Dating the Prince(14)

It seemed that to the royal family, everyone was replaceable. Employees.  Girlfriends. "I'm not sure Connie will be okay with that. She hired me  to watch Kenzie."

"We would only hire the best caretaker for Kenzie and use her very  rarely. I can speak to Connie and answer any of her questions. Of course  we'd offer her compensation as well for the inconvenience."

Libby dropped the folder into her lap and shook her head. The cozy  living room suddenly felt about ten degrees too warm. "Don't get me  wrong, the money would be amazing. But this is nuts. I don't think  Alex-er, His Highness-even likes me. I don't know if he told you about  the coffee shop, but things didn't go great."

"None of that matters right now." Maggie caught one of Libby's hands in  hers. "We need you, Libby. Prince Alexander needs you. The royal family  needs you. Durham needs you."

It was definitely too hot in here. Libby tugged her hand free and lifted  her hair off her neck, desperate for a cool breeze. "Wow. That's a lot  of pressure."

Kenzie let out a cry. Libby rose, grateful for an excuse to do  something. Would Connie be okay with this? She grabbed a bottle and  started filling it with water, her eyes drawn to the newly installed  hardwood floor in the kitchen. Connie had bought the flat while pregnant  with Kenzie and was slowly working on remodels. She'd probably take the  cash with a grin and tease Libby about her new job. "I don't know about  all of this."

Maggie stood as well and walked to the kitchen, placing her hands on the granite counters. "We'll double the compensation."

Libby's hand jerked and she spilled half a scoop of formula onto the  floor. Double the offer? That was more money than she'd seen in her  entire life. More than enough to pay off all of her father's medical  bills and still have a lot left over to spare.

It might even be enough to save her parents' marriage. Hadn't she come to Durham so she could help out financially?

"I'll have to look over the contract," Libby hedged.

Maggie smiled as though she'd won. "I'm happy to go over it with you. Sometimes the legalese gets a little overwhelming."

"And I want to talk to Alex," Libby decided. Because seriously, what on  earth was he thinking? She'd made her feelings pretty clear in the  coffee shop.

"Done," Maggie said. "We can head to the palace for a chat as soon as you finish feeding Kenzie."

Libby took a deep breath, then nodded. "Okay. Let's go talk to Alex."





CHAPTER NINE



Sometimes being the crown prince was excruciatingly dull. Alex leaned  back in his office chair and rubbed his eyes, which stung from too long  spent staring at a computer screen. Even though it was barely eleven  o'clock in the morning, he was exhausted. But as tedious as answer  correspondence and reading over proposals was, at least for a few hours  he didn't have to worry about the media frenzy that happened every time  he stepped outside the palace gates.

A knock echoed through the room, bouncing off the high coffered  ceilings. "Enter," he said without bothering to look up from his  computer. He'd made it nearly two hours without any interruptions, which  had to be some kind of record.         

     



 

Dennis pushed open the door, his receding hair slicked back and suit  impeccable as usual. "Your Highness, we've had a change of schedule."

Of course they had. It wouldn't be a typical day at the palace without  at least one unexpected appointment that required some shuffling. Alex  sent his computer screen to lock without another glance at the document.  It would have to wait.

"Will I be leaving the palace?"

"No, Your Highness. She is meeting you here, in the family room."

Surely he'd heard wrong. "In the private quarters?"

Dennis nodded.

Alex instantly felt his palms grow damp. There was only one person who  would unexpectedly be received in the family room-Libby. He knew Maggie  was speaking to her today, but hadn't thought he'd hear anything about  it until evening. "It's her, isn't it?"

Dennis gave a sharp nod. "She insists on meeting with you before signing  anything. Miss Claybourne should arrive with Miss Staten in fifteen  minutes. They just left her flat on foot."

Alex could suddenly hear his own breathing. It sounded too loud, too  labored. Libby would only come here if she planned on agreeing to the  arrangement. Right? Then again, this was Libby. He hadn't known her  long, but their short time together had taught him to expect the  unexpected when around her.

"Thank you, Dennis," Alex said. "I'll be there in a moment."

Dennis gave a small bow and left the office.

Alex leaned back in his chair and let out a shaky breath. He'd  half-believed that Libby would scoff at the offer and proclaim that  she'd rather die than date him. Maybe that's what she was coming to the  palace-to chew him out again. Not that Maggie would allow it if she knew  Libby's intentions.

Well, there was one way to find out. Alex strode from his office, not bothering to shut the door behind him.

The family room was perhaps the most relaxed room in the entire palace.  Two overstuffed gray couches faced each other with a glass coffee table  in the middle. One of Charlotte's ever-present books was askew on an end  table, and a family picture-a candid one, not the formal official  portraits released to the public-hung over the herringbone tiled  fireplace mantle. His parents were already there, sitting close to each  other on one of the couches while they spoke in hushed tones.

"The family room, Mother?" Alex leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"I wanted to make her feel comfortable," Nicolette said. "I'm sure this is very intimidating for her."

Intimidating. Life-altering. Hopefully in a good way, though, for both  of them. Alex didn't know how much his father had offered to pay Libby,  but felt confident it was more than a fair amount.

"Do you know why she's coming here?" Alex asked.

"I'm not sure." Nicolette pursed her lips. "Maggie only said that Libby wished to speak to you."

"Has she signed the contract?" Alex pressed.

"Not yet." Geoffrey fixed Alex with a glare. "Whatever she says, agree  with her. Whatever she wants, give it to her. We can't afford to mess  this up, because we have run out of options."

Alex clenched his jaw, but nodded. More demands  …  maybe that was what  she was coming here for. Because the Libby who'd berated him in the  Queen's Café was not a Libby who would ever agree to date him.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and Alex tensed, turning to face it.

"Enter," Nicolette said. She rose, smoothing down her navy skirt.

Maggie slipped inside, her eyes alight with excitement as she dropped into a quick curtsy. "Your Majesties. Your Highness."

"Is she here?" Geoffrey asked.

"Yes, waiting just outside the door. She's got the baby with her."

"Fine," Nicolette said.

Maggie checked that the door was closed, then lowered her voice. "I  think she's close to signing the contract. She nearly kicked me out of  the flat, so I offered to double her compensation, just like you  instructed, Your Majesties. It seemed to do the trick. That's when she  asked to see Your Highness, at least."

"I almost would've been disappointed if she hadn't tried to negotiate,"  Geoffrey said. Was that a smile? Alex stared at his father in amazement.  He was usually so stern. So businesslike.

"Should I bring her in?" Maggie asked.

"Yes," Nicolette said.

Maggie nodded, her hand on the doorknob. Libby stood on the other side  of that door, waiting to speak to him. Alex's mouth suddenly felt drier  than a desert.

"Wait," Geoffrey said, and Maggie paused. "I'd like you to stay while we  finish discussing the terms. You're a familiar face and it might put  Miss Claybourne more at ease."         

     



 

"She's not a scared rabbit," Alex muttered.

Geoffrey shot him a reproving glare. "We really know nothing about this woman, Alex. We can't afford to scare her off."

Yeah, well, Geoffrey hadn't been at the coffee shop two days ago,  getting reamed out by five feet and two inches of righteous indignation.  Libby wasn't a skittish animal. She was fierce and brave and not afraid  to speak her mind.

"Bring her in," Nicolette said.

Maggie nodded and slipped out of the room. Alex tugged at his tie,  feeling like it might strangle him. He'd never planned for Libby to meet  his parents. She was outspoken and a free spirit and so not who royals  were supposed to date. And yet here she was, saving Alex from the hole  he'd dug for himself.

He hoped his parents like Libby.

Libby stepped into the room, looking much like she had the other two  times Alex had seen her-beautiful and unassuming. Her curls hung loose  around her shoulders once again, and she wore another sundress, this one  in a cheerful spring green. Kenzie was in her arms, eyes drooping as  she neared sleep. His heart contracted at the sight of Libby, as though  someone had just grabbed it with their fist and squeezed. He loved that  she hadn't dressed up for her meeting with royalty. There was something  refreshing about a woman who was comfortable being herself. It was so  different from how Isla acted. She'd been a chameleon, adapting her  personality and style to fit any situation.