Barbara Wallace - Not-So-Perfect Princess

“Now that is a worthy hobby.” Enrique pinned Alejandro with a contemptible look. “Unlike some of the hobbies others of us have.”

He stared over the rim of his wineglass. “Care to wager how my hobby turns out during the Med Cup, bro?”

Julianna’s fork clattered against her plate and bounced off the table. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. “Excuse me.”

Alejandro studied her. Strange. The stumble in the foyer aside, Julianna didn’t seem like a klutzy princess. It was unusual for someone as elegant as her to drop her fork in the middle of dinner and make a spectacle of herself.

Two servants rushed to her side. One picked up the fork from the ground. The other placed a new fork on the table.

“Thank you.” She raised her half-filled water glass. “So you sail, Alejandro?”

“I sail. I also build boats. Racing sailboats.” He noticed the glance exchanged between Julianna and Brandt. “Do either of you sail?”

She looked again at her brother.

“We sail,” Brandt answered. “On local lakes and rivers. For pleasure. Unlike many of our royal compatriots who enjoy the competitive side of the sport.”

Alejandro couldn’t understand why Julianna needed her brother to answer such a simple question. She’d had no problem talking about trade.

Enrique swirled the wine in his glass. “Some royals take sailing too seriously. I enjoyed the few regattas I competed in, but I no longer have time to sail with so many other obligations.”

“Horse racing may be the sport of kings,” Brandt said. “But many royals have sailed for their countries in the Summer Games. I’m sure more would have liked to.”

Dario nodded. “I’ve always preferred the water to horses.”

“As have I,” Enrique added hastily.

Julianna leaned forward. The neckline of her gown gaped, giving Alejandro a glimpse of ivory skin and round breasts. He forced his attention onto the sea scallops instead.

“Will one of your boats be entered in the Med Cup?” she asked, as if trying to draw him into conversation.

He appreciated her taking an interest. “My newest design.”

“A bit risky, don’t you think?” Enrique asked.

Alejandro shrugged. “You never know until you try.”

A smug smile curved Enrique’s lips. “I may take you up on that wager.”

“My sons take the opposite sides on everything,” King Dario explained. “And if they can figure a way to bet on the outcome …”

“They sound like my brothers, sir.” Julianna’s smile lit up her face. The result took Alejandro’s breath away. She looked more like the woman he’d held in his arms, not the cool, proper princess. “Brandt isn’t as bad as the younger three. At least not any longer.”

Brandt raised his glass to her. “Thanks, sis.”

“So will you be sailing in the race, Alejandro?” She sounded not only interested but also curious.

“Possibly.” The change in her intrigued him. “I’m trying to find the right mix of crew. But the boat can be sailed single-handedly, too.”

“Doesn’t sound like much of a racing boat,” Enrique said.

“The best boats can perform with varying numbers of crew.” Her eyes became more animated as she spoke. “I’m sure it’ll be an exciting race.”

Alejandro thought he heard a note of wistfulness in her voice. “Racing is always exciting. I’d be happy to take all of you out sailing. You could see the boat for yourself.”

Julianna straightened.

Brandt smiled. “Thanks, that sounds like fun.”

“Yes, but a sail isn’t possible right now.” As Enrique spoke, Julianna leaned back in her chair with a thoughtful expression on her face. “I don’t need to sail on your boat to know what the outcome of the race will be.”

Alejandro didn’t know why he tried.

“Enough sailing.” Dario gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “We have more important things to discuss, like wedding plans. King Alaric says there is no need for a lengthy engagement.”

“Our father is satisfied with the marriage contract,” Brandt said. “Whatever wedding date you decide upon is fine with him.”

“Outstanding. A short engagement, it’ll be.” Dario beamed. “How quickly do you two want to get married?”

Enrique and Julianna smiled at each other, but neither said a word.

“If I might make a suggestion, Father,” Alejandro offered.

“Go on.”

“Set the wedding date a week after the Med Cup, sir.”

“That would be a short engagement. Why then?” Dario asked.

“Because two people have never seemed more perfect for each other.” Oddly, the words felt like sandpaper against Alejandro’s tongue. But the sooner the two were married, the sooner he would be free. “Having the wedding after the Med Cup will allow me to focus all my attention on my responsibilities as best man.”

“Excellent suggestion,” his father said. “Enrique, Julianna. Do you agree?”

“I do.” Enrique stared at Julianna. “I can’t wait to marry.”

“Neither can I.” Julianna sounded like she meant it.

Dario clapped his hands together. The sound echoed through the large dining room. “I’ll call King Alaric in the morning.”

“I’ll start planning our honeymoon,” Enrique said.

The thought of Julianna in his brother’s bed left a bad taste in Alejandro’s mouth. But heirs were necessary if he wanted to be left alone by his father.

Julianna didn’t seem to mind. A charming blush crept up her long, graceful neck.

He remembered what Enrique had said about King Alaric’s daughter being a virgin. That didn’t seem possible unless he had used his wealth to protect her virtue. But was the seemingly in-control princess ready for some passion?

Alejandro couldn’t forget the way she’d pressed into him and how her heart pounded against his chest when he’d held her in his arms or the excited tone of her voice and the gleam in her eyes when she talked about sailing. Only a talented actress could feign that kind of interest.

Maybe there was more to her than Alejandro realized.

Not that it mattered. He picked up his wineglass and sipped. Not much anyway.

AFTER DINNER, Jules stood out on the terrace alone. Cicadas chirped. A breeze rustled through the palm fronds. The temperature had cooled, but no jacket was required.

She glanced inside through the open terrace doors to see Brandt having a brandy with King Dario. Enrique must still be on his telephone call with the ambassador to the United States.

Jules enjoyed the moment of solitude, a break from the endless conversation at the dinner table. At least the topic had finally turned to something interesting.

With her hands on the railing, Jules gazed up at the night sky. The stars surrounding the almost full moon winked at her. A smile graced her lips.

Perhaps she wasn’t cursed.

Enrique hadn’t said yes to the sailing invitation, but his words “right now” filled Julianna with hope. He’d raced sailboats. Alejandro built racing sailboats. Her wedding date was a couple of weeks away.

What were the odds of so many things working out so well? Not only was she marrying into a family of sailors, she would soon be Enrique’s wife. She could say goodbye to being submissive for the rest of her life.

On La Isla de la Aurora, she would be able to do what she wanted. Personal freedom, yes, but she could also help Brandt to show the world Aliestle was more than an eccentric, backward country. Maybe by doing that, Jules would be able to live up to the spirit of her mother.

Laughter bubbled up inside her.

Oh, she’d visit her homeland, but she would no longer be expected to live by all the restrictive laws and traditions.