Beauty and the Bastard: A Royal Bad Boy Romance

by Annette Fields

  I held my breath as we drove through Gavin's neighborhood on the way to the palace. I caught just a glimpse of his apartment building and felt small knives stabbing into my heart all over again.

  If I stay here, I might never heal, I told myself. I need to take care of myself, to move past my grief and my heartache.

  My family still had a vacation home in New York, so I'd stay there until I got myself settled. But with Mum still not speaking to me, I already knew it wouldn’t feel right to stay there. I’d get my own place as soon as possible.

  My education had been in marketing, and a few firms already reached out to me when I began planning my trip. It would be nice to immediately be busy and not stew in my sad, depressive thoughts.

  I boarded the small, executive plane and watched as my homeland, the country I once loved and never thought I'd leave, grew smaller and smaller until we rose above the clouds.

  For once, I truly was putting myself first.

  Am I really?

  Why did an overwhelming part of me still want to run to Gavin? Even If I was the one to walk out, he rejected me. He made it clear that I was not worth fighting for.

  But what if you went back one more time? What if something changed after this time had passed?

  I shook my head, trying to squash the small voice that was only trying to distract me.

  Nothing would have changed. He's stubborn as a mule. You would only get your heart broken a second time.

  The more I told myself that, the more I’d believe it and get on with my life.

  Whatever that meant.

  CHAPTER 29

  GAVIN

  The next few hours were a blur that barely seemed real.

  I repeated my apology and explained my position to the Cabinet. They voted unanimously to make me a member, and the official Amberfall trade-workers representative. The queen had no choice but to give me land and a Lord's title.

  Because I didn't inherit land from any noble ancestors, I got to choose what was available and name it.

  "There's an abandoned castle on the southwestern coast," Alex suggested with a wink as he shook my hand. "Why not make it the seat of Telleshire County?"

  "I'll take a fucking shack and make it the seat of Telleshire County," I said in a daze.

  "Watch your mouth," Scarlett told me with a teasing pinch. "You'll knock some of these old Lords over with that language. But hey listen, Gav. I have to tell you-"

  "Sorry, Scar," I apologetically kissed my sister's cheek as I cut her off. "The queen wants me in the throne room for the most rushed, half-assed Lord creation ceremony or whatever you call it. And then I gotta see about a certain girl."

  I pulled away from her and ushered into the wide, vast room where I initially confronted the queen just an hour earlier. My mother waited for me in the same place, in her glittering gilded throne with a smug grin on her face.

  "So the Cabinet has spoken," she said as I approached. "A unanimous decision."

  "They have."

  I counted my footsteps as I got closer to her throne. Twenty, sixteen, twelve, ten. I stopped several paces away.

  "Change isn't always a bad thing, Your Majesty."

  "It is if my power becomes limited," she hissed. "We are not a democracy for that very reason."

  Before I could speak, she instructed, "Kneel, Gavin Telleshire."

  I fell to my knees before the queen and whatever higher power was present. My eyes locked onto her golden, glittering high-heeled shoes that were probably worth more than the castle I was about to own.

  Her hand touched the crown of my head and rested there as she announced, "Arise, Lord of Telleshire County."

  I stood again, feeling like the exact same person as moments before, but knew deep within that my entire life had changed.

  "I know Your Majesty wants Amberfall to thrive and be prosperous. I'll do my very best to contribute my part to that vision," I said earnestly.

  "I hope so, Gavin,” she replied coolly. “I would like to put the past behind us and be proud to call you my son."

  "And I hope one day you can say the same about Alex and Scarlett once again." That was probably the wrong thing to say but I couldn’t resist.

  "Don't push your luck, young man," she said through gritted teeth. "I can rescind your title with any cause I wish. Just like those Lundenbergs you're so fond of."

  Keep it cool. Think of Stella. You actually have things to lose now.

  "Your judgment is not for me to question," I said with a bow, also through gritted teeth.

  "Best not forget it,” she answered with more than a hint of warning. “I do still have some power in this country."

  "I thank you graciously for this honor, Your Majesty. I'd best get to work." I turned on my heel without giving Queen Cunt a second glance and strode quickly toward the doors before I'd say something I regret.

  One thing I had to give to the royals were they were remarkably efficient in getting small trivial things done. By the time I left the throne room, my royal decree of my Lord's title had already been drafted and signed by all Cabinet members, I received the deed and all the keys to the freshly named Telleshire Castle, and even a car with a chauffeur, a cheery fellow by the name of Caplan.

  "Pleasure to be at your service, my Lord," he greeted.

  "You're free to call me Gavin," I told him earnestly, already overwhelmed with my newly found privilege. "If you don't mind, I need to get somewhere right away."

  "Of course, Lord Gavin. I'll bring the car right around. Where to?"

  "The Lundenberg's house in Amber Forest," I said. "There's someone I desperately need to see."

  Our car ride took longer than I thought. I had no idea Stella's family was truly exiled clear to the other side of the island. The realization bubbled new anger to the surface and I wished to give the queen a piece of my mind. She sent them as far away as possible without forcing them into the Atlantic Ocean.

  "Here we are at the Lundenberg house," Caplan said cheerily. "Shall I go up and announce you, Lord Gavin?"

  "No, it's alright," I assured him. "Have a rest, enjoy the scenery."

  As I approached the scenic country home with my heart thundering in my chest, I remembered what Oliver told me: you have to push through discomfort to get what you want.

  A young woman in a maid's uniform answered the door with a puzzled expression on her face. "Can I help you, um, my Lord?" Her eyes fluttered to the Lord of the Royal Cabinet seal freshly embroidered on my suit jacket.

  "I'm here for Miss Stella Lundenberg," I answered.

  "I'm afraid she's not here, my Lord."

  "Teresa, who's at the door?" A beautiful and elegant middle-aged woman called from within the house, who I knew could only be Stella's mother.

  I took a deep breath. "Good afternoon. I'm Gavin Telleshire, madame. As of a few hours ago, I've been made Lord Gavin Telleshire."

  Mrs. Lundenberg's jaw dropped as she came up to the door behind the maid. "You're that wretched boy from the charity ball!"

  "Yes, madame. I'm the one who caused a lot of embarrassment for everyone. Especially your daughter and your family." I swallowed. This was not going to be easy.

  "And now you're a Lord? I can't believe Her Majesty!" Her face turned red very similarly to Stella's. "What are you doing out here?"

  "I've come to see Stella, to make my apologies and ask her a question."

  "Do you really think I'll let you anywhere near my daughter again?” she demanded. “You took advantage of her!"

  "What's going on?" called a tall, sharply dressed gentleman. He looked far more fitting for a Cabinet member than me.

  "This is the boy who defiled our Stella, and now claims he's been made a Lord!"

  "It's true he has been," Mr. Lundenberg said calmly. "I just got a call from Prince Alex. Gavin, won't you come in and have some tea?"

  "You're inviting him in?" shrieked Mrs. Lundenberg. I could see the tension between them and felt extremely awkward to be witnessing it.r />
  I cleared my throat. "Respectfully, madame, I'm in love with your daughter and I'm here because I want to reconcile with her. I did not take advantage or coerce her. But I did make a mistake and I'm trying to fix it now."

  "Please let him in, dear," Mr. Lundenberg urged. "Regardless of the past, he's traveled a long way and is our guest."

  Mrs. Lundenberg stepped aside while still eyeballing me like a hawk. Her death stare made the queen’s look like a kitten. I did my best to nod politely and step past her.

  Ah, this is why I don't do relationships, I recalled. In-laws fantasizing about killing me. Good thing Stella is worth it.

  "Sorry, I keep forgetting. I'm afraid we've run out of tea. Would you care for some coffee?" Mr. Lundenberg asked.

  "Coffee would be... lovely," I said, watching my words carefully.

  Talking to the queen was like a walk in the park compared to this. Underneath getting what I wanted, I still didn't give a fuck about Queen Cunt. But I desperately wanted to make a good impression on Stella's parents.

  "So you represent the good trades workers of Amberfall," her father began.

  "That's correct, sir. I personally come from a shipwright background."

  "If I may ask, how did you convince the queen to give you the position?"

  "Well, I'm more than just a pretty face," I cracked, trying to lighten the mood. Seated next to her husband, Mrs. Lundenberg narrowed her eyes at me. Perhaps humor wasn't the best approach.

  "The queen seems more accepting of the idea that she can't be the only voice in the government. She's desperately holding onto power and realizes she needs to make friends, not enemies if she wants to keep it."

  "What gave you a change of heart after your... outburst at the ball?" Stella's mother asked icily.

  "I had a bit of an epiphany," I said. "Every day I saw my fellow tradesmen and working class families struggling and wished I could do something to end it. I blamed the government for our suffering, but a friend helped me realize the government is also how it gets fixed.”

  "But ultimately," I said with a deep breath. "I couldn't stand to not have your daughter in my life. She's an amazing woman and I love her very much. If this is what it takes to be worthy of her, then it's no question in my mind."

  "Well I may never see another Cabinet meeting again but if you ever need some advice or a listening ear, Gavin, don't hesitate to ask," Mr. Lundenberg said graciously as if he didn’t hear me confess my feelings for Stella.

  I stared at him, puzzled. "Pardon me for asking, sir, but does that mean you approve of me being with your daughter?"

  Stella's father threw his head back in uproarious laughter while his wife and I stared on in shock. "Gavin, your directness will certainly be a breath of fresh air among those stuffy old men! As for Stella, she is a grown woman who can make her own decisions." He took a careful sip of his coffee.

  "What?" cried his wife. "If we don't approve of him, we have every right to forbid them from being together!"

  "Well, he seems like a fine young man who's made some mistakes, but has good intentions and is on the right path." Mr. Lundenberg extended his hand, "I'm looking forward to getting to know you, Gavin."

  “Likewise, sir,” I said, shaking his hand graciously. “If I may ask, when is Stella coming home? I would love to talk to her.”

  “She’s moved abroad,” her mother told me as if waiting for the perfect moment to spring the news on me. “Her new home is New York City.”

  “New York?!” I exclaimed. “But why?”

  “She needed a new environment after her nanny died. Poor thing was rather heartbroken.”

  “Of course,” I said quietly, remembering how she left my apartment in such a hurry that morning. If our split was any bit as hard for her as it was for me, the death of a loved one only compounded that pain.

  My heart sank at the thought of thousands of miles of ocean separating us, but I felt a proverbial fire under my ass as well. Obstacles were made to be overcome. Discomfort was made to be pushed through to get what you deserve.

  “I’m sorry to cut this visit short,” I said, standing abruptly. “It was lovely to meet both of you. But I have to catch the next plane out to New York.”

  CHAPTER 30

  STELLA

  I never lived truly on my own before. The thought was both exhilarating and scary.

  "Maybe I'll get a dog," I said aloud to the empty, echoey walls of my new loft apartment. "And I'll definitely need some art." Good thing New York had an abundance of art galleries.

  I'd just gotten the keys to my new place and had the first pieces of furniture delivered. I should have been thrilled but the familiar loneliness began creeping in like a cold, gloomy fog. I was thousands of miles away from anyone I knew and loved.

  Distance hadn't diminished my feelings for Gavin like I hoped. Rather, it amplified them.

  Maybe it was just general homesickness, but I missed him even more than in the days after I left his apartment. The more I tried to tell myself I made the right choice, my heart screamed wrong, wrong, wrong.

  To distract myself, I cleaned and unpacked my apartment. When I couldn't stand to be cooped up inside anymore, I walked to the local humane society to sign up as a volunteer. I stopped to get take-out on the way home and thought I should really learn to cook if I'm going to survive on my own.

  I should also get in shape. Thankfully no one recognizes me here, I thought as I huffed and puffed up the street back to my apartment. After walking ten blocks like a typical New Yorker, I was desperate to put my feet up and relax.

  Watching reality TV on the couch with a glass of wine and eating my food straight out of a take-out box was the first time I felt like I could get by as a regular American.

  This might not be so bad, I thought. No one else judges me or dictates my schedule. After work, my time is my own.

  When the knock came at my door, I groaned and considered ignoring it. Doing so in Amberfall would be an infuriatingly rude gesture, to the point where people would not invite you to their homes if you refuse guests in your own.

  But in America, choosing to not answer the door was as normal as eating food out of a box.

  The knock came a second time, which spurred my old instincts into gear. I leaped off the couch and hurried over, curious as to who was so insistent on seeing me.

  I nearly fainted when I opened the door and saw who stood there, looking even more handsome than when I left him.

  "Gavin?" I squeaked as my heart slammed into my throat and my eyes welled with tears.

  I had to be dreaming. I missed him so much.

  "Stella." The way he said my name evoked such raw, visceral memories that nearly made me crumple to the floor.

  I began to lean against the doorjamb for support but he immediately pulled me into his arms, cradling me against his chest.

  His familiar warmth, solidness and that woody, masculine smell made me cry openly for the first time in days.

  I had no questions for him. Not how he found my place or why he was even there. In that moment I forgot everything except for how I felt about him, how we still fit together like two puzzle pieces. I forgot all the reasons why I left his apartment after he begged me to stay.

  "I missed you so much, Stella," he breathed into my hair.

  "I missed you too," I whispered into his chest. I turned my face and felt an embroidered design against my cheek.

  I pulled away slightly to look.

  When I couldn't believe my eyes, I reached up with a trembling hand to trace over the intricate symbol.

  "This is..." I couldn't finish the sentence. My eyes locked onto his. I had to hear it from him.

  "The Seal of the Royal Cabinet of Amberfall," he answered softly.

  "So you're..." Just like before, being in Gavin's presence was so overwhelming I could only speak two words at a time.

  "Lord of Telleshire County," he said as if he couldn't believe it himself. "As of yesterday," he added with his signature
smirk.

  "But why?" I asked, still touching the insignia as if it would disappear if I stopped. "I thought you never want anything to do with the royal family."

  "I was an arrogant, prideful idiot," he said, gently taking my hands. "And I'm an idiot who's desperately in love with you, Stella." He brought my hands to his lips and slowly dropped to one knee.

  My eyes grew wide and my heart slammed in my chest. This could not be real.

  "I asked you before because I was desperate to keep you." He pulled a small box from his jacket pocket and my heart stopped when I noticed the color: Tiffany blue.

  "I'll still do anything for you, Stella. And this time I'm asking as a man who I hope is worthy of you." He opened the box to reveal such a brilliant diamond ring, it could have been a miniature sun.

  "Stella, will you become the future Lady Telleshire and marry me?"

  His love and devotion filled me up so completely, the tears continued pouring from my eyes. Every part of me wanted to be with him and show him that same devotion and love in return. It was an easy decision with a simple answer. But my brain seemed incapable of handling all the new information it just received .

  "You went to Tiffany's?" I blurted stupidly.

  Gavin shrugged. "So I took a small detour when I landed. Your parents gave me your ring size."

  "You went to my parents?" I shrieked and forgot all about his proposal momentarily. "Oh god, what did they say?"

  "Your mother didn't say much," he admitted. "I think she'll have to get used to me. Your dad seems to like me, though."

  "I can't believe you've done all this for me," I breathed. I spent my whole life doing things for other people. For my family, for our honor. No one ever went to the ends of the earth for me just because of how they felt about me.

  "So what's your answer?" he prodded gently.

  "Yes, Gavin!" I practically shouted, not caring who heard. "Yes, I'll marry you. I love you so much!"

  His face broke into the widest smile as he stood and practically threw himself at me.