Winter Wedding for the Prince(8)

Hammering her fist on the chair arm again, she sat back and took another look at the morning’s paper. In the upper left-hand corner ran Mona’s photo with a headline that read Our New Princess? A small story on the inside page reported on Armando’s growing closeness with the Yelgierian royal family as of late, and implied there would be a marriage announcement soon.

“We missed you last evening.” Princess Arianna strolled into the office without notice, knocking not being a royal requirement. She was dressed casually—for her, anyway—in a simple black skirt and flowing pink silk blouse. In deference to her pregnancy, the hem hung untucked. “At the tree lighting,” she added. “You didn’t attend.”

The tree lighting, when King Carlos lit the tree in the palace’s grand archway, marked the official start of Corinthia’s holiday season. Until last night, Rosa had attended almost every one. Next to the shelter festival, it was one of her favorite Christmas traditions.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I simply had too much work to do to get away.”

“Funny, Armando didn’t mention you were working. In fact, he didn’t seem to know where you were.”

But he hadn’t been looking for her, either. “I worked at home,” she replied. “Armando...that is, he didn’t know I was behind.”

“Is that so?” Rosa tried not to react when the princess looked down at her pristinely organized desk. People with neat desks could be busy, too.

“Maybe he should get you some help. It’s not fair that you have so much work that you have to miss a Corinthian tradition.”

“That’s not necessary, Your Highness. I’m caught up now.” That was all she needed, to look like she couldn’t handle her workload.

“Glad to hear it,” Arianna replied, “because I would kill Armando if you were too busy to celebrate with us next week. Which reminds me, you are coming to the dinner, are you not?”

“I—Are you sure you want me there?” The dinner was a private affair for family and dignitaries the night before the ceremony.

“Of course I do,” Arianna replied. “You’re family, aren’t you?”

“Technically, no.”

“Close enough. You’re an important part of Armando’s life, and therefore you’re important to all of us.”

“How can I say no after that?” Rosa replied, surprised to feel a lump in her throat. It had been a long time since someone had said she was anything other than a stupid waste of time. And while the idea of spending an evening watching Armando and Mona get acquainted left a sour taste in her mouth, the princess was smiling such a sweet, sincere smile, Rosa didn’t have the heart to decline.

Besides, she would have to face Armando—and Mona—eventually. Maybe seeing them together would kill the weird feelings she was having.

Meanwhile, Arianna’s smile grew broader upon Rosa’s acceptance. “I’m so glad. Max’s best friend from New York is coming, too, and I can’t wait for the two of you to meet. Not for romantic reasons,” she added when Rosa started to say something. “I just think he needs a dinner partner who will keep him on his toes.”

“Oh. Thank you, I guess.” She couldn’t imagine keeping anyone other than Armando on his toes, but if Arianna thought so, she would try.

“It’s a compliment, I assure you.” Perching on the edge of Rosa’s desk, Arianna turned the newspaper around. “Future princess, huh? Wonder where they came up with that idea?”

“I read the article. It’s mostly speculation.”

Arianna arched her brow. “I’m going to blame your naïveté on not having enough coffee. Armando hasn’t dated since Christina passed away, and out of the blue the press start speculating on the exact woman he plans to marry? Impossible. Someone whispered in a reporter’s ear. The only question is who is doing the whispering—Armando or King Omar. My guess is on Armando.”

Rosa didn’t understand. Princess Arianna’s explanation about a leak made perfect sense, but she would think King Omar the more likely source, not her brother. “Why would His Highness leak information about his private life?”

“Because I know how my big brother’s mind works. I’m starting to show. It’s obvious to anyone who can add that I’ve been pregnant longer than I’ve known Max.” A soft smile curled her lips as her hand patted her abdomen. She glanced back at the photograph. “This is Armando’s way of diverting attention away from my growing bump.”

Made sense. After all, he’d arranged a marriage to prevent scandal. Why not arrange for a little well-timed tabloid gossip, too? “He’s trying to be a good king,” she said.

“That’s Armando. Corinthia and family first.”

Responsible for every light in every window. “He takes fulfilling his duty very seriously,” she replied.

“Always has,” Arianna said. “Although he’s gotten worse the last couple years. Sometimes I think he’s decided that if he can’t be happy anymore, he’ll make sure everyone else in Corinthia is.”

Rosa’s heart twisted at the thought. She didn’t know what bothered her more, Armando falling for his wife or him going through the motions for the rest of his life.

“Speaking of my brother, what do you think?”

It took a moment for Rosa to realize the princess was talking about Mona herself. Took a lot of discipline, but she managed to swallow the sour taste in her mouth before replying. “I wouldn’t know, Your Highness.”

“Please,” the princess replied. She added an eye roll for good measure. “Don’t go into acting, Rosa. You’re terrible.”

“But I really wouldn’t know,” Rosa replied honestly. “I haven’t met her. She’s very beautiful, though. And her father certainly speaks highly of her.”

“Fathers usually do,” Arianna replied. “According to mine, I am the purest creature to ever walk the earth.” Her grin was nothing short of cheeky as she pointed to her midsection. “I think I’ll wait until I’ve met the woman to see if she lives up to her advance praise. Armando says she’s attending the concert tonight?”

“Yes. She is supposed to arrive late this afternoon.” Rosa had been trying to figure out an excuse to avoid her arrival all week.

“You don’t look happy about the idea.”

“Excuse me?” So much for keeping her thoughts private. She really was a terrible actress.

“No worries,” Arianna replied. “I understand. This is a concert for your sister, and here’s Armando infringing upon her memory by introducing his future wife.”

“No, that’s not the reason.” Everyone was so quick to blame her loyalty to Christina. Armando thought the same thing regarding the shelter party. The simple, shameful truth, however, had nothing to do with Christina.

“What is the reason then?”

Rosa opened, then shut her mouth. What did she say? She couldn’t very well tell Armando’s sister the truth—that she was dreading a night of simultaneous jealousy and embarrassment.

Fortunately the telephone saved her. When she heard the voice on the other end, her eyes widened.

“That was King Omar’s secretary,” she said when she hung up. “Apparently his daughter hasn’t completely recovered from the flu and is feeling too ill to fly.”

“Meaning she’s not coming tonight?”

“I’m afraid not.” Rosa’s stomach took a happy little bounce at the news, even though she knew it shouldn’t.

From Arianna’s expression, she didn’t do a good job of hiding her reaction, either. “Armando will be disappointed,” she noted.

Immediately Rosa was ashamed of herself. “Yes,” she said, “I imagine he will be.” He no doubt meant for this appearance to be Mona’s introduction to the Corinthian people.

“Where is my dear brother, anyway?” Arianna asked. “I came by because I wanted to talk to him about a rumored cut to the arts endowment budget.”

“According to the note he left on my desk, he is at the swimming pool doing laps.”

“Really? Max is swimming laps right now as well.” With surprising spryness for a pregnant woman, the princess hopped off the desk. “I was planning to go visit him after I spoke to Armando. Why don’t the two of us go together and you can tell Armando about Mona’s cancellation?”

See Armando. At the pool. That happy little bounce turned into a shiver as she pictured a muscular and wet Armando emerging from the water like a men’s fragrance advertisement come to life. “I thought I would send him a text...” she started.

“Don’t be silly. I don’t feel like waiting for him to check his messages before talking to him about it. Come down with me, and we will tell him in person.”

This was the downside of working for royalty. It was impossible to refuse when they decided a plan of action. Suppressing a sigh, Rosa pushed to her feet. “After you, Your Highness.”

Maybe she’d get lucky, and Armando would stay in the water while they talked.

* * *