Royally Rebellious: An arranged royal romance (Resplendent Royals Book 1)

Chapter 16

Alexandra’s eyes stared deep into me again. This time, I held her so near. My hand moved down her back to rest just above her ass. An urge to kiss her rushed over me. I knew I shouldn’t. I knew it was bad for us. I suspected staring at her now that she had caught feelings, regardless of what she said. Maybe she had gotten her wires crossed or maybe there was something there?

The truth was, I was a sucker for a girl dressed down—much more than a woman all buttoned up. Somehow, in a pair of shorts and a tank top, Alexandra was more appetising than I had previously credited her to be. She was cute in a girl-next-door sort of way.

We were bonding, yes, but damn if I didn’t want to kiss her. I suspected she wanted the same. With a whoosh, the doors opened. The Dowager Queen entered, flanked by footmen. She looked unamused.

“Alexandra, what are you doing?”

“It’s my fault,” I said. “She couldn’t dance. I was teaching her a waltz.”

Alexandra, by now, stepped back. She’d panicked.

“Need I remind you that he’s not your husband, Alexandra? That he’s not even your fiancé! He would drag your reputation through the mud as all men are wont to do.”

I set my jaw in anger. “I swear. I was just teaching her to dance.”

“Did you or did you not kiss her at the polo match, Your Royal Highness?”

“We kissed each other,” Alexandra insisted. “He and I chose to kiss ahead of time. To give them something to talk about—rile them up, Grand-Mama.”

“I do not like this,” Celeste said. “He can do everything he wants to you, and you have?—”

I cut her off, unable to stand seeing Alexandra twisting in the wind. I couldn’t take it anymore.

“We’re going to do the announcement. We’ve decided it is time, Celeste. But it’s late. We didn’t want to bother you.”

Alexandra looked at me, eyes wide.

“Not sure how you handle things. But, generally, back home, we’d do engagement photos and an engagement interview with the press—all to do with that release.”

“We do all those things. Of course, it has been so long,” Celeste murmured. “You are getting engaged?”

“Yes. I planned to speak with you in the morning before I notified my father and decided on a ring.”

“You needn’t do that. Her mother’s ring remains in the royal collection. It was willed to her,” Celeste said. “That will do.”

Alexandra’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Call your father,” Celeste said. “At once. I will not have you bandying her about, wrecking her reputation for your enjoyment! It is sterling. We will figure out the engagement photos tomorrow and hire someone suitable. Until we make the final announcement and I can speak with the PM about my intent to terminate the regency, you are not to be alone with her. I will not have her sullied in the process.”

Sullied? I only kissed her. I hadn’t even slept with her. Hell, I hadn’t even seen her tits yet! There was something bizarre about mentioning Alexandra’s chastity before me like it was a prize. And, given the way the girl kissed, I suspected she had gotten away with something. She knew to hold me down when I got out of line. A quiet little virgin wouldn’t know how to make a man grovel. She was wiser than Celeste gave her credit.

“I will now return you to your quarters, Alexandra,” Celeste said.

Alexandra looked at me, eyes big. “Thank you.”

I watched Celeste drag her granddaughter down the hall like you might a wayward dog or naughty toddler. I loathed it, looking the way to see Martin shaking his head.

“Martin, I worry for her.”

Martin, pained, said, “I’m sure it will all work out, sir.”

“I don’t know. It will for us. If it kills me, I want to make sure of two things,” I said.

“Yes, sir?”

“I need to find a way to get Alexandra a mobile phone. She protests but… I worry for her. My job is to take care of her. I cannot do that if I have no access to her.”

“I do not think the Dowager Queen will approve, but I can do my best. Maybe make friends with her lady’s maid or something?”

“That would be great,” I agreed. “Can you handle the phone or?—”

“We will sort it—send it to her in secret as best we can.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Martin.”

“What was the second point?”

“I don’t need anything now, but I am hatching a plan to remove that bitch from the Queen’s quarters. It should have been Alexandra’s bank of rooms for ages now. If it kills me, I will evict her.”

Martin chuckled. “You are taking this defence of the woman very seriously, sir.”

“I am obligated—and not only to Alexandra, to her sisters. I don’t like the way that woman pulls her around like that. She treats her poorly. Alexandra is a monarch—whether that bitch likes it or not—and I will not have anyone treating her like that.”

My voice was hot. I had gotten myself surprisingly wound up. Martin had a satisfied look. He understood my righteous indignation and was glad to see it.

“Sir, we should notify your father of the engagement,” Martin said. “You said after?—”

“Yes, yes. Let me call him,” I said.

We returned to my room where I called my father’s phone and received the switchboard. Eventually, I was transferred. My father was already in bed. Despite their happy marriage, my parents always slept apart. I did not understand it but felt it was fine if it worked for them. The lore was that Pappa was a fan of reading late and Mamma was not one to tolerate late nights with any form of light. So, they didn’t share a room in the evening.

“You doing alright? I heard the match went well,” Pappa said.

“It was my best match to date. We surprised everyone. Couldn’t be prouder of the guys. But that’s not why I’m calling.”

“Oh?”

“I’m ready to do it.”

“To do what?”

“Announce the engagement, Pappa.”

There was some silence.

“Sorry, just sitting up properly,” he apologised. “You do? You are ready?”

I could have gotten into everything strange with Celeste or that things were messy. I could have explained that I was defending Alexandra’s honour in a chivalrous way that surprised even me. Instead, I took the easy way out.

“I think it is a slam dunk and we need to make a move. Alexandra is totally on board and her grandmother has offered up her late mother’s ring. I think it’s a go.”

“Well, I will work on a release with the press office. I am proud of you, son. Well done for getting yourself out of a jam. But need I remind you?—”

“Don’t fuck it up again. Yeah, yeah,” I said.

“Alexandra is alright then?”

“She’s very well, Dad. Extremely well. We are getting to know one another. Becoming friends, even. She’s a nice person. I think I got off on the wrong foot with her. These people are boring, but she and her sisters are not. The younger ones are sweet, and she and Astrid are great fun. It’s not bad. I never had sisters. It’s nice to inherit some.”

“Are you running a fever?” Pappa asked.

“Nah, I’m hopeful I’ve made it out alive. Things will settle the minute the wedding band is firmly on Alexandra’s finger. Everyone will get their happy ending.”

Everyone but us, I feared.