by Leanne Banks
He tilted his head to one side in shock. “Pardon me?”
Pippa’s stomach clenched. She knew that expression. He’d used it far more often with Bridget because her older sister had felt perfectly free to argue with Stefan. Pippa, on the other hand, avoided arguments like the plague. Except this time.
“I said I’m insisting. I don’t do a lot of insisting, but I am this time. And I think you should also know I’m considering moving out of the palace.”
Another shocked silence stretched between her and her brother.
“And how do you plan to pay for this apartment?” he challenged.
“I earn a small stipend with the research I do, and I have a savings account. It’s true most of my clothes have been provided by the palace, but I don’t need a different dress every day. It’s not as if everyone is watching every move I make.”
“You underestimate how interested our people are in you,” he said. “As evidenced by the crowd you drew during your impulsive walk on the beach last week.”
Pippa winced. She wondered who had ratted on her. It wasn’t as if Stefan spent a lot of time on internet social sites. “Yes, and everyone was perfectly polite.”
“You’ll be entirely too vulnerable if you were to move away from the palace,” he said.
“Entirely too vulnerable to what? I would still have a panic button and I could have alarms set up in an apartment. Admit it. Jacques will be of age soon enough and you would allow him to live away from the palace.”
“That’s different,” Stefan said. “He’ll be a young man and would feel trapped here.”
“The same way I feel trapped,” Pippa said.
Stefan looked as if he’d been slapped and she felt a stab of regret. “I thought you liked having access to the family, the twins and Stephenia, the family dinners.”
“I do,” she said. “I love my nieces and nephews. I love my family. There’s no reason I still can’t babysit and attend family dinners. I just need some space.”
Stefan sighed, then straightened his shoulders. “Perhaps you just need a break. When I tell you what I have planned for you, I know you’ll be pleased.”
Pippa felt her stomach twist with dread. There was always a catch involved when Stefan had a plan. “No, really,” she began.
He held up his hand. “You’ve had your turn. Now it’s mine. I’ve arranged for you to take a holiday to the coast of Italy for your birthday.”
Pippa immediately thought of Amelie and shook her head. “That’s a lovely thought, but this isn’t a good time for me to take a holiday. Due to my studies,” she added.
“It’s only for a few days and the break will be good for you. You’ll have only two appearances to make during your trip. One celebrating the anniversary of a museum and the other will be a christening ceremony for a new cruise ship that will be making stops in Chantaine. I’ve arranged for an escort for you. Count Salvatore Bianchi. He’s a bit older than you, but his family is considering opening several wineshops here, so we’d like to further that relationship. And who knows? Perhaps the two of you will hit it off,” Stefan said, wearing his most charming smile.
Pippa felt a twist of suspicion. “Just how much older is Count Bianchi?”
Stefan shrugged. “I’m not sure. He’s a widow with children. I believe one of them goes to school with Jacques.” Jacques, her nineteen-year-old brother.
“So what you’re saying is he could be my father,” Pippa said.
“Age is just a number, Pippa. I assure you that you’ll have more in common with the count than the soccer player Bridget arranged as your escort. My assistant will give you your itinerary later today and the palace stylist will help you with your attire for the trip.”
“And if I don’t want to go?” Pippa said.
“The arrangements have been made. People will be expecting you. Besides, I can tell by our discussion today that you need this holiday. You will enjoy it,” he said and stood.
“Because His Royal Highness decreed it,” she muttered and also rose.
A flicker of irritation passed over Stefan’s face. “I’ve always counted on you for your sweetness.”
She felt a quick surge of pain at the prospect of disappointing Stefan. “I’m sorry. I’ll go on the trip, but Stefan you need to understand that it won’t change my intentions regarding my security and moving out.”
“We’ll see,” he said.
Chapter Seven
Two days later, Pippa managed to make her way to the Lafittes’ temporary cottage. She drove the rickety car from the library wearing the terrible disguise over her clothes and pulled off the wig as soon as she pulled into the cottage driveway. Unbuttoning the too-large matronly blouse, she stepped out of the car and pushed down the hideous skirt.
She heard a wolf whistle and glanced up to see Nic smiling at her as he leaned against the guest quarters door wearing jeans and a black T-shirt that outlined his broad shoulders and muscular arms. “Don’t stop now,” he said, referring to her awkward striptease.
She bundled up the disguise in her arms and rolled her eyes as she walked toward him. “I despise this outfit.”
“But it gets the job done,” he said.
Unable to argue his point, she pushed open the gate. “How is your mother?” she asked.
“Restless. She may need an outing,” he said. “A short one. Any ideas?”
“I’ll think of something. Have you made any headway with your brothers?”
“Heard from one and I’m hounding the others. I may have to resort to unconventional methods of getting their attention.”
She shot a sharp glance at him and he shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”
“Actually, I do,” she said. “I may need to use subversive tactics with my own family at some point.”
She felt his glance at her, but didn’t meet his gaze. “Okay. I’ll send a fake officer to stop them on their way to work. This officer will deliver a message.”
She met his gaze. “That’s drastic.”
Nic shrugged. “Drastic times…”
She couldn’t help smiling at his creativity. “Well done.”
He shot her a half grin. “It’s only the first step. I have others planned if this doesn’t work.”
She nodded. “What are we doing with Amelie this afternoon?”
“I don’t know. Depends on her mood.”
“How is her appetite?”
“Temperamental at best,” he said.
“Maybe she’ll take a few bites of gelato.”
“You’ll have to put on your disguise again,” he reminded her.
“I know. I want to cool off until then.”
Nic opened the door for her and she stepped inside the cool foyer. Pippa walked toward the den and saw Amelie and Paul cuddling on the sofa and watching television. She hesitated to interrupt, but Paul glanced up at her.
“Hey, y’all come on in,” he said.
Amelie glanced up at her. “It’s Pippa!”
The delight in Amelie’s voice grabbed at her heart. “Yes, I’m here for just a while.”
“We should have another adventure,” Amelie said.
Nic gave a low groan from behind her.
Pippa smothered a smile. “We should plan something.”
“I want to do something now,” Amelie said. “Paul is feeling better tonight.”
Pippa remembered her earlier suggestion. “Would you like some gelato?”
Amelie’s face lit up. “Perfect.” She turned to Paul. “Do you think you can manage a ride in the car?”
“I can do anything for you,” Paul said. “And gelato sounds good, too,” he said with a rough chuckle.
Pippa’s heart twisted at the obvious love that flowed between the two o
f them. Reluctantly, she put on her costume again. The four of them got into Goldie’s SUV and drove to Chantaine’s best gelato shop. They ordered ten flavors. Amelie took a teeny bite of each of them. When they returned, both Amelie and Paul were worn out.
Pippa stripped off her disguise again. “I hate this disguise,” she muttered to Nic as they sat by the pool. “I think I hated it from the beginning,” she said. “Do you think your mother enjoyed the outing?”
He nodded. “My father did, too. They won’t admit it, but it helps if the trip is a short one.”
“How do you think your father is dealing with your mother’s illness?” she asked.
“Depends on the day. Sometimes he’s in denial. Other days he’s trying to grab the moment. He’s definitely not fit for making business decisions.”
“So you’re doing that for him?” she asked.
He nodded, his head still resting against the chair, his eyes closed.
“He’s lucky to have you stepping in for him,” she said.
“Someone has to,” Nic said.
She stared at Nic as he sat in the chair, in his jeans and T-shirt, his head tilted back. “But why you?” she asked.
He cracked open an eyelid. “Because no one else would.”
“Does that mean you would have preferred to let one of your brothers take on this challenge?”
“I would have preferred to have just about anyone take on the challenge, but I knew no one would. My father is an ex-con. Trust in his business is precarious at best. I have to both check behind him and authenticate his company to his customers.”
“If his business is so precarious, how are your mother and he surviving so well?”
Silence settled between them, making Pippa wonder about the mysteries of Nic’s family. Suddenly, it dawned on her. “You’re taking care of them, aren’t you?”
Nic sighed. “His business has huge potential, but with the economy and his reputation, it’s a struggle.”
Pippa thought about all Nic was trying to do for his parents and felt an overwhelming sense of admiration and something deeper, something she couldn’t quite name, for Nic. “You’re quite the amazing son.”
“You would do the same in my circumstance,” he said.
Pippa shook her head. “I wouldn’t know how to do everything you’re doing,” she protested. “Plus my relationship with my parents wasn’t half what yours is.”
Nic pulled his head from the back of the chair and met her gaze. “But you were there at the end.”
Pippa took a deep breath, remembering both of her parents’ deaths, and nodded. “Most of us were. Stefan and Valentina pulled us together. It wasn’t easy. I think they suffered because of it.”
Nic nodded. “It’s a tough time. If there are more people, there’s a bigger cushion.”
“But you have none,” she said.
He shrugged and cracked a grin. “I’m from tough stock. We’ve had to scrabble for everything. No royalty in my blood.”
“Hmm,” she said. “Bet there is. Just about everyone has a bit of royalty in their background.”
He chuckled. “You would know. Your Highness genealogist. Bet you can get me that information by next week.”
Pippa’s feeling of lightness sank. “Not next week now that Stefan is sending me on a trip,” she said glumly.
“Where?”
“The place isn’t the bad part. It’s my escort.”
Stefan’s eyes widened. “Another escort?”
“Yes, that’s what I said. I also told him I want to ditch my security and move into an apartment away from the palace.”
“Bet that went over well,” Nic said in a dry tone.
She laughed. “Not at all. He ignored me.”
Nic nodded. “You may have to go ahead and make your move before he has approved. And be prepared to be have your title taken away. Stefan is known for his priority on loyalty.”
Her heart twisted at his words. He’d described Stefan perfectly. “I hate the idea of disappointing him. He’s always counted on me not to cause any trouble.”
“Sometimes you have to cause trouble if you’re going to be who you’re meant to be,” Nic said.
His words vibrated through her. “When did you learn that?”
“When I was about eight years old,” he said.
She smiled. “Wise words.”
“Children are wiser more often than not. Where are you headed and when?”
“Capri, Italy, in three days. This is supposed to be a birthday gift, but I have to make two appearances and I have an escort who has a child as old as my youngest brother.”
“Stefan’s idea?” he said more than asked.
“Yes, they’re trying to make a match. Bridget was trying to give me a hot, young sports guy. Stefan is always about the man who can bring added value to Chantaine. Ultimately, he was thrilled that Bridget fell for a doctor who became our medical director.”
“But you have to live with the choices,” Nic said.
She nodded. “I do.”
“My mother will be crushed if we don’t get a chance to celebrate your birthday,” he said.
Pippa racked her brain for a time she could break away. “Friday afternoon.”
“Night,” he said.
She blinked at him. “Night?” she echoed. “How am I supposed to do that?” she asked.
“Creativity, ingenuity,” he said. “You’re a Devereaux,” he said in a slightly mocking voice. “You can do it.”
Pippa sighed. “I’ll try to figure it out,” she said. “I need to put on my disguise so I can return to the library.”
“Unless you want to stay here,” he said, his tone seductive.
Pippa wanted to stay far more than she should admit to anyone, including herself.
* * *
Nic told his mother about Pippa’s birthday and she immediately asked Goldie to make a cake and instructed him to get ice cream and noise-making toys. At seven o’clock on Friday, Pippa arrived in a rush, wearing her horrid costume, and he’d never seen a more welcome sight. Greeting her at the gate, he helped her disassemble her disguise.
“You have no idea what I had to do to make this happen,” she said, ripping off her wig and raking her fingers through her hair. She pulled a band from her wrist and pulled her hair up into a ponytail.
“We’ll make it worth it,” he said and led her toward the front door of the cottage. He knocked first.
She frowned at him. “Why are you knocking?” she asked.
“Don’t discourage me. I’m being polite.”
“Oh,” she said, realization crossing over her face.
“Come in,” a female voice called.
“Amelie is awake,” she said.
Nic opened the door and Pippa walked inside.
“Surprise!” the small group cried. Streamers filled the air.
Pippa gaped. “Oh, my goodness.” She clasped one of the streamers in her hand. She clearly couldn’t help grinning. “How cool is this. You shouldn’t have done it. I didn’t expect it.”
“We wanted to celebrate,” Amelie said. “You deserved a party. Bring the cake, Goldie.”
Seconds later, Goldie carried in a birthday cake with lit candles.
“Is that a fire hazard?” Nic joked.
Pippa frowned at him, then returned her gaze to the cake. “Oh, wow,” she whispered.
Nic felt a ripple of pleasure at her obvious delight. “Ready to blow out those candles, Princess? Make a wish,” he coached next to her ear.
“Just one?” she asked.
He chuckled. “As many wishes as you can fit in while you’re putting out the candles.”
“Okay,” she said and bit her lip. She inhaled deeply and blew o
ut the candles. Milliseconds after they were snuffed out, she looked at him and smiled. “I did it.”
“So you did,” he said.
“Time to cut the cake, eat the gelato, open gifts,” Amelie said.
“Gifts,” Pippa echoed. “There weren’t supposed to be any gifts.”
“Why not?” Amelie asked. “If there are birthday parties, there should be gifts.”
Goldie served the cake and gelato, along with champagne. Mr. Lafitte then presented Pippa with a wrapped box.
“It’s from me,” Paul said.
“Really?” Pippa said and unwrapped the gift which held a box of chocolates and a bottle of champagne, along with a gift certificate to one of her favorite local shops.
“You did too much,” she said, clearly surprised and delighted. “I didn’t expect this.”
“We Lafittes like the element of surprise. Don’t forget that,” he said with a broad wink.
“Thank you, Mr. Lafitte,” she said and brushed a kiss over his cheek.
“Call me Paul, sweetheart,” he said.
“Thank you, Paul,” she said and another gift was given to her. She opened it to find a long knitted scarf.
Her eyes filled with tears, Pippa looked at Amelie. “Oh, no, you didn’t.”
“I fear I did,” Amelie said with a laugh in her voice. “I realize it’s not the best handiwork, but hopefully my effort will warm your heart.”
“I will treasure it,” Pippa said through a tight throat. She tried to remember when she’d had a birthday that had made her feel more special. She couldn’t. For various reasons, her birthday had often been overlooked. There had been conflicting schedules. Her brothers and sisters had been busy. There were always more pressing obligations.
Tonight, however, she was the most important part of the Lafittes’ evening. “I don’t know what to say. You are—” Her voice broke and she swallowed hard over the lump of emotion lodging in her throat. “You have no idea how special this is for me.”
“Bet you had gourmet cakes and birthday balls,” Paul said.
“I had birthday cakes and birthday balls, but only a couple of times. My parents were rarely around for my birthdays. It was also sporadic for my brothers and sisters. Everyone was so busy,” she said and shrugged, fearing she’d revealed too much. She bit her lip and smiled. “But this is fabulous. You’ve made me feel so special.”
