Barbara Wallace - Not-So-Perfect Princess

Enrique’s eyes darkened. “Once we are married we shouldn’t waste any time starting a family.”

His suggestive tone made her shiver. Not a surprising reaction given she’d never discussed sex with any of her matches before. Offspring had always been assumed. “I would like a big family. At least four children.”

He tucked her hair behind her ears. “I hope they all look like you.”

His compliment was nice, but the words didn’t make her feel warm and fuzzy the way Alejandro’s had. “Thank you.”

“My brother will be pleased to know you want so many children,” Enrique said. “He can’t wait to fall lower in the line of succession. I believe if he could give away or relinquish his title he would without a second thought.”

“I can’t imagine anyone wanting to do that,” she admitted. “But Alejandro does have his boats.”

She envied his ability to follow his dreams.

“Nothing matters but those damn boats. Sailing has consumed him. He works as a manual laborer, a commoner, refusing to take advantage of the free publicity being a royal engaged in business always brings.”

Enrique’s critical tone didn’t surprise Jules. The two brothers seemed to always be going at each other. But sometimes that might keep them from seeing a situation more clearly. “If Alejandro wins the Med Cup, he’ll earn respect. New customers.”

“He won’t win with a new design,” Enrique said. “Competition is fierce. The best crews are going to be on well-known, tested designs. Too bad my brother is too stubborn to use the same boat as last year. But he always wants something newer, better. That’s one reason I doubt he’ll ever marry. He upgrades the women in his life like they were cars.”

The picture Enrique painted of his younger brother was not flattering. Jules wondered if this was one of the stories Alejandro had mentioned. The two brothers needed to get along better. That gave her an idea.

“Sail his other boat for him,” she said. “The one he sailed last year.”

“I haven’t raced since my duties became expanded. State business takes up the majority of my time.”

His curt tone rebuked her. “It was only a suggestion.”

“Racing in open water isn’t without risks.”

“I’ve never sailed in the ocean.” Just dreamed about it.

“Your father told me he’s forbidden you to sail on the sea. That’s why I didn’t accept Alejandro’s invitation to go sailing.”

“You and Brandt can go.”

“Not without you,” Enrique said, and she appreciated his courtesy. “Your father mentioned your mother’s accident. So tragic.”

Jules knew information would be exchanged during the marriage negotiations, but she’d never been privy to it. “My mother’s death was an accident, a freak occurrence.”

“No matter the circumstances.” Enrique’s voice softened. “Your father said he was deeply affected by the loss.”

“I’ve been told he changed after she died. He loved my mother very much.”

“He loves you, too.”

Hearing the words from someone outside her family made Jules feel as if all the sacrifices she’d made to live up to the expectations of her father, family and country had been worth it. Her tongue felt thick, heavy, so she nodded.

“A lesser man might not have recovered from such a tragedy,” Enrique continued.

She appreciated the admiration in his words. “My father is a king. He is a strong man. He mourned my mother’s death, but he remarried less than a year later. He needed a male heir. I was a young child who needed a mother.”

“Understandable.”

Jules wondered if that meant Enrique would do the same should she die. Probably. “La Isla de la Aurora seems more progressive than Aliestle.”

“It is, though we are a little old-fashioned about a few things,” Enrique said. “Do not worry. I intend to make sure you like it here, Julianna.

His words fed her growing hopes. She gathered her courage. “My father said you would decide whether I could sail on the ocean after we are married. You told Alejandro we couldn’t sail right now. Does that mean you’ve given some thought to my sailing after our wedding?”

“Your father also discussed this with me. I’ve already made my decision.”

Her heart raced. She held her breath.

Please, oh, please. Say yes.

Enrique squeezed her hand again. “Sailing on the sea is too dangerous.”

Jules felt as if someone had wrapped a line around her heart and pulled hard. She had to make him understand, to see how important this was to her. “I am a careful sailor. I would never take undue risks.”

“You are on the ocean. Weather can change. No one, not even the best sailors in the world, can remove all the risk.”

She understood that. She wasn’t a complete idiot.

Desperate to make this work she sought another test. “Sailing is a pleasurable leisure activity. Something we could do together in our free time.”

“I don’t have a lot of free time.”

“It wouldn’t have to be that often. Only once in a while.”

“We may have just met, but I must admit I understand your father’s concerns.” Enrique spoke to her as if she were a child. “You are to be the mother of my children, my wife, my queen. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you as it did your mother.”

Disappointment settled in the center of Jules’s chest, but she didn’t allow her shoulders to slump. Being here was still better than Aliestle. “So I’m only allowed to sail on lakes and rivers?”

“I’ve seen what sailing has done to my brother. The sport killed your mother. Once we are married, I do not want you to sail again.”

The air rushed from Jules lungs. Tears stung her eyes. She clutched the railing. “But I’ve always been able to sail. Just not on the ocean.”

“That was your father’s decision. This is mine.”

No! Her chest tightened. This was so much worse than she imagined. It wasn’t only the sailing. The tone of Enrique’s voice told her she would be exchanging her controlling father for a controlling husband. Her freedom would be curtailed here, too.

“Don’t look so disappointed,” Enrique chided. “This isn’t personal. I’m not trying to be cruel.”

“What are you trying to do then?”

“Be honest and help you,” he said. “It’s time for you to grow up and put childish things aside, Julianna. You may believe sailing is good for you, but it’s been brought to my attention that sailing brings out a wilder side in you.”

She drew back. “What have I done?”

“Kissed Prince Niko.”

“One kiss. We were engaged at the time.”

“There have been other reports,” Enrique said calmly, as if they were discussing business and not her life. “Such a pursuit is inappropriate for a future queen. You must embrace the bigger duty you’ll now have.”

Jules forced herself to breathe. Carving a new life for herself and helping Aliestle would be an uphill battle. She would be constrained here on the island, too. “What is to be my role here? My bigger duty?”

“You are to be my wife. You will provide me with heirs.”

Both of those things she’d known about. Accepted. But she doubted that was all Enrique would want from her. “And?”

“You will be a conventional princess and queen the people can respect. It’s in your best interest to do what I say and not bring any embarrassment to our name.”

Her best interest? What about their best interest? Enrique seemed to want to tell her what to do, not have a real relationship with her. How could love grow out of that?

Emotion clogged her throat.

What was she going to do?

Returning to Aliestle in disgrace and marrying a nobleman would be the worst choice for her, Brandt, her country and her future children. Doing something more drastic didn’t appeal to her, either.