Pretend Princess (Cordillera Royals Book 1)

by Carolyn Rae

  Ned shook his head. “Dolly’s missing. The stable master said to tell everyone he sold her. He didn’t want to get fired, said he’d blame it on me if I didn’t go along with him.”

  “Do you think Princess Allysa ran away?”

  He shrugged. “The last time I saddled a horse for her, she said she was heading for her class at the university. That was Friday. At first, she only went to class on Monday and Wednesday, but then she started going on Friday. Said the professor arranged a special class for her.”

  “Did she seem to be more interested in the special class than the ones on Monday and Wednesday?”

  Ned looked away and nodded. “I think she likes the professor. Maybe she got extra attention on Fridays.”

  “Did the king and queen know she was taking these classes?”

  “They knew about the ones on Monday and Wednesday. I’m not sure they know about the one on Friday. Maybe she let them assume she was only going riding.”

  “Did she ride to class on the other days?”

  He shook his head. “Could be she was keeping that Friday class a secret. Maybe she was seeing the professor—I don’t know. I heard she has two suitors that the king and queen approved of. Don’t know why she’d see someone else.”

  “Would you say Princess Allysa was rebellious?”

  Ned rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t say such things about Her Highness. I might be fired.”

  “Well, then, would you say she tends to want to break the rules?”

  He nodded. “But I can’t say that either. Please don’t tell anyone.”

  The prince strode into the barn. “If you had these suspicions, why didn’t you tell anyone?”

  Ned shrugged. “I couldn’t be sure. I didn’t want to get Princess Allysa in trouble—especially if I was wrong.”

  “Did she ever confide in you, say she especially liked this professor?” he asked.

  “Not really, but one day when she watched me get Dolly ready, she went on and on about his ideas.”

  Tricia turned to face Lawrence. “We need to speak to this professor. Do you know where he teaches?”

  Lawrence reached for her hand. “Cordillera University, the only one in the country. Let’s go.”

  “Would he be teaching a class now?” Tricia asked.

  “Probably. It is early afternoon. We can find out which professor she saw and wait in his office until he is through. Do you want to ride there? We can see if there is a place to tie up horses and ask if anyone saw her ride there on Fridays.”

  “Good idea. Ned, would you please saddle up some horses for us.”

  Prince Lawrence glanced at her, but didn’t say anything. Was he thinking it was presumptuous of her to order his servant around? Maybe she should have waited for him to give the order.

  She met his gaze. “You hadn’t asked yet. It will save time if Ned starts getting them ready right away.”

  Ned brought her a stool again so she could mount Ginger.

  Prince Lawrence laid a finger across his lips. “Ned, you must not say anything to anyone about this.”

  Ned nodded and continued to fasten the saddle on Lawrence’s horse, Templar.

  As they left the stables, Prince Lawrence spoke to the guard. “We’re just going for a short ride through the king’s forest. I do not need you along for protection.”

  The prince was silent as they rode off. Tricia bit her lip. Was he mad at her? A little voice inside said ‘You really want him to like you. Isn’t that the real reason you are disturbed by his silence?’

  Prince Lawrence led her through the woods. The smell of pines was invigorating. The only sounds were the crunch of pine needles or the soft thumps of horses’ hooves on dirt and the occasional chirping of birds.

  When they had traveled out of earshot of the guard, Prince Lawrence said, “We don’t want anyone knowing what we suspect. That’s why I discharged the guard.”

  When they emerged from the woods, the clomp of hooves mixed with the sounds of tires on pavement and the cries of children playing soccer in a field.

  The walls of the college rose across the street. Ivy-covered bricks surrounded stone door frames engraved with building names. Marigolds and zinnias bloomed around well- trimmed shrubs. The place didn’t look much different from her university in the states, except there was a place to tie up horses. Apparently Allysa wasn’t the only student who rode to class.

  * * *

  Lawrence dismounted and walked over to help her down. “Let’s go.”

  “Wouldn’t it be better if I stay out here? You can go in alone and ask if he’s seen your cousin? I mean, if he sees me, won’t he wonder why I’m there and why I look like her?”

  Lawrence glared at her. “Damn, why do you have to be right so often?”

  “What’s wrong with a woman being right?”

  “Never mind. You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Try me.”

  Wishing he could take her up on that—in another way—he turned away to hide his grin. She looked so much like Allysa, but prettier. Somehow, he didn’t consider a girl whose nose he’d once bloodied for taking something of his, as beautiful. Boy, had he gotten punished for doing that. No supper that night and no fencing or sword play for two weeks. However, he supposed other men might consider Allysa beautiful. Now with the wind rippling her auburn hair, Tricia definitely was.

  He glanced back at her. Her eyes flashed green fire. “Are you sure you will be all right here by yourself?”

  “It’s broad daylight. Do you think anyone would dare attack the princess?”

  “Someone might drag you off against your will.”

  “If anyone bothers me, I’ll just spur Ginger into a run. I bet she’d enjoy that.”

  After he reached the university buildings, he pulled open the heavy door and strode across an oriental rug on polished wood floors, and stood before the receptionist. Her desk supported a computer and not much else. She had caramel skin, wavy black hair and a British accent. She was chatting on the phone. He cleared his throat.

  “I will be with you in a minute, sir.”

  He frowned and tapped his foot. “Didn’t she recognize him?”

  She focused dark eyes on him. Her gaze darted to a picture of the royal family on the wall beside her. She gulped and hung up the phone. “Prince Lawrence?”

  “You are right. Now I need some information. My cousin, Princess Allysa, has been taking a class with one of your professors.”

  “If this is a question about her grades, I’m afraid I can’t reveal any information. You may be the prince, but our privacy rules are strict. No personal information may be given out. Any of our professors would tell you that.”

  “I just want to know which class she has been taking, and who is teaching it.”

  “Oh, that I can check on the computer. What is her last name?”

  He frowned. “If you are going to live and work in Cordillera, you should know that.”

  “The newspapers always refer to the royals by their titles and first name.”

  “It’s LeBlanc, Miss . . . “He glanced at the nameplate on her oak desk. “Her name is Allysa LeBlanc, Miss Singh.”

  Miss Singh concentrated on the computer. “She is taking Professor Garibaldi’s class in classic literature. “

  “Where is his office?”

  “His office is down that hall to the left. You can see his name on the door.”

  “Thank you, Miss Singh.” Hoping he pronounced it right by omitting the “h” sound, he marched down the wood floors. The sound of his boots echoed in the quiet hall.

  Professor Garibaldi’s office was at the end of the hall. Lawrence tried the knob. Locked. He strode back to the receptionist. “Why didn’t you tell me that he had left for the day?”

  She checked the computer again. “Oh, sorry. I forgot that he took a month off to do research in some library’s archives in Italy. I’m not sure which city.”

  “Is someone else teaching his class?”<
br />
  She shook her head. “He asked us to get a substitute, but we were not able to find one that could start until next week, so classes have been suspended until then.”

  “So, he has been gone all this week?”

  She nodded. “Is there anything else I could help you with?”

  He frowned. “No, thank you. I am looking for my cousin. Can you give me information about her attendance at class?”

  Her fingers flew over the keyboard. Then she looked up. “Your cousin had perfect attendance. She was present for each Monday and Wednesday session of the class.”

  “Why didn’t you mention her attendance for the Friday sessions of the class?”

  Miss Singh stared at him. “There were no Friday sessions for that class.”

  “I must have been mistaken. I appreciate your help.”

  Turning on his heel, he headed for the door. Why had his cousin told Ned her class was three days a week? Where had she gone on Friday afternoons? Had she been meeting one of her suitors or perhaps the professor at some secret rendezvous?”

  He paused at the door. “I really need to discuss something with Professor Garibaldi. Would you give me his phone number and his address? Perhaps I can find him at home assembling his notes from his research.”

  Miss Singh shook her head. “Sorry, Your Highness. I am not at liberty to give out that information. Besides, I am sure he is away on his research trip.”

  Frowning, he yanked the door open and strode through. He resisted the urge to slam it behind him. It would be unseemly and no doubt reported to the papers.

  Scowling, he mounted his horse. It snuffled. Tricia who’d been staring at the blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds, turned to face him. “What did you find out?”

  He urged his mount closer. “My dear cousin has been fooling us all summer. She told Ned the class met three days a week, but it only meets on Monday and Wednesday. Heaven only knows what she’s been doing on Fridays. Probably seeing one of her suitors.”

  “But you said there didn’t seem to be any sparks between your sister and either of her suitors. Did you meet the professor? Is he good looking?”

  “How should I know? He wasn’t there, and his office was locked. The receptionist said he was away doing research on literature in Italy.”

  “Didn’t the poet Byron live there at one time?”

  Lawrence nodded. “That’s a great place to do research, but maybe he was researching anatomy.”

  “Oh.”

  “I think I know why she was always in a hurry to get to class on Friday. It was not the class. It must have been the professor. I was picturing some older man with gray hair and glasses, but I’ll venture he’s younger and good looking.”

  “Go back in and get his address and his itinerary,” Tricia said. “Maybe we’ll find her at his home.”

  He scowled. “Cordillera citizens would suggest what to do next instead of telling me.”

  “I’m sorry if I seem brusque, but surely the next step is obvious.”

  “I already tried, but I couldn’t get it out of the receptionist. She said it was privileged information. And we probably wouldn’t find him at home. He took a month off.”

  “Maybe he persuaded Allysa to go with him.”

  “We don’t know that for sure. We can check the airport, the railway, and the bus station.”

  He turned his horse and headed out of the parking lot. She patted Ginger’s golden neck and urged the mare to follow. Riding beside Lawrence, she asked, “Won’t people think it strange for us to ride through town on horseback?”

  “What of it? I’m the prince. I can do pretty much anything I want to. Besides, it will give the newspapers something to write about.”

  Chapter Ten

  Tricia held the reins to Lawrence’s horse and waited outside the Cordillera Ciudad train depot while he questioned the station master. He’d already called the airport. They reported they had not seen the princess since her last trip a month ago.

  A short time later Lawrence returned. “A man who said he was a professor and a woman he claimed was his wife left on a train for Madrid last Friday afternoon.”

  “I thought the woman at the university said they were going to Italy.”

  “Well, she thought it was Italy.”

  “Did he get a good look at the woman? Could she have been the princess?”

  Lawrence held a finger to his lip. “It’s time we returned to the castle,” he whispered. Tricia glanced over her shoulder. A man was approaching with a notebook and pen in hand while a man with a camera was trying to get a shot of them. The prince turned his horse and urged it into a trot. Tricia followed. The reporter ran after them, yelling for them to stop.

  She couldn’t allow that. She kicked Ginger’s side. The mare whinnied and took off in a run. Hanging on, Tricia let her go, hoping Ginger would head for the palace stables.

  A low hanging branch hung over the path leading into the woods. Tricia ducked and looked back. Lawrence was following, but not the reporter or the camera man. Thank goodness.

  Several yards into the forest, she reined Ginger to a stop and waited.

  Lawrence’s horse trotted up beside her. Anger sparked in the prince’s brown eyes. He smoothed his mustache. “Why did you run off?”

  “I didn’t want them taking my picture. Someone might see it in the paper and realize I’m not Allysa. Did you learn anything else in the train station?”

  “The station master saw the woman put a hand to her mouth and run into the ladies’ room before they left. When she returned, she bought some crackers and ate them.”

  “Uh oh. Sounds like morning sickness to me.”

  Prince Lawrence rubbed the back of his neck. “I hope not. I hate to think of my cousin carrying on like a commoner. Princesses are supposed to be virgins and wear white for purity when they marry.”

  So, princesses were still held to an outdated standard here. Were all women of Cordillera? “So how will we know where they went from Madrid?”

  “The station master said they could transfer to a train going to Portugal or take a flight to Naples. He seemed to remember them talking about maybe taking a ferry to the Isle of Capri.”

  “That sounds exciting. When shall we leave?”

  “We cannot be sure exactly where they went. Besides, why should we go? I can send a couple of my security agents to Naples and some to Lisbon in Portugal to look for them. Come, we need to get back to the palace.” He urged his horse to pass hers and headed down the path. Ginger followed Templar without any direction from Tricia.

  “But wouldn’t you have better luck persuading your cousin to return than one of your employees?” Tricia asked.

  “I could just have him take command of my cousin—she won’t like that I know—but he could bring them back. The professor should go to jail.”

  “But she’s an adult, not a minor. And what if your cousin is having his child and wants to marry him?”

  “We can’t allow that. She’ll have to have an abortion under strict secrecy.”

  “Don’t you care what your cousin wants? Would you kill your own cousin’s child?”

  “If she is pregnant, the embryo is not the same as a living breathing baby.”

  “But it’s alive. If your cousin delivered an illegitimate baby, you wouldn’t kill it, would you?”

  He shook his head. “We’d send it off to be taken care of by a nurse and hope the public wouldn’t know about it. She may have an offer to marry the king of the country represented by the ambassador you met. A king is a much more fitting husband for a princess. Besides, it would be beneficial for trade and international relations.”

  “But if she’s pregnant, how can you keep it secret? She’ll be showing in a few months.”

  “If we let the pregnancy continue, you need to be Princess Allysa until after the baby is born.”

  “I can’t do that. I need to go back to the university.”

  “If you stay here as a consultant, you won’
t need that degree. With your credentials, you can teach in the university. After Allysa returns to her rightful position, if you change your looks a bit, we could “date” as you call it. I would love to take you dancing, to the opera, on a picnic in the woods, and whatever else we might enjoy doing.” He winked at her before turning his head back to the path ahead. His horse snorted, but kept on going.

  Tricia swallowed. She didn’t know how long she could resist his inviting smile, that seductive look in his eyes, and his all-encompassing charm, but there were more important things than a prince’s attention. “I’m not giving up on getting my degree just to keep you entertained.”

  Lawrence frowned, but turned his horse past a huge oak tree onto a barely discernible path.

  Tricia followed. “Is this a shortcut to the palace?”

  Dismounting, he shook his head. “Tie your horse to this tree. There’s something I want to show you.” He stepped over to help her down and looped the reins over a large branch.

  Birds chirped. A few seemed to be chatting with each other. A rabbit darted past off to one side.

  As Lawrence took her hand, she felt a warm tingle. The sound of rushing water echoed her escalating pulse. His thumb roved over the back of her hand. He covered her hand with his other one and gave her a heart-melting smile.

  What was it about this man that made her pulse rise and her stomach flutter? When his eyes met hers, they seemed to invite a closeness. Was she ready for that?

  She tried to pull her hand away, but he grinned. “Don’t worry. I only want to guide my fair lady over any rough spots. I would not want you to trip and fall.”

  She let her hand stay in his, but she didn’t want him taking her for granted. For all she knew, he was promiscuous like his uncle. Being alone with him made her heart beat faster, but it could be dangerous.

  They stepped out into a tiny clearing. The grass was soft underfoot and a warm breeze undulated, lifting the hair from her neck, then letting it fall gently back. Two butterflies flitted from one bush to another as if uncertain where to light. A waterfall tinkled over round black stones, its clear droplets sparkling in the sunlight. Behind her birds chattered like patrons at a bookstore coffee bar.