Dashing: A Royal Cinderella Billionaire Story

by Brooks, Sophie

  I watched as Gretchen brushed the little girl’s hair. It fell to her shoulders and had a nice bounce to it. The head housekeeper had done a good job of fixing it after Elyse cut it off herself.

  I went to Derrick’s room to check on him, and paused at the doorway, my breath leaving me abruptly. There were not one, but two princes in the room. Nico had put on his dress uniform, and the sight of it stopped me in my tracks. He stood straight and tall in his red jacket, tan pants, and black riding boots. He’d shaved, and his hair was slicked back, and it was like a slap to the heart. Why did he have to look so good when he couldn’t be mine?

  Derrick was dressed as a miniature Nico, and the nearly identical garb showed how much he looked like his dad. Someday he’d be a heart-breaker, too.

  Nico noticed my arrival. “You look very nice,” he said awkwardly but not insincerely.

  I’d put on a soft gray wrap-around dress. “Thank you. You too.” He stared at me for a moment too long before turning back to his son. The look in his eyes stunned me. He was still hurting, too. I didn’t know what to do with that knowledge—I could hardly manage my own pain. I couldn’t worry about his.

  The party started off well. I kept my distance from the queen and she, for her part, seemed to have no desire to ruffle anyone’s feathers. During Von’s puppet show, she watched the children with as benevolent an expression as I’d ever seen. I hadn’t been entirely sure she even knew how to smile, but she at least got close.

  Afterward, the twins opened presents. I gathered that this wasn’t generally a custom at royal birthday parties, but Nico had insisted. Gretchen told me privately that he wanted an American-style party like the twins had had for their fifth birthday in the States.

  Somehow, the word had gotten out that Elyse liked Disney Princesses, and she received a lot of gifts and apparel related to that. Apparently, I wasn’t the only person in Falkenberg with an Amazon account. Derrick’s presents ranged from Legos to games.

  When it was time for me to give my presents, I walked over to the sofa where the twins were sitting. I handed Elyse a small wrapped gift and she hopped up and hugged me before she even opened it. Derrick followed suit. Moisture flooded my eyes… it was hard to believe that after a month and a half, I wouldn’t be a part of their lives anymore. It was a painful thought.

  “Let’s open them at the same time,” Derrick said since it was obvious their presents were the same size.

  Elyse nodded and they carefully lifted off the paper. I wondered if they would’ve just torn into it if their grandmother hadn’t been here.

  They both stared at my gifts for a moment.

  “What is it?” Nico asked from across the room.

  “A book,” Elyse said. “Mine’s called The Princess and the Bow.”

  “Mine’s called The Prince and the Falcon.” Derrick added. Then he opened the cover and chose a page at random. “It’s us!”

  Nico walked over to stand next to the children as they flipped through the books I’d made for them. It had been a simple matter to upload the photos I’d taken of them and arrange the layout online. It had been a bit harder to fit their exploits of the last few months into the context of a story, but trying to make it work had helped me focus on something other than Nico. After I’d finalized everything, it had been easy to order hardback copies of the books.

  “This is amazing,” Nico said, now sitting next to Elyse and watching as she started reading from the beginning. “What do you two say to Miss Andrews?” Nico asked as the queen looked on.

  “Thank you,” they both said, and ran over for another hug.

  Damn it, I still had six weeks left with them. Why were the tears threatening to run down my face now?

  After the party, I helped Von pack up his puppets, stage, and props. He was in a great mood—the children had loved his performance.

  “Those books were amazing,” He said. “Maybe you should switch from writing plays to writing children’s books.”

  “I don’t have plans to write either at the moment.”

  “But what about when you start graduate school in the fall? Won’t you study writing then?”

  “Perhaps a course or two.” I didn’t want to admit that I hadn’t paid much attention to the required classes. “Most of them will be literature classes.”

  Von was thoughtful. “When I was in school, I always preferred writing my own things over endlessly debating every detail of other people’s writing.”

  “Me too.”

  “Yet you’ve spent hours helping me with my play. You’re a good friend, Cara.”

  I smiled, my eyes moist yet again. What was with me today? But I was definitely going to miss Von when I left, too. “So are you,” I said. “The twins really enjoyed your show.”

  “And now I can put on my resume that I’ve performed for a head of state.”

  “That’s right, you can. Be sure to say that you wrote the play, too.”

  Von raised an eyebrow at me. “But it was a puppet show.”

  “Yes, and the puppets were playacting.”

  “Maybe you should become a counselor and help people pad their resumes,” he said.

  I couldn’t help laughing. Von was a good guy. A nice, uncomplicated guy. Then I turned and saw his polar opposite—Nico standing in the doorway, watching us.

  Von followed my gaze. “Thank you for inviting me to perform for your children, Your Majesty.”

  Nico was impassive for a moment and then entered the room. “I’m the one who should be thanking you. Derrick and Elyse loved it. I hope you’ll consider coming back next year.”

  “That would be fantastic, Your Majesty.” Von’s eyes lit up and I could tell he was already thinking about a new scenario for his show.

  Nico’s gaze turned on me. “And thank you, Miss Andrews, for those books. I had no idea, when you were taking all those pictures, that you’d turn them into something like that.”

  “It was my pleasure, Your Majesty.” Somehow, my words came out all formal when what I really wanted to do was to be in his office wrapped in his embrace. His hazel eyes were a bit cloudy today. Previously, I’d seen them sparkle, gleam, and even smolder. Today they looked somehow empty. The same way my heart felt.

  After Von was gone, I spent an hour or two with the twins until it was time for dinner. The meal was a short, quick affair. No one was very hungry after the food and cake at the party.

  Once dinner was over, Gretchen took the children up to their rooms to supervise their bath time, and I was grateful to be able to retreat to my room.

  Seeing Nico today had been hard. Sure, I saw him almost every day, but today had been worse. I didn’t know why, either. Possibly because he’d been in concerned-parent mode which hit me in the hormones, to use Autumn’s phrase. Nico had gotten the children books, too. A set of fairy tales for Elyse and history books—written at a child’s level—for Derrick.

  Or maybe it was seeing Nico in his uniform. After all, it had been a picture of him in that getup that had first caught my eye. If I was being honest, that was probably when my crush on him first started—long before I’d even met him.

  But it wasn’t just his looks. I’d been around good-looking men before. But not one of them had affected me like Nico. He was one of a kind, and I’d never meet anyone like him again. I’d never feel the same way about anyone again.

  A brisk knock interrupted the downward spiral of my thoughts.

  I opened to the door to see Henrik, his posture straight and stiff. Gretchen hovered a few feet behind him, looking worried.

  Henrik cleared his throat. “Her Royal Highness, Queen Margrit, requests your presence in her chambers at once.”

  A heavy feeling hit my stomach and I took an involuntary step backwards. The queen wanted to talk to me? Now?

  This couldn’t be good. In fact, it was downright scary. I glanced at Gretchen desperately, but she shrugged her shoulders indicating helplessness.

  “Please follow me, Miss Andrews.” />
  With small steps, I followed in his wake, my mind a jumbled swirl of confusion and fear.

  36

  Cara

  A guard snapped to attention outside of the queen’s quarters. He opened the door and announced my presence.

  Then I stood trembling in a huge parlor that looked like the inside of a cathedral. Every surface was covered in porcelain, marble, and gold. But nothing in the room was anywhere near as impressive or intimidating as the woman in the elaborately embroidered gown. She wore royal blue, which seemed fitting. Heavy folds of material draped gracefully over her slender form. A tiara sat atop her brown curls, making the armchair she was sitting in look like a throne.

  “Sit down and have some tea.”

  It took real effort to propel my feet to move toward her. Step by step, I made my way around the coffee table to the sofa opposite her. As soon as I sat, I felt at an even bigger disadvantage. The sofa was far lower than the queen’s chair.

  With an imperial gesture, the queen indicated the exquisite tea set on a tray in front of me. She already had a cup on a small table next to her. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but I’m not thirsty.” Even if I had been, I wouldn’t have partaken. The tea would’ve sloshed right out of the cup due to the shaking of my hands.

  “Have some tea.”

  Her tone left no doubt of what I should have realized before. It wasn’t an offer, it was a royal command. Hastily, I picked up the delicate china cup and sipped the scalding hot liquid. My eyes watered as I said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

  I wasn’t sure what to do after that. There were some cookies on the tray, including my favorite from the kitchens. Awkwardly, I picked one up, but my mouth was too dry to take a bite.

  The queen seemed prepared to stay silent and stare at me coolly for quite some time. I wracked my brain for something to say, but I came up blank.

  After what felt like hours, she finally spoke. “It’s obvious that something happened between you and my son in London.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” I said, surprised both that she knew and that she would bring it up.

  The queen waited, staring at me.

  Oh god, she wanted me to elaborate. But what could I possibly say? Even it if were easily explained, it was between me and Nico. It wasn’t any of her business but I knew I couldn’t phrase it that way. “Umm… that’s a private matter that concerns only the two of us.”

  “It concerns me that my son is miserable,” the queen snapped.

  I stared at her, a little surprised that she’d picked up on that. She didn’t seem very involved in Nico or the twins’ lives.

  She seemed to read my thoughts which was more than a little disturbing. “Do you think I don’t know my own child?”

  Unsure what to say, I shook my head, trying to keep the teacup in my hands from trembling.

  She shot me a superior look. “He’s my son. I know what’s in his mind and in his heart. Why do you think I sent him to school in America all those years ago? I knew that’s what he needed. If he’d been cooped up here for decades, he would’ve grown to resent this place and his birthright. Instead, I let him experience what else was out there. For half a year he could be a normal young man in the States. For the other half of the year, he could learn about his heritage and his responsibilities. He cares about Falkenberg and its people precisely because I sent him away. Do you think it was easy for me?”

  “No, Your Majesty.” Though shocked by the fact that she was sharing, I felt the sincerity of her words. She probably had done what she thought was best for Nico. But I still didn’t know why she was telling me all this.

  The queen was silent for a long time before she spoke again. “It’s recently come to my attention that I don’t know my grandchildren as well. And it’s also come to my attention that you do.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  The queen looked at her own teacup, and for a moment, she looked like any other concerned grandmother. “I… regret the way I compared Elyse to her mother. I see now that it upset her, but at the time, I meant it as a compliment.”

  “I know that, Your Majesty.”

  “But she doesn’t. And she seems to feel that I’ve broken her trust by reprimanding you.”

  The queen’s tone on that last word was not the warmest ever, but because she was a grandparent reaching out, I answered kindly. “I’m sure the children would like to have a better relationship with you, Your Majesty.”

  “As would I,” she said. “But I’m not sure how. Somewhat against the odds, you have developed a good relationship with them and I ask your advice.”

  Shock flitted through me, but then I pulled myself together. I was flattered that she’d asked my advice, but more importantly, this could be very good for the twins if I could help facilitate a healthy relationship with their grandmother. They only had one parent—they needed all the family they could get.

  Gently, I guided the conversation, telling the queen what Derrick’s and Elyse’s interests were. After a lengthy discussion, we decided that two afternoons a week, the children would bring books up here and have a reading hour. Gretchen could provide snacks, and the queen could ask the children questions about their books while they ate.

  “And that’s it?” she inquired.

  “It’s best to start slow, Your Majesty. When I first arrived, the twins wouldn’t even talk to me. Just start with a reading hour and build from there.”

  “How?”

  “Might I suggest a jigsaw puzzle? It’s something the three of you can do together.”

  “A puzzle? I’m the head of an entire nation and you’re suggesting I put together a puzzle?”

  “It’s a staple of grandparents everywhere,” I said. For once I wasn’t angry with her. She really was trying. Derrick and Elyse were important to her. “If you’d like, I could order one for you.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ll have my secretary procure one.” She was silent for a minute, staring at the antique tea set on the table in front of us.

  Was she done? Was I dismissed from this terrifying-yet-somewhat-enlightening royal summons? “Is there anything else, Your Majesty?”

  “That’s all,” she said, but before I could get to my feet, she spoke again. “Actually, there is something. Would it be possible for me to get a copy of those books you made for the twins?”

  “Of course, Your Majesty.” The smile on my face was genuine rather than nervous now. Though I still wasn’t her biggest fan, her affection for Derrick and Elyse was apparent. “I’ll get on that right away.”

  I rose, gave a curtsy, and turned to leave.

  “Miss Andrews, wait.”

  That was the first time she’d called me anything other than you. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

  With a regal flick of her hand, she waved me back toward the sofa. I sat down again.

  “Since you’ve helped me with my grandchildren, I thought I might offer you a word of advice about my son.”

  I held my breath, wondering what she would say.

  “He blames himself for Lisette’s death. I would suspect that he’s unwilling to ever put himself in the position where he might harm someone he… cares about again.”

  I’d already figured that out, but it was good to hear confirmation. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I suspected as much, and I hoped that I could help him get past the guilt he feels. It wasn’t his fault what happened. If he could just see that, then maybe—”

  The queen held up her hand, stopping me. “It’s not that simple. His guilt runs deeper than that.” She let out a small sigh. “You see… the accident that took his wife was his fault. In a way.”

  I stared at her, astonished. How could she say that about her own son? The thought of Nico actually being responsible was sickening. How could she say such a thing?

  “Perhaps I should rephrase. Nickolaus may have inadvertently brought this on himself. He invited the photographers on the boat that day.”

  My mind went blank as I tried to ga
ther my thoughts. She had to be lying, right? “He hates the paparazzi.”

  “He hates them now,” she said. “But at the university when he first came to their attention, he found it rather amusing. He didn’t mind their taking photographs. He joked and talked with them. Back then, he wasn’t the man he is today. You met that friend of his a few months ago… those kinds of people were a bad influence on Nico.”

  In spite of myself, the news that the queen didn’t like Blake either made me feel in better company.

  “I told him not to engage with the press,” the queen said, switching her anger back to the paparazzi. “But he thought they were harmless. Then he got married.” The queen paused, lost in memory. “Lisette was such a dear girl. So young and naïve. I told Nickolaus to look out for her while she was at school there. I didn’t know he was going to fall in love with her.”

  I held my breath, not sure what to say. I had no idea why the queen was sharing all this with me, but it was clear she knew her son better than I thought.

  “Lisette didn’t like having the photographers around, but she worshipped Nickolaus, so she put up with it. For his part… I don’t think he realized how much it bothered her. It was different for him—he’s a man. But poor Lisette, they published a picture of her on the boat in her bathing suit and she was mortified. Nickolaus spoke to them about it, but I don’t believe he truly understood her concern.”

  Maybe Nico hadn’t understood, but I did. Lady Lisette must’ve been in a very hard position if Nico really had embraced their presence. Had he really not seen the danger until it was too late? “Did he… did he really invite the paparazzi onto his boat the night of the accident?”

  “Yes.” The queen sighed heavily. “But only a few whom he considered friends. They still took pictures when they were around, but not of anything the prince deemed off limits, such as Lisette and the children. Nickolaus treated them like guests.”

  I sat, trembling, afraid to hear what the monarch had to say next, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking. “And the other boat?”