A Royal Engagement: The Young Royals Book 1 (9 page)

"You were pretty sure of yourself," I said, indicating the basket.

He shrugged, "If I couldn't entice you outside then I would've set it up in your office."

"What if I'd said no to lunch altogether?" I asked.

He just grinned at me and was saved from answering by the elevator doors opening.

He led me through the hallways until we reached the back door which led out onto a large stone patio.
 
I stopped and took a deep breath of the clean, crisp air.
 
The sun was shining and the sky was blue, it was the perfect day for a picnic.

There were two golf carts waiting for us as well as two more body guards, as per Von Bartham's request that I have four whenever I stepped outside.
 
Jordan led me to the first and secured the picnic basket on the rear seat while I climbed in the front.
 
The four security team members climbed into the second cart and we set off across the lawn in a weird looking motorcade.
 
I had to restrain myself from laughing at the four bulky men squeezed into the one golf cart, it looked like a clown car, only the clowns were wearing Armani suits and were packing heat.

Jordan drove us to a reasonably secluded spot that overlooked Lac Merveilleux.
 
The large expanse of water was still, reflecting the mountains that sat on the other side of it like a mirror.
 
I took a moment to stand and just look, appreciating the natural beauty of the place I had, at some point, begun to take for granted.
 
Did everyone become so blind to the amazing and beautiful things if they were surrounded by them all the time?
 
Being in the States for so long, I had forgotten what was essentially right on my doorstep for most of my life.
 
As I stood there now and took it all in, I promised myself that I would never forget again.

Jordan spread the blanket out and began removing the food.
 
He must have planned this with Chef in advance because I saw all of my favourite things on the menu.
 
Including Will's incredible cheeses.

I sat beside Jordan and sighed, feeling my muscles relax and the tension in my neck and shoulders ease as I leant back on my elbows.

"Now," he said, holding up an empty plate, "What can I get for you?"

"A bit of everything," I said with a laugh realising just how hungry I was.

Jordan started piling the plate with generous servings.
 
By the time he handed it to me, it was covered by a small mound and, as hungry as I was, I didn't know if I could actually eat it all.
 
I sat up and took the plate from him with the proffered fork while he began to fill his own plate.

I snagged a piece of cheese off the top and put it in my mouth, savouring the creamy taste on my tongue.
 
I moaned appreciatively.

"God, I love this cheese," I mumbled.

"Meh," Jordan said with a shrug, "It's okay, I guess."

"Okay?" I said, surprised by his lack of enthusiasm for this ambrosia, "How can you be so dismissive of it?"

He chewed thoughtfully for a bit before swallowing to answer me.

"I suppose I am a little prejudiced," he said, "Will and I, well, we had a falling out."

"Really?" I said, completely surprised by his admission, although the animosity between them now made sense.
 
"What happened?"

"I don't want to speak ill of him," Jordan said, "But since he lost the family's fortune, he hasn't been the same."

"I don't understand," I said.
 
When had Will lost his family's money and how? "How did that happen?"

Jordan sighed and I could tell he was reluctant to tell me the story.

"After Will's mother died, his dad kind of spiralled.
 
He started drinking heavily and the business suffered.
 
Will was away at university, so I helped where I could, but they were haemorrhaging money and there was nothing I could do to stop it."

I covered my mouth with my hand as I gasped, "Oh my God.
 
I had no idea."

"By the time Will returned, his father was too sick to work and there wasn't much left of the business.
 
I was dating Georgina at the time and I tried to explain to Will that we had done what we could, but he completely lost it.
 
He ran me off and forbid me to see Georgina again and accused me of all sorts of horrible things.
 
His father died a few months later and Will took over the farm and the business."

"Oh Jordan," I said, laying my hand over his, "I'm so sorry.
 
Were you...were you in love with her?"

He smiled sadly, "Georgie will always be special to me, but it was three years ago and I've moved on.
 
I'm sure she has too."

"Will must be doing well now, though," I said, "His cheese business must be booming."

"Maybe," Jordan said, "But his father had accumulated a lot of debts.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if Will was barely making ends meet."

Jordan took me back to the palace after lunch, but went to his own office rather than riding the elevator back with me.
 
Lunch had been nice and it was great to have a break from the monotony that'd become my life.

Carlos and Aiden rode the elevator with me, being my two inside-the-palace security detail today.
 
I hadn't spent much time with Carlos and from what Von Bartham had told me, he was one of Jacob's most dedicated men.
 
He frightened me a bit and seemed to look at me with contempt and I had no idea why.

As we walked back into the office, they both stopped outside the door between mine and Alex's rooms to give me some semblance of privacy.
 
But I needed to get to the bottom of whatever it was that had Carlos so upset.
 
I couldn't have him on my team if I didn't feel comfortable around him.

"Carlos," I said before stepping over the threshold into my office, "Can I have a minute?"

He clenched his jaw and nodded, following me in.

When the door had closed, I indicated for him to take a seat on the sofa set beside the window.
 
He perched on the very edge like the floral fabric might somehow drain the masculinity out of his body.
 
I settled myself opposite him and took in his tight shoulders and erect posture.

"You don't seem to like me very much," I said and he blanched.

"No, that's not true at all," he said.
 
His voice was deep, almost baritone, and it suited his dark chocolate complexion and very large body.

"Then what is it?" I asked, "Do you disapprove of me becoming Queen?"

"Not at all, Your Highness," he said, "I think you will be a wonderful Queen."

"Are you unhappy being assigned to me for some reason?"
 
I asked feeling like I was interrogating him.

He shook his head, "I requested this assignment," he replied.

"So what is it then?" I asked, feeling frustrated with his tightlipped answers.

He clenched his jaw again and looked over my shoulder.
 
I waited him out.
 
I needed to know what was going on with him.

"May I speak frankly, Your Highness?" he asked, resigned.

"Please."

He exhaled harshly, "I don't like some of the company you keep," he finally said.

"Oh?" I raised my eyebrow in question.

"I don't mean to offend you," he said, "But I don't trust Lieutenant Wicks, Your Grace."

"Jordan?" I was shocked. "I have known him practically my whole life.
 
He was one of Jacob's closest friends."

He swallowed hard at the mention of Jacob, but then his expression turned to stone.

"Maybe he was once," Carlos said, "But they hadn't been on speaking terms for a while."

I sat back in the armchair and looked at him with surprise.

"Really?
 
I had no idea.
 
Jordan hasn't said anything."

"Maybe not, Your Highness, but I know that Jac...His Royal Highness hadn't seen Lieutenant Wicks for three years or more."

"He was out of the country," I said, making an excuse for Jordan, but not knowing why I felt the need to.

"Yes, Your Grace, he was, but he was home plenty of times too."

It didn't make any sense.

"They hadn't even been in the same proximity for months until the hunt."

"Jordan was on the hunt?"
 
I asked, breathless.

"Yes, Your Highness.
 
Jacob, I mean, Prince Jacob wasn't very happy to see him either."

"But why?
 
Do you know what happened between them?"

"No, Your Highness, I don't.
 
I just know that Lieutenant Wicks was
persona non grata
around the Prince."

I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth and tried to sort out the mess in my head.
 
What could have possibly happened between the two friends.
 
I'd thought it strange when Jordan had told me that he and Will had had a falling out, but to find out that he and Jacob had as well was doing my head in.

"What about Lord Darkly?" I asked, "Was Jacob still speaking to him?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Carlos replied, "They had a standing appointment every week and Prince Jacob never missed it."

So maybe Jacob had taken Will's side in the argument he'd had with Jordan, but that didn't make sense.
 
Why would Jacob do that?
 
It had nothing to do with him, and if anything, Will had been in the wrong.
 
So why remain Will's friend but not Jordan's?

"Thank you Carlos," I said, standing.

"Yes Your Highness," he replied, standing also.

"Is it going to be a problem for you to be on my team if I continue to socialise with Lieutenant Wicks?" I asked.

His jaw worked and his eyes hardened, but he shook his head, "No, Your Highness," he replied.

I reached out and laid a hand on his forearm.
 
"I know you and Jacob were close," I said, "And I know how hard this must be for you at this time.
 
If you need some time off..."

He shook his head, "No Your Highness, I don't.
 
The Prince and I were close and I am devastated that he is gone, but I want to be here.
 
I don't want to frighten you, but I don't believe that what happened to the Prince was an accident and it would be remiss of me to think that there is no longer a threat to the crown. Until we know what really happened on the hunt, I need to be here, close to you.
 
I think you're in danger and I want to do for you what I couldn't do for your brother."
 

He bowed and then turned and left the room leaving me feeling off-kilter.
 
On top of everything else, was my life in danger too?

I couldn't concentrate on the constitutional reading I'd been doing and instead found myself staring out the window.
 
I just couldn't reconcile Carlos' story with what I knew of Jacob and Jordan.
 
Will had always been a bit of a hot head, so I could understand that, under the influence of grief, he might have said some things to Jordan that he shouldn't've, but that didn't explain why Jacob had cut Jordan off too.

But maybe Carlos had it wrong.
 
Maybe it was simply friends growing apart or the fact that Jordan had been gone for so long and with Jacob's increased responsibilities the time needed to maintain the friendship was not there.

Whatever it was, it wasn't helping me learn the ins and outs of the constitution.

I stood from my chair and walked into the outer office where Alex was hard at work.

"I'm going for a ride," I said to her.

"Okay," she replied.
 
"Is everything okay?" she asked looking up at me.

I shrugged, "Yeah, I just can't stand to read that crap anymore.
 
I'm brain fried."

I gave her a wave and headed for my bedroom so that I could change.
 
I really wanted to pull on my Levi's, but they weren't black, so instead I pulled on a pair of black jodhpurs and a black t-shirt followed by my riding boots.
 
I beelined for the stables and wasn't surprised to find Monty saddled and waiting for me.
 
The big bay gelding had been Jacob's and the moment I had laid eyes on him the other day I'd fallen in love.
 
He was a gentle giant with a smooth gait and lots of power in his hindquarters.

I nodded to Cliff, the Master of Horse.
 
"Did Alex call down to let you know I was coming?"
 
I asked.

"She sure did, Princess," he replied, "And I know how much you enjoyed riding Monty t'other day.
 
He's been a bit off his feed, probably missin' the Prince like the rest of us.
 
A run'll do 'im good."

"Thanks Cliff," I said and boosted myself up into the saddle, not waiting for anyone to give me a hand up.
 
I turned to my body guards, "Are you guys coming?"

"Benjamin's bringing the ATVs," Aiden replied, "We'll follow behind with him and Jamie."

I gave them a nod and then nudged Monty into a trot out of the stable yard.
 
Once we were past the buildings and out into the paddocks proper, I gave Monty his head, not really caring where we ended up.
 
I could hear the ATVs in the distance behind me and was glad that they weren't riding alongside of me, at least this way, I was kind of alone.

The clear, crisp air filled my lungs and tugged at my clothes and hair as we galloped through the lush green grass.
 
Here and there I spotted some early wildflowers blooming amongst the long blades.
 
The sight of the unfamiliar cows on another rise caught my attention and I headed in their direction.