Page 1 of The Royally Broke Billionaire
1
Queen Tess smiled to herself as her classic Louboutin heels clacked through the castle––hercastle. Even all these months later, she still had to pinch herself as a reminder that the marvelous royal life she was living was real. The secret she was bursting to reveal was bound to make all of their lives even better.
Although her woman’s intuition was normally spot-on, she failed to sense, during that deliciously content moment, that something was heading in their direction that would rock their tiny kingdom to its core.
Tess decided that luck was definitely on her side when she spied her husband’s royal steward, Finn, just ahead of her in the sprawling hallway. Short of stumbling onto the king himself, finding Finn was the best-case scenario she could imagine.
She felt certain Finn knew she was behind him, so Tess narrowed her eyes in determination when the man hurried around the corner. She was beginning to get the distinct feeling that he was avoiding her. Unwilling to put up with that kind of shenanigans, she called out to him, “Finn!”
The tall man gave her a sheepish grin as if she had busted him doing something he shouldn’t when she rounded the corner. “Good morning, Your Highness. You look especially lovely today.”
“Cut the fake flattery, Finn. I know you’ve been actively avoiding me.” She wasn’t in the mood for any nonsense, and she wanted to make sure he knew it.
He started to object, but she held up a palm to stop him from denying it. In her best, authoritative tone, she said, “I need an appointment to speak with the king.”
“Don’t you see him every single night?” Finn quipped.
The man’s flippant tone wasn’t one that would normally be used with a royal. Tess wondered if her relatively new status as queen might not be fully accepted by some of the people of Isle de Monsail––especially since she was an ‘uncouth’ American.
Deciding that was a larger matter that would need to be addressed at a later date, Tess answered the question. “You mean when he falls into bed bone-weary, only to rise before the sun to start all over again? No, I don’t consider that to be an appropriate time to have a serious discussion with him. What time can I get on his schedule for a few minutes today?”
“Today?!?” Finn sounded positively scandalized that she didn’t want to book time with her husband three weeks in advance. He flipped papers on his clipboard, even though Tess was well aware that the king’s calendar was electronic. “He’s booked solid for the next several days.”
“I’m sure if you check with him, he’ll find time to see me today.” Tess sounded more confident than she felt. She knew Sebastian would much rather spend his time with her than negotiating with foreign diplomats and dignitaries, but the flood of new responsibilities and the impossibly high expectations weighing on the new king’s shoulders were overwhelming.
As the ruling monarchs, the duo had managed, in a very short amount of time, to almost completely turn around the financial woes of their tiny island––problems that Sebastian’s father’s drinking and gambling habits had created. The constant stress was beginning to take a physical and emotional toll on her husband, though. On the few occasions when she was lucky enough to spend a bit of quality time with him, he looked pale and tired. It seemed like all he did was work, prepare for work, think about work, worry about work, and talk about work.
“I’ll ask him,” Finn promised, but he was shaking his head as if he didn’t believe there was any way the king would agree to see her today.
When Jenna, one of the castle’s chambermaids averted her gaze as she tried to scurry past them in the hallway without being noticed, Tess called out to her.
“Yes, Your Highness?” Jenna turned back, fidgeting her hands nervously. She was obviously used to the former queen’s aloof, abrupt, and condescending attitude.
Refusing to follow in her predecessor’s footsteps, Tess gave the young woman what she hoped was a warm, comforting smile. “In case I don’t get to see you tomorrow, happy birthday––a day early.”
The delighted surprise in Jenna’s eyes was worth every hour Tess had spent studying the palace employees’ information files, memorizing their names, photographs, birthdays, and other pertinent details.
“Oh, thank you, ma’am… I mean, Your Highness.” The woman bowed her head low before scurrying away, but Tess still saw the happy grin that lit up the woman’s face with surprise that her monarch knew and acknowledged her birthday.
Tess had been determined since accepting the crown to be a different kind of queen––one who listened to and truly cared about her people. She made a mental note to request that the palace chefs make a special birthday cake to acknowledge each employee’s birthday. It was a small gesture that would mean a great deal to the recipients.
Turning back to face Finn, the pleasure over her surprise birthday cake plans drained out of her as she took a deep, calming breath. Tess gave the harried man a curt nod before reminding him, “I have a busy schedule today, too, but I’ll make time for the king when he’s available.”
Finn’s relieved facial expression indicated that he believed he was being ‘saved by the bell’ after the giant gong of the palace doorbell sounded.
Tess looked up towards the ceiling as if she could see the source of the intrusive noise. She scrunched up her nose as she asked, “Who on earth would be ringing the palace doorbell?”
At Finn’s shoulder shrug, she went on. “I’m expecting the ladies for the Historical Society’s annual tea, but the royal guard should have escorted them directly to the palace gardens.”
Realizing that Finn wasn’t going to give her an answer, and feeling perplexed, Tess turned to head down the grand staircase. She swished a hand down her white, black, and gold striped tea-length dress to smooth it. Chances were high that whoever was on the other side of that door was hoping to get a glimpse of the royal family.
Remembering how nervous and excited she had been the first time she stood at that massive door’s threshold, she grinned and decided that this visitor was going to get to see the queen. Whoever it was had made it through the palace’s often overly-strict security team, so she felt safe enough to properly greet them.
Besides, it would be nice to see a ‘real’ person. Her life in the palace often felt secluded and lonely, especially when her best friend, Mo, and her new husband, Pierce (who also happened to be Sebastian’s brother), were out exploring the world––as they were now.
When she heard a fracas coming from the palace’s entryway, Tess picked up her pace. As she made her way down the last few steps of the grand staircase, Tess saw Geoffrey, the castle’s staid butler, physically blocking a young woman’s entry through the massive double doors.
Tess’s mouth hung open in shock when she heard her butler say, “You need to leave. NOW!”
