by Jenny Frame
Royal Court
Captain Quincy is a steady and reliable Royal Marines officer, decorated for gallantry after a mission that nearly killed her and the men under her command. At a crossroads in her career, Quincy reluctantly accepts when her old comrade, Queen Georgina, asks her to join the Royal Protection Command as the Queen Consort’s new protection officer.
Holly Weaver, Royal Dresser and self-confessed man-eater, starts to question her sexuality when she has a girl-crush on famous actor, Story St. John and, then, polo player and friend of George’s, Captain Quincy.
The good-looking captain’s emotionless personality is the opposite of Holly’s exuberant lust for life. When a threat to the Queen Consort emerges, Quincy and Holly clash over the best way to protect her. As the fiery passion they can’t deny begins to melt Quincy’s heart, Holly must decide how much of her own she is willing to risk.
What Reviewers Say About Jenny Frame’s Work
Unexpected
“[Jenny Frame] has this beautiful way of writing a phenomenally hot scene while incorporating the love and tenderness between the couple.”—Les Rêveur
“If you enjoy contemporary romances, Unexpected is a great choice. The character work is excellent, the plotting and pacing are well done, and it’s a just a sweet, warm read. …Definitely pick this book up when you’re looking for your next comfort read, because it’s sure to put a smile on your face by the time you get to that happy ending.”—Curve
Royal Rebel
“Frame’s stories are easy to follow and really engaging. She stands head and shoulders above a number of the romance authors and it’s easy to see why she is quickly making a name for herself in lesfic romance.”—The Lesbian Review
Courting the Countess
“I loved loved loved this book. I didn’t expect to get so involved in the story but I couldn’t help but fall in love with Annie and Harry. …The love scenes were beautifully written and very sexy. I found the whole book romantic and ultimately joyful and I had a lump in my throat on more than one occasion. A wonderful book that certainly stirred my emotions…”—KittyKat Book Reviews
“Courting The Countess has an historical feel in a present day world, a thought provoking tale filled with raw emotions throughout. [Frame] has a magical way of pulling you in, making you feel every emotion her characters experience.”—Lunar Rainbow Reviewz
“I didn’t want to put the book down and I didn’t. Harry and Annie are two amazingly written characters that bring life to the pages as they find love and adventures in Harry’s home. This is a great read, and you will enjoy it immensely if you give it a try!”—Fantastic Book Reviews
A Royal Romance
“A Royal Romance was a guilty pleasure read for me. It was just fun to see the relationship develop between George and Bea, to see George’s life as queen and Bea’s as a commoner. It was also refreshing to see that both of their families were encouraging, even when Bea doubted that things could work between them because of their class differences. …A Royal Romance left me wanting a sequel, and romances don’t usually do that to me.”—Leeanna.ME Mostly a Book Blog
Charming the Vicar
“The sex scenes were some of the sexiest, most intimate and quite frankly, sensual I have read in a while. Jenny Frame had me hooked and I re-read a few scenes because I felt like I needed to experience the intense intimacy between Finn and Bridget again. The devotion they showed to one another during these sex scenes but also in the intimate moments was gripping and for lack of a better word, carnal.”—Les Rêveur
The sexual chemistry between [Finn and Bridge] is unbelievably hot. It is sexy, lustful and with more than a hint of kink. Bridge has an overpowering effect on Finn as her long-hidden sexuality comes to the fore. The scenes between them are highly erotic—and not just the sex scenes. The tension is ramped up so well that I felt the characters would explode if they did not get relief! …An excellent book set in the most wonderful village—a place I hope to return to very soon!”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
Heart of the Pack
“A really well written love story that incidentally involves changers as well as humans.”—Inked Rainbow Reads
Hunger for You
“[Byron and Amelia] are guaranteed to get the reader all hot and bothered. Jenny Frame writes brilliant love scenes in all of her books and makes me believe the characters crave each other.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
“I loved this book. Paranormal stuff like vampires and werewolves are my go-to sins. This book had literally everything I needed: chemistry between the leads, hot love scenes (phew), drama, angst, romance (oh my, the romance) and strong supporting characters.”—The Reading Doc
Royal Court
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Royal Court
© 2019 By Jenny Frame. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13:978-1-63555-291-1
This Electronic Book is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: January 2019
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Ruth Sternglantz
Production Design: Susan Ramundo
Cover Design by Sheri ([email protected])
By the Author
The Royal Romance Stories
A Royal Romance
Royal Rebel
Royal Court
Heart Of The Pack
Courting The Countess
Dapper
Unexpected
Charming The Vicar
Hunger For you
Soul Of The Pack
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Rad, Sandy, and all the BSB team for all their tireless work in getting our books out there. Huge thanks to Ruth Sternglantz for her hard work in helping me make my book the best it can be.
As always, thanks to my family for their continuing support and encouragement.
To the two loves of my life, Lou and Barney—you make life a loving, exciting adventure. Thank you for loving me.
xx
Dedication
To Robyn and Amy—with love and kisses.
The two best nieces an aunty could have.
xx
Prologue
The rain bounced off the tarmac of the Royal Marines command parade ground. The clouds were dark grey, almost black, and matched the ache in Captain Quincy’s heart and soul.
The parade sergeant barked out orders to the assembled marines and navy personnel, to salute the parade commander who was at a covered podium in front of them.
“Today we are here to honour a Royal Marine who exemplifies all that we hold dear. Ingenuity, determination, loyalty, and courage.”
The rain dripped off Quincy’s peaked cap, down her face, and felt like the tears she could not shed herself. She rigidly kept to attention, the commander’s words not even penetrating her mind. She shot a quick look to her mother, Vice Admiral Ophelia Quincy, seated beside the podium. Ophelia sat as rigidly as Quincy stood, her eyes staring impassively forward.
Quincy prayed that this would be over quickly so she could get
back to her quarters. She never liked the limelight, and this ceremony for her was the last thing she wanted.
The commander was awarding her the Victoria Cross, the country’s highest award for bravery in combat. Normally it would be given to the recipient by the Queen in a lavish ceremony at Buckingham Palace, but due to the secret nature of her unit’s operation, it was to be kept in-house.
A roll of thunder clapped and Quincy gasped in fear. She could hear the screams of her men, the smell of smoke and burning flesh, and then an intense burning heat all over her body.
Only the shouts of the parade sergeant broke Quincy from her memories. She tried to get ahold of her breathing. Now was not the time to feel. It was never the time to feel.
She was called forward, and her mother, the admiral, was given the honour of presenting her medal.
As Ophelia reached forward and pinned the medal to her uniform, she looked into her mother’s eyes and saw no warmth there. The admiral, as she and other family members called her, was not the motherly type but had brought her up to the best of her abilities, as if she’d been training a new recruit on deck.
Quincy suspected the admiral was proud of her winning the Victoria Cross, though, because it somehow vindicated the training she had given Quincy growing up.
“Well done, Captain,” the admiral said.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Quincy saluted and returned to her position on the parade ground.
The ceremony over, all of her men and fellow officers came up to her, patted her on the back, and gave their congratulations—all except one man, Lieutenant Rodwell. He met her eyes and scowled at her with bitterness and anger.
Rodwell had been on the very mission for which she was being honoured, and the only one to get back home with not a scratch. When she looked at him, she saw the faces of the men that died, and the screaming pain of her friend and second in command, Jacob.
She watched him spit on the ground and walk back to the barracks. How she would handle seeing him every day, knowing what he did, she had no idea.
The officers and special guests retreated to a reception in the officers’ mess. Everyone was in groups chatting, drinking tea, laughing, and joking, none of them knowing of the darkness that tormented Quincy. She took her tea and walked over to the window alone.
“Congratulations, Captain,” said a voice from behind her. It was the admiral. “The family are very proud of you.” She shook her hand.
“Thank you, ma’am. It’s a great honour,” Quincy replied flatly.
“And how are you recovering from your injuries?”
Quincy gulped hard and closed her eyes briefly. “Very well, ma’am.”
The admiral leaned in to give her the barest of kisses on the cheek and whispered, “Never show them any hurt, any emotion. Keep control, Addie.”
The admiral rarely used her first name, Adelaide. Her words only added to the crushing weight Quincy felt. The weight of her pain, her fear, her terror, her shame and guilt were screaming to get out.
Her mother had taught her from an early age that if she wanted men not to see her gender, then she must show no emotion. Emotions would define her and keep her from the sort of advancement her mother had achieved. Never show your feelings. Feelings label you as weak, Addie.
“Of course, ma’am. If you’ll excuse me.”
Quincy walked out of the reception and pulled off her new medal, then stuffed it in her pocket.
She headed to her room. All of the corridors and offices were quiet as everyone was at the reception, but as she walked down the corridor, she heard scuffling and shouts from one of the marines’ rooms.
Quincy started to run when she heard a woman shouting. Her heart began to pound, and panic flooded her body. She could hear the screams of her men in her head, but she wasn’t in a burning warehouse, taking out a munitions store. She was in Britain at her base.
She found the room where the shouts were coming from, burst in, and found Rodwell holding one of the younger female officers down on the bed. Her shirt was ripped open and her trousers pushed down around her hips. Quincy acted on pure instinct. She pulled Rodwell from the officer and restrained him, with his hands behind his back.
The young woman was crying and shaking, her clothes ripped. Quincy shouted to the young marine, “Go and get help. I’ve got him.”
“Get off me, you fucking arsehole!” Rodwell shouted.
Quincy slammed him up against the wall, her bottled up anger and fear so near the surface. “You’re going nowhere but a prison cell, Rodwell. You might have managed to talk your way out of your court martial when we got back from our mission, but not this. You wanted to feel powerful, did you? Attacking an innocent young recruit? You’re a coward, Rodwell.”
“And you’re such a fucking hero, aren’t you, Quincy? You’re nothing. You’ve had your career handed to you on a plate, because you’re a fucking Quincy.”
Quincy turned him around and placed an arm across his throat. “I have worked for everything I’ve achieved in the marines.”
She and Rodwell had graduated from officer school at the same time, but Quincy had risen up the ladder more quickly and Rodwell had gotten bitter as the years had gone on.
“I hate you, Quincy, and can’t wait for the day someone smashes that fucking silver spoon out of your mouth.”
Quincy said nothing. Her hands were starting to tremble. All she could hear were the screams of her men when she looked in Rodwell’s eyes.
Rodwell must have seen the anger in her usually stoic expression because he said, “How’s Jacob? I heard he was burned so bad that he should have been put down.”
“Don’t you ever speak about Jacob, you coward.”
Rodwell grinned. “Must be hard for his wife, without a proper man in her life. When you go and visit her, tell her if she gets lonely, I’ll gladly come around and fuck her.”
Quincy saw red and felt a mist of rage descend. She pulled back and punched him repeatedly until he fell. Every ounce of fear, pain, and anger was released from her unrestrained.
She punched until she felt herself being pulled and restrained by the Royal Marine Police. Her breathing was heavy, and the mist started to clear. She had left Rodwell beaten and bloody, but as she was being dragged away, he grinned at her.
***
Captain Quincy looked at her dress uniform, hanging pressed in her suit carrier. When she zipped up the bag, her life in the marines would be over. She walked over to her wardrobe mirror and checked that her grey tie was still sitting smartly. She would have to get used to this new look of grey suit and tie.
The television on the wall caught her eye. She had left the news on as she got ready. Her friend Queen Georgina’s new baby girl was to be christened today at the Royal Chapel in St. James’s Palace. Quincy was so happy that George had found such love with Queen Beatrice and was now enjoying a family.
Quincy couldn’t imagine living with such happiness or feeling that much love. I don’t feel.
She walked over to her bed and sat to watch for a few minutes. Since Princess Edwina, the new heir to the throne, was born, the world and the media had gone wild. Quincy thought it was quite comforting to know a woman would be head of state for the next few generations.
“Computer, volume up four.”
The cameras were trained on the front door of the chapel.
The Queen’s car has now arrived, and we await the first look at six-month-old Princess Edwina Abigail Georgina. She will be wearing a christening gown that dates back to Queen Victoria, the commentator said.
The protection officers got out and opened the car door. Queen Georgina walked around to the other side, helped Queen Beatrice out, and then lifted Princess Edwina out of her car seat. There were cheers and shouts and the flash of cameras going off.
Quincy took note of all the protection officers and their positions. There were a lot more than usual as Queen Rozala of Denbourg and her consort were attending the family christening too.
&
nbsp; Beatrice took Edwina from George, which allowed her to shake hands with the religious leaders gathered there.
The commentator continued: As you can see there is a representative of every major religion here today, to take part in this solemn ceremony. This tradition was first introduced by Queen Georgina’s great-grandfather, as a way to bring together all parts of the British community. The royal family are very keen to promote togetherness and discourage division.
In the next cars are the Dowager Queen Adrianna, Queen Sophia, and Prince Theodore.
Quincy smiled as she watched Prince Theo help his mother and grandmother. He was a great personality, and so different from his sister, George. She always enjoyed his company when they played polo together.
Queen Adrianna and Queen Sophia cooed and fussed over Edwina while Theo embraced his sister.
In the next three cars are Princess Edwina’s godparents—the Queen’s cousin Queen Rozala of Denbourg and Crown Consort Lennox, followed by her cousins Lady Victoria and Lord Maximilian Buckingham, and Queen Beatrice’s friends—
Quincy tuned out the television commentary. Her eyes were glued to Queen Rozala, as she exuberantly embraced George. Then George and Bea greeted her partner, Crown Consort Lennox, who came behind her.
The attack that had made Rozala queen of Denbourg had changed Quincy’s life as well. She could still hear her commanding officer’s voice saying, Denbourg has been attacked. The King and Crown Prince have been assassinated by the criminal Thea Brandt’s people. We are joining with Denbourg special forces and neutralizing her organization. You will be taking your unit to take out one of their weapons stores. Prepare your team.
