The Heir: A Contemporary Royal Romance

by Georgia Le Carre

  “Just be yourself and remember: anytime you feel intimidated just think of them sitting on a toilet.”

  I smile at him. “Thank you.”

  At the bottom of a gracefully curving staircase we enter what looks like the lobby of a very expensive hotel. The walls are adorned with a reddish-gold fleur-de-lis pattern on an off-white background. On strategically placed plinths sit marble statues of human figures and animals. One that catches my attention is a marble statue of a doe with her head held high as if listening for any danger that may endanger the fawn lying at her feet.

  Dante notices my fascination.

  “That’s one of my favorites too,” he tells me. “As a small boy, I used to wonder what the mother deer was listening for.”

  I turn to him. “That is beautiful. I think I would have loved to have known Dante the boy.”

  He smiles and leads me across the room to another hallway. We enter another vast, richly decorated room where I see a couple in their early fifties sitting opposite each other. One glance is enough to know they don’t love each other.

  The man has dark brown hair and a moustache that slants downward at the corners of his mouth. Like the woman beside him, he seems too thin. He is wearing a black suit and a soft blue shirt. The woman is slender, almost emaciated, with rich blonde shoulder-length hair. She is wearing an emerald-green, full-length gown and a pearl necklace. Diamonds shine in her earlobes.

  “Linnea,” Dante says politely as we go up to them. “It is my pleasure to introduce Rosa Winchester to you.” He turns to me. “Rosa, I present Her Majesty, Queen Linnea of Avanti.”

  I curtsy.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you,” she says, extending a smooth, narrow hand towards me. She smiles, and I’m struck by how it doesn’t reach her chilly gray eyes.

  “The pleasure is all mine,” I murmur as she withdraws her hand and clasps her other hand over it.

  Dante exerts gentle pressure on the small of my back and turns me slightly to my left.

  “Father this is Rosa. Rosa, meet my father, His Majesty, the King of Avanti.”

  I bow my head as Dante had instructed.

  “Welcome to Avanti,” his father says. “I hope you are enjoying your stay.”

  “Thank you very much, Your Majesty. You have a beautiful pala … home.”

  He smiles and reaching forward takes my right hand in both of his. His grip is weak and reminds me of the clutch of a very old man. Startled, I stare at him. I can feel the queen narrow her eyes with surprise and displeasure.

  He withdraws his hands. “I am glad my son found you. I can see now why he is so enamored of you.”

  Thankfully, I am saved from answering as Cassandra enters the room with a man I presume to be Dante’s brother, though there seems to be little resemblance to him. While Dante is tall and broad, his brother Riccardo has more of a wrestler’s build with an angular face and sly eyes. His hair is light brown with an almost reddish tint.

  Cassandra makes a funny face, and I can’t help but smile back.

  Dante turns to me. “You’ve already met Cassandra, and this is my brother Linnus. Linnus, my fiancée, Rosa Winchester.”

  “A pleasure,” he says, giving me a wide smile.

  “Likewise,” I reply.

  Cassandra throws her arms around my waist and kisses me on the cheek. “Again, welcome to Avanti, Rosa. I am so glad you’re here.”

  “I’m glad to be here,” I tell her, slightly embarrassed.

  “Well, shall we be seated?” the queen says coldly.

  Servants appear as if from nowhere to seat everyone at the table. Then begins a seven-course meal—first a spicy cucumber salad with anchovy butter and crushed new potatoes. Throughout the meal, as Dante predicted, there is almost no talking. After the sea bass with fennel and spicy grape relish, is slow-roasted pork ribs with membrillo glaze, followed by lamb steaks. Every course is cooked to perfection.

  Cassandra, seated on my left, leans toward me. “What do you think?” she asks.

  What I think is; I’m so stuffed I don’t know if I can even get out of my chair, but what I say is, “Absolutely delicious. Especially those lamb steaks with yeast butter and warm hummus. It’s not like this every day, is it?”

  “It’s like this every day,” she says flatly.

  My eyes widen. “How on earth do you stay so slim?”

  Cassandra throws back her head and laughs. “Simple. Take only half of what you want and eat half of what you take.”

  “But what a waste.”

  “The staff will eat it,” she says airily.

  “Is the food to your satisfaction?” Dante’s father asks from across the table.

  “It’s delicious.”

  “I’m glad you approve so heartily,” he says with a smile.

  “I certainly do.”

  “So,” the queen says, “I understand you are originally from London.”

  “Yes, I am. You have an accent that is not Avantian, is it?”

  “No, I am of Austrian and German ancestry,” she admits.

  “It’s a wonderful accent,” I tell her.

  “I used to love to hear her talk,” Dante’s father says. He glances at her. “I don’t mean that I no longer like to hear her. I’ll always want to hear her talk …” he trails off. There’s an almost sad smile on his face. “Actually, I think I’d better stop talking before I get myself into hot water.”

  The queen glances in his direction, her eyes filled with barely concealed impatience. He returns her look, then laughs, and takes a sip of his wine.

  “Don’t drink too much, darling. It will interfere with your … supplements,” she admonishes.

  He puts his glass back down on the table. “You’re right, of course, my darling. Can’t have anything interfering with my … supplements.”

  Astounded by the odd exchange, I glance at Dante. He is staring at his father with a strange expression. If this is Cassandra’s idea of ‘stuffy’, I wonder what ‘unstuffy’ would be. I look over at my future sister-in-law who simply raises her eyebrows and shrugs at me. I gather from that what I’ve witnessed isn’t typical behavior.

  “So, Rosa,” the king says, “what has Dante told you about our country?”

  “Not a great deal,” I answer slowly. “I know that the economy is based on being a tax haven.”

  “It is, indeed, but mostly because we have been fortunate enough as to attract some of the richest people in the world to live in our country. There are more billionaires per-square foot here then there are anywhere else in the world,” Linnus says proudly.

  “Really?” I say, impressed.

  “Though you may hardly have heard of our country, it’s centuries old. Founded in the twelve hundreds, actually,” the king says.

  “I didn’t realize that.” I look over at Cassandra who rolls her eyes.

  “Here we go,” she mouths to me.

  As she predicted he launches into a history which I find fascinating, but is obviously uninteresting to Cassandra. She pays little attention, and even has to stifle a yawn. Maybe she’s heard it all before—or even learned about it in school. Whatever the reason she is very bored.

  Cassandra leans forward and whispers into my ear, “I told you. Stuffy, stuffy, stuffy.”

  I don’t react, but I actually feel bad for Dante’s father. I know he saw her whisper in my ear and maybe even heard what she said. He is the head of this household and yet Cassandra openly shows disrespect.

  Dante pushes his chair back and stands. He turns to his father. “Thank you for a very enlightening explanation,” he says. I can’t tell if he’s being sincere or not, but his voice is stiff and strained. I have never heard it like that before. “It was very helpful to Rosa and you’ve mentioned some things that I didn’t even know.”

  The king nods. He appears exhausted and defeated.

  “Shall we?” Dante says turning toward me.

  I nod, and a servant arrives to pull back my chair.

  �
�Goodnight,” Dante says, addressing everyone. I echo his sentiment and there are murmurs all around the table.

  Cassandra reminds me of our shopping trip and Dante takes my arm to guide me out. Once we’re in the hallway, I turn toward him.

  “What was that all about?”

  “Palace politics. Stay out of it, Rosa. We won’t be living here, thank God.”

  “Dante?”

  He looks down at me and I can see that even though his voice is normal, his eyes are troubled. “Yes?”

  “I liked your father. I thought he was nice.”

  He swallows, then smiles distantly. “I think he liked you too. Come on, I want to show you the view from the tower.”

  We walk to the tower in silence.

  “Careful. These stairs are treacherous,” Dante warns as we start climbing the winding steps.”

  When we get to the top of the tower I let out an unconscious gasp. The stars are shining brightly in the night sky above us and the lights of the city like a twinkling carpet beneath us. It is just magnificent. It is almost a shame to think only one family could enjoy this view.

  I turn toward Dante. “It’s simply breathtaking.”

  “Yes, Avanti is a very beautiful country. We’ll see some of it tomorrow.”

  “I’d love that.”

  I search his face in the dim light. Ever since dinner he has been preoccupied. “Dante, can’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

  “No, Rosa. I won’t drag you into this mess. We will have our life which will be separate from my family. We will only visit if we have to. Perhaps the next time we come it will be for my father’s funeral.”

  I freeze. “Is your father really ill?”

  He gazes far into the horizon. “I don’t know, but he didn’t look well, did he?”

  “No. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. My father and I are almost strangers. My best memories of him are while my mother was alive. He was a different man then. After he married Linnea he changed drastically.” He scowls. “Let’s not talk about them. Let me take you back to your room. You must be tired.”

  “I’m all right. I slept during the flight,” I say, but he is already turning away and leading the way down. We walk next to each other in silence, passing corridors and grand rooms.

  “Well, here we are,” he says finally. “Your room.”

  I stare up at him, trying to gauge his mood. “Thank you. It was a very nice evening.”

  “I can make it even nicer,” he says with a crooked smile.

  “Oh?”

  “You have no idea what kind of thoughts have been running through my head while following that slit in your dress up the tower stairs.”

  I feel heat spread through my body. “But you can’t. It’s verboteni.”

  His eyes widen. “You learned the word for taboo in Avantian?”

  I bite my bottom lip. “And a few others too. Do you want to hear them?”

  He opens my door, sweeps me into his arms, and carries me to my Princess bed. It is while he is making love to me that I realize: I’m head over heels in love with my Prince.

  Chapter 29

  Rosa

  I get up alone in my Princess bed. I stretch and look at the phone clock. Dante said be ready by eight, but it is only 6.30 a.m. I left the shutters open last night and I can see that it is already light outside. The queasy feeling starts, but I see that Dante has left my biscuits on the ornate top of the bedside cabinet. Opening the packet, I sit up and nibble at the biscuits slowly until the feeling passes.

  Right. Time to try out the Jacuzzi.

  I lie back in sweet smelling suds and close my eyes. My mind starts replaying everything that happened last night. Part of me still can’t believe that Dante and I are getting married. What had happened at the dinner table was weird. Maybe Dante is right. I shouldn’t get involved. Last night was the best sex we’ve ever had. Perhaps because I realized I’m in love with him. Whatever the reason, it was amazing.

  Eventually, when my fingers go all pruney, I get out and dry myself off with a big fluffy towel. I tie the quilted dressing gown I find hanging from a hook inside the bathroom door and walk into my closet. A girl could get used to this.

  I glance at the few pieces of clothing hanging in the closet. I can’t go far wrong if I team my lightweight trouser suit with my cream blouse with ruffles down the front. Cindy, who must have been working the night shift at the Casino, sends me a little video of a cute husky saying I love you. I send back the pictures I took of Avanti. I’m dressed and ready when I hear his knock at the door.

  “Who is it?” I pretend to ask.

  “Who do you think?” Dante replies.

  I run across the room and throw open the door. The sight of Dante makes my heart sing with joy. Dressed in a pair of grey slacks and a knit shirt, and with his hair still wet from a shower, he makes me feel all gooey inside. He runs his gaze down my body quickly then juts his face forwards and taps his cheek with his fingers. With a shy smile, I stand on my tiptoes and kiss the cheek he tapped.

  He catches me as I lean back. “Where do you think you’re going young lady? Lips. Always end with the lips.”

  The kiss makes my toes curl. By the time he raises his head I feel breathless and giddy with excitement.

  “Good morning,” he says huskily.

  “Good morning to you too,” I whisper shakily.

  His sensuous lips curl upwards. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I did, thanks.” I still can’t stop staring at his gorgeous face.

  “You look very fresh,” I murmur.

  He grins. “I was out horseback riding. It always puts me in a fine mood.”

  “I would have loved to have watched you ride.”

  He touches my nose. “I wanted you to sleep. Maybe after the baby is born?”

  I nod shyly. “Okay.”

  “Want to have breakfast with me?”

  I shake my head. “I had my magic biscuits.”

  He laughs. “We’re on our own for breakfast so you can just drink a cup of coffee while I eat.”

  “Perfect.”

  We take the same route downstairs, except now we turn left at the bottom and enter a much smaller room than the one we were in last night. Sunlight bursts through the many windows and strikes the juice glasses on the table. It’s going to be a beautiful day.

  A servant holds a chair out for me, and another moves to seat Dante.

  “Good morning,” Dante says.

  The servant bows. “Good morning, Your Highness.” He glances my way and again bows. “Good morning, Miss Winchester.”

  Dante orders eggs, bacon, and toast. How he can possibly be hungry after last night’s massive meal is beyond me.

  “I’d like to take you to one of my favorite places in Avanti. The caves,” he says.

  “Caves?”

  “The kind where we can leave everyone else outside and go in and spend some time alone.”

  “And what would we do when we’re there?” I tease.

  He laughs wickedly. “I’ll show you when we get there, wench.”

  I beam at him. My heart feels as if it will burst with love. “Tell me about these wonderful caves.”

  “Actually, you’ll find them extremely interesting. They have prehistoric paintings guaranteed to take your breath away. Afterwards, I thought we might stop and have a quick bite before I bring you back here so you can catch a nap. If you plan it well you can sneak another nap in between your shopping trip and the ball. That way you won’t get too tired.”

  I stare at him. Maybe he really does care for me, after all. “I think you are full of great ideas today.”

  A servant approaches with a metal covered platter and he rubs his hands together. “Mmmm … bacon.”

  I’m reminded of a trip our family took to Switzerland once. I was only little and my father was still alive then. He always had a great sense of adventure. I think I inherited that trait from him. He rented a car and drove my mother and me
out of town. Aimlessly we travelled, enjoying the view and seeing the sights. Every time we came to a crossroads he would simply ask my mother or me which way we preferred. That trip is one of my happiest childhood memories. Less than two years later he was gone forever, and my mother and I never went abroad together again.

  This ride seems almost the same, the lie of the land, the faces of the people, the animals in their greener than green pastures, the neat little houses. Avanti has to be one of the most beautiful countries on earth.

  “It’s so peaceful here,” I say to Dante. “Almost like we’re in a different world. One where there are no cares and no problems.”

  He turns toward me. “That’s a surprising thing to say from a girl that relishes the rat race.”

  “I don’t relish it.”

  “Admit it. You thought of taking the baby to work.”

  “I did not,” I deny. “In fact, I’ve been thinking I might take a year off. Spend it with the baby.”

  He stares at me in astonishment.

  “Can you keep your eyes on the road, please?” I holler in a panic.

  He turns back to the road and does not say anything else. I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m actually not ready to discuss the way I feel about him or the baby yet.

  We go down one country road after another, most of them narrow trails under canopies of green leaves. Eventually, we come to an area with a chain-link fence beyond which stands a stone building the size of a small cottage.

  “Here we are,” Dante says as he pulls up to a gate and presses a button. Soon, a young man wearing a guard’s uniform comes hurrying toward us. As soon as he spots Dante his face lights up.

  “Your Highness,” he says. “Welcome, welcome. What a wonderful surprise. You’re here to explore the caves.”

  “Well, ‘explore’ might no longer be the right word since I’ve been here so many times.” He smiles at the young man.

  “Ah, then, let’s say you’re here to visit the caves again.”

  “Yes, and to show them to my fiancée.”

  The man gawks at me in astonishment before opening the gate. We drive through and park off to the side.

  “Just a short walk,” Dante says as we start down a brick-lined path.