Page 50 of Not-So-Perfect Princess
Especially the tabloids or her father. Fear of discovery made Jules’s stomach roll with nausea.
“I don’t understand why you would disobey the king, ma’am.” The maid sounded dumbfounded. “You’ve never…”
“I felt as if I had no other choice.” In for a penny, in for a pound. Jules needed Yvette’s help. That required honesty. Perhaps the truth would bring compassion. “Once I marry Enrique, my life will be the same as it is back home, with similar restrictions. Enrique has forbidden me from sailing again. I know I’m disobeying my father, but I need a taste of freedom. When Alejandro asked me to be on his racing crew—”
“You’re sailing with Prince Alejandro?” Yvette’s eyes widened, as if scandalized.
Jules nodded.
“But his reputation—”
“May be bad, but I assure you, Prince Alejandro has been a total gentleman.” Unfortunately.
“If King Alaric finds out or Prince Enrique—”
“Neither has to find out. Only Alejandro and you know what I’m doing. The crew thinks I’m a college kid from Germany.”
Yvette said nothing. Her eyes looked contemplative. Maybe she was too stunned for words. Or maybe she was totaling how much she could make selling this story to the media.
Jules knew her freedom, at least what little she’d found sailing with Alejandro, would vanish with one wrong word. She took the maid’s hands in hers. “I know what I’m asking is wrong, but please don’t tell anyone.”
The seconds ticked by.
“I’ll keep your secret, ma’am,” Yvette said. “I pledge my loyalty and promise to help you.”
Her words nearly knocked Jules over. “Oh, thank you. I’ll find some way to make it up to you. I promise.”
“That isn’t necessary, ma’am.” Compassion shone in Yvette’s eyes. “I understand.”
“You do?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’d love to escape my job as a palace maid, move to Milan or Paris and work in the fashion industry.” Wistfulness echoed in the maid’s words.
A kindred spirit. “You have the talent.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“I’m sure we aren’t the only ones who wish for something different.”
Yvette nodded.
“I can’t do much about Paris or Milan, but I can see about getting you a job here on the island.”
“Thank you, ma’am, but my family needs me in Aliestle. I don’t want to hurt my sisters’ marriage prospects.”
“I understand, but if you change your mind let me know.” Jules had more in common with her maid than she realized. She smiled. “Having your help, Yvette, is going to make sailing in the Med Cup so much easier. Here’s what we’ll need to do…”
CHAPTER NINE
AS THE DAYS FLEW BY, Jules juggled between playing the role of J.V. and being Princess Julianna. Whenever anyone wanted to see her in the morning, Yvette said the princess was sleeping. No one was the wiser, at the palace or on the crew, in spite of a close call when a strong gust of wind nearly blew her cap and wig off her head.
Jules had found a way to do her duty, as was required by her father and country, and experience freedom, as her heart and soul longed for. But guilt niggled at her.
Being on Alejandro’s crew was a crazy, fun adventure, but a temporary one. Her wedding day, however, was right after the Med Cup, yet she’d barely thought about it. Or her groom.
Prince Enrique wasn’t the man of her dreams, but he was to be her husband and the father of her children. Their marriage would last for the rest of her life. She couldn’t ignore her fiancé, even if he’d been ignoring her.
If love was to blossom, someone had to make the first move. That someone was going to have to be her.
With her resolve in place, Jules walked to Enrique’s office. The sound of her heels against the marble floor echoed through the hall.
Enrique’s assistant wasn’t behind his desk, but the door to the inner office was ajar.
She tapped lightly. “Enrique?”
“Julianna.” He rose from a large walnut desk. His gray suit, white dress shirt and red tie were a far cry from Alejandro’s casual boating clothes and sexy, carefree style, but Enrique looked regal and handsome. “What brings you here?”
