“No, but I love your sister. I want to make her my wife. I want to be her husband. The press is already starting to talk about us so I don’t want to embarrass her by having our relationship turn into a scandal.”
“I have no doubt that it already has.” Darias stared at him. “What if I said no?”
Lorenzo blinked. He’d anticipated this moment.
“Then I’d attempt to change your mind. As my wedding gift I would give her my family’s land on the other side of the lake, along with a contract declaring that all her inherited property remains hers, regardless of Altaleone’s patriarchal laws.”
Darias’s eyes widened. “That property is worth millions.”
“Beatriz is worth more to me.” A gulp caught in his throat.
“It’s an expensive price to pay even for entry into a royal family. In doing this you’d become one of us. Your freedom and independence would be curtailed by duty, and the press will follow your every move.”
“I love Beatriz. I love her passion for Altaleone and for all of you.”
“And you intend to subordinate your business interests to those of the crown?”
“Absolutely.”
“What if I challenge you to a duel?” Darias lifted a brow.
“I’d refuse. I have no desire to kill either a king or my beloved’s brother.”
“Spoken like a gentleman.” A gleam of amusement shone in Darias’s eyes. “If you’re crazy enough to want to marry my sister, then you have my blessing.”
Lorenzo felt a grin spread across his face. “Have you two always had your differences?”
“Since day one.” He grinned back. “She’s a hard nut to crack and keeps me on my toes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now go ask her. Knowing Beatriz she’ll probably say no.”
Gibran came back into the living room, his bold features like a mask. “Nina has confessed to sending the texts. She sent the first one when she discovered that Beatriz had sneaked off without telling her, wanting to make her take the situation seriously. It worked so well that she sent more to create situations where she felt necessary and important. Only Darias knows that we’ve been monitoring all texts and calls by palace residents and workers through the local cell company, and she was able to read Beatriz’s outgoing texts on the network, in spite of a strict prohibition on reading the family members’ private correspondence. Her work for the Norwegian military was in communications so she was able to send texts to Beatriz over the internet using a private browser and a different number every time, and there was no way for us to trace the origin on the cell network. I must apologize for not having uncovered this situation sooner.”
“So Beatriz has never been in any real danger?” Lina looked relieved.
“No. And I’m deeply sorry for the distress this has caused all of you.”
“I really didn’t get that distressed,” said Beatriz. “Being royal I’m used to hearing nonsense. What did upset me is how quick everyone was to blame Lorenzo.”
Lorenzo appeared in the doorway. “Beatriz, can I speak to you alone?”
“What’s with all the secret rendezvous?” asked Sandro. “Serena and I are pregnant. We don’t need all this excitement.”
“I’ll come.” Beatriz rose, glad to get out of this room. She followed Lorenzo, who led her down a hallway. “Let’s go in here.” She led him into a small piano practice room with gold-and-white walls. She knew it was soundproof so no one could overhear them. Finally she could tell him her big news about the instituto and no one would hear the big argument that might follow.
She closed the door and locked it, heart pounding. What if he mocked her plans and told her that taking classes was a waste of time?
I’ll break up with him.
Could she? Her existence had changed so completely since Lorenzo came into it that she couldn’t imagine life without him. When she wasn’t with him she craved the security of his arms around her. Maybe without his support and encouragement she’d retreat back into her shell like a snail?
She screwed up her courage and turned to face him. “I got an offer yesterday.”
He didn’t seem to hear her. He had an intense expression on his handsome face and steel shone in his eyes. “Beatriz, will you marry me?”
She froze. Replayed his words in her head to see if she had heard them wrong. No. she heard them right. He really had just asked her to marry him.
Yes. Her body and mind responded with a single chord. She’d barely dared to dream that he’d ever ask her.
But what if he didn’t respect her wishes? If he expected her to listen to his advice and follow his guidance as she’d done all along so far.
This time she’d found something that she wanted to do—study the nuts and bolts of fashion—and pursued it on her own. If he didn’t want that for her, she’d be giving up a part of herself that she’d only just discovered.
“Yesterday I was offered a place at the Instituto Marangoni.”
Lorenzo’s eyes widened. He hesitated for a second. “Congratulations.”
“I told them I would accept. I know you don’t think it makes sense for me to spend the time to go to fashion school, but I want to have the skills and techniques that other designers use to create. I don’t want to be the princess who bought her way to the top with the hard-earned skills of others. I want to earn any respect and praise that I get, and be able to shrug off criticism because I know I did things according to my own standards and principles.”
“I admire you for that.”
“You think I’m crazy.”
“I think you’re wonderful except that you’re torturing me by not answering my question.”
He hadn’t really answered hers either. Not that she’d even asked a question. Her decision to go wasn’t open to discussion. “Are you okay with me going?”
“Okay with it? I think it’s fantastic.” He took her hands in his and squeezed them gently. “I promise to support you in everything you desire.” He kissed her softly on the lips and her heart melted.
Then he pulled back just enough that he could look her in the eyes. “Woman, are you trying to kill me? I love you so much it hurts. Will you marry me or are you going to break my heart?” The passion in his voice stirred emotion long-buried deep inside her.
“I will marry you.” The words drifted out on a whisper. “I love you, too, and I will marry you, Lorenzo.”
“Thank God.” He swept her into his arms and kissed her so long and hard that they were both breathless when they parted. “I thought Darias would be a hard mountain to climb, but he said yes quicker than you did.”
She jerked back, shocked. “You asked my brother?”
“I’m an old-fashioned guy. I’d have asked your father if he were alive.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny sack. “I had this ring made for you.” He tipped a ring out into his hand, a big sparkling diamond ringed by tiny black stones. He held it between his thumb and finger. “Do you like it?”
Her full heart ached with joy. “It’s stunning.” She let him slide it on her finger, where it fit perfectly. “I love the black stones.”
“They’re black diamonds. I had a local jeweler source them just for you.”
“You designed this?”
“I’m not naturally creative, but I had a vision for your ring.”
Tears blurred her eyes. “It’s perfect.” She flung her arms around his neck.
“You’re perfect.” His words were hot on her neck.
“I’m not even close. And you’re pretty pushy and arrogant yourself, but I think we’re perfect for each other.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Their lips met and they kissed each other into passionate and joyous oblivion.
EPILOGUE
“It’s probably a good idea to get married before you’re pregnant and look like a whale.” Serena indicated her midsection. The family sat around the large dining table in the lake house, drinking coffee after a leisurely Sunday lunch.
“We’re not planning to have a baby right away,” said Beatriz.
“We weren’t either,” said Serena with a wink. “But these little miracles have a way of surprising you.”
“We’re planning to wait until Beatriz has finished her fashion degree.” Lorenzo poured fresh cream in Beatriz’s coffee. “She’s already very busy getting her collection ready for stores.” He beamed proudly.
“I’ve set up a workshop in Milan to make the really expensive couture garments, and Lorenzo’s helped me choose factories in four different countries to accommodate the growing list of orders. I hope it will be a well-oiled machine by the time I start classes in the fall. It feels weird handing the work over to other people.”
“It’s hard to get used to delegating,” said Serena, taking a slice of apricot torte. “I was so used to being a one-woman band that it went against all my instincts to let someone else handle the back-end. I used to spend hours every day just trying to optimize my advertising revenue. Now that I’ve hired the tedious business part out, all I have to do is record my videos and dictate my blogs, which gives me more time to travel and just enjoy being with Sandro.”
“When I first married Darias I thought I’d be sitting around eating bonbons all day, bored out of my mind,” said Emma. “But just being royal is a surprising amount of work.”
“It’s refreshing to hear someone say that.” Beatriz laughed. “I think Lorenzo thought I was a slacker when we first met.”
“Not true,” he protested. “I just realized almost immediately that you had other gifts that you weren’t using.”
“Speaking of which, I want to design my own wedding dress. And the bridesmaid dresses. I want something sleek and elegant, maybe white satin. Does that sound crazy?”
“It sounds fabulous,” said Serena. “My aunt is making me the ultimate frou-frou princess wedding dress so we’ll look totally different.”
“I want to see yours!” Beatriz had been picking Serena’s brain all week for wedding ideas. “Do you have a picture?”
“I don’t.” She grinned. “I think everyone will have to wait for the wedding day as Aunt Robin is bringing it with her on the plane.”
“I’m really enjoying all this wedding planning,” said Emma. “Since mine was organized by professionals and done so fast that I didn’t even have time to absorb it.”
Darias sighed. “It was all Sandro’s idea for us to rush into the wedding.”
“Hey!” Sandro leaned forward. “Without me you two might never have spoken. Besides, your wedding was beautiful.”
“Even though I was trying really hard not to cry the entire time because I was falling hard in love with Darias and I thought he was just marrying me for show.”
“My brother can be a little slow on the uptake sometimes,” said Beatriz with a wink. “But eventually he comes to his senses.”
“True.” Darias looked rueful. “I guess I’ll be apologizing to Lorenzo for a while. I was kind of a jerk.”
“You were a protective brother,” said Lorenzo. “Since I have a sister, I can relate.”
“I think I was especially ferocious because it’s eating away at me that the murders aren’t solved yet. I’ve made Rigo promise to get his butt over here this month.”
“He’s a lawyer, not a detective,” said Beatriz.
“I know, but part of our problem is that our suspects keep wriggling out of being interviewed.”
“Like me,” said Lorenzo before taking a sip of coffee.
“Exactly.” Darias aimed a mock glower in his direction. “If there’s no solid evidence, it’s hard to question people without violating our constitution. Gibran has sharp ideas but it’s hard to follow through on them when your suspects are wealthy bluebloods who keep lawyering up, like the Cross of Blood members. I’m hoping Rigo will find a way to make things happen.”
“When’s he coming?” asked Sandro.
“Have you seen any winged pigs lately?” asked Beatriz with wink.
“He promised to come for Mom’s birthday, but then she ran off to visit Callista in Paris for her big day. Hopefully she won’t stay too long.”
“I don’t know what she’s up to there,” said Beatriz. “But she seems to be very busy.”
“Unusually busy,” said Darias. “And she’s being infuriatingly mysterious about when she’s coming back.”
“Good,” said Beatriz. “I’m glad she’s finally out and about. I felt terrible moving out and leaving her all alone in the palace.”
“With only thirty-two staff members to keep her company,” muttered Darias.
“You know as well as I do that’s not the same thing,” said Beatriz. “Sometimes there’s nothing lonelier than being surrounded by people who were paid to be there.”
“Especially if they’re sending you scary text messages predicting your imminent death.” Sandro raised a brow.
“Tell me about it! I didn’t want to press charges against Nina because she didn’t actually do anything worse than waste Gibran’s time, but I’m glad she’s back in Norway, far away from Altaleone.”
“Most people would have been scared out of their wits,” said Lorenzo. “Not my Beatriz.”
Beatriz shrugged. “Idle threats don’t scare me. And critics neither now that we have four million dollars in orders from the American market.”
“Seven million,” corrected Lorenzo. “But who’s counting?”
“Does anyone want to go for a walk around the lake?” asked Beatriz. “We’re thinking of turning most of the lake shore into a national park for people from both Altaleone and Italy.”
“Maybe we should open it with a ritual joust where Lorenzo and I throw down our lances and ride happily off into the sunset,” suggested Darias with a wink.
Lorenzo laughed. “I’m game. It would be a step up from letting you defeat me.”
“It was very sporting of you to let me.”
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He looked at Beatriz, his gray eyes filled with emotion. “It was more than worth it.”
THE END
Explore the Royal House of Leone series:
The King’s Bought Bride (Darias and Emma)
A Prince for Christmas (Free short story with Sandro and Serena’s first encounter)
The Prince’s Secret Baby (Sandro and Serena)
The Princess’s Scandalous Affair (Beatriz and Lorenzo)
The Princess and the Player (Lina and Amadou)
Taming the Royal Beast (Rigo and Bella)
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Read on for an excerpt from:
The Princess and the Player: A Second Chance Romance
Carolina Leone has devoted her life to being the perfect royal wife and mother. When her husband is killed, she plans to spend her days quietly in the background—until an old flame is rekindled and forces her to question all her values and beliefs.
Former street musician Amadou Khadem may be an international star now, but he’s never forgotten—or forgiven—the cool beauty who broke his heart when she left him to become a royal bride. She’s more beautiful than ever, and he can’t resist the urge to seduce her.
His attempt at revenge goes badly wrong when he finds himself falling for her all over again. He knows she’ll never leave her privileged royal existence for him—or will she?
CHAPTER ONE
“You may be a widow, but you’re not dead.”
“I’m well aware of that.” Carolina Leone didn’t want to show her daughter how much her words stung. “I have a very full life.” They walked along the Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, ostensibly looking for a birthday gift for her. Her scientist daughter, Callista, had been too busy to shop for one before now. “Running the palace is a full-time job, especially since your brother has moved into the castle in the village.”
“Mom, you’re not a building caretaker.
And Dad’s been gone for nearly a year now. You should go on a date.” She winked one of her pretty green eyes.
“Lord, no.” Lina almost shuddered. The prospect of dating again seemed as laughable as climbing Mt. Everest.
“I’m serious, you’re still young, you’re gorgeous, you have a lot to give. I’ll be very ticked off if you wall yourself up in that palace and say goodbye to life.”
“I have all of you to keep up with. Just traveling to visit my children all over the world could take most of the year.”
Callista cocked her head, sending her auburn curls cascading over her shoulder. “Mom, you can’t live through your children. And we’re all busy.”
Lina flinched. Was her daughter bored and annoyed by her presence here? She didn’t think so, but still…. “I don’t need a gift, darling. I have everything I want. Let me buy you lunch instead.” She knew her daughter needed to get back to her lab.
“We could go to Carlo’s,” Callista turned down a side street. “I am hungry. We’ll find you something awesome later.” The sidewalk narrowed as they walked past a construction site. They had to pick their way past a pile of broken concrete, and at one point Lina put her hand out to steady herself on the temporary plywood wall.
The wall was covered in pasted posters for various events around the city, but when she saw the one her fingers rested on, she stopped and stared.
Amadou Khadem at The Olympia, May 10! His face stared right at her, dark eyes as intense and piercing as ever. Tickets almost sold out!
“Mom, are you okay?”
“Oh, yes, I’m fine.” She dragged herself away from the poster with some effort. May tenth was tomorrow. But she’d never go see it. She didn’t even remember the last time she’d been to a concert that wasn’t a classical concerto.
But she couldn’t resist sneaking one last look at the poster.
“Mom, what are you…? Hey, isn’t it that guy you met once?”
The Princess's Scandalous Affair (Royal House of Leone Book 4) Page 19
