Page 52 of Not-So-Perfect Princess
“I know.”
Jules drew back. “You do?”
“Our palace doctor spoke with yours.”
She didn’t know what to say. Had all her fiancés been told about her medical record? Not that she had anything to hide, but still… She hated the lack of privacy. That would never happen to one of her brothers.
Enrique glanced at his computer monitor, distracted by whatever had popped up on his screen. “Is there anything else?”
No, you egotistical tyrant-wannabe, Jules would have said if she had a choice, but she didn’t say a word. Like it or not, Enrique was going to be her husband. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life fantasizing about his younger brother. She had to make this relationship with Enrique work. Somehow.
“Perhaps we could go out,” she suggested. “Just the two of us. On a date,” she clarified, so he got the point.
“A date. What a sweet thought. But that’s not possible with our upcoming nuptials.” He placed his fingers on his keyboard. “Don’t fret, my princess. We’ll have plenty of time for dates after we’re married.”
Their first kiss would be at the wedding ceremony. Their first date would be on their honeymoon. The thought of her wedding night made her nauseous.
She straightened. “I’ll leave you to your work.”
Enrique didn’t look up. He didn’t mutter a goodbye. The only sound was his fingers tapping on the keyboard.
So much for meeting her halfway. She walked to the doorway.
Time to face facts. If not for the PR opportunity at the wedding, he’d send a proxy to stand in for him as groom at the ceremony.
Enrique was going to have to have a complete change of heart about her and the marriage for things to work. Even then she wondered if love was possible.
But Jules knew one thing. No longer would she feel any guilt for sailing. She’d tried to make things better, but Enrique had shut her down.
Nothing was going to stop her from having the time of her life with Alejandro and the crew. Nothing at all.
Alejandro couldn’t focus. All he wanted to do was look at the picture of Julianna on the cover of this morning’s newspaper. He stared at the black and white photograph.
No one would call this vibrant, warm woman an ice princess. The smile on her face reached all the way to her eyes. Those same eyes looked brighter, more alive.
Alejandro wondered if he—make that the sailing—had brought about those changes. Or had it been Enrique?
He hadn’t seen the royal couple together in a few days. Enrique had skipped several dinners. Alejandro hadn’t minded one bit. He enjoyed spending time and talking with Julianna even with his father and Brandt there. The more Alejandro learned about her, the more he wanted to know. He couldn’t wait to see her tonight.
He glanced at the clock. Only two.
The thought of waiting until dinnertime to see Julianna didn’t sit well. If he returned to the palace early, he could see if she wanted to spend time with Boots. She enjoyed playing with the kitten.
Alejandro liked playing with her. Or would, if he could…
He’d settle for being alone with her.
She might be on his boat every morning, but so was the rest of the crew. They couldn’t talk openly or in a language he was comfortable speaking. She had to play a role, and so did he.
Leaving with her from the dock might raise suspicions, so she always headed back to the palace alone while he went off to the boatyard.
He looked at the clock again.
Why not take the afternoon off? He rarely did so.
After a quick talk with the boatyard foreman about what needed to be completed today, Alejandro returned to the palace. He found Boots sound asleep in the apartment. The kitten didn’t stir when Alejandro picked him up. He went to Julianna’s room and knocked on her door.
No answer.
Alejandro knocked again. Nothing.
Damn. He felt becalmed, as if all the wind had left his sails.
“Are you looking for Princess Julianna, sir?”
He turned to face one of the palace housekeepers with a feather duster in her hand. “Yes, Elena, I brought Boots by for a visit.”
“Every day the princess tells me how much the kitten is growing.” Elena’s smile deepened the lines on her face. She’d been working at the palace for as long as he could remember. She used to sneak him food when he’d been grounded for some infraction or other. “The princess is right, sir.”
