Taming the Royal Beast (Royal House of Leone Book 6)

by Jennifer Lewis

  “No, but she had no motive for murder. In addition to losing her royal lover she lost her primary means of support. He was sending her over ten thousand a month.”

  “Expensive hobby.” Rigo sighed. “At least she’s had the decency to stay under the radar. The affair never made the press, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “Mama might not mind so much now that she’s remarried. She said she felt guilty betraying dad’s memory so she tried really hard not to fall in love with Amadou.”

  “I’m glad she found love again. She deserves it. Let’s keep this sordid affair between ourselves. I couldn’t bear for her to know. When Francine told me she was going to seduce our father as revenge for my rejecting her, I don’t think even she knew that her revenge sex would turn into a multiyear affair.”

  “Seriously. Couldn’t you have slept with her to save our parents’ marriage?” Darias reached out and punched him on the arm.

  “In retrospect that might have been a good idea,” he said grimly. “But I find romance always leads to deeper and uglier entanglements than you could ever suspect. As a lawyer I’ve seen too much of the dark side of passion. I prefer to avoid it altogether.”

  “How’s that working out for you?”

  “I’m too busy working to waste my time flirting.”

  “I don’t think anyone could ever accuse you of flirting. I think everyone has given up on trying to fix you up. Did you know Beatriz asked your assistant to be your date for the wedding?”

  “What?” Rigo reacted so violently that his horse startled and bolted forward a few steps. “What are you talking about?”

  “We all have to be paired off for some random reason to do with seating placements or walking in the parade or something. She knew you’d never accept an actual date so you’ll have a paid companion.”

  Bella as his date? His hands tightened on the reins as his blood churned. “That’s utterly inappropriate.”

  “I suppose it would be if you intended to seduce her, but I don’t imagine there’s much danger of that where you’re concerned.”

  “Too right!” His pulse pounded in his forehead. They’d be obliged to sit next to each other at one ceremony after another—all day and well into the night.

  “She’s very beautiful. I wouldn’t blame you if you were tempted.”

  “Perish the thought!” He tried to blot the vision of her laughing hazel eyes and bouncing dark ringlets from his mind. “She carries a ferret in her bag.”

  “She does seem to be rather a colorful eccentric, but I like that in a woman.” Darias stretched. “I suppose that’s because I’m an artist. You’d probably prefer someone with a bun and a navy suit.”

  “Indeed.” Rigo was fuming. “I’ll have words with Beatriz.”

  “I’m sure you know how well that will go over. Have you ever tried to change Beatriz’s mind about anything?”

  “I’ll simply remind her that there must be a place setting for the ferret.”

  Darias let out a huge guffaw. “I’m sure she’ll find that thoughtful of you. Beatriz is an animal lover, after all.”

  “Not like Ms. Beauvoir. She bores me with stories about cats and dogs and a macaw and God only knows what else. She’s quite mad. And not the most useful assistant either. She’s very slow.” Everything about her rattled and infuriated him. What did he care about her new cat not getting along with her old cat?

  “She’s sweet. We all love her. Did you know she’s planning to open an animal sanctuary? We have lunch together while you’re hunched over whatever you’re hunched over.”

  “I’m still consulting on my cases in New York as well as trying to unravel this mess here.”

  “Any progress on the unraveling?”

  He drew in a breath. Things were coming together almost too neatly. He didn’t like that. It usually meant he was missing something. “Maurice Beauvoir, Bella’s father, has been hiding income for decades. His companies have been running at break even or a slight loss for decades yet he’s living like a king. The money is coming from somewhere else.”

  “Where?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. And I’ve noticed the same pattern from the other two Cross of Blood members I’ve looked into.”

  “We know about the Swiss bank account,” said Darias. Their horses strolled at a relaxed walk. “Do you think they’re withdrawing money from there and not paying taxes on it?”

  “It’s a possibility.”

  “Wouldn’t it have run out by now?”

  “Not if it’s invested well.” Rigo grimaced.

  “Do you think Dad knew?” Darias’s brow furrowed

  “I’m wondering if maybe he found out and that’s why he was killed.”

  Darias blew out a long breath. “But if he was killed by Cross of Blood members, why would they implicate themselves with the ritual setup?”

  Rigo shook his head. “If I knew that I’d have them all behind bars right now. But I did find some information on a murder—which looks like a contract killing—at one of Beauvoir’s businesses in South Africa. He was questioned quite heavily during that situation two years ago. The chief financial officer was killed shortly after he started an audit of the company’s finances. Beauvoir was interviewed, along with three other directors who’d had a disagreement with the CFO, but ultimately no one could prove anything. If he was involved in that murder, maybe this time Beauvoir decided to produce a more distracting scenario so it didn’t look like a simple murder for hire. And with a group of them implicated—all powerful and lawyered to the hilt—he may have suspected we’d never get enough evidence to prove anything.”

  “And so far, he’s been right. Maybe you can squeeze Bella for information about her father.”

  “I’ve been trying. Either she’s a good actress or she doesn’t know anything.”

  “You’re not doing it right. You need to seduce her.” Darias shot him a grin and urged his horse into a trot.

  “That would be illegal and highly inappropriate.” Rigo called after him.

  Darias looked back. “Haven’t you ever heard of kiss and tell?”

  CHAPTER TEN

  On the day of the wedding, everyone at the palace rushed around in a frenzy.

  Bella dressed in one of the upstairs palace bedrooms, donning a gorgeous blue patterned dress that Beatriz had told her to wear. It wasn’t really her style—more crisp and sleek than her usual romantic ruffles—but she had to admit it was striking. The official wedding hair team had pinned her exuberant curls into an elegant updo and attached a small navy hat—more of a fascinator, really—to her hair with pearl-tipped pins.

  Right now she looked a lot more polished and confident than she felt.

  She’d wanted to impress Rigo with her amazing admin skills, but she couldn’t find Francine Petrie and after toiling through the files—too slowly for Rigo’s taste, she could tell, and she hadn’t found anything to justify all the time involved. She kept hoping she could discover some big scoop to wow him with, but it all just looked like deadly boring financial reports to her.

  She had a role in Sandro and Serena’s wedding as Rigo’s…companion, but after that?

  In the last week Rigo had been busy and preoccupied, barely leaving his office while she was at the palace. If she didn’t know he could care less about her and her movements she’d have said he was avoiding her.

  If she got fired—which seemed imminent—she’d be out of a job and out of the money to fund her sanctuary.

  Desperate times called for desperate measures. At some point today—hopefully her gut would tell her when—she was going to throw caution to the wind and make her move.

  A friend of Sandro’s called Louis had arrived from New Orleans to command the catering, and the smell of spicy seafood already filled the gilded hallways and overwhelmed the aroma of the giant floral bouquets that had sprouted everywhere.

  Serena was incredibly nervous and wouldn’t let Sandro see her in her dress due
to the superstition about the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding. The dress was even more special because her aunt had designed it using a vast expanse of white taffeta exploding from a gorgeously fitted bodice with a scoop neckline and cap sleeves. Her aunt was fussing over the long train while a makeup artist put the finishing touches on Serena’s already gorgeous face.

  “You look like a fairy-tale princess,” she said to Serena. “Which is appropriate, under the circumstances.”

  Serena shot her a grin. “Thanks. I feel like one, though part of me can’t wait until I’m just married.”

  Downstairs guests milled about, many of them staying at the palace and getting ready to head to the church for the wedding. Beatriz introduced Bella to her glamorous mother, Lina, and Lina’s new husband, Amadou Khadem, and she gushed over how much she enjoyed his concert that she’d seen in Berlin two years earlier.

  Emma looked radiant in a blue-and-white dress designed by Beatriz, and Sandro and Darias—dapper in elegant formal wear—moved about greeting guests and putting everyone at ease.

  Everyone put in a big effort to make Sandro and Serena’s day a huge success—except Rigo, who was nowhere to be seen.

  As more and more people headed out of the palace for the short walk to the cathedral, Bella started to feel at a loose end. Should she head there without Rigo and save him a seat? They’d had literally no discussion whatsoever about today’s events, so she wasn’t even sure he knew she was supposed to be his plus-one.

  Anxious, she hurried up to Beatriz. “Do you know where Rigo is?”

  “Knowing him he’s probably in his office with his head in some papers.”

  “I checked there already.”

  “Let’s see…where would he hide?” Beatriz pressed a finger to her lips. “Try his bedroom. It’s up the stairs and three doors down on the left.”

  “Okay.” The idea of knocking on Rigo’s bedroom door—or even of knowing where his bedroom was—made her feel awkward. What if he was in the middle of something…personal?

  She climbed the stairs slowly, turning her head back to scan the crowd below in the hope that he’d miraculously appear. The hallway upstairs was empty, with everyone now either downstairs or headed for the village. Serena was riding there with her parents in a beautiful coach pulled by four white horses.

  Bella approached the door with trepidation. Why did her dad have to challenge her to kiss Rigo? She felt awkward enough around him already. Besides, she’d already kissed him once for her own less-than-honorable purposes. It was a ridiculous idea, and she wasn’t going to do it. She must have been out of her mind earlier to think she’d even attempt it.

  She knocked gently on the door. “Rigo?”

  “Who is it?”

  “Uh, it’s uh…” her name temporarily escaped her. Was he naked in there? Or maybe half dressed? “Everyone’s heading to the church. Beatriz told me to get—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, the door swung open to reveal a disturbing vision of Rigo dressed in the same elegant gray suit and cravat as his brothers—more handsome and irresistible than ever.

  Maybe I should kiss him. The idea crowded her mind.

  She chased it away. She had to kiss him in public or it didn’t count.

  I’m definitely not going to kiss him. She realized she was just standing there, blocking the doorway and staring at him. “Uh, did anyone tell you that you and I…that we’re…that…”

  “They did,” he said grimly. “I hope you’re not too offended. I had nothing to do with it.”

  Of course he didn’t. She realized as he said it that she’d cherished a foolish fantasy that he might have requested her at his side.

  She pulled herself together. “I think it’s my job to make sure you show up.”

  “Where’s your ferret?” He looked for her bag.

  “My neighbor Marie is looking after Squiggles today. Do you miss him?” She headed out into the hallway, hoping he’d follow without further coaxing.

  “Unquestionably. What a shame that he’ll miss the ceremony.”

  “I don’t think he’d like all the crowds. He’s a very retiring ferret.”

  Rigo walked a few steps behind her, and she could swear she could feel his gaze zeroed in on her backside. Which probably didn’t look half bad in this very fitted dress. She made a concerted effort not to sway her hips.

  Only a few stragglers now remained downstairs, possibly security personnel cunningly disguised as wedding guests. “I think we’re supposed to walk,” she offered, as they headed outside.

  “Were you hoping for a carriage ride?”

  “Who wouldn’t?”

  “You look very pretty in that dress.”

  His unexpected words hit her like a blow. “Oh. Thanks!” She scrambled to act normal, which meant at least slightly snarky. “Does that mean I usually don’t?”

  “You fit right in here in Altaleone with all your romantic ruffles and knee-high lace-up boots. I feel like I’m back in another century.”

  “You hate that, don’t you?” She was genuinely curious how he felt about Altaleone.

  “I don’t know.” He frowned, looking down the drive as they walked. “I thought I did, but there’s something about the place that’s so peaceful. Being here puts things in perspective. In New York every minute seems vitally important. Here, where families have lived in the same spot for hundreds of years and cows have pedigrees as long as humans, our day-to-day panics and worries don’t seem as pressing.

  “You sound like you’re ready to move back here and become a shepherd or something.”

  “That would be a sad waste of my law degree.”

  “Why did you study the law?” Again, she was genuinely curious.

  He shoved a hand through his hair as if he needed a moment to think. They were almost down the driveway, passing through the tall gates that led out toward the village. “Growing up here where everything is set in stone and things are the way they are because they’ve always been like that, I found myself questioning everything. Once I got out into the outside world I could see there were many injustices that needed to be addressed, and I knew the law would be the best way to do that.”

  “So you’re kind of a superhero in a suit.”

  “Only when I win.”

  “I heard you always win.”

  A tiny smile tugged at his mouth. “As soon as I win one case there’s another waiting. Do you know how many refugees there are in the world right now looking for a place to call home?”

  “More than at any time since the end of World War II.”

  “Yes. And while they’re still waiting, and people abducted by human traffickers are still hidden away, and innocent people are locked up in prisons, I’m impatient to work.”

  “When you put it that way this enormous and carefully planned wedding must seem like a huge waste of time.” They left the palace grounds and entered the village, where they could see long lines of people filing into the ancient cathedral.

  “That would be my New Yorker perspective, but my Altaleone brain reminds me that it’s a beautiful occasion in the lives of two special people and it makes good sense to help them celebrate it.”

  “So Altaleone makes you want to stop and smell the roses.”

  “Or the edelweiss. The ugly truth is that problems will always be piling up in my inbox, and I’m betraying my family and friends if I ignore them to focus on the needs—even the urgent needs—of strangers all the time.”

  “Well, I think you’re a hero.” His words had humbled her. “I wish I was a better assistant. I know I’m not that good.”

  He didn’t respond immediately, which made her realize she’d been fishing for compliments. Idiot! She should have kept her incompetence to herself.

  She tried to join the end of the line, but a well-dressed usher approached them and gestured for them to come past the crowd and up to the front of the church.

  “It seems that animals are more your passion than fi
ling.”

  “Is anyone passionate about filing?”

  “Oh, yes. My admin Sonia in Manhattan lives for it. She designs the labels for the files and has them custom-made. That’s dedication.”

  The buzz of conversation about them made it easy to talk. “I admire and envy her.”

  “No, you don’t.” The usher pointed them to two seats in the front row, next to Beatriz and her fiancé, Lorenzo. “And you shouldn’t. What you’re doing is every bit as important to those animals as what I’m trying to do for needy humans.”

  “Thanks.” That was genuinely sweet of him, even if he was just saying it to be nice. She picked up the program and sat down, taking a quick—and alarming—glance back at the hundreds of people seated behind them in the long nave of the cathedral.

  Now would be a good time.

  She opened the program quickly, cursing her mind for even straying along such a stupid path. Imagine kissing Rigo in front of all these people sitting waiting for his sister’s wedding?

  What would Beatriz say? A quick glance at Beatriz caught her kissing Lorenzo softly on the lips.

  Great!

  They were sitting on a bench, all crammed together like sardines so her hip pressed against Rigo’s on one side. Awkward!

  At least her father wasn’t here. He hadn’t been invited to the wedding itself, only the reception, which he was probably stewing about since he took his social standing very seriously.

  She glanced around, recognizing a few faces in the crowd. Most were strangers. These people must be wondering who I am. Maybe some thought she was Rigo’s girlfriend. Maybe they even thought she was another American fresh off the plane from New York like Emma and Serena.

  She rather liked the idea of being a lady of mystery, even if she was really just a lady-in-waiting of mystery.

  At last everyone was seated, Sandro appeared looking very dashing and excited in his ceremonial uniform, and processional music began. Serena’s proud dad led her up the aisle. Two of Serena’s young cousins with floral crowns on their heads carried her train very gravely and carefully. Her little nephew carried the rings on a pillow and a tiny niece was a very adorable and smiley flower girl.