer twiddled his blonde mustache, dragging on the announcement of the winner of the pie maker contest in true showmanship fashion, but Esme wasn’t truly paying attention. She hadn’t tasted any of the pies. She hadn’t even been there to help her friend make the pie. That had been left to Prince Alex who was gung ho in winning his rivalry against the duke.
The duke and his ringer stood confidently beside the announcer as if certain of their imminent victory. Alex and Jan stood on the other side. As the silence dragged on, Alex reached down and grabbed Jan’s hand, lacing their fingers together.
Jan startled but didn’t pull away from the prince. At any other time, Esme would be focused on that show of affection, ready to make it out to be more than it probably was. She’d let her imagination run away with her and start planning Jan and Alex’s baby shower. But not today.
Esme’s mind was still back on the docks, still watching Leo walk away hand in hand with the Duchess. It should have been her getting into that car with him. Or him staying behind on the docks with her. That was how the story was supposed to go.
The thing would’ve dictated nothing less. But Esme was starting to doubt that the thing had been there. Had she imagined it all? Had she seen what she wanted to fit the story she wanted to tell?
She’d cast herself as the heroine in this tale, but Leo had already written his name down in a different story. One that made no mention of her.
Esme hated to admit it, but the duchess was probably perfect for him. When Leo had mentioned this duchess last night after kissing Esme, she’d imagined a lemon-mouthed, wart-faced, stick of a woman. But that hadn’t been the reality.
Lady Teresa was beautiful, with perfectly clear skin, and an hourglass figure. She was a nice woman, a capable woman, a true leader. The country would be lucky to have her. She wouldn’t spill flour on the king’s coat at dinner parties. She wouldn’t destroy priceless statues.
But she also wouldn’t love Leo the way that Esme did.
That she knew for a fact.
This wasn’t how the storybook was supposed to go. But Esme wasn’t living in a storybook world. The kindergarten teacher may have won the heart of the king, but she wasn’t going to win his hand.
“The winner is Prince Alexander and Chef Peppers.”
The room thundered in applause. The Duke clapped good-naturedly, while his Beard-award-winning chef tossed his mixing spoon and stormed out of the room. Alex swept Jan off her feet and dipped her back for a kiss.
Esme’s claps paused in mid-air. Her own problems went out the window as she witnessed a new chapter in her friend’s life taking shape. Maybe a common girl’s fairytale was going to come true after all.
Jan wobbled when Alex set her back on her feet. His gaze didn’t linger on her. No, he turned and high-fived the announcer, and then made his way around the crowd. Clearly, the kiss had no effect on him whatsoever.
That wasn’t how that was supposed to go either. He was supposed to look into her eyes, and they were supposed to have a connection. The world was supposed to stop around them. Jan held still, but Alex was moving on.
“Well, that’s over,” Jan said when she made her way over to Esme.
In her hand, she held a check. It was why she’d come here, to further her career. Esme’s reason for coming had been to realize a dream. A dream that was now playing out on the television screen overhead.
In the flat screen, the words Special Announcement blared on the screen. As the words dissolved, King Leo, dressed in the same suit he’d been in when she’d left him earlier, and Lady Teresa walked onto the screen. They weren’t hand-in-hand. He had his arm at her back. And they were grinning like two toddlers who’d just found the snack jar.
“Citizens of Cordoba,” Leo began. With the sound of his voice, the entire room went quiet and gave their attention to the television. “I am sorry to interrupt your broadcast and know the Geneva Jarvis talk show is far more entertaining than your monarch.”
Polite laughter sounded from the audience before him in the conference room. It also sounded around the small ballroom the pie competition had been held in.
“As you know, Spain and Cordoba have had a long, sometimes contentious, other times beneficial, relationship for centuries. Lady Teresa of Almodovar and I have an announcement that we’ll deliver later to night. It is an announcement that will greatly impact the future of our two great nations. I hope you will join me later this evening during the Union Day Gala to hear it live.”
Leo turned to the duchess and smiled. She gave him a wink when she smiled back. Then the two turned and walked off the stage as reporters shot to their feet to ask questions which the two ignored.
The screen didn’t fade to black. No, that was Esme’s mind. Reporters came on to speculate about the announcement. The talk show host, Geneva Jarvis retook the airwaves. She and her guests wondered aloud if the announcement would be what everyone thought it would be, what was so obvious that it would be; an engagement announcement.
All Esme could think about was the look on Leo’s face. He’d been smiling. He didn’t look like his decision to turn his back on the thing had been a hardship at all. He looked excited.
“I think our adventure has come to an end,” said Jan. “You ready to go home?”
“Yeah.” Esme tried and failed to swallow past the lump in her throat. “Let’s go home.”
Esme hadn’t remembered the trek to the west wing nursery. Her mind kept playing Leo’s words over and over again in her head. Her mind looked for the loophole where she would be able to reinsert herself back into his life. Her heart searched for a way to return to his embrace.
Nothing came to her.
Inside the room, there was a rack of dresses fit for a grown princess. Esme assumed it was Alex’s doing. He’d want Jan to look good tonight after their victory in the pie competition.
Jan hadn’t even bothered to look at the gowns. She opened up her suitcase, which she had never entirely unpacked, and began shoving her toiletries inside. Esme walked over to the gowns.
She urged herself not to dream any more, not to let her imagination get away from her. There was no way she could go to tha
t gala and hear the man she’d fallen in love with pledge his life to another woman. She had to get out of there. But when she turned to find her suitcase, she found a real live princess instead.
“Esme, look at my dress.”
For the first time since she’d seen the little princess, Penelope wasn’t in muted, pastel colors. She wore a deep, royal blue that made her eyes sparkle. Penelope’s hair was done up in intricate swirls, and a small tiara crowned her head.
“Oh, Pen, you’re as pretty as a princess.”
“I am a princess.” Penelope giggled.
When Esme had met the child, she didn’t giggle. Now she was a happy five-year-old with a growing imagination. Esme couldn’t help but wonder if she’d set this real live princess up for false expectations?
Would Penelope be allowed to write her own love story? Or would her father choose her husband for her?
“Why aren’t you dressed?” asked Pen.
“We’re not going to the ball.”
“You’re packing. Are you going home?”
Esme had done her best on this adventure. She’d put it all out on the table, and still, she’d lost. Not everyone wins.
“We have to get back to our jobs.” Esme knew that was the perfect thing to say to the child who understood adult responsibilities at an early age. “Thank you so much for bringing me into your world, Penelope. I am so happy I got to meet you.”
“We’ll still be friends? Like you promised the other night?”
For the first time since Esme had known the little princess, her lip trembled. Esme brought Penelope into her arms. Esme might not be of royal blood, she might not win the hand of the king, but she had the heart of a princess, and that made her feel like a winner.
“You will forever be one of the dearest friends I have in my life,” Esme said to the little girl.
“May I write to you?” Penelope asked when she pulled away.
“I would like that very much. How about I send you math problems and brain teasers?”
Of course, the little girl’s eyes lit up as though Esme had promised her letters from Santa. Penelope turned to Jan. “And will you send me recipes for cookies and pies?”
“I definitely will,” Jan said, coming over to give Penelope a hug of her own.
“And one day, you’ll come back and visit again?” asked Penelope.
“One day,” promised Esme.
She had fallen in love with the land of Cordoba. She would come back. One day. When it no longer hurt. She was sure that day was far, far away in the future.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Leo straightened his tie in the mirror. He hardly recognized the person looking back at him. The man was smiling. There was a sparkle in his eye that he couldn’t remember ever seeing before, not a single day in his life.
No, wait. He had seen that sparkle before. It had been reflected back to him whenever he looked into Esmeralda Pickett’s bright gaze. He’d known the woman for less than a week, but already he couldn’t imagine spending another day of his life without her.
“Here, let me help with that, your majesty.” Giles obscured Leo’s reflection and gave his tie a tug. “Tonight’s announcement will mean great things for Cordoba.”
“Yes, it will.”
“You will secure the future of your countrymen for another generation, perhaps many more. All because you’ve made the right decision, the responsible decision.”
“I agree, Giles.”
For the first time in his life, Leo had made the right decision—for himself. He’d chosen to follow his heart but not until after he’d thought through all the ramifications with his head. He’d looked at the issue from every angle, made sure as many people would benefit as possible, and now he was ready to pull the trigger.
“Lady Teresa is a marvelous choice.” Giles gave Leo’s tie one more pat before moving away from the mirror. “She will make a great partner.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Now that Leo could see himself again, he had to admit the tie looked better under Giles’s machinations.
“Your father would be proud of you.”
Leo took a breath, his features screwed into a doubtful frown. “I’m not so sure about that. But I’m not looking to the past anymore. As you said, Cordoba has a bright future. That doesn’t have to rest in the hands of a male. In the next parliamentary session, I’m introducing a bill to have the Primogeniture rights removed.”
Giles blinked. “I … I’m sorry, your majesty? Do you mean to say you wish to allow females the right to inherit the throne?”
“At five, Penelope has shown more leadership and intelligence than most nobles five times her age, my brother included. She deserves the right to rule if she chooses.”
Giles frowned, and then to Leo’s surprise, the man shrugged. “I actually can’t find an argument with that.”
“There will be other traditions brought up to the modern times as well. Brace yourself.”
Leo left Giles standing in the mirror and headed down to the ballroom. The party was already in full swing. No one was dancing though a live band played. Servers moved about, offering small morsels and treats.
He searched the ballroom for Esme, not with his eyes, with his heart. He waited to sense her, certain that like magnets their gazes would connect. But there were far too many people crowded in the room for him to find her.
“You ready for this?”
Leo looked over to see Lady Teresa. She was dazzling in a light lavender gown. But she looked practically naked without a cellphone in her hand. Leo assumed it was in the tiny purse on her wrist.
His suspicions were confirmed when Teresa took his arm, and the purse was cradled between his rib and bicep. He felt the thing vibrating nonstop. She shrugged as though to say “What do you expect?” and he chuckled.
The room hushed as they made their way to the raised platform at the far end of the ballroom. All eyes were on them, but Leo’s heart didn’t pick up. He still hadn’t found Esme’s gaze. He took to the stage and gave one more glance, but didn’t see her. Well, he knew that she would hear what he had to say.
“For centuries, Cordoba has flourished as a self-contained island nation. Now comes the time when we must reach outside our borders and welcome in the new. New people, new technology, new opportunities. It is with that thought in mind that I am announcing a partnership with Lady Teresa Nadal of Almodovar.”
Applause sounded, glasses were raised, but Leo wasn’t done. He’d only just got started.
“Nadal Shipping and Maritime Industrial have some exciting new technologies they want to bring forth to improve our oil refineries, along with exciting new innovations in shipping. But most excitingly, the Nadal family and Cordoba will start a line of luxury and family cruise ships. This new venture, which will be headed by Lady Teresa Nadal, will bring in new opportunities for current business growth, as well as new employment for Cordovians young and old. My fellow citizens, please join me in celebrating this union.”
There was a confused silence for a few beats. A few people had begun to clap, but it was a slow, golf clap that quickly died.
“Is that the only union you wish to announce, your majesty?” asked a member of the press. The man had a mic in hand and a cameraman at his shoulder.
Leo looked again out in the crowd, certain he’d find Esme walking towards him now that his announcement was complete, and his path to her was clear. But all he saw were the confused and expectant faces of the nobility and government officials. Where was she?
“I know many of you were hoping to hear of an engagement. Lady Teresa and I know that this is the best way we can partner. However, a special lady has captured my heart. She has helped me see the power of imagination. She has let me know that it is all right for my heart to dream. It all happened so fast, I find myself quite swept off my feet. She knows who she is, and if she is willing to come to my rescue, I’ll happily ride off into the sunset with her.”
There was a low murmur of e
xcitement in the room now. This was what everyone had come for tonight, a love story not a business development. Still, no dark-haired, red-blooded American woman came forward.
Wait, no. The crowd began to part. Two figures moved forward.
But the two figures weren’t a blonde pastry maker and a brown haired teacher whom Leo was hot for. Alex came forward with Penelope on his arm. They motioned for Leo to step to the side.
“What is it?” asked Leo. “Where’s Esme?”
Alex took a deep breath. When he stalled, it was Penelope who delivered the news.
“Esme and Jan said it was time to head back to the real world. They left over an hour ago to take a flight back to America.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Last call for Flight 377 direct to New York.”
The line before the terminal gate had dwindled down to nothing. The elderly and disabled had boarded thirty minutes ago. Kids and their parents had already found their seats. Just a harried looking business man and a gruff backpacker remained in the line in front of Esme and Jan who hung back waiting until the last possible moment to board.
Esme looked down the hall of the terminal. There was no line at the men’s bathroom, there never was. There was only one customer at the bar at this early evening hour. Two children ran around the empty seats on the other side of the terminal while their parents slumped in their seats.
“Final call,” the flight attendant looked pointedly at Esme and Jan.
“Esme, we gotta go,” said Jan, wheeling her luggage around.
Jan didn’t say what they both were thinking. She didn’t voice what was plain in the empty hallways. He wasn’t coming.
Esme had seen enough dramas and romantic comedies. She’d read enough romance novels to know how the airport scene worked. The hero would come running through the airport terminal at the last second, dashing around travelers, leaping over luggage to arrive at the gate where his true love was just about to give up all hope and board the plane. He’d stop her and take her hand and profess his true and undying love before the haggard passengers.
The King and the Kindergarten Teacher Page 13