Royal Disaster #5 Read online

  “I’ll be talking more with Sophia about this, too,” he says, rising. “But I suspect she’ll be more enthusiastic about the idea if she knows you’re on board. And that you’re committed to behaving yourself.” He walks over to the door. “I know you’ll do the right thing, Pax.”

  And before I can respond, he’s gone.

  Sophia

  I stare out the window as I pretend to eat my food. It’s late spring—my favorite time of year. There isn’t much to see of spring here in the desert, but I can imagine the vivid hues of the flowers blooming in the palace gardens, the fragrance hanging in the air.

  I’m not sure I can agree to never seeing my home again.

  I’m still staring out the window, mindlessly twirling my fork in the pile of food in front of me when someone sits down across the table.

  I don’t have to look over at him to know it’s my brother. “What are you doing here, William?”

  “I thought I’d join my sister for a late lunch.” He taps on the table. “What is that?”

  “Beef Stroganoff.” I turn to look at him. “I thought you were going back to your hotel.”

  “And I will.” His brow furrows. “Forgive me, Sister, but that meal doesn’t appear to have ever been anywhere near an actual cow.”

  “It’s delicious,” I lie. “Very flavorful.”

  William grabs a piece of whatever it is passing for meat and lifts it to his mouth. He winces and grabs my glass of water, taking a long drink. He almost chokes out his words. “I suppose that is flavorful, if the flavor you enjoy is that of salt.” He shakes his head. “Allow me to bring you a real dinner, Sophia. You’ve been subsisting on this vile excuse for food for long enough. I’m rather surprised Nicholas didn’t—”

  “He did. You all did.” I flatten my hands on the table. “I don’t need real food, whatever that is. I’m doing quite well on my own. I wish you all would accept that.”

  “I…” He shakes his head. “I do accept that, Sister. I’m not trying to offend you. I know all too well what you’re going through.”

  My gaze narrows a bit, but I know he’s right. He had to fight for his right to marry his love—again—despite our father’s wishes.

  “How is Justine?” I twirl the food around my fork again.

  He stares down at my plate, too. “She’s doing well. Carrying on with her duties as if she isn’t carrying our children in her belly.” He grins. “But you should stop trying to change the subject.”

  I frown at my food.

  “Father is worried about you. We all are. That mad woman is still out there somewhere.”

  “I know.” I look across the table at him. It isn’t as though I haven’t had the niggling worry in the back of my mind all this time that this Abby person might come back.

  “It wouldn’t be that bad, you know. Coming back to Montovia. You’d be much safer there than here.”

  “Perhaps. But wouldn’t having a large wedding put even more of a target upon me? Wouldn’t it be like rubbing it in her face?”

  “Maybe. Or maybe not. Maybe if she sees that you’re now truly married in front of the world…” He sighs. “I don’t know what the answer is. I just know I’d feel much better if you were at home.”

  “That really isn’t a reason to go home, though, is it?” I eye him suspiciously again. “And I’m not sure what I should do.”

  “I think the answer is quite simple—”

  “I already know what you think, Brother. You think I should abide by Father’s rules. But none of you did, not even Andrew. And Father didn’t strip any of your spouses of titles. He didn’t threaten any of you with exile.”

  “Oh, I think he threatened all of us with exile.” His smile only falls a little. “And if a title is really that important to your husband, I happen to know a queen pretty well. I could probably convince her to at least bestow a knighthood or something.”

  “That…” I can’t help but smile. “That is a fine offer, Brother. And I do appreciate it.”

  “Good.” He reaches out to pat my hand. “I know it doesn’t solve your dilemma, but in my view, you really don’t have one.”

  I look up at him. “My choice is to follow Father’s rules or to never see Montovia again.”

  “Exactly. Can you really say you never want to go home again?”

  “No. But why should I have to bend? Why should I have to make this decision at all?”

  He shrugs. “Call it part of growing up, Sophia. Sometimes you have to make a decision that has no good outcome. But truly, wouldn’t you rather have the outcome of being with your husband and being in your home than never being able to come home again?”

  “I don’t know. And really, I think I could live with the first two of Father’s proposals. Pax doesn’t seem to care about being a prince. Though I’m sure he’d love to be a knight.”

  William winks at me, grinning. “You know, we could always give him lessons on how to be a prince. Help him learn our ways—at least become a bit more civilized.”

  “He would never agree to that, William, and you know it.” I shake my head, but I can’t help but smile at the though. It might be quite fun to help Pax learn our ways—and it would certainly prove to my father that he’s trying.

  “I say we give the chap a chance. He seemed open to the idea a little while ago.”

  “Really?” I tilt my head.

  He shrugs. “He didn’t come out and give a definitive ‘no’ at any rate.” He grins. “And I’m all for helping with this. I’m certain Leopold would be, too.” His smile widens. “Maybe even Nicholas.”

  I shake my head. “It might work. But it’s really the last demand of Father’s. How can I agree to not bring a child into my marriage? How could Father propose something like that?”

  He squeezes my hand. “Sophia, do you really think that if you found out you were with child, anything would happen? Do you honestly believe that Mother would allow Father to banish you if you were carrying her grandchild?”

  It’s like a weight lifts from my chest, and I can’t help but smile again. “You are a terrible influence, Brother.”

  He lifts his shoulders in a shrug, still grinning. “No one ever said I wasn’t.” He glances over his shoulder. “It was a little irresponsible of our family to leave me here with you, wasn’t it?”

  I nod as I look down again at my food. I blink back the tears that fill my eyes—maybe it all will work out. I may have to give in to my father’s demands—and maybe Pax won’t get to have the royal title he deserves—but I can have everything else I want. I can have my husband and my family, dysfunctional as they may be. I can have the love of my life and my country. And perhaps I can even win on the last point of contention, because William is right. My mother would never allow my father to do something so cruel as to banish me if I was actually pregnant. Perhaps it’s wrong, but I can’t help but think that might be the best way of all to defy him.

  Well, that and helping Pax to become the Prince he deserves to be.

  I look up at my brother. “Tell Father I’m in. As soon as Pax is well, we’re going to Montovia.”

  Royal Heartbreakers Reader Team

  Sign up for the Royal Heartbreakers Reader Team

  Be the first to know when new books are available

  Character Interviews

  Behind the Scenes information and excerpts

  Deleted scenes

  Free books only for our Reader Team!

  Sign up now!

  Also by Renna Peak

  The MISTAKEN Series (Book One is free!)

  ALL I WANT (Book One is free!)

  No Questions Asked

  Want to be the first to know when Renna has a new release?

  Join Renna’s newsletter!

  Find Renna Online:

  Facebook

  Twitter @rennapeak

  Website

  Email

  Also by Ember Casey

  The Cunningham Family Series

  (Book one
is free!)

  The Fontaines Series

  The Devil’s Set Series

  The Billionaire Escape Plan

  Want to be the first to know when Ember has a new release?

  Want exclusive extras and freebies?

  Join Ember’s newsletter!

  (http://www.embercasey.com/newsletter.html)

  You can also find her in the following places:

  Facebook: http://smarturl.it/FBgen

  Instagram: http://smarturl.it/IGgen

  Twitter: http://smarturl.it/TWITgen

  Website: http://embercasey.com

  Email: [email protected]