Leanne Banks - A Royal Christmas Proposal

* * *

Ericka rose early and conducted two tele-conferences. She much preferred regular phone calls because for those, she didn’t need to apply make-up or fix her hair. During another call later in the morning, she received the disturbing news that young royals from Sergenia were in danger and needed to leave their small country due to unrest.

Ericka turned off her phone and did a session with Leo. She showed him several works of art and signed the best she could. “Here is da Vinci’s Mona Lisa,” she said, lifting her computer tablet. “He was a brilliant artist. As was Raphael.” She pulled up a photo of one of Raphael’s paintings. “I can’t wait to show you Michelangelo’s sculpture of David,” she told her son. “It’s beyond amazing. There’s nothing like it,” she said, and waved the hand toward her face making the sign for amazing.

“I must have been way behind,” Treat said from the doorway. “I didn’t know anything about da Vinci until I was in my teens. Unless you count the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

“Who are they?” she asked, feeling a strange rush of pleasure when she saw him.

“Cartoon turtle characters named after some of the great artists of the Renaissance,” he said. “Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello and Leonardo.”

“How clever,” she said.

He chuckled. “You learned about the real artists. I learned about the cartoon characters.”

Ericka frowned in sympathy. “How unfortunate,” she said.

He chuckled again. “No worries. I received a little more education later on and saw pictures of the Renaissance artists. I’m okay. Just not as cultured as you are.”

Ericka met his gaze and felt her stomach jump. “You can learn.”

“I do my best. Are you ready to go out for your luncheon with your sisters?”

“Yes” she said, standing as she remembered. “Nanny will take care of Leo.”

“I’m sure he’s exhausted from his morning lecture,” he said.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you saying I’m boring him?”

Treat lifted his hands. “Not me.”

“I need to freshen up,” she said. “I’ll be back in a moment. Nanny Marley,” she called and walked down the hall.

Treat walked over to look at Leo. “How ya doing big guy? Wanna talk football?”

Leo kicked and stared at him, making grunting sounds.

“Just so you know, Bonnie Sloan was one of the first deaf NFL football players. You can do anything you want,” Treat said. “When you get a little older, maybe we can toss the pigskin.”

A half-beat later, Nanny Marley entered the room. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s just received a very cultural tutoring session,” Treat said.

Nanny nodded and smiled. “Her Highness is highly motivated to expose Leo to art, culture and science.”

“What about sports?” he asked.

“That may be someone else’s job,” Nanny said.

Princess Fredericka strode into the hallway. “Ready,” she said, and quickly ran to Leo to give him a kiss on his chubby cheek.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Treat said, and walked with her out of the house.

“You don’t have to call me ‘Your Highness,’” she said.

“Oh, really,” he said. “Then what do I call you?”

“For the remainder of your service, you may call me Ericka in private,” she said as she walked to the car.

“And what do I call you in public?” he asked.

“Miss,” she said. “Just call me Miss.”

“Done and done, Ericka,” he said as he helped her into the car.

Just a few moments later, Treat drove to the café where Ericka planned to meet her sisters and sister-in-law. Although she was more than willing to hop out as he approached the curb, he refused to let her out. “I’ll escort you into the café,” he said.

“Well, don’t expect to stay,” she told him as he parked the car. “There will already be security for the rest of the crowd. You’ll be superfluous.”

“Superfluous,” he echoed as he walked her into the café.

She gave a heavy sigh. “It’s not an attack against your masculinity. When it comes to security, my brother Stefan provides overkill.”

“I’m glad he’s protective. You are all valuable to him and many others,” Treat said. “There’s your table. I’ll be outside. Call me if you need me.”

Ericka was still contemplating his statement about how valuable she and her sisters were, but Bridget stood, in her immense pregnancy, and extended her arms.

“Ericka, come here and give me a big hug. I need it. Maybe you can squeeze away some of my swelling,” Bridget said.

Ericka smiled and rushed toward her sister and gave Bridget a hug as big as her pregnancy. “So good to see you. You look great.”

“I’ll look so much better in a few weeks. Look at Eve. She’s doing fabulously. Six months pregnant and she looks like she could deliver after a full day of plowing fields.”

“I hope not,” Eve said, kissing Ericka on the cheek. “How’s our little boy Leo?”

“Wonderful when he sleeps,” Ericka said. “Which doesn’t seem to happen at night.”

“Oh, no,” Pippa, Ericka’s other sister said. “Hopefully, he’ll sleep soon.”

Ericka felt Pippa search her face and wished she could hide her emotions.

“You should call me for help,” Pippa said.

“You’re busy with your own baby,” Ericka said.

“Not too busy for family. Any news on treatment?” Pippa asked.

“We’re still working with hearing aids, but we haven’t seen any improvement. Surgery may be in his future, but I want to make sure he’s ready for it. Even with surgery, I’ll teach him sign language. Of course, I’m learning it, too.”

“You know the rest of us will be right there with you,” she said. “We’re happy to learn sign language. It would be good for the children. It would be good for all of us.”

Ericka’s heart swelled and she felt her eyes fill with tears. “You’re so sweet,” she said, embracing Pippa. “So very sweet.”

“Oh, stop,” Pippa said. “Let’s have a nice holiday lunch.”

Ericka sat down with her sisters and sister-in-law and enjoyed a non-alcoholic cranberry spritzer along with a salad then a chicken crepe. Afterward, the women enjoyed chocolate mousse pie.

“Delicious,” Bridget said.

“I agree,” Ericka said.

“Stefan says you’re doing a great job with the royal society conference,” Bridget said.

Eve nodded. “He said the same to me.”

“And me,” Pippa added.

Ericka felt her cheeks heat with self-consciousness. “Thanks. Our colleagues have been very responsive.”

“Good to hear,” Eve said.

“I did receive an unsettling call this morning. You know that Sergenia is experiencing some unrest and the princesses and prince need a place to go. I think Chantaine would be perfect.”

“But we’re such a small country. How could they possibly hide here?” Pippa asked.

“Different identities and jobs.” Ericka said. “They’re amenable to such a plan.”

“But would Stefan agree?” Bridget asked. “He has always wanted to remain neutral.”

“Perhaps with the proper pressure,” Ericka said, then glanced at Eve. “I hate to ask you.”

“Give me more details later and I’ll see what I can do. He’s a stubborn, but wonderful, man,” Eve said. “That’s why we all love him.”

“True,” Pippa murmured then lifted her glass of soda. “To good health, happiness and the future of the Devereaux family.”

“Here, here,” Eve said. Bridget echoed the cheer as did Ericka.

“And next week, we meet publicly for the lighting of the royal Christmas tree,” Eve said. “Bridget excused.”

“If I can be there, I will,” Bridget said, and then took another sip of her cranberry beverage. “In the meantime, we’ve just added a couple new goats to our zoo. Too many in my opinion. Do any of you want a goat?”