“I almost forgot,” I say. “Anna offered to provide a chaperone for me, and now I see it’s important I accept. Her name is Lina.”
She purses her lips, looking suspicious. “I want to meet her.”
I open my mouth and shut it again. “Of course. I’ll get her right now.”
I casually stride from the room and then, as soon as I make it to the hallway, I race back to my room and call down to the servants’ quarters. First, I put in my urgent request for Lina on Queen Anna’s orders, and then I add a request for tea with honey for Marge.
Only five minutes later, there’s a knock on my open door. It’s a young brunette woman, probably in her twenties, her cheeks flushed like she ran to get here. I smile. She’s perfect.
She drops into a deep curtsy, bowing her head. “Your Highness, I’m Lina. I’m happy to be of service.”
“Thank you for coming so quickly, Lina. Have you ever been to Monte Carlo?”
She straightens abruptly, her brown eyes wide. “No, ma’am.”
“Good news! We’re taking a little trip. Now, there’s just one thing. I want you to have fun too. I will pay you a hundred euro a day on top of your usual pay so you may enjoy yourself. You will share a room with me for appearances, but after that I want you to go off and have fun. Gamble, drink, shop. Whatever you want. This is your holiday too.”
Her jaw drops.
“All I ask is for your discretion. I rarely get freedom. You are technically my chaperone, but that is in name only. Do you understand? And the guards will be around, so you needn’t be concerned for my safety.”
She bobs a curtsy. “Yes, ma’am. Is Queen Anna aware of my role and the trip?”
“Yes. She’s the one who suggested you.”
She exhales sharply. “I’m glad to hear it, ma’am. This is such a surprise. When do we leave? Do you need assistance packing?”
“I’m all set. We leave in an hour, and we’ll be gone for three nights, so pack for yourself accordingly. Are you excited? Because I am.”
She smiles for the first time. “I’m very excited.”
“Excellent! Now before you pack, you just need to meet my usual maid, who acts as chaperone, and assure her you’ll be a good substitute.” I gesture for her to follow me.
“Will she be upset that I’m taking her place, ma’am?” she asks as we step out into the hallway. “I don’t want to step on any toes, and it does sound like a wonderful trip.”
“Don’t worry. She’s down with a cold and not nearly as intimidating when she’s ill.”
A few minutes later, I proudly present Lina the chaperone to Marge.
“Come here, girl,” Marge orders.
Lina meekly moves forward, standing next to the bed.
“Not too close,” I call. “We don’t want you to catch cold, pass it to me, and then I pass it to Anna and the baby.”
Marge shoos her back with irritated flicks of her hand as if it were Lina’s idea to get close. “Do not let Princess Mary out of your sight. You must accompany her at all times. That is your job. She must never be alone with a man. If you fail at your mission, the wrath of the kingdom of Beaumont will come down on you.”
Lina shoots me a terrified look, her eyes huge.
“Do you understand?” Marge demands.
Lina turns back to her and nods.
Marge coughs and goes on hoarsely, “I want a full report on the princess when you return.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Lina says quietly.
Marge grunts. “Off with you. Polly, do not make me regret this.”
“I never would.” I blow her a kiss. “Rest up. I expect you better when I return.”
I incline my head to Lina, and she hurries to my side. I wait until we’re a distance from the room before saying, “I will tell you what to report. Our deal still stands.”
“What about the wrath of the kingdom of Beaumont, Your Highness?” she whispers.
I draw myself to my full height and respond with the authority of my station. “I will be queen soon. There will be no wrath.”
Her gaze shifts to the side. “Yes, ma’am.”
I keep my tone light because I can tell she’s worried. “The only wrath will be from me if you don’t enjoy yourself.”
She laughs a little nervously.
I grin. This is going to be awesome.
Chapter Five
Polly
Alice grabs my arm as our limo pulls up to the Casino de Monte-Carlo. “Oh! I’m nerding out! I have to take pictures before we go in. This place is historic, dating back to eighteen sixty-three. I read online it was an example of Belle Époque architecture, designed by the same guy who did the Paris Opera House! It’s so much more breathtaking in person!”
“Absolutely take pictures,” I say, smiling at her enthusiasm.
“It may look familiar from the James Bond movies,” Lucas says.
I’ve only seen the most recent one, and I don’t remember the casino in it.
“Turns out he’s been here before,” Alice says to me. “He just wanted to let me have my fun.”
Lucas grins. “True, but I’ve never been here while considering a casino of my own. Different perspective.”
Adrian and Oscar remain quiet, but they look eager. My maid, Lina, practically has her nose pressed against the glass of the limo window.
The moment we step out of the limo, Alice says, “Let’s take in the view across the street before we go in.”
We all head to a gorgeous courtyard across the street, with a beautiful fountain, marble statues, and multiple palm trees and greenery. The palm trees remind me of home.
I turn and take in the casino view from the courtyard as Alice exclaims and takes picture after picture. It is a stunning building, large and multistoried with a beautiful facade made up of windows with balconies, statues, and cupolas. A large dome farther back on the building is flanked by two more cupolas. It reminds me of a French chateau, and it’s a far cry from the casino I imagined, which I now realize was mostly drawn from seeing Las Vegas on TV. This is old-world glamour. A shiver of excitement races through me. With something this beautiful, it makes me think a casino could be a great addition to Beaumont. I wonder if I could get the prohibition on gambling lifted at home. Doubtful. While our monarchy embraces prosperity, we uphold a strict moral code. Our traditions are what make our kingdom strong. It’s been drilled into my head since birth. Sort of the Lyon family motto.
My guard, Vaughn, waits behind me. Adrian and Oscar are in quiet conversation, while Lucas smiles at Alice, seeming to love her enthusiasm. Finally, Alice has enough pictures.
“I bet the inside is even better,” Alice says. “Let’s go!”
“You can’t take pictures inside,” Lucas says. “They frown on that. Besides, there’re a lot of famous people who come here that don’t want their picture taken.”
“I’m with a celebrity!” Alice says, gesturing to him. “Therefore, I’m one of them and they won’t mind.”
“Yes, they will,” Lucas and I say at the same time.
“Be chill like me,” I tell Alice and then gape and point like I’ve just discovered a hugely famous movie star.
She laughs. “Please tell me I don’t look like that.”
I smile. “No, that’s the obnoxious tourist we won’t be. We’ll blend with the high rollers.”
“Su-u-u-re, blend,” Alice says.
“It’s about the right clothes and attitude.” I’ve had a bit of experience learning to blend going from my traditional kingdom to boarding school to college. Not to mention my brief time as a princess-in-hiding wearing a cute wardrobe from Target. I love that store.
“We’ll be staying there,” Lucas says, pointing next door to another beautiful building in the same Belle Époque architectural style. “Hôtel de Paris.”
“Yes,” Alice says on a long sigh.
Alice and I lead the way back across the street, everyone else following behind. She whispers to me, “Anna says you h
ave to marry soon to take your place as queen. Do you have a fiancé?”
“I will soon,” I reply. “When I return to Beaumont, I’m supposed to marry Peter after our mandatory six-week courtship with chaperone. You can see why I want a little freedom here before I’m tied down.”
“Oh, Polly, you sound so resigned. And that is the most unromantic thing I’ve ever heard!”
“It’s not meant to be romantic. I’m meant to do my duty, forge a favorable alliance, and produce the next heir.” I fill her in on the traditional expectations placed on me, working hard to hide my frustration with my current situation. I don’t want further questions about Peter.
I feel someone staring at me and turn, my gaze colliding with Oscar’s. His eyes are sympathetic. I don’t want his sympathy.
I turn back to Alice and say firmly, “I’m pleased with the match. Peter has the right royal bloodlines, he owns half the resorts on our island, and our marriage will bring all of the holdings together. Our family owns the other half.”
“Do you love him?” she asks.
“No, but I know my duty.”
She slices a hand through the air. “You should only marry for love. Even in my Regency romances, I make sure their favorable alliances are balanced by love.”
I press my lips together. “That’s the difference between fiction and reality.”
She stops at the front door of the casino and grabs my arm. “Please don’t marry for duty.”
“If I don’t, my birthright will be handed to my male cousin.” I push down the anger. This is not the time. “Please, let’s not talk about this. I want to enjoy my time here.”
Lucas holds the door open for us, exchanging a look with Alice. I sense he understands my position as a royal better than Alice. She’s American with a very romantic point of view, being a romance author.
Thankfully when we step inside the casino, Alice is rendered speechless and the topic of my future marriage is mercifully dropped. Lina is looking all around, eyes wide, and I just take it in. The atrium is a massive two-story vaulted room meant to impress with Ionic marble columns supporting a balustraded gallery above. Two large oil paintings in the gallery draw my eye. The place is beyond ornate, but done elegantly, with an engraved glass ceiling, bronze candelabras, and a mosaic marble floor.
“I heard they have cool events here like performances,” Alice whispers.
Lucas kisses her cheek. “I adore you.” Fools for love.
Adrian crosses to us. “Come on, I’ll show you around, and then we’re invited to a party tonight at Charles’s place. He’s one of the private investors in this casino and manages it. He doesn’t have majority stake, obviously, not being part of the royal family, but his pockets are deep, and he’s got the kind of experience that could be useful to us.”
Alice bounces on her toes, and Lucas puts an arm around her shoulders, effectively keeping her on the ground.
I try not to gawk as we begin our tour, going through room after room of opulent elegance, and I’m used to elegance. This is different, though, as if I’ve stepped back in time. Crystal chandeliers illuminate historic frescoes in one intimate room; another is a large two-story vaulted room reminiscent of a grand old train station, with gaming tables and a restaurant. A smaller room done in bronze and green glows with soft light over mahogany tables. There’s the expected slots, but also blackjack, poker, roulette, and craps. Even the gaming tables are exquisite. The wood is elegantly carved with the casino’s logo embroidered on the green felt.
We finish up our tour and Adrian tells us, “You need a special elite card to access the private gaming rooms. Those are for high-stakes games. I hope this is giving you all some good ideas for what we might use back home. I’m going to play poker for a bit. Let’s meet up for dinner at seven. I’ll make the reservations.”
Oscar salutes him.
Adrian grins. “Am I being bossy? This is like my home away from home. Feel free to suggest something.”
“You’re doing fine,” Oscar says. “Gaming, dinner, party. My kind of day.”
Alice turns to me. “Ready to go shopping? Lucas told me there’s shops and a fabulous ice cream place just down the road.”
“Yes!”
I turn to Lina, quiet at my side. She’s still in her servant’s uniform of white button-down shirt and black pants. “Would you like to join us?”
She smiles. “Actually, ma’am, I would like to try my hand at slots.”
“Of course! Have fun! Meet us for dinner. I’ll text you when I hear where we’re going.”
She looks at my feet. “Are you sure you want me at dinner, Your Highness?”
“Yes, you’re part of the party. Unless you prefer to try room service or go off on your own.”
Her head lifts. “I’ll dine with you, ma’am, thank you. I will use my utmost discretion as you requested.”
On that note, I open my purse and double today’s hush money in advance, palming it in her hand. “A little extra to play with.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” she gushes.
As soon as she leaves, Alice asks incredulously, “You pay her in cash? I thought she was on staff at the palace.”
I link my arm in hers and lead us out into the bright sunshine, feeling light and free. Vaughn follows at a polite distance. “It’s a long story.”
“I love stories.”
“I should read your books. I’ve never been much of a reader. Most books bore me, but I have a feeling yours would be different.”
“I hope they wouldn’t bore you, and I don’t want to know if they do. So what are you bribing Lina to do?”
I turn to her. Her blue eyes gleam with sharp intelligence through her cat’s-eye glasses. “Observant and direct.”
She flashes a smile. “That’s me. Hold up.” She stops and pulls huge white sunglasses from her purse, swapping them for her glasses. “They’re prescription. So what’s Lina doing for you, or not doing?”
“Just between you and me.”
“Of course.”
I resume walking. “I’m paying her not to chaperone me.”
“Oh, because of the virgin thing?”
I halt in my tracks. “Did Anna tell you?”
She grimaces. “I’m sorry. She mentioned that you’d be arriving with a chaperone and a guard, so my natural curiosity had me asking questions. Is it a secret?”
I sigh and keep walking. “Not exactly a secret, but you’d have to be following my kingdom’s idiosyncrasies to take note. We don’t make the gossip rags much due to our strict adherence to royal protocol. It’s not something I like to get around.”
“Oh. Um, Lucas knows too. Anna often confides in me, forgetting about him in the background. He’s very discreet. If you don’t want him to say anything, I’ll let him know it’s a secret.”
Now I know how Oscar knew about my chaperone last night. Probably everyone knows. I clench my jaw. “It doesn’t matter at this point.” Something in me rebels. If I have to marry Peter, if there’s just no other viable way out, then I don’t want him to have my virginity. I want to give it away in some big night, some big adventure. Why should he get everything?
Of course, there is the issue of the royal doctor checking me before the wedding ceremony. Maybe I could pay him off. No, that wouldn’t work. I kicked him in the nuts too many times when he tried to give me a shot to stay in his good graces. And, obviously, Peter would notice. Maybe he’d be understanding because of the financial alliance. Consolidating the holdings that he personally would profit from could smooth over a lot. Nobody knows better than me how motivated he is by money.
Would my parents overlook it in favor of the alliance with Peter, or am I risking my place as queen for one last adventure? Maybe I’m not as impulsive as I once was. Look at me, actually thinking ahead. Ugh. I wish I didn’t even have to think about stuff like this.
“I’m sorry,” Alice says. “I keep sticking my foot in it with these touchy subjects. From here on out, it’s all fun
all the time. We will shop, drink fruity concoctions, and parade through the casino like we belong.”
“We do belong, silly.”
She grins. “Let’s look the part. Glam city.”
“You’re already glam.”
“Thanks! This is my party dress.” She runs her hand down her pink polka-dotted dress. “But Lucas gave me his credit card to go wild.”
I laugh. “That sounds fun.” I’m a big fan of wild.
~ ~ ~
Oscar
Party time, my favorite. We’re in Charles Blanc’s penthouse, an apartment in a converted hotel not far from the casino. His place is ultrasleek and modern, done entirely in white—white marble floors, white walls, high white ceilings. The main living area, a large open space where everyone is gathered, features scattered sofas and chairs done in white with deep blue throw pillows. Modern art gives another splash of color in niches in the walls, and a double-sided fireplace sits in the center of the space. Two sides of the room are floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the city and the sea. I like it, though I’d be happier if we were actually with our host, the key investor we’re hoping to snag for Villroy’s potential casino.
I join Lucas and Adrian taking in the view of the city.
“Where’s your other half?” I ask Lucas.
He raises a brow. “She’s Polly’s other half right now. After dinner, they went to Le Bar Américain so they could get the 1920s speakeasy experience. She’s calling it Polly’s three-night bachelorette party.”
My gut knots. I overheard Polly talking about her upcoming marriage earlier today. I hadn’t known she had a fiancé, only that she had to marry soon, and the worst part is when I caught her eye, I saw none of her usual light. She looked dead inside. I don’t want to get in the middle, but how can I stand by when she’s stuck in a marriage that sounds more like a business transaction? She sounded so resigned, not at all like the feisty Polly I know.
Even though I have no desire to marry anytime soon, I know it can be good with the right partner. My parents were very close, and I’ve seen how happy my older brothers are with their partners. Even my sister Emma, the most proper of princesses, broke free of her loveless arranged marriage. Now she’s happily married to the most unlikely of men, rock legend Jackson Walker. It matters whom you marry. And I know Polly said she knows her duty, but maybe she just hasn’t seen love in action much to know what she’s missing. Maybe being around my family will open her eyes. I hope so. I can’t stand to think of her looking dead inside, doing her duty for the rest of her life.
Royal Player (The Rourkes, Book 5) Page 5