The Spare and the Heir Read online

* * *

  Gabe wanted to sneak a peek at Esme - no, Esmeralda - to see her reaction to his statement, but kept his focus instead on Jack, who looked almost hurt at the reprimand, as he slunk out of the room and closed the door.

  Not a great quality in a security guard. He needed to know the rules. All of the other men did. The only time Gabe was to be bothered was in case of emergency. Ever.

  But especially when he was alone with a woman.

  He’d never be alone with a woman again, not like this, except Esmeralda.

  And Gabe was fine with that.

  Even if she didn’t believe him.

  For now. If she still didn’t believe him in a year or two, it would be a different issue.

  “My mother says this evening is fine. We’ll start with the casual clothes at six and do all the pictures today. The photographer apparently is not happy with the change in arrangements, but this will work better anyway. It’s easier to make my hair and make-up dressier and doesn’t take as long as the other way around.”

  He’d never thought about how long it took to do a woman’s hair and make-up or that different looks would take different amounts of time, though it shouldn’t have surprised him.

  “If there’s a room set aside for my use, I’ll be there about five. Perhaps we can get a bite to eat first?” He needed to get to know Esmeralda, to let her get to know him.

  Or at least the him he was able to show her.

  He couldn’t tell her everything yet. Maybe not ever.

  But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t know the real him, just not the whole of him.

  Some secrets he’d sworn to take to his grave, even if the oath had only been to himself.

  “Have your assistant contact mine. It will depend on how much time Karen, my stylist, needs.” She started for the door.

  Gabriel jumped out of his chair, beating her to it. He opened it slightly before leaning down to kiss her lightly on the cheek. “I’ll see you later this evening.”

  She didn’t respond, but he could see the heat creeping up her neck and into her cheeks. He opened the door fully to allow her to leave. By the time he followed her into the sitting area, she was stepping onto the elevator.

  Esmeralda turned, and Gabe stared straight into her milk-chocolate eyes until the doors slid shut between them.

  He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t looking forward to being close to her this evening, to sharing what were sure to be incredibly romantic moments with her for the camera.

  First, he needed to handle the Jack situation.

  “Where’s the card?” he asked the man who came far too close to cowering for a security guard.

  Jack handed it over.

  Gabe knew it had to be fake or altered, because he hadn’t lied to Esmeralda about the things he’d never done in Sargasso.

  Looking at it carefully, it was altered. The woman’s name on it was his handwriting, but the location had been changed from New Sargasso to simply Sargasso.

  “This has been tampered with.” He held it up between two fingers. “Besides the tampering, I gave explicit instructions years ago that none of these were to be honored any longer.”

  The way Jack’s mouth opened and closed several times with no words coming out was enough for Gabe. “You’re fired. You’ll have a plane ticket back to Auverignon waiting for you at the Auverignon Airways counter. Pack your things and leave.”

  Jack finally found his backbone, at least enough to stand up straight. “There’s no one else on the security team here at the moment, sir.”

  “I’m leaving, so there’s no need for anyone to be here.” A snap decision made on the spur of the moment. Plus, he could take care of himself better than this guy could at the moment.

  He picked up the phone to call for his car. The rest of his team would be notified as well, though he hoped he could beat them out of the resort. “You’ll be gone in an hour.”

  As Gabe waited for the elevator to return, he sent a text to his assistant. Russell would make certain the plane ticket was waiting for Jack and that Gabe’s clothes were waiting at the Ancora Palace for him. Another text to Daniel would have his head of security scrambling to get Jack’s posts covered.

  At least he didn’t have to worry about hair or make-up.

  His car glided to a stop as he exited the sliding doors. With sunglasses firmly in place, Gabe drove off without waiting for his security team. They had GPS trackers on both his phone and the car. They’d find him before long.

  Until then...

  Gabe headed straight for an open-air market he’d visited before. There were always lots of people and usually, he could get to the playground area undetected. He wasn’t a creeper, but he loved watching children play.

  Their infectious joy. The way they ran around without caring too much what others thought. Making friends without a second thought.

  Never wondering what photo the paparazzi might snap next.

  Grabbing his ball cap, he tugged it down on his head. He’d shed his coat and tie. Maybe it would be enough.

  Sometimes it was.

  Often it wasn’t.

  But this wasn’t home either.

  There he seldom went unrecognized. Elsewhere, he had better luck.

  But he’d been on the news today.

  That changed his chances.

  He hugged the outskirts, though not so much he’d look suspicious. Bought a lemonade and a newspaper. Found a bench.

  Stared, mostly unseeing, at the children running around and sipping his drink. Gabe noticed his security team discreetly mingling in the area, but mostly he wondered what it would be like to bring his own children here.

  Children who would also share the burden of being the heir or a spare - or neither. How could he protect them from the very different burdens that came along with those labels? Would Esmeralda let him? Would he be an absentee father, a father in name only, the way her father had been?

  Tugging on his shirt-sleeve caught his attention. A little girl, maybe four or five, stood there with a handful of weeds-that-looked-kind-of-like-flowers.

  She separated her bundle in half, then held it out. “These are for you. I like you.”

  He took them, a genuine grin crossing his face. “Thank you, kind lady. I will cherish them.” No one who only knew his public persona would believe that, but it was the absolute truth.

  She held out the other half. “These are for P’incess Es‘malda.”

  Gabe blinked twice. “For Princess Esmeralda?”

  The girl nodded. “You give them to her for me.”

  His smile softened. “I’ll be sure to do that.”

  After giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, the girl skipped off. Gabe unwrapped the napkin from around his lemonade and carefully packaged the stems in two separate parts of it.

  A glance at his watch told him it was time to go. Flowers in one hand, lemonade in the other, he headed back for the parking lot then the palace.

  4

  Running a hand over the bodice of her dress, Esme wondered how this day had arrived so fast. The intricate beading had drawn her to this dress over the others. It wasn’t overly formal or fancy, but suited her in a way she hadn’t expected, especially since she was the Crown Princess. She was expected to be formal and fancy.

  She also wouldn’t wear a tiara all day like she’d be expected to. For the wedding itself, her mother had loaned her one, but it would come off after the first part of the reception and probably for most of the pictures.

  Her eyes closed as she remembered the photo shoot two weeks earlier. The way Gabriel had held her and looked at her, she could almost believe he loved her.

  Then she remembered the practice Gabriel had convincing women around the world that he was into them and knew it was just an act.

  The photos had been stunning, though.

  But before lunch, she would be his wife.

  For eternity.

  Esme held out hope that it would be better than her parents’ marriag
e but didn’t know if that was a realistic thing.

  A knock on the door pulled her attention away from the window.

  “Come,” she called.

  The door opened to reveal King Edward of San Majoria. “How are you, my dear?”

  “Nervous.” She smoothed her hand over the beads again, this time following it with running both hands over her hips and the tulle skirt.

  “It’s a big step, but I have faith in you, in both of you.”

  At least someone did.

  “I am sorry to hear your father is under the weather.” The kind look on his face took some of the sting out of his words.

  “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.” Yet her shoulders slumped. She’d hoped he wouldn’t live down to her low expectations.

  Now the questions assaulted her.

  Who would walk her down the aisle?

  Could she walk herself?

  Have her mother?

  What would the people think?

  What would Gabriel think?

  Why did she care?

  “I’d be happy to step in for your father if you’d like.” King Edward’s gentle voice called Esme’s attention back to the man.

  Esme shook her head. “I appreciate the offer. Perhaps if my father was no longer with us or hospitalized with a long-term illness, but not as a last-minute replacement when we all know he just doesn’t want to be here.”

  She struggled to hold the tears at bay, but a couple sneaked through.

  Then the other king, the one who shouldn’t have to act as her father, pulled her into the kind of embrace she’d longed for from her father since she was a little girl.

  “How long do we have?” she whispered.

  “Not long enough for you to have a good cry, I’m afraid.” Edward squeezed a little tighter then let her go. “I know enough about your relationship with Gabriel. Not everything of course, but enough. It won’t be easy, but you’ll need to learn to trust him, to let him be the one here on Earth you can lean on when times get tough.”

  Esme was going to tell him it wouldn’t happen, that she had her mother, but he kept talking.

  “Your mother won’t be here forever, unfortunately. None of us will. But you and Gabriel will have a lifetime together.”

  “Like Astrid did?” Esme cut in, the bitterness seeping through.

  She’d never told her friend everything.

  Astrid’s first husband died as the result of an auto accident.

  Two days after he’d hit on Esme, and she’d threatened to tell Astrid if she ever heard even the slightest rumor of him stepping out on his wife. He’d tried to backtrack and tell her she misunderstood his comment. After his death, Esme wondered if he’d been right. She swore she’d never marry a man who would ever give her reason to doubt his faithfulness.

  Yet here she was about to marry the world’s most notorious playboy from any royal family anywhere.

  “What happened to Astrid was a tragedy,” he admitted. “But look at everything she’s found with Jordan.”

  Astrid and Jordan and their two children were deliriously happy. Sofia, born after the death of Astrid’s first husband, adored her adoptive father and baby brother. Esme wondered if another announcement would be forthcoming in the next few months. While widowed and single, Astrid had lamented several times that she wished for a large family.

  “I know.” A glance at the clock told her she would be leaving any moment. She’d put on her happy face and hope no one noticed how fake it looked. Given the reaction to the engagement photos, she’d done a pretty good job of faking being in love with Gabriel. She’d have to do it again.

  Esme didn’t want to admit that he’d made it incredibly easy for her to look comfortable and relaxed around him. He’d likely do the same today.

  She hoped he would.

  As much as Esme hated to admit it, she wouldn’t get through this day without a complete meltdown any other way.

  “At least let me escort you to your chariot, my dear.” King Edward bowed slightly at the waist, something Esme was sure he hadn’t done in years, then extended the crook of his arm.

  Esme slid her hand inside. “Thank you, Edward. You are most kind.”

  The king didn’t say anything but covered her hand with his other one as they started for the door.

  Under the portico, a vehicle waited to take her to the cathedral a few miles away. Edward and Judy helped her to the center of the seat, made sure her dress was safely tucked inside then closed the door. They would travel separately but via a different route and beat her there.

  Esme’s car would wind through the streets as she smiled and waved to the crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of her on the big day. In about an hour, she and Gabriel would leave, going a different direction first then circling back along the same route allowing those waiting now to see the newlyweds as they returned to the palace for the reception.

  She took a deep breath as the gates opened, and she got her first glimpse of the crowds gathered.

  At least they were happy this day had arrived.

  Esme put on her most demure smile and, every few seconds, nodded slightly each direction, waving occasionally. At least she wasn’t really expected to wave overly much on the way to the church.

  Fifteen minutes later, the car glided to a stop at the bottom of a massive staircase.

  She took a deep breath as the car door opened.

  It was time.

  * * *

  Gabe stood at the front of the cathedral waiting for Esmeralda to enter. His brother stood next to him, though he’d wondered until the day before if Steven would show up. Though his brother was the future king of Auverignon, he hated the spotlight, hated the photographers, hated everything about the public life he was forced to lead. Steven hated it all so much, Gabe often wondered if his brother would have rescinded his claim and let Gabe take the throne - if Gabe hadn’t been engaged to a Crown Princess since he was a child.

  He could hear the murmurs in the crowd strengthen and their attention turned toward the back of the cathedral.

  This was it.

  The doors opened, and he could hear the cheers from the crowds gathered outside.

  His first glimpse showed a bowed head as Esmeralda watched her step on the staircase. As more of her appeared, Gabe noted a member of the royal guard holding her hand to steady her as her other hand held her dress out of the way as she walked.

  Esmeralda paused as she entered the building, her bouquet held in front of her. She looked stunning, but there was something more.

  When the music changed, and she started forward, he realized what was missing.

  Her father hadn’t come.

  Without taking time to think about it, Gabe started up the aisle. About halfway, there was a break in the seating. He’d meet her there. They’d walk the rest of the way together.

  The whispers increased as he neared the spot where he’d wait. Her carefully measured steps meant it took longer for her to arrive, but when she did, he offered his arm.

  As her hand slid into the crease of his elbow, a sense of rightness came over Gabe.

  “You look...” He whispered but paused as he tried to decide on the right word. Lovely? Amazing? Stunning? Gorgeous? “Perfect.”

  “Thank you.”

  They reached the front of the cathedral and stopped.

  As the minister began to speak, Gabe tuned him out as much as possible while still making certain he’d know when to respond. He’d begun to wonder if this day would ever come, knowing it was all his own fault if it didn’t.

  The next twenty minutes passed in a blur. He said the right things at the right time. So did Esmeralda.

  But he wouldn’t kiss her at the altar.

  Instead, they moved to a room off to the side where they both signed the marriage license. Gabe saw his parents for the first time as they signed. They’d only arrived that morning as his father had some unexpected business to take care of in Auverignon.

  “It’
s about time you settled down,” his father told him, the hushed tone quiet enough it wouldn’t carry to the other side of the room.

  Gabe didn’t respond. His father believed the stories, knew enough of the early ones were true, to believe the rest of them without concrete evidence. Of course, Gabe had never told him they weren’t true or why he continued to let the world, including the woman who had just become his wife believe they were.

  Esmeralda’s assistant touched up her make-up as everyone else made their way back to their seats. Then they were alone.

  “I meant it when I said you look perfect,” he told her. “I don’t know what I was expecting or what the fashion world thought you’d wear, but this is the perfect dress for you.”

  “Thank you.” She hesitated. “You look very nice yourself.”

  The self-assured grin Gabe perfected years earlier automatically slid into place, but he managed to restrain himself. “Thank you.” Much better than the comment he’d almost made. He wasn’t quite sure what it would have been, but likely just inappropriate enough to make his new wife blush and anger her.

  Which reminded him of another question. “Where will the first kiss be?” He’d never been told.

  “At the palace.”

  Gabe slid an arm around her waist and pulled her to his side, turning her slightly toward him. “I can’t kiss you now? No one would know.”

  “I would. No. You can’t.”

  He heard the trumpet blast that signaled their return to the altar. This time they faced the crowd, paused for a moment, then started down the aisle. When they reached Queen Carlotta’s seat a few steps down, they both turned.

  Esmeralda curtsied deeply, while Gabe bent at the waist, farther than he normally did for his own father.

  When they reached the door to the cathedral, the roar of the crowd surged, with many of the voices calling for a kiss.

  “Don’t even think about it.” Esmeralda’s bright smile belied her tone of voice.

  “Think about what?” Gabe did his best to support her as they descended the stairs to the waiting carriage.

  “Kissing me.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that far too long to stop now, love.”