Page 35 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Prince Grayson,” Estelle immediately curtsied as she turned toward him.
Leon bowed respectfully, but Finn saw that look of menace in the man’s eyes once again. From what he could remember of Leon when he knew him as Leo, the man thought he was better than everyone else.
“You knew about this?” Leon looked at Gray in disbelief. “Why didn’t you inform your king of it?”
“Because I didn’t see a reason to, and I respected my sister’s and Finn’s right to tell our parents when they were ready to,” Gray told them. “Up until a couple of days ago, my uncle hadn’t spoken to Harriet in over a year.”
“With no disrespect, Prince Grayson,” Leon addressed Gray, “but your uncle still outranks you and can overturn this unfortunate incident.”
“Excuse me?” Finn’s shoulders stiffened, and he began to realize why Harriet had lied to her parents about being engaged and then started packing to run off to Cape Town. “First, I will not have you speak aboutPrincess Harrietas if she were a piece of property.“ He pulled her protectively closer. “I will not have you disrespect our feelings for each other or fobbing our engagement off as an unfortunate incident.” He looked at Harriet, a warm smile spreading across his lips. “I knew the moment we met that she was going to steal my heart.”
“I knew the moment I saw you that my whole life had been leading me to you.” Harriet’s voice was soft and hoarse.
She smiled back at him, and Finn swallowed, reminding himself they were playing a part and trying not to get lost in Harriet’s beautiful green eyes. But for a few moments, he was drawn into their depths, and the world around them faded away until there were only the two of them. That was until someone cleared their throat, and they were snapped back to the present.
“While this is such a touchy scene,” Leon said, “I would put some space between the two of you until King Titus has been informed of your engagement.”
“I don’t think so,” Finn informed Leon. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Harriet and I have an early morning with her parents.” He looked at Gray. “You’re welcome to join us for breakfast tomorrow, Gray.”
“I might just do that,” Gray told him. “I’m glad I bumped into you, Harriet. I was coming to see you.” He glanced at Leon and Estelle, staring angrily at them. “Excuse us, we havefamilymatters to discuss.”
Finn and Harriet stepped around the still gaping Leon and Estelle and walked to Harriet’s suite. Finn could feel their eyesboring in them with every step, and a cold shiver crept up his spine. He knew from his dealings with Estelle in the past that this was not the last they’d see or hear from those two, and there were going to be consequences for angering them. But what Finn did know was that he was glad he’d offered to help Harriet and couldn’t blame her for wanting to flee the country.
Finn smiled to himself, thinking that a trip to South Africa was looking better and better the further he was pulled into Harriet’s life. While he was so proud of his kids for wanting to help, Finn was glad they were leaving before King Titus arrived in a few days. While Finn didn’t mind slaying dragons with Harriet, he didn’t want his kids caught in the crossfire.
“Are you alright, Finn?” Harriet’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he realized he was standing in the doorway to her suite, staring into space.
“I’m fine, how are you?” Finn asked her, stepping into the suite and following Harriet into the living room while Gray closed the door.
“That man just creeps me out,” Harriet admitted. “His cousin is a viper.” She pulled a face. “Is it just me, or was it kind of creepy the way they just appeared in front of us, and we were just talking about them a few minutes before that?”
“I know, right?” Finn frowned. “And what are the odds that stalker Estelle would be the same person you were talking about?”
“I’d say pretty good,” Gray’s voice came from behind Harriet. “Leon’s father and ours went to the same boarding school in Switzerland together. Our uncle was the one who introduced Leon’s parents.”
“I don’t see how that would make the chances of Finn and Estelle crossing paths pretty good,” Harriet and Finn looked at Gray confused.
“They also lied to us as to who they were,” Finn told Gray and Harriet. “Estelle told me that Leon was her brother Leo. They introduced themselves as Estelle and Leo Desjardins.”
Harriet and Gray glanced at each other, nodding, and Harriet said, “Leon’s father’s family name is Desjardins.”
“Finn, you and Riptide used to come to Joyce Isles often, even when the annual surfing competition wasn’t on,” Gray pointed out. “I’m betting you met Estelle there?”
“Yes.” Finn nodded. “My late ex-wife and I were judging a snowboarding competition when I met Estelle on Joyce Isles.”
“That makes sense,” Gray said. “Leon Senior always found every excuse to visit Joyce Isles and would always bring Estelle with him.”
“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that,” Harriet said, turning to Finn. “Leon senior latched on to our father when they were at boarding school together. Then, when my father passed the crown onto his younger brother, Leon Senior latched on to my uncle Titus.”
“Oh, he wanted to be associated with a king,” Finn realized.
“Yup,” Harriet nodded in confirmation. “The man was a golddigger and social climber. Leon Senior’s father was a count, and they were wealthy wine farmers who owned vineyards in France, Greece, and Italy.”
“When my father married my mother, Leon Senior was already big pals with Uncle Titus,” Gray continued. “My father was supposed to marry Leon’s mother, but he met and fell in love with our mother. Leon Senior saw that as an opportunity to marry a duke’s daughter.”
“Leon Senior didn’t even care that he would have to give up his last name in order to get the titlejure uxoris,“ Harriet told Finn.
“By courtesy of his wife,” Gray translated for Finn. “In some rare cases, a man can get the title of duke through his wife, whichthey did. Because my grandfather favored the marriage, Leon Senior sold the vineyard in Greece to my grandfather.”
