Pretend Princess (Cordillera Royals Book 1)

by Carolyn Rae

  She shook her head. “I will meet you at Rosita’s. You may escort me from the palace limousine to the cabaret.”

  She waved to a nearby guard. When he approached the table, she asked him to summon the royal limousine. She drained her coffee cup. She’d need the caffeine to keep alert.

  An hour later, after making the arrangements and wearing the green dress, Tricia stepped out of the limousine at Rosalita’s. She told the driver to wait. Roberto, dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and gray tie, was pacing in front of the club. Three palace guards followed them as Roberto escorted her inside.

  The smoky haze made it hard to see at first. As she took his arm, a hostess wearing a white silk blouse and a short full skirt, pulled back the red velvet draperies to allow them to enter. As Tricia stepped beyond the curtain, incense teased her senses and mingled with his musky aftershave, a less than pleasant combination.

  He smiled, obviously pleased that others could see her walking beside him. She had to admit his caramel skin had a becoming patina in the glow from the coach lights on the wall near the entrance, but he couldn’t hold a candle to Prince Lawrence.

  Roberto led her inside and spoke to the host, who showed them to a candlelit table near the band. Couples were gyrating to the rhythm of blaring acoustic guitars.

  She frowned and raised her voice to be heard over the beat of the drums. “That’s not exactly the style of dancing I’m accustomed to.”

  “I, too, would prefer a slower rhythm, so I can hold you close,” he murmured.

  Not liking that thought, she tried to paste a smile on her face.

  Roberto pulled out a chair for her, then left to speak to the band leader. Soon the band began a slow number. Roberto held out his hand. “Shall we?”

  She stepped into his embrace. A few dances wouldn’t be so bad. Except he pulled her so tightly against him she was sure he could feel her breasts against his chest. Then he slid his cheek next to her face. His aftershave was overpowering. He must have put more on since he apparently hadn’t shaved since morning. His bristled jaw rubbed against her forehead. Her skin would be pink from the irritation.

  When he moved his cheek away, she was relieved until he kissed her forehead. So far, except for holding her too tightly, he hadn’t done anything else she could really complain of. Thank goodness, the number was almost over. She would hold him to his promise to free Lawrence. “Is he tied up?” she asked.

  Roberto nodded. “They tell me so, but I’m sure they are treating him well. If you want him released after the next dance, you need to look like you’re having a great time.”

  “Okay, I can do that.” She forced a laugh.

  “And act like you adore me. Then everyone will notice me.”

  She swallowed, but kept her gaze on his eyes as he tried some fancy steps. Unfortunately, they were too tricky for her, and she stumbled. He caught her and pulled her close against him again.

  The next number seemed to take forever. Finally, the music stopped. Roberto dipped her so low she feared he might drop her. But then he pulled her up and pressed a quick kiss on her lips – ugh. She wanted to scrub her mouth with her hand, but didn’t dare.

  Instead, she stood in the middle of the dance floor with her hands on her hips. “I gave you two dances. Now, you must go talk to the kidnappers and give them the money. She waved to the tallest guard waiting at the doorway. He hurried over and handed Roberto a bag of money.

  Roberto smiled. “Your wish is my command.” He took the bag and strode to a door leading to the outside and opened it. Two guards followed him. She stood waiting, in the middle of the floor. Dancers swirled around her as the band played another slow number. Finally, the tallest guard walked over to her and led her to a chair. She sat, smoothing her dress and twisting her fingers, her nerves close to shattering.

  Twenty minutes later, Roberto led the prince through the back doorway, followed by the other two king’s guards. Lawrence stood near the wall as Roberto undid something behind him. Heavy chains clanked to the floor.

  Tricia gasped and jumped up. They had chained him. “Did you catch the kidnappers? she asked the guards.

  One guard shook his head. “A man stuck his head out the door and grabbed the money Roberto handed him. Then the man shoved the prince out in front of him and slammed the door. As soon as His Highness was safely out the door, I ran inside, but the two men had left through a back door.” I chased them through the forest, but they got away from me.”

  Lawrence rubbed his arms and flexed his muscles. He muttered something to Roberto and stood there against the wall, glowering.

  She was about to rush to Lawrence when Roberto walked over and spoke to her. “About that picnic I talked about—“

  “Now that you have had your two dances with me and released His Highness, you can forget about the picnic. Holding the prince against his will is kidnapping. You could be arrested for working with the kidnappers, unless I beg Prince Lawrence to refuse to charge you.”

  Roberto frowned. “But I did my part to free him. I did it for you. We could have such a lovely afternoon. I’d bring some really nice food.”

  “I’m sure you would, but staying away from me is the price for staying out of prison. Is that so hard to choose?”

  “It is a hard choice, but I value my freedom. I will abide by your wishes, if the prince will agree not to press charges against me.”

  “Can I hold you to your promise?” Tricia asked.

  “Yes. I am a man of honor. I will leave you alone unless at some time in the future you change your mind.” He bowed and strode out the back door. Two guards followed him.

  She hurried across the dance floor to Prince Lawrence and threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad to see you’re okay. Did they hurt you?”

  Taking her hand, he led her out front and hustled her into the waiting royal limousine. “I am all right, but why were you there on a dance floor?”

  “Dancing with him was his price for getting the kidnappers to let you go free.”

  “What was in the bag Roberto gave to the kidnapper who’d been guarding me? Did you have to pay a ransom too?”

  She nodded.

  “You didn’t have to dance with him. I would have freed myself sooner or later.”

  “It wasn’t so bad. I would have done worse to free you.” What he really wanted was to be seen dancing with a princess. She let out a breath, glad she hadn’t had to endure Roberto’s sexual attentions.

  Indentations on Lawrence’s forearm. formed a regular pattern, probably from chains pressing against his skin. She let her finger rest on one place that appeared to be dished inward. She could feel his blood pulsing beneath the skin. “Oh, Lawrence, I’m so sorry you had to go through that. How did the kidnappers manage to overpower you?”

  “I was in the garden. It took three ruffians to subdue me and drag me away. They chained me to a wall in a cabin in the woods.”

  He flexed his arm. She felt him flinch as he did. She removed her finger from his forearm. “Does it still hurt?”

  “Feels so good to be free, I hardly notice it. I expect it will ache for a while.”

  “I bet you’ll have bruises tomorrow.”

  He nodded. “But at least I’m free.”

  The remaining guard pointed to the door. “A limousine is waiting to take you and the princess to the palace, Your Highness. The other two guards will follow Roberto Alvarez to question him about the kidnappers.”

  After Lawrence and Tricia were seated in the vehicle, Lawrence said, “I can’t believe those men had the nerve to do this.” He pointed to the forest they were passing. A breeze jostled evergreen trees and the oaks and aspens. Thick undergrowth filled the space underneath. “The cabin they had me tied up in would have been hard to find.”

  He frowned. “They should be thrown in jail for restraining me. I hate to think of that Roberto making you dance with him as a price for helping get me loose.”

  “It wasn’t so bad. I promised tw
o dances,” she said, not mentioning Roberto’s kisses. She didn’t want to face Lawrence’s reaction to hearing about that. “Roberto insisted I act like I really enjoyed it, so others could see. Somehow, he thinks that will raise others’ opinion of him.”

  Lawrence’s eyebrows moved closer together, shadowing deep grooves between them. However, he didn’t say anything.

  Tricia suppressed a smile. He was jealous. That felt good, even though a romantic relationship with Lawrence had nowhere to go.

  He’d been through a lot, and she didn’t need to add to his discomfort. “I only danced with him because he said he’d make sure you were released if I acted like I enjoyed it.”

  * * *

  Lawrence let out his breath. “And that’s all he wanted? I don’t believe it.”

  “Well, he did mention a ride out into the country and a picnic lunch.”

  Lawrence scowled. “The man’s a delusional fool. You’re not going.” He grasped her wrist.

  “Don’t worry. I told him I wouldn’t go. I hope they’re satisfied with the money. I don’t want the kidnappers taking you again.”

  Lawrence took her hand and kissed it. “I am relieved it was me they captured instead of you.” A knot formed inside, just thinking about the possibility. “I hate to think what they might have done to you.”

  But he had treated her badly. Not only had he made her mad, but no doubt he had hurt her by suggesting she live as his mistress. What had he been thinking? As a chaste virgin brought up by missionary parents, she’d only welcome sex as part of marriage, and he could not offer that. He was duty bound to marry someone of noble birth and carry on the monarchy in Cordillera. He really cared about Tricia and felt bad about the way he’d treated her. She was luscious and so desirable, but why had he let his baser instincts take control. He was stronger than that, wasn’t he?

  He covered her hand with both of his. “Tricia, I have done you a grave injustice by treating you like a courtesan. You must believe me. I did not mean to dishonor you. You may not be of noble birth, but you are the most honorable and courageous woman I know.” He watched her face. Would she accept his apology? He had to convince her he really was sorry.

  She just sat there, her eyes focused on his face, her expression reflecting only that she was listening.

  He placed her hand over his heart. “You must believe me. I say this from my heart. I did not mean to hurt you. All I can do is to beg for your forgiveness.”

  He met her gaze, hoping he’d pled his case sufficiently. This was so hard. People were always asking him for something. He seldom had to ask for anything. He waited, his gut churning.

  She pulled her hand away. “My parents taught me I should forgive others, and I’m so glad to have you safe that I forgive you, but,” she shook her head, her eyes looking sad. “Don’t ever suggest anything like that again.”

  He let out his breath. “That is such a relief. I hate to have you mad at me.” He took her hand in his, caressing the back with gentle fingers. “Now that is settled, I should check with my guards. They returned my phone just before letting me go, but the battery is dead.”

  He tapped on the window between them and the chauffeur. “Driver, take us back to the cabaret. I need to see if the guards managed to question Roberto about the whereabouts of the kidnappers.”

  However, when they returned, the guards were walking back toward the palace, and Roberto was nowhere to be seen. “Did you learn anything about the whereabouts of the kidnappers,” Lawrence asked one.

  “No, Your Highness. The intermediary disappeared,” he replied. Lawrence hoped that was the last they’d see of Roberto.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Two days went by, and no attempts came against the prince or Tricia. As Princess Allysa, she visited an orphanage and distributed books to all the children, except the babies and toddlers, who received stuffed toys.

  Tricia even took advantage of lessons with Allysa’s piano teacher to brush up on her skills. Becky was doing nicely and played Liebestraum from the opera Lucia Di Lammermoor. Tricia praised her performance, making Becky beam.

  The next morning Tricia requested Serena ask the cook to prepare breakfast for three and deliver it to her room. She started to walk in her robe, well, Allysa’s robe, to the room where her sisters were staying to invite them to join her, but Serena stopped her. “Your Highness, you can’t walk the halls in your robe. It just isn’t done. Let me go tell them.”

  “Okay,” Tricia said and watched Serena head down the hall. Well, there were occasional disadvantages to being a princess. She hadn’t realized she’d have to be on display even early in the morning.

  Becky and Cindy, however, were not expected to behave like royalty. They arrived in robes and slippers. Cindy couldn’t wait to let Tricia feel how soft her new angora slippers were. And Becky was also impressed with hers which had a paisley design and turned up at the toes. “Just like elves or maybe a court jester.” She touched Tricia’s arm. “Do they still have court jesters?”

  Tricia shook her head. “They probably watch comedy shows on TV to get laughs.”

  Watching her sister sit around the cart munching cinnamon rolls, she looked at their faces. “Are you having fun living in a palace?”

  Cindy smiled. “The food’s lots better.”

  Becky nodded. “I got some new clothes. The prince’s chauffeur is a real hottie, and I think he noticed me. If he asks me for a date, can I go?”

  Tricia shook her head. “He’s much older. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “But what if he likes younger women?”

  “Father left me in charge, and I don’t think fourteen is old enough to go on dates with older men.”

  Becky frowned. “Party pooper.”

  “How about a different kind of party? I’m having a lunch packed to take you two to see the castle Prince Lawrence told me about. He is busy today, but said we might enjoy looking at it.”

  Becky said, “I’m not interested in seeing a musty old building.”

  “But I want to go,” Cindy said.

  They left an hour later, leaving Becky at the palace. A guard drove Tricia, Cindy, and Shayla, one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting, through a wide valley surrounded on both sides by mountains. After a while, Cindy stopped her animated chatter and leaned against Tricia. Her eyes closed, and soon she was asleep. Tricia lowered her sister’s head to her lap. She’d probably stayed up too late last night.

  The guard said, “The ruins of the old castle are at the end of this road. Years ago, it was decided the location was too remote and too hard to defend. That’s when the current palace was built in the center of town.” The guard turned off the main road onto an overgrown one leading toward the mountains. The hustle and bustle of the capital city had faded away.

  As they emerged from the trees, a three-story, gray stone building appeared. It had turrets with notches for soldiers to fire arrows from the top story. Ivy trailed up the walls, and several large trees stood at the front of the castle. At the end of a short bridge over a dried-up moat, two huge oak doors guarded the entrance. A wooden coat of arms with fading red and gold paint decorated the doors.

  The guard glanced at the sleeping Cindy. “If you want to look around,” he whispered, “I can stay here with her. No wild animals except deer roam around here. We’ll be perfectly safe.”

  “What’s left in there to see?”

  “One or two crossbows, several suits of armor and a huge portrait of the first king in full armor. I’ve heard the king wanted it hung in the great room, but the queen wanted the royal family’s pictures hung there instead.”

  Tricia edged to the side of the car to lay Cindy’s head down. “Yes, I’ll look around inside. I won’t stay long. Cindy may wake up and be frightened to be alone without me. Shayla, do you want to see the castle with me?”

  “I’ve seen it before. I’d better stay with your cousin. She might be afraid to be left alone with the guard.”

  “I
f she wakes up, bring her inside.”

  Tricia and the guard walked over the wooden bridge. Their footsteps and chirping birds were the only sounds.

  After the guard unlocked the wooden door, he grasped the handle and pulled hard. It made great creaking sounds and didn’t open all the way, but he finally moved it enough for her to squeeze through.

  The guard peeked inside. “It’s deserted. I’ll wait in the car with Shayla and your little cousin.”

  As Tricia walked across the stone floor, musty odors and dust made her sneeze. It took a minute for her eyes to adjust to the dim interior. The portrait of the old king as a young man in full armor was enormous. Except for his hair, which was auburn instead of light brown, he could have been Lawrence. The same brown mustache and even a twinkle in the young king’s brown eyes looked back at her. Must have been a talented artist who painted it.

  “Without his armor, you could say he looks just like an average young man standing in a tavern waiting for a beer.”

  Tricia gasped. She’d thought she was alone.

  Roberto put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

  She jerked away. “You startled me. Why are you here? Where’s my guard, and Cindy, and Shayla?”

  “Relax. I left the little girl asleep in the car. One of your other guards told me you were coming here. I convinced him I only wanted to talk to you. My men won’t hurt Cindy, but they have tied your lady and your guard up and silenced them with gags.”

  Tricia scowled and pointed a finger at him. “If you think you’re going to spend a pleasant afternoon with me while my guard and Shayla are restrained, you have another think coming. How could you do this and expect me to want anything to do with you? Untie Shayla, and my guard at once.” Remembering the small demand for money from the kidnappers earlier, she now doubted Roberto’s claims of being only an intermediary. A man who tied up her guard and a lady-in-waiting just to talk to her was not normal. She’d have to be on her toes to deal with him.

  “Relax. I won’t hurt them,” he said. “I just want to talk to you for a few moments.”