Page 63 of Royal Charmer
She nods in a jerky motion, her expression pale and strained. “To the dungeon,” she whispers.
She doesn’t smile at her joke like she normally does, but it makes me feel better that she’s sounding more like herself. I kiss her cheek. Still no smile, but she shoots me a tender look.
As soon as I’m in the privacy of our car, I arrange for the guards to move Mason and Riley to the private salon immediately. I want them there because it’s a good distance past the dining room, so there’s no chance of them popping out of the room and spotting us. I don’t care how long they wait.
When we arrive at the palace courtyard, Alice and I wait a few moments in the car for confirmation that Mason and Riley are in the salon. Once we get it, I help her out of the car and tuck her hand in my elbow, guiding her through the courtyard.
A servant opens the door for us, and we step inside to find the rest of our group chatting cheerfully.
“We’re heading to the private salon for a celebratory drink,” Gabriel says to me. “Luncheon won’t be ready for another hour.”
No!“Let’s go to the rooftop garden instead,” I say smoothly. “It’s a beautiful day, and I’m sure Jules and David would enjoy the view.” I turn to Jules and David. “You can see the whole island from up there.”
“Perhaps after luncheon,” Gabriel replies. “I offered our guests my finest scotch, which is in the salon.”
I work hard to keep the panic from my voice because I know that with Mason in the picture, this fake engagement will absolutely blow up in my face, and then I’ll be out of the business for good. Not to mention the effect all this will have on Alice. “We’ll bring the scotch to the roof.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrow, his jaw tight. “And we’ll also be signing the paperwork. I don’t want papers flying in the breeze up on the rooftop. What is wrong with the salon?”
“Nothing.” I smile. “Sounds fantastic.”
As soon as we move for drinks, I stride ahead, hoping to find a servant along the way who can move Mason and Riley ahead of our arrival. Alice grabs my hand in a death grip, which slows me down, and then before I can tell her my plan to flag down a servant, Jules is at her side.
“Alice,” he says, “my wife and her friends were thrilled with their signed books. Celeste would love to see you again, and more of her friends are asking after you. Do you ever come to Paris for a book signing?”
Alice smiles and replies with real warmth in her voice, which would be a relief if I wasn’t dying to intercept the waiting catastrophe. “I would love that, but I don’t have any Paris signings planned in the immediate future.”
I don’t wait around for Jules’s response, instead loosening my hand from Alice’s grip and striding ahead of the group to find a servant. Suddenly Anna is at my side, her arm linking with mine. She moves fast, her long legs easily matching my stride. I can’t bring myself to wrench away from my heavily pregnant sister-in-law.
“Somebody is in love,” she teases in a soft voice.
“I am,” I say, unable to help my smile. “And she is too.”
“Oh, Lucas! I’m so happy for you both.” She lowers her voice. “You can say it, this was all my doing.”
“It was mostly my devastating charm.”
She laughs. “I like her. I really do. Will she be staying here on Villroy?”
“I don’t know. She’s still skittish and her ex just showed up. He’s in the damn salon. I’ve been trying to direct Gabriel away from it, but he’s impossible.”
She halts in her tracks. “Gabriel?” she calls. “I’m feeling a little light-headed. I think I’m going to lie down.”
Gabriel nearly knocks me down in his rush to get to her side. “What is it? Is it the baby? Are you in labor?”
“No, it’s not that,” she says quickly. “I just need to rest. Would you mind walking me back to our suite? Lucas can entertain our guests until you return.” She sends me a pointed look. She is good.
“Of course,” Gabriel says, wrapping an arm around her. “And I’ll call for the doctor just to check in.”
“No doctor,” Anna says firmly.
Gabriel quietly takes his leave of Jules and David, promising to return once Anna is settled. He insists his guard accompany them and remain posted outside her door. He loves her with a fierce devotion that I’m only beginning to understand. I watch for a moment as he guides Anna ahead of us, turning toward the stairs that lead to their suite. They have a low intense conversation as they walk. Gabriel is probably adamant on the need for a doctor, and Anna is just as adamant that it’s not necessary. She took the heat for me. I owe her for that and more.
I join Jules, David, and Alice again. “Would you like to see the gardens? It’s just through here in the courtyard.”
“Actually, I was really looking forward to that scotch,” Jules says.
“Of course,” I murmur. Now that Gabriel and Anna have left, I have no way of dashing off to find a servant without being obvious.
