Dating the Prince(27)

"Good morning, dear," his mother replied.

A servant appeared and set a gleaming plate before Alex. He murmured his  thanks and began filling it. Lunch hadn't been on today's agenda, which  meant he'd be lucky to wolf down a sandwich in the car ride between  engagements.

"How did you sleep?" Geoffrey asked.

That was a loaded question. Alex decided to take it as rhetorical. "Very well. And you?"

"Restless," Nicolette said.

Okay, so they were jumping right into things. Alex quickly took a bite  of his ham. He had a feeling he might lose his appetite very soon.

"I tossed and turned all night," Nicolette continued. She speared a  grape with her fork and placed it in her mouth, chewing slowly. "I don't  know what to do about this situation, Alexander. Honestly, how we ended  up here … "

"The situation has a name," Alex said. It took a lot of effort to keep his words even and calm.

Nicolette gave a delicate snort. "Yes, I'm aware. What kind of a name is  Liberty, anyway? It's bad enough that she's an American, but that name  is positively embarrassing."

"I like her name." The words slipped off Alex's tongue before he consciously realized he believed them. "It fits her."

"She's wild and unrefined," Nicolette said.

"She's free and knows who she really is," Alex countered. "I find it refreshing."

"Oh, please. Don't tell me you're falling for that little tart."

"I'd thank you not to speak of my fiancée in such an insulting manner," Alex said.

Geoffrey grunted. "She's not your fiancée."

"The press thinks she is." Alex's pulse raced. He'd spent a lifetime  being trained not to question or confront his parents, but this was too  important to let pass. "And if they see the royal family behaving badly  toward her, it'll raise red flags. We can't afford questions."

"The press isn't here at the breakfast table," Nicolette said. "I don't see why it matters."

Alex felt his temper rising. He'd told Libby last night that his mother  was upset because her vision of the future had been compromised. At the  time, he'd truly believed that in the light of day Nicolette would calm  down and apologize. Now he wasn't so sure.         

     



 

"You need to apologize to Libby," Alex said. He placed a chunk of  cantaloupe in his mouth and chewed slowly, watching as Nicolette's mouth  dropped open.

"You can't be serious," she said. "If it weren't for that gold digger-"

"Libby," Alex broke in.

Nicolette rolled her eyes. "If it weren't for Libby, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"It was an accident," Alex said.

Geoffrey pushed his plate away as though no longer hungry. "How can we be sure?"

Alex thought of the way Libby ran her hands through her hair, driving  him wild with the coconut and ocean breeze scene. The way her entire  face lit up when she played with Kenzie. Her infectious laughter that  warmed his soul. "Because I know her."

"You know the side of her she's wanted to show you," Nicolette argued.  "It was the same with Isla. In the beginning she was perfectly charming.  Look how that turned out."

The worries that had plagued Alex all night rose to the surface. Hadn't  he thought something similar while trying to fall asleep? "She's not  like that." He was like ninety percent sure.

"She's dating you for money." Nicolette speared another grape, her  expression nearly as severe as the modern art piece she'd hung next to  the china hutch. "We can't be sure that ten million will be a big enough  incentive to keep her silent."

That made Alex laugh. "Have you seen her bank statements? I don't think Libby has ten million dollars lying around."

"She also doesn't have any assets," Geoffrey said. "So the threat  doesn't hold much weight. What are we going to seize? She doesn't own  property. Doesn't own a car."

"She doesn't even own nice clothes," Nicolette said. It was clear from  her tone of voice that she couldn't imagine a greater sin.

"I like how she dresses," Alex said. Her sundresses whispered of a simple life he longed to experience.

"Oh, tell me you're smart enough not to fall for her." Nicolette stabbed  at another grape, this time making it slide across her plate.

"So what if I am?" Alex bellowed. He pushed away his own plate of food,  fighting the urge to throw it at his mother's smug face. He'd been right  about losing his appetite. "Libby has done everything we've asked of  her."

"She pushed you in a pond," Nicolette shot back.

"That was an accident, and it ended up working in our favor."

"Like the engagement will work in our favor?" Nicolette demanded.

Alex rose, nearly knocking his chair over. He wasn't going to sit here  and listen to this anymore. "You will be kind to Libby, Mother.  Outbursts like last night will not be tolerated. I have an obligation to  Libby. She's doing me a favor, and I wouldn't be the son you raised me  to be if I repaid that by letting her be attacked by my family."

"She's ruined everything!" Nicolette screeched.

"Son, be reasonable," Geoffrey cut in. "Think of the crown. You must be  careful. Libby might try to win your affections, but it'll only be for  her own gain."

"I'm well aware of the risks," Alex bit out. "Or did you forget that  I've already fallen for one woman who was only interested in my title?"

Both his parents fell silent and Alex knew that he'd won the conversation, at least for now.

"Be kind to her," Alex repeated. "As my fiancée, even my fake one,  she'll be around the palace more often. And you will treat her with  respect."

"Of course," Nicolette said, lifting her chin. "I am the queen of Durham. I would never dream of treating her any other way."

Alex snorted. "Of course you wouldn't. Last night never happened, right?"

Nicolette's jaw tightened, but she didn't respond.

"I'm glad we've reached an understanding," Alex said. "Right now,  keeping Libby happy is my top priority. We don't want to give her any  reasons to go to the press and blow this whole thing wide open."

Nicolette's shoulders slumped. "Of course you're right. Just protect your heart, Alex."

She rose and walked toward him, placing her hands on his cheeks and  staring into his soul as only a mother could. Alex blinked and look  away.

"Be careful," she admonished.

"I will," Alex said. "Now I'd better go meet with Libby. The official  announcement will go out this morning. She and I have a lot to discuss."  And he strode from the room.         

     



 





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN



Libby sat on Connie's living room couch and stared at the article,  struggling to comprehend the words. She'd known this was coming, but  seeing it on Connie's laptop screen in black and white was still  something of a shock to her system.

Kenzie lay on a blanket on the floor, gazing up at the ceiling fan as  though it were the most fascinating thing in the world. Libby smiled at  the baby, then turned back to the announcement.

Their Majesties Geoffrey and Nicolette, the King and Queen of Durham,  are honored to announce the engagement of their son, His Royal Highness  Prince Alexander, to Miss Liberty Claybourne. The wedding will take  place next summer.

Whoa. They were circulating a pretend wedding date? That was news to Libby.

The bans had appeared on the front gates of Durham Palace that morning,  according to the article Libby read. The article also speculated about  the quick and unexpected engagement. A royal had never before proposed  in such a public manner, and the comments section of the article  suggested about half of Durham found it incredibly romantic, and half  found it tacky and suspected a publicity stunt. More than one comment  mentioned how quickly this came on the heels of Alex's breakup with Isla  Martin. Awesome. That was just the kind of suspicion they couldn't  afford right now.

Kenzie let out a happy squeal, her arms stiffening by her sides as she kicked her feet in excitement.

"Wish I felt the same way, little miss," Libby muttered.

It was time to call and tell her parents. Not even Ocean Meadow was  sheltered enough to keep this a secret for long. But she was going to  have to lie to them. Ten million dollars was too hefty a price tag to  risk her mother's penchant for gossip.

Libby set aside the laptop, picked up her cell phone-the new one the  palace had given her-and dialed her mom before she could talk herself  out of it. With the time difference, it was early morning in Oregon. Her  mother should be awake and her father at work.

"Hey, sweetie," her mother said. "I was just about to call you. I haven't heard from you in nearly a week."

"Sorry," Libby said. She wiggled her fingers above Kenzie's face and the baby reached for them. "I've been busy."