Some Proposal (I'm No Princess Book 4)

by Elizabeth Stevens

  Dmitri looked to Nico with the faintest hint of a question on his face. But he said nothing. Meanwhile, Amanda looked around as though she was looking for the closest child to prove she could make them feel comfortable with her.

  Nico crouched down next to me and grinned winningly at Georgie. “May I join?” he asked the little boy in Gallyrian.

  Georgie looked to me and I nodded to him. “Georgie, this is my friend Nico. And this,” I pointed to Tilly, “is Tilly.”

  “It is very nice to meet you, Georgie and Tilly,” Nico said.

  “Nico do the blue ones,” Tilly said, holding a block to him.

  Nico took it, sat down next to me and made a big show of trying to work out where the best place to put it was.

  “What’s next?” Nico asked.

  While Tilly and Georgie argued over which block should be next and who got to put it on, the woman leant down and whispered, “Your highness, you don’t need–”

  “I know. But I want.” Nico gave her one of his winning grins and I watched her cheeks redden as she smiled and nodded coyly.

  “Of course.” She stepped back and Nico joined in with the two discussing the blocks.

  I gave her a smile, thinking that there were very few women who wouldn’t let Nico get away with whatever he wanted.

  We spent a bit more time playing with the kids, taking a moment out for a photo which I was sure was going to find its way to the media, until the luncheon was announced. Georgie didn’t seem to want me to leave so I got permission to have him sit with me while we ate and after while we walked around looking at all the things, and Georgie pointed out which things he’d helped make.

  Everyone we passed seemed to think it was adorable.

  Everyone except Amanda and Dmitri.

  Amanda was quite obviously jealous that something she thought had been beneath her was winning me points. And Dmitri’s face gave no indication as to what he thought. I was hoping it was one of those times he had to reinforce the mask or something else might leak for anyone to see. The alternative was just too heartbreaking.

  Although his lack of encouragement went a million miles to reminding me that I was not the right person to be by his side as he ruled the country.

  Chapter Seven

  I knocked on the door the next night and stuck my head in.

  “Evening, my lady,” Samson said with a smile. “Did his highness want to see you for something?”

  “Uh, yes…” I said slowly. “He’s still here?”

  Samson nodded and stopped moving things around on his desk before coming around and going to Dmitri’s door. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”

  I wandered further into the room as he knocked on the door. I heard Dmitri’s muffled response and Samson opened it with another smile.

  “Lady Tatiana is here, your highness.”

  There was a slight pause in which I wasn’t sure if he was too busy to see me or not. “Thank you, Samson. Show her in.”

  Samson indicated I go in and I did. Dmitri was in the process of leaning against his desk, a stack of paper in his hands, as he seemed to be waiting for an explanation as to why I was there.

  “Anything else you need, sir?” Samson asked as I hovered awkwardly between them.

  “No, thank you. Go to bed,” Dmitri answered.

  “Will do. Good night then, sir. I’ll see you in the morning. Good night, my lady.”

  “Good night, Samson,” I replied with a smile as he bowed and closed the door behind him.

  “I–” both Dmitri and I started, then stopped with a smile.

  “You first, please,” he said.

  “I was just going to say I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

  “And I was going to say what a nice surprise.”

  “I’m sensing a but.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “In a manner. I am very glad you’re here. It just reminds me how much work I have to do.”

  I nodded and rocked awkwardly. “Shall I go?”

  He shook his head. “Please don’t.”

  “You look worn out,” I said, giving him a sympathetic smile.

  “I feel it.”

  “Things going that well?”

  He put the papers on his desk beside him and held his hand out to me. I went to him unhesitatingly like it was magnet and put my hand in it. “Ja,” he replied as he pulled me to him and hugged me.

  “Can I do anything?”

  He shook his head as he buried his nose in my neck. “Nie, takke.” He breathed out heavily. “Being here is enough.”

  My heart fluttered happily and that goofy smile was back. “Even if I’m distracting?”

  I felt him nod. “Ja. You would make me less stressed even if we were yelling at each other.”

  “Hm. Well I don’t recall being maddening recently…?” I mused and he chuckled before he pulled back to look at me.

  “On the contrary. You were entirely maddening yesterday.”

  I frowned and cocked my head to the side. “When?”

  “As you paraded around with that little boy in tow all afternoon.”

  I snorted, realising – hoping – he was teasing. “I wasn’t parading.”

  “You may not think so. But there was not a single person at that fundraiser who did not notice the way you doted on him.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Is that bad?”

  “Not at all. Miss Lloyd would call it a brilliant PR move. Natalia and Konstantin would think it a win for the publicity of the charity–”

  “The media have been focussing on it all day,” I admitted wearily.

  The Good Morning Show had spent ages on the fact that I’d wandered – totally lost by the way they reported it – into the playroom at the fundraiser and found myself with a small shadow all day. The way they went on, I single-handedly saved the orphanage from shutting its doors and sending all the children out into the night with my magnificent benevolence.

  “They have.”

  “I wish they didn’t make me sound quite so much like a twat.”

  Dmitri looked at me questioningly. “Twat?”

  “Idiot for want of a better word.”

  He nodded and interlaced his fingers behind my back. “I don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Wish they had made you sound better.”

  I mock-glared at him. “Really? Why not?”

  “Because then everyone might realise how wonderful you really are.”

  Oh my. Well.

  I cleared my throat and looked down, no idea what to say to that.

  “I can think of one person who wouldn’t think so regardless,” is what came out.

  “I would not be surprised if she has already noticed and that is why she behaves the way she does.” So he had known who I was talking about.

  “She can’t honestly think I’m competition,” I scoffed, wondering if I was fishing or trying to look like I didn’t care.

  “Nie?” he questioned, a strange tone to his voice I couldn’t place.

  I didn’t know what he meant by that. Was it no as in of course not because we all knew I wasn’t competition? Was it no as in why would I think I wasn’t competition because I actually was? Was it no as in everyone knew I could be competition if only someone talked about the fact that I could be competition? I didn’t even know what no I wanted it to be.

  “No,” I laughed self-deprecatingly. “I’m not doing terribly well at being a lady. In no universe would I ever be…anything more.”

  “You want a…quieter life,” Dmitri said and I noticed too late it wasn’t a question.

  “I just think it’s better I’m not put in a position where I’m not going to be an embarrassment. The more pressure that’s on me, the worse I seem to be.”

  Dmitri looked me over like he wanted to say something more, but he didn’t. He only nodded and said, “I understand,” in a way that made me feel like he rea
lly did understand, but also that he understood more than I thought I’d meant.

  “So…” I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling awkward.

  “So?”

  “I suppose I should let you get back to work.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t.”

  But I was feeling weird, like there was something more to the conversation, and I had this overwhelming urge to put some distance between us. “I can’t imagine Amanda would approve of me visiting your office late at night and…us being like this.” It had meant to come out somewhat teasingly, but I heard the bitterness so I know he would have as well.

  “I see no reason why she should care.” His tone was hard, commanding, the sort that was used to not being questioned.

  I looked him dead in the eye, my expression daring him to just say it out loud, to admit what we all knew was coming. But he didn’t. So I’d do it for him.

  “Because she knows–”

  “I have two weeks, Tati,” he interrupted, his voice now soft, imploring. “Two weeks of freedom if my family and my people have anything to say about it. It is precious little. Can we not just enjoy the time we have together? Please?”

  Emotions warred in me again. Half of me was reminding me to just live in the moment, do what he asked and just be happy with the time we had, to follow my parents’ example and love while I could. But the other half was scared. The other half knew it was going to hurt so much when I had to watch him announce his engagement, watch him marry a woman I hated.

  In the end, the man before me with the beseeching look in those dark brown eyes won me over. Again. Always.

  I would never forgive myself if I walked away now.

  I had two more weeks with him. I knew when I first kissed him and it hadn’t stopped me then. I wasn’t going to let fear stop me now.

  I nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head with a wry smirk as he brushed back a piece of my hair. “No time for sorry,” he said. It was half-regretful – like he wished we could have more – and half- thankfully – as though he too was glad we still had time.

  I put my arms around his neck. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help?”

  He leant his forehead to mine. “What would you do?”

  For him? Most anything. Not that I was quite cheesy enough to say it out loud. “I don’t know. What do you need? Do you want to talk about anything? I can be quite a good sounding board when needed.”

  “Max brainstorms ideas with you, then?”

  I grinned as he nuzzled me. “Sometimes. He used to try to train us up to use our brains, to be able to negotiate and discuss, troubleshoot.”

  “Used?”

  I nodded against him. “Lia managed to get the hang of it and I surpassed all expectations quite easily.”

  He huffed a rough laugh. “I am not surprised.”

  “No. Dad always said I excelled at it…in my own way.”

  “So the same way you do everything?” he asked as he kissed my neck.

  “I’m not sure if you’re saying that like it’s a bad thing or not.”

  His hand slid to my waist. “It is a very good thing. You are like no other woman I have ever met.”

  “Well if you don’t want to marry Amanda, go to Australia. You’ll find a bunch of us more than willing to become the crown princess of Gallyr.” Too late I realised that might not actually have been the right thing to say.

  “Tati…” he chided.

  “Sorry.”

  “Please do not be.” He stopped nuzzling me to look at me. “I am getting used to this sarcastic humour you have.”

  “Oh. Getting used to it?” I laughed.

  He nodded. “I like it. I have to remind myself not to chastise you for being so hard on yourself.”

  “You think you’re going to tell me off?”

  “I would if I thought it necessary.”

  “What sort of discipline would you consider appropriate?”

  He pulled me closer. “What sort would you let me do to you?”

  “Mitya!” I giggled. “Really?”

  He nudged my nose with his. “Really.” His smile softened as he looked at me.

  “What is it?”

  “I was just appreciating that you decided to come down tonight.”

  Feeling suddenly shy and coy, I played with his lapel. “I didn’t want us to repeat the past.”

  “How do you mean?” he asked, tilting my chin to look up at him.

  “I didn’t want to do that thing again where we didn’t talk after you’d been seen with Amanda.” I cupped his jaw. “We have our obligations even if I don’t like it. Or her. Like you said, I don’t want to waste the time we have together feeling shitty that you talked to her.”

  His smile grew as he looked me over. “Thank you for that. I am sorry though that you thought we might not have been talking. Today has been busier than I had anticipated.”

  “Well I wasn’t sure. But I thought I’d make sure.”

  “Good.” He pressed a kiss to my lips.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  “Never.”

  I giggled. “Should I?”

  He looked thoughtful. “What do you know about trade negotiations?”

  I pretended to think about it. “Not a lot,” I admitted. “But I’m a fast learner.”

  “All right.” He smiled. “Help me with this then.”

  He stood up, taking hold of my hand and leading me back around his desk. He dropped into his chair and guided me onto his lap before reaching around me and pulling the papers he’d been looking at earlier towards him.

  “I take it that’s a no on the ‘should I leave’ front?” I clarified.

  “No,” he chuckled then stopped and frowned. “Yes? A no to leaving, but I should work so you will need to help.”

  “And if I can’t help?”

  “Then just sit there and give me the strength to get it done.”

  I nodded. “Okay then.”

  He kissed my cheek and held up the paper. “So, wheat.”

  “What about it?”

  Chapter Eight

  There was a knock on my door and I was just thinking how convenient it was that I was in when people knocked on my door. Then again I wouldn’t know how often people knocked on my door when I wasn’t there.

  “Can we have a minute alone?” Dmitri’s voice asked and the tone of it chilled me.

  I turned from my phone and saw Gerta and Shelly curtseying to Dmitri and then me before hurrying out. But I barely noticed as I was struck by the fact he was in his military uniform. And not his formal uniform either.

  I just stared at him and he just stared at me for what felt like the longest time. He looked totally unsure now he was there about why he’d come or what he was there to say.

  “Are you leaving?” I finally asked because I could think of no other reason as to why he was in his uniform.

  He nodded curtly. “I have finally persuaded Father than I can help down south.”

  “And what did you have to give him in return?” I asked, feeling like there was some price he had to pay.

  “I agreed to take Dominic with me and…”

  “You’ll come back for the engagement announcement?”

  The muscle in his jaw twitched. “I…confirmed for him that an announcement would happen.”

  I looked him over, wondering what game he was playing. Nothing in that sentence – provided they were the words he’d used – suggested that the announcement would happen on Valentine’s Day or to any person in particular.

  A part of me was worried that he was planning to do something ridiculous. Something that meant he wouldn’t be in Albia for Valentine’s Day. But I also knew he fully understood how something that kept him from Albia might impact the people he loved. So I had to hope that I just had an overactive imagination.

  “So…you’ll be back for the ball?”

&nb
sp; He looked behind me. “I will be back.”

  Yes. But when? “I don’t suppose you’ll have phone reception.”

  “Not that I will have access to reliably.”

  I nodded. Something felt off and it wasn’t just the fact he cut a striking figure in his uniform.

  “Are you going to try to meet with Bronkala?” I asked.

  “I have never stopped.”

  “Of course not,” I muttered then caught his annoyed expression. “Not,” I clarified, “that I think that’s a bad thing. Unless Bronkala is planning to agree just to murder you.”

  There was a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth. “Nie. I can take care of myself.”

  “I know.”

  He paused, then said, “You said once you’d have me back in active service if you could…” as though that was a justifiable excuse for him putting his life in danger, or that was a reason for me to not worry about him.

  “And I meant it because I know it will make you happy. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry,” I explained.

  He walked over to me and ran a hand over my hair and he looked me over like he worried it was the last time he might be able to. “In a weird way, that makes me happy. But I will be back.”

  I nodded and wished this didn’t feel like some horrible good bye. “You’d better.”

  I felt him laugh. “Can I kiss you before I go?”

  I looked up at him. “You’re going now?”

  He nodded. “I am supposed to be in a meeting with Arnell, Father and Dominic.”

  “Well, you should go then.” I really didn’t want to be the cause for two of the three princes to end up close to a court martial.

  “There’s just one thing I need to do before I leave.”

  “What?”

  “This.”

  He pulled me to him and he kissed me like the world was ending as soon as we broke apart. My stomach fluttered and my heart caught and my head got all woozy. It would have been the single most amazing kiss to date if it hadn’t also felt like the world might actually end once the kiss did.