Once out of the harbor, Christian slowed to a crawl up the coast. His jovial demeanor flattened into all business. “They can get photos of us out here, as you well know, but no one can hear us. My appropriating this boat out of the blue means there’s no way it’s bugged. So start talking.”
Theo angled in the deep cushion of the bucket seat and braced his elbows on his knees. “As far as I can tell, my job—auditing the books of a member of the royal family—is real. Parliament requested it as part of the due diligence leading up to the European Union vote. Where it starts to get questionable is with my hiring.”
Christian batted away that suggestion with his hand. “I read your resume. You’ve stellar credentials.”
“I know my way around a balance sheet.” This was where it could get awkward. Theo chose his words very carefully. “But I also have—had—that pesky habit of badmouthing the royal family. I didn’t hire a skywriter or anything, but I’ve popped off over the years about, ah, my disdain for royal privilege.”
“You think we’re entitled jackasses. That everyone kowtows to the House of Villani.”
“Yes. Well, I did.” No point trying to deny it. Or sugar coat it. “Because I didn’t know better. Because I held a stupid grudge that doesn’t need to be detailed. What’s important is that I know now how very wrong I was. About all of you.”
After a long, appraising look that seemed to measure his truthfulness, Christian nodded sharply. “Good to hear.”
Elias came up the stairs from the hold and passed out bottles of water. “Hang on. Are you saying you think you were hired because you had it in for the royal family? That doesn’t make sense.”
Not to morally upright people, no. So he’d break it down for them. “Oh, I don’t think it. The prime minister flat-out told me, three weeks ago, that’s why she hand-picked me for the job.”
“Ouch.” Christian guzzled his water. “That’s a bit of a blow to the ego. Both yours and mine, I’d say.”
“It’s not something I’ll lead with at my next job interview, that’s for sure.” Which might be much sooner than planned, if this didn’t work.
Elias spread his hands, palms up. “What does Skaggitt get out of it?”
“Her plan hinges on my report being a trash job of Princess Genevieve. If the royal family is portrayed as a fiscal mess, the European Union would see Moncriano as a disaster.”
Christian reeled back in his captain’s chair. “Oh, shit. She wants to make them rescind their invitation to join. There wouldn’t even be a reason to hold a vote here.”
“Correct. The EU wants member countries that contribute positive economic growth. If it looks like Moncriano can’t provide that, the offer will be pulled.”
“First of all, I’d like to beat her bloody for involving the princess in her plan.”
“Seconded,” Theo murmured.
“Oh, we’d all like to take a turn with that, I’m sure.” The prince’s tone sharpened to that of an ice-coated dagger. “My sister is not a pawn to be used. When we tell Genny, she’ll be livid.”
Elias rubbed a hand over his buzz-cut dark hair. “But…we need to understand the ‘why’ in order to come up with a plan to stop her. And I still don’t see how that benefits Skaggitt.”
Which, yet again, proved that Elias was one of the good guys. “She’s power-hungry,” Theo explained. “The first time Skaggitt broached this to me, she alluded to Parliament taking the reins to make Moncriano shine on its own merits rather than being a tiny cog in a huge conglomerate.”
That elicited a big eye-roll from the prince. “Of course. She’s picturing herself as the savior of the country.”
Cannily, Elias asked, “What happened the second time?”
“She dove deeper.” Theo rubbed the back of his neck where the summer sun beat down on it. “Alluded to my report, and my…ah…salacious photos with the princess as a way to finally bring down the monarchy.”
“What—we split focus from her? She doesn’t want the distraction of the royals, imbued by God and the hereditary right to reign over this country? Wants to be seen as the only ruler of Moncriano? For fuck’s sake, I can swear in four languages and…” Christian let his hands fall to his thighs. “I have no words.”
Elias tapped his fingers along the gleaming brass rail. “There’s been a surge in anti-monarchy chatter lately. I wonder if she’s behind it?”
“Maybe. The upcoming vote about joining the EU has stirred up a lot of issues. And we can’t comment on a single damn one of them. Not even to defend ourselves from attack.”
Frustration roiled off Christian with the strength of a tsunami. So Theo cleared his throat to break the tension. “I have a plan.”
“Those might be my favorite four words ever.” The prince beckoned with his fingers. “Let’s hear it.”
“Skaggitt is expecting me to send her the report. Directly. Then she’ll present the findings to Parliament.”
“Guess I’d better brace myself and ask—what is in your report?”
Theo withdrew a flash drive from his pocket. “It’s not the report I planned to write. At the beginning. But it’s the report that is deserved. Yes, there are places where I point out some necessary adjustments. Overall, though? It’s a glowing picture of what the princess does as the embodiment of the people of this country.”
Eyes suddenly sharp, brows arched, Christian asked, “You think we’re doing a worthwhile job?”
Hell, yes.
And wasn’t that the biggest U-turn of his life?
“I think you’re doing an admirable job. One that you’re making worthy by your personal bent. A monarchy can, indeed, be a trap of excess and privilege. The House of Villani has not fallen into that trap. The needs and expectations of your subjects drive all of your decisions.”
“That about sums it up. Thanks for noticing.”
Elias gave Theo a nod of approval. “So it isn’t even close to the desired hatchet job. Now what?”
“Now I don’t send it to Skaggitt. I release it to the entire Parliament. A fair appraisal, topped off with a glowing summary letter. This report sets you up—once again—as ideal candidates to join the EU. Whether you want to or not. I guess that’s the problem.”
“Like I said, we don’t get a say in the matter.” Christian clenched his jaw, and a blue vein at his temple pounded. “But I’d rather have the invite and let the people decide than let our country look bad in the eyes of the world.”
“That’s not the only problem,” Elias pointed out. He turned back to Theo. “If you go around Skaggitt like this, she’ll do her best to bury you.”
“Undoubtedly.” Theo stood. “I don’t want to influence policy. Or votes. The facts speak for themselves. The princess’s budget is clean. Her expenses are not frivolous. The House of Villani is not frittering away the country’s money.”
“We couldn’t if we wanted to. We don’t have access to Moncriano’s budget.”
“I know. But we’re talking perception here, which is often more powerful than fact.” God, he hated laying this out to the prince. If only he could be that pelican, skimming low across the waves. Not delivering gutting news to a new friend…
Elias threw another hard question at him like a fastball from the mound at Yankee Stadium. “If you do this end-run, what do you think will be the backlash from the PM?”
“Nothing. Hopefully.” He pressed the flash drive into Christian’s hand. “Because I have proof that she sought to undermine the House of Villani. Proof that she hired me as a shill. Proof that she asked me to slant my audit a certain way. I have enough proof to force her to resign.”
Christian’s blond eyebrows shot up. “How?”
“She’s sloppy, for one. Texts and emails to me were easy to capture, as well as recorded phone calls. My friend Simon, he did the rest. With the help of an old school friend of
ours who now works at Microsoft.”
“Are you saying he got someone to hack her computer? Technically, that’s illegal.”
It fell into the same gray area as stealing boats. But now wasn’t the time to poke at the pissed-off prince. “If you wanted to send her to jail? Yeah, it’d be thrown out in court. But we do have enough that could be leaked. Or at least threaten her with it to force her to resign, which I assumed would be your goal.”
“So the cancer at the head of my government will be cut out. Parliament will get a truthful audit from you. And the reasons for your initial hiring don’t get exposed.”
After all the bad shit that had gone down for him recently, Theo had a hard time picturing all those things going right. And getting Genny back on top of it all? Was like wishing for a lottery win, a pet sloth that could talk, and, well, the beautiful best friend he didn’t realize he needed.
Topped off, of course, by not being chucked into a dungeon.
Theo stood, leaning against the side rail because it was hard to contain this much hope by sitting still. “Ideally, yes.”
“We’ll have to act fast,” Elias warned. “If she’s got much support, this could backfire.”
Christian snatched off his cap and winged it into the cabin. Then he pounded his fist into the steering wheel. “I am the heir to the throne. Hell, right now I’m acting as the throne. There is no support greater than that of my loyal subjects to the Crown.”
After a beat, Elias put his tongue in his cheek and said, “You got a little full of yourself there at the end.”
“I haven’t had much practice at the full-blown regal thing. It’s a fine line to trod between being righteous and being a righteous jackass.” Christian tilted his head back to look at the sky. “Christ, it’s hot. Let’s get in the water.”
“You want to go swimming? Now?”
“Only reason for coming out here in the heat of the day. It’ll cement our cover that we aren’t planning anything. That it’s just the Party Prince celebrating being back home.”
Theo knew he was right. Knew that there were undoubtedly long-range cameras trained on them right now. How did Christian and Genevieve live like this? No wonder Kelsey pushed back so hard. He could never do it.
Oh, wait. He could—if it meant he got to be with Genevieve. Theo unknotted his pale blue tie and tossed it on the growing pile of fatigues.
Elias dove in first, in a perfect jackknife over the side of the boat. Christian cannonballed. Still unable to shake how surreal this meeting had turned out to be, Theo shucked down to his boxer briefs and slid into the water.
God, he wanted to talk to Genevieve.
Christian shook the water from his eyes then ticked points off on his fingers. “We swim for ten minutes. Motor back to the dock. Immediately have you send it to the heads of committees first, while we bring in Skaggitt. Accuse her, make her sweat, and then present her with resignation—excuse of her choice—as the only face-saving option.”
“I’d understand, of course, if you did want to expose me as someone who came into this process with a bias. Even though I always intended to be fair in my due diligence.”
“Are you putting me on?” The prince slapped water at him. “You just saved this country, this family, from a massive amount of embarrassment. I don’t plan to punish you. At the very least, I should knight you.”
Theo stopped treading water, shocked to his core. After sinking, swallowing a mouthful of ocean and spitting it out, he spluttered, “God, no. I’ve already got one title—and one looming that I don’t actually want to inherit.”
“Join the fucking club,” Christian said bitterly. “You don’t always get a choice in the big things. You just have to suck it up and make the best of it.”
“I’m happy to do right by the House of Villani. But I’d really, really like to make things right with your sister.”
Christian slapped more water his way. “One thing at a time. Save the monarchy. Expose a traitor. Affairs of state before affairs of the heart.”
Elias used the ladder on the edge of the boat to propel into a backward dive. When he surfaced, he glared at the prince. “If Kelsey were here, she’d dunk you for your mixed-up priorities. You’ve got that backward.”
Two months ago, Theo wouldn’t have bet a single red cent on risking his career for love—or for the Villanis. Now he was happy, proud to do both. But he sure as hell knew the prioritization.
Genevieve, first and foremost.
If she’d let him…
Chapter Twenty-Four
Genevieve should be sitting. She was wearing her spikiest-heeled sandals, azure blue and as strappy as it got. They were also, without a doubt, her most uncomfortable sandals. But they made her feel confident and sexy, which was the vibe she needed to finish her work. The very important work that could make or break her chance at future happiness.
So no, she wasn’t sitting at her desk. Even though Kelsey was sitting because she claimed that her feet already hurt from the breakfast she’d hosted for the board of the Royal Orphanage Home. Her first solo foray into charity work, she’d chosen the Orphans Home because of the sheer luck of having two families. If anyone could call being kidnapped luck…
Kelsey rubbed the arch of her foot, groaning. “If I wore a maxi-dress, nobody would be able to tell if I went barefoot, right? It’s summer. Maxi-dresses are stylish. Then I wouldn’t be in such misery.”
Tapping a toe impatiently, Genevieve waited by the printer for it to spit out all the pages of the spreadsheet. “You’d be in far worse misery. You’d have to listen to the Grand Duchess railing at you for insulting official palace guests by wearing clothing only appropriate for the beach.”
“That’s obviously the solution. Let’s move all the official functions to the beach. Footwear not only optional, but really not practical in the sand.”
“I’ll have to admit that’s a brilliant work around.”
“Wait—do we have a beach in town? All I’ve seen is the port. Sidewalks and piers, but no beaches.”
“The beach is about a mile from the castle. I’m surprised Elias hasn’t taken you there yet.”
With a smug, satisfied smile, Kelsey said, “We’ve been awfully busy with activities that require a bed…or at least four walls.”
“Aren’t you the lucky one.” Genevieve instantly regretted the tossed-off sentence when she saw the stricken look on her sister’s face.
“Oh, Genny, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to rub it in that I’m crazy happy with him while you’re, um, pining.”
“I’m not pining.” Not just pining. She patted Kelsey’s shoulder. “We have an action plan. It needs a bit more fine-tuning. Then the only thing left is to figure out how to get Theo to agree to listen to me, long enough to get my apology out.”
The door opened without a knock or an announcement of who was entering. Only one person would be that bold.
Without looking up from the printer, Genny said, “Christian, why do you torment the footmen like that? Let them knock. Or, I don’t know, be polite for once and knock yourself.”
“Nope. I’m convinced if I keep surprising you, one day I’ll happen across the secret Genevieve. One who lets her hair down and runs with scissors.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Although it was plenty ridiculous that she’d just crossed fingers on both of her hands, squeezed her eyes shut, and made a wish for this to work before yanking the stack of papers from the tray.
“I need your help.”
Upon looking up, she discovered Christian in his full dress uniform—dark blue, with loads of gold braid on the epaulets, hanging in a loop from his shoulder, and with three gold stripes around his cuffs.
“No. You can have Kelsey, instead.”
“Hey, don’t I get a vote?” her sister protested.
“Whatever boring ceremony Christian need
s help with is something you’ll have to learn eventually, so there is no vote. We’re a monarchy, remember? And both Christian and I outrank you.”
“Your level of grouchiness increases every day that you’re apart from Theo. Please fix this. Soon.”
Genny brandished her papers. “I’m doing my best.”
Christian came closer, his sword clanging as he walked. “Kelsey’s welcome to tag along, but I need you for this, Genny. I’m awarding the Order of the Crown.”
Shocked, her mouth fell open. “Only Papa does those.”
“Well, he’s not doing much of anything these days, is he? So, like everything else, it falls to me.”
Genevieve had no time for pomp and circumstance. But she didn’t want to explain it all to Christian and have him pick it apart. Cooly, she stated, “I’m working on something. Important.”
“With Kelsey? Ah, are you two making plans for my thirtieth? Because I told you that Elias said he’d handle it.”
“No, I said important. And you’re nuts if you think your best friend can plan a significant celebration. Your thirtieth calls for formalwear and loads of dull guests who want to rub shoulders with you.”
“Only if you let them rub you first,” he said menacingly. Then he snatched the papers from her hand. “Come along. You can scribble notes on whatever this is in the throne room as well as here.”
After tossing Kelsey a help me look—because she’d discovered it was very handy to have a sister who could help her gang up on their older brother—Genevieve hustled down the hallway after him.
“Why can’t this wait until Papa is…back to himself?”
“Do you know when or if that will be?”
Ah. It stung to admit the truth. “No.”
“That’s why,” he grumbled.
Christian had been grumbling a lot more since their father disappeared into his rooms. The toll on him trying to cover everything had to be significant. Combined with Genny’s own…disgruntlement…at losing Theo, Kelsey must be wishing for the days when she had two less siblings. They weren’t being fair to her.
Ruling the Princess Page 29
