Fit for a Queen (Royal Scandals: San Rimini Book 1)

by Nicole Burnham

  Grooves at the edges of the older woman’s eyes deepened as she considered her position for one breath, then two. Her lower lip twitched. “I see.”

  She stepped back, then opened her tote wide. Daniela could plainly see the notebook, its pages still protruding, a sleek leather wallet, an eyeglass case, and several tubes of expensive lipstick. A phone and a pen nestled in an open inside pocket.

  “There’s nothing else,” Helena said. She turned to aim the bag toward Royce, though he likely couldn’t see inside from that distance. “I was not stealing anything. I was simply returning items that once belonged to my sister.”

  “But you did steal them. Once upon a time. They were not borrowed.”

  Royce’s tone gave Helena no space to argue. She was caught, pure and simple.

  As she returned the bag to her shoulder, Daniela could almost see the calculation going on in Helena’s head. She exhaled, defeat sagging her shoulders. “No, they were not borrowed, but Aletta would have understood. I would ask you not to tell Eduardo, or my niece and nephews. Everything has been returned. To tell them would only hurt them.”

  “And you.”

  “I’ve already been hurt.” She blinked, and Daniela realized the woman was fighting to hold back tears of sadness, rather than anger at being discovered. “You know that I was married. My former husband came from a wealthy family. They made millions in the automotive industry when it first started in Italy. When his grandfather passed away, my ex, Davide, inherited a great deal of money. It was tied up in investments, which he was to manage and share with his siblings. However, during our marriage, he invested in a sports venture fund. Long story short, the fund collapsed, and he lost nearly all of the inheritance. He wanted to replenish the fund before his siblings learned of it.”

  “He used the money without their permission?”

  “Legally, the inheritance was set up in a manner that gave him the ability to invest it all. But morally? That wasn’t what his grandfather intended. When Davide told me what he’d done, we argued about it.”

  The tremble returned to her lower lip, but she set her mouth for a moment, then continued, “My marriage was already strained, and that was the final straw. Aletta knew things were bad, so when I called to ask her recommendation for a divorce attorney who could act with discretion, she found a name for me. She also told me I could return to my palace flat and to my position as her assistant.”

  “That must have been a huge blow to your heart and your pride.”

  Helena started to say something, then realized that Daniela meant it as sympathy, not an attack. She inclined her head. “It was. It is difficult now talking about it, but I want you to understand what happened and why I don’t want you to tell Eduardo.”

  Royce crossed his arms and raised a brow. Daniela wondered if he was truly that skeptical, or merely playing bad cop to her good cop.

  Helena wasn’t cowed. Her voice remained calm as she spoke. “My ex knew his family would cut him out when the loss was discovered. He was desperate, he was smart, and he was calculating. He blackmailed me. If I didn’t find enough money to salvage his investment, he said he would make certain information about me public. In doing so, he would drag Aletta and Eduardo through the mud.”

  “So you stole from your sister?”

  Helena met Royce’s hard stare. “I did. You have no idea how much I hated doing it. If I’d thought there was another way, I’d have done it.”

  “Wait,” Daniela said, shaking her head. “If you were stealing her belongings to make money for your ex, how are you able to return everything now? Or is it everything?”

  “It’s everything.” Helena said, gathering herself. “My husband was saved by another inheritance. His father passed away before I could sell any of Aletta’s belongings. That inheritance, thankfully, was better structured, so my husband only had access to his own, individual share. His siblings were asking questions, so he used a portion of his new inheritance to replenish the original fund. He wasn’t as desperate for my money, and I threatened to expose him to his siblings if he continued to harass me, so he let it go. But by then, it was too late for me to tell my sister what had happened. She was dying. And then Eduardo locked her rooms.”

  “This was well planned,” Royce countered. “You created counterfeit pieces to replace at least some of what you stole.”

  Surprise flashed in Helena’s eyes. “Three handbags and two pairs of shoes. You knew?”

  “One handbag for sure,” Daniela said.

  “Then you’re very good at your job. I tried to take things Aletta wouldn’t miss. But a few…well, those I tried to cover.” Helena’s tone was one of resignation. “What I did was wrong, and I cannot express how sorry I am for my actions. But everything I took has been replaced. All of it, even a ring and two necklaces I found inside one of the handbags. I would have done it sooner if I’d had access to the room. Please, I beg of you, don’t tell Eduardo. He would never understand.”

  “You don’t think so?” Daniela asked.

  “No.” The single word sounded like it skidded across sandpaper as she said it.

  “I’m sure—”

  “No. You don’t know Eduardo.” The roughness in Helena’s voice leached into her face. “For years I’ve been blasted in the press for standing by my friends and acquaintances when they’re accused of behavior that is anything less than exemplary. In the end, it has always turned out to be the right thing to do. In none of those circumstances were the people guilty of the thing of which they were accused. On the other hand, no one is perfect. I’d have stood by them regardless. First, because they are my friends. And second, because I know what it’s like to live life in the limelight. The press loves a scandal and occasionally manufactures them. There are also many who will take advantage of another’s fame. I have always assumed that, if my friends were guilty of anything, it was of being taken advantage of in the way my husband took advantage of me. Eduardo never understood. Always said I should be more careful, not place his family’s name in question. He has no idea how careful I was not to besmirch Aletta’s name. I took what I did in an attempt to protect her.”

  Helena had worked up a head of steam that stood in stark contrast to her posh appearance. Daniela forced herself not to take a step back when Helena moved closer to make her point.

  “If I weren’t a good aunt to my niece and nephews, Eduardo would have disregarded everything I ever did for Aletta. He sees me as an inconvenience at best. Always second fiddle to Aletta, my younger sister. You know, I had him first.”

  “I thought you and King Eduardo were friends. School friends…” Daniela trailed off, regretting that she’d said anything.

  Helena’s eyes narrowed as if she’d read Daniela’s mind. “We attended school events together. We were young. It wasn’t formal. But even at that age, to accompany the future king to such events was prestigious. And the nature of the events doesn’t convey what was felt. Aletta knew I had feelings for Eduardo. She swooped in to take—”

  “Aletta had my heart, Helena. Always.”

  The voice, calm and regal, came from behind Royce, near the entrance to the closet. Everyone turned to see Eduardo silhouetted inside the doorway. He moved forward, his gray wool suit and light blue shirt and tie making him appear every inch the confident, powerful monarch. A flag pin at his lapel displayed the colors of San Rimini.

  Royce stepped aside as King Eduardo looked at Helena with a mixture of scorn and pity. “You and I have always been friends, Helena, but nothing more. Aletta owned my heart the moment we met, and I was entranced until the day she died.”

  “Eduardo—”

  “I gave you a home. Aletta gave you her trust. You say you wanted to protect her and that I would not understand.” His eyes sharpened, and Daniela knew a split second before he spoke that Eduardo was in the right, and Helena was not. “Then tell me, so I do understand. What information was Davide using to blackmail you? What was it you did that was so terrible you fe
ared it being revealed?”

  Helena blanched as she realized Eduardo had heard more than she’d thought. “It is in the past. It doesn’t matter.”

  “Tell me.”

  The two words carried a command so compelling, Helena didn’t dare refuse. “I had a weekend fling as my marriage to Davide was falling apart. He was going to reveal the proof.”

  Eduardo processed this. “That would have hurt you more than Aletta.”

  “It was at Villa Alfieri.”

  The king paused, his chin dipping a fraction as he regarded her. “Was Aletta present? Did she know?”

  “She had no idea. However, she’d hosted an event at the villa the day before, and departed only a few hours before I arrived. It would have looked like she knew about my arrival and perhaps even condoned what I was doing. At the very least, it would have to be explained.”

  “Your affair—your selfish choice—would have harmed Aletta had it come to light. And you wonder why I constantly warned you to think before acting.”

  Daniela swallowed hard, unable to believe she was witnessing such a personal display from the circumspect king.

  As if he’d come to the same realization, Eduardo’s demeanor turned professional. “I came to discuss the preface to the auction book with Daniela. I assume you came here on business as well, Helena?”

  Helena stood to her full height. “I was assisting with a few of the scarves. Daniela had questions about when the queen acquired and wore them.”

  “Have you finished?”

  “Yes.”

  “In that case, you owe her an apology. You put her in a difficult position. You and I will speak later. We will resolve this between the two of us, and you will not reveal what happened today. I will ensure that Daniela and Roy keep this confidential, as well. Are we clear?”

  Helena gave a curt nod.

  “Say it, Helena.”

  “We are clear.” Tears filled her eyes but did not spill. She did as the king requested, offering apologies, then she dipped her chin to Eduardo and strode out of the closet.

  Silence fell. Royce said, “I’ll secure the bathroom and the great room,” then he disappeared from the direction he’d come. The king gestured for Daniela to follow him to the chairs near his wife’s mirror, urging her to sit. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and steepled his fingers before releasing a long breath.

  “King Eduardo? Are you all right?”

  “I had hoped you were wrong, despite knowing you were not.” He lifted his eyes to hers and offered a self-effacing smile, one that reminded her of Cary Grant or George Clooney at the height of their fame. “It’s been a stressful day.”

  She sensed he didn’t expect a response, so she stayed silent. After a moment, he said, “I’ve been exhausted lately and assumed it was due to my schedule, but apparently not. I have the same heart issues my father had and will require surgery in the coming months.” He straightened, keeping his gaze on her, but something in his smile faltered. “I haven’t told my children yet. My cardiologist has instructed me to decrease my stress levels, and I was afraid he’d tell me to postpone the auction. Or to stop traveling.”

  She couldn’t help but grin in response. “He might.”

  “Having Helena out of the palace will decrease my stress more than anything else. Now that everything is out in the open, I can deal with her for once and for all.” He waved a hand in the direction of the great room. “And when my surgery is done, I’ll have a beautiful new room in which to recuperate.”

  “Royce has done a fantastic job.”

  “On all counts,” the king replied. “I owe you both my thanks. I must thank Queen Fabrizia, too. I suspect she knew exactly what she was doing when she hired you.”

  Voices came to them from the direction of the great room. They were indistinct, but Daniela thought she recognized one.

  “Ah, Olena and Tetyana Roscha. If Royce hasn’t driven Helena from my private residence, they surely have.” He rose from the chair, then offered Daniela a hand. Eduardo was a modern monarch, but he believed in the charms of the past.

  They entered the great room to see Olena and Tetyana poking around Royce’s paint trays. Both women straightened, then quickly lowered their heads in acknowledgment as the king entered.

  “Mr. Dekker is doing a fine job, isn’t he?” Eduardo said, failing to keep the amusement from his tone as he addressed his shocked housekeepers, who responded with nods of agreement. The king wished them a good day, then took his leave. There were voices in the vestibule, then the door clicked shut. Samuel Barden promptly entered, his face alight at having run into King Eduardo in what he’d expected to be a quiet area. Miroslav was close on his heels.

  “He has tarts,” the Serb announced.

  “Enough for everyone, even for him,” the chef said, glancing at Miroslav as he placed the tray on one of the tarp-covered tables. Then he noticed the Roscha sisters and exhaled. “Enough for you, too.”

  “We’ll celebrate the completion of the room,” Daniela said, smiling at Royce. “The primer goes on today and the paint tomorrow. Right?”

  “After the paint, all will be back to normal?” Tetyana asked, frowning at Royce.

  “All will be back to normal.”

  The sisters locked gazes, shrugged, then took two tarts each.

  Chapter 29

  Daniela’s final days in San Rimini passed in a whirlwind. On Wednesday, two days after confronting Helena about the thefts, King Eduardo called a press conference. The reporters were stunned to see all four of the king’s children slip into the room, together with Federico’s wife, Lucrezia, and take seats in the back row. Daniela watched from the anteroom as, seconds after his children entered, King Eduardo strode to the podium with Helena Masciaretti by his side. He greeted those present, then announced that an auction of select pieces of Queen Aletta’s clothing, jewels, and accessories would be held in two months at Villa Alfieri, a property that had been in the late queen’s family for nearly two hundred years. Following the auction, he said, there would be a traveling exhibition of several of Queen Aletta’s most famous outfits, including her wedding gown. Dates and locations for the exhibition would be announced in the coming weeks.

  He turned to Helena, who took the microphone to speak about the deep sense of satisfaction Queen Aletta had gained from working with her favorite charities and noted several specific organizations that would benefit from the auction and the exhibition. She then pointed out a surprise guest, her former husband, Davide Carosso, who had been seated at one side of the front row. The dark-haired Italian rose and approached Helena to murmurs of shock. He kissed both her cheeks, then took the microphone with a practiced hand and surveyed the audience with a look of mock astonishment.

  “Many of you appear surprised to see me here.”

  His pause was skillful, his boyish grin eliciting a rumbling laugh from the assembled media.

  “Over the years, there were reports that the end of my marriage to Helena was contentious, but I hope that today, those stories shall be corrected, yes? While it is true that our marriage did not last, our regard for one another has endured, as has my regard for her family. To that point, the Carosso family’s foundation has decided to fully sponsor the entire first year of the Queen Aletta exhibition. It is the very least we can do to honor a woman who has given so much to all of us. I was honored to be her brother-in-law.”

  He made a few more gushing comments about Helena, Aletta, and the royal family, then relinquished the microphone to King Eduardo.

  “I do have one final announcement,” the king said. “As you know, my wife loved Villa Alfieri. She bequeathed the property to our children to do with as they saw fit. They have unanimously agreed that, given the sentimental value the property has for the Masciaretti family, their Aunt Helena should have the right to use it for as long as she wishes. She has decided to establish an independent residence there following the auction.” He smiled in Helena’s direction and added, “It has been b
oth my fortune and that of my children to have her at La Rocca for so many years.”

  There were whispers amongst those gathered, wondering if there might be more to the story, but Helena played her part, returning Eduardo’s smile as he made the announcement, then sending a look of gratitude in the direction of her niece and nephews.

  Daniela suspected it was heartfelt. She loved her sister’s children. However, once the king, Helena, and her ex-husband moved to the anteroom and the door closed behind them, the veneer of friendliness amongst the trio fell away.

  The king’s expression flattened as he assessed Helena’s former spouse. “My assistant shall contact your legal team regarding the expenses. They shall all be paid in advance, in full.”

  The king’s tone left no doubt that the consequences of a missed payment would be swift and severe.

  The Italian’s cheek twitched, but he said nothing. Instead, he waited for King Eduardo to depart before turning a furious look on his ex-wife.

  She merely turned her head and raised a hand, palm out, as if shielding her eyes from a painful glare. “Don’t waste your energy. Your security is outside. You will not miss him. He’s a gigantic Serbian man. He carries a gun and would be happy to escort you to your car.”

  Davide Carosso smoothed the front of his suit jacket, puffed his chest, then strode out the door. Before it closed behind him, Chiara Ascardi ducked in and greeted Helena. “King Eduardo asked that I drive you to Villa Alfieri this afternoon. He indicated that your belongings have already been moved, but if you’d like to stop at your flat, or to use the facilities, we can—”

  “I’m ready now.” Helena’s smile was all sugar. “Thank you, Chiara. It’s kind of you to personally drive me to my new home.”

  Daniela exhaled, then returned to the press room to see if any of the reporters had follow up questions. Thankfully, they were easy to answer, and the remainder of the afternoon remained drama free.