The Heir and the Spare (19 page)

I hoped Edmund would offer to walk me to my room. A little alone time with him would be perfect. When he didn't say anything, I waved to the gang and left, feeling self-conscious.

What if his parents gave him some secret signal of disapproval?

I stepped on the bottom stair and felt his hand settle just above my waist. My lips curled in a grin and I continued to walk up, comforted by his presence.

“I was hoping you'd join me.”

“I thought it prudent. I didn't want you aimlessly wandering the halls.”

“Is that the only reason? My intentions were nowhere near as innocent.” I coyly looked up at him.

“Is that so?” Away from prying eyes, Edmund slipped his hand into mine. He whispered in my ear. “I freely confess that getting you alone was my primary goal.”

“Well, thank goodness we're on the same page.” We padded up the stairs, down the long hallway, and paused outside my door. “Want to come in for a minute?”

“I'd love to.” The copper flecks in his blue eyes gleamed. Inside, he closed the door and turned to me. “You were wonderful today. My family thought you were lovely.”

“Really? I was so nervous.” I sat on the couch across from the dying fire as Edmund tossed on a couple logs. When he sat next to me, I curled into him, marveling at how well we fit together.

“I could tell you were.” He played with the long strands of my hair.

“You could? How? Was I that obvious?” I raised my head from his chest and met his eyes, worried.

“You do this fidgety thing with your hands when you're anxious or stressed.”

A breathy laugh escaped my throat. “You noticed?”

I'd taken sign language in high school and now, when nervous, I finger-spell random words that pop into my head.

“I could also see it in your eyes.” Edmund took my hand in his and drew a heart just above the underside of my wrist.

Closing my eyes, I enjoyed the slight tickling sensation. His palm pressed flat against mine as he compared the lengths of our hands. I opened my eyes to see his fingers neatly curl over the tops of mine. I'd needed this, a quiet moment, just the two of us. Just being near him had an amazingly calming affect on me.

“You have beautiful hands, so delicate.” He wove his fingers through mine, knotting us together. His chest puffed out as he took a deep breath, my head rising with it. “What are you doing to me, Evie?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, not daring to look at him as a jolt of panic shot through me.

“When I'm not with you, I think of nothing but you. I want to tell you things I've never told anyone else. I want to share everything with you.” He shook his head and softly added, “You're sitting right next to me and I don't feel like I can get close enough to you. I've never felt anything like this.”

I nuzzled into him, relieved.
“This is new for me too. I just want to enjoy every minute we have together.”

“I'm so glad you came to Oxford.” He leaned down and kissed the top of my head before tilting my face toward his. Slowly he kissed my eyes, nose, and cheeks before finally settling on my lips.

Cuddled together, we watched the fire, stole kisses, and whispered. It was perfection. Well, okay, I would've preferred more kissing, but it was probably wise we kept things cool.

In the wee hours of the morning I woke up, lying on the large four-poster bed with a blanket draped over me, fully dressed.

I don't remember falling asleep.

Groggily, I peeled off my clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor, and burrowed into the softest sheets I'd ever encountered. I drifted back to sleep and dreamt of Edmund lying next to me.

Preston and I stood at the top of the slope. Trees and snow covered the landscape as far as I could see. I watched other boarders cut slick paths down the mountain. Yesterday we'd been on skis; today he demanded I teach him how to snowboard. So, that's what we were doing. Much to my shock, Edmund's brother decided to give it a whirl, too.

“Are you sure you don't want to put skis back on? This doesn't feel right.” Philip glanced down at the board attached to his feet. “You seemed to do just fine on a pair of skis yesterday.”

“I never said I couldn't ski, Your Highness; I just prefer to snowboard. Give it a try, you might enjoy it.” I laughed and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. After a few pointers, they shoved off.

“See you at the bottom, gentlemen,” I called after they left.

I stayed behind them as we flew down the mountain. One of them let out a holler of excitement, making me laugh. The sensation of flying over the soft crystalline snow was thrilling. I'd missed this.

Edmund, Lauren, and most of our group were at the bottom, waiting to see if Preston and Philip would make it down without injury.

Philip's bodyguards trailed behind us on skis. The crown prince must stay secure at all times. And I thought Edmund had it tough. I pulled up on Philip's left and he glanced over with a loud “Woo hoo!” and two thumbs-up.

I returned the gesture, surprised Philip was such a cool guy.

At the bottom, Philip and Preston rushed me, gigantic smiles covering their faces.

“That was bloody brilliant.” Preston gave me a high five.

“Fantastic. Let's do it again.” Philip lifted his goggles and grinned.

After a few more hours and numerous passes down the mountain, the three of us were starved. When we arrived at the château for lunch, we found the skiing group huddled in the conservatory around one end of a large wooden table. The platters of food smelled delicious. I had my eye on the cucumber sandwiches.

“Ah, the intrepid snowboarders. How was it?” Queen Beatrice looked us over from head to toe, presumably assessing her son for damages.

“It was incredible. I think there's a chance Evie may have made a convert out of me. Don't worry, Mum, I'll still ski.” Philip hurried to assure her as he pressed a kiss on her cheek.

Beatrice laughed. “What did you think, Preston?”

“I loved it. This girl here is fearless.” He nudged my shoulder. “You should've seen some of the jumps she was taking, it was amazing.”

Edmund smiled and stood to help me take off my jacket. Draping it on the seat next to his, he then pulled the chair out for me.

“Thanks.” I met his eyes and a zing of warmth spread through my chilled body.

“Are you guys planning on going back out after lunch?” Edmund asked.

“Yes,” both Preston and Philip answered.

“In that case, I think I'll join you and get my own lesson.” Edmund winked at me and I, of course, went red from head to toe, although my already pinkened cheeks may have hidden it for me.

True to his word, Edmund joined us after lunch. He wasn't half bad either. He fell far fewer times than Philip had.

“I'm impressed,” I said as the lift carried us to the top. “Is this your first time?”

“It is.” He smiled at me, proud of himself.

I pulled up my goggles. “What do you think?”

“I think I'll always prefer a set of skis, but if you want to snowboard, I'll do my best to keep up.” His eyes twinkled as he spoke.

Unable to resist, I leaned over and planted a kiss on his lips without thinking. When I sat back up I couldn't believe what I'd just done. In public. Eyes wide, I covered my lips with a hand, muffling my voice. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't have . . .”

“Yes, you totally should have.” The corners of his mouth quirked upward.

I was glad Preston and Philip were on the seat in front of us. Our feet dangling in midair, Edmund threw his arm around me and grabbed me, elaborating on my little peck, not caring who saw us.

Yawning, I rubbed at my eyes, eager for sleep. A full day of snowboarding had done me in. Toasty and cocooned in the world's most amazing bed, I was about to turn out the lights when a knock sounded on my door. Grumbling, I threw the covers back and padded over the soft carpet in my bare feet.

“Who is it?” I whisper-yelled.

“It's Caroline; let me in.”

I opened the door, curious what was so important it couldn't wait. Caroline grinned at me, a scary big, super happy grin.

Eyebrows raised, I said, “Is there something I can do for you, Caroline?”

“No, but there's something I can do for you.” She came in and calmly sat on the corner of the bed.

I waited for her to continue but she stayed mute; clearly she wanted me to ask. “What can you do for me?”

“I have news.” She rubbed her hands together in front of her. “I was sneaking into the kitchen for a snack and I overheard Edmund speaking to his family.”

“So?”

“So? So, they were discussing
you
.”

My nose crinkled. “Do I want to know?”

“They were all impressed with you. Philip thinks you're sensational and a blast to be around. Lauren said you seemed like a good match for Edmund. She thought you'd keep him on his toes.”

“Caroline, you little snoop.” Thrilled that his brother and sister-in-law liked me, I was even more curious about his parents. The room was dim, aside from the bedside lamp and the glow coming off the fire. I sat beside her and wrapped my robe around my shoulders.

“That's not all I heard. His mum thinks you're charming. She said it was obvious you have feelings for Edmund and he for you. It sounded like she really likes you.”

“Oh my God, Caroline! I love you!” I squealed and gave her a big bear hug.

Hugging me back, she added, “She did say it was a pity you weren't English.”

“I'm half-English, does that count?”

“King William wasn't thrilled that you're an American either. But he thought you were very sweet and genuine. He said something about finding a way to make it work if Edmund was really serious about you.”

“What did Edmund say?”

A sly smile brightened her face. “I couldn't see his expression, but he told them there was no chance he and Jax could ever be together. His mum admitted she'd never seen Edmund look at Jax the way he's been looking at you.”

There was too much happiness inside me. I doubted my body's ability to contain it all.

“Then his dad shocked everyone and said he never really cared for Jax.”

My lips parted in a grin. This was a great start. “That's awesome.” I wished I could talk to Edmund.

“Sorry if I woke you, but I couldn't have kept that in all night. I'll let you get back to bed.” She did the double-cheek kiss thing and flew out the door.

Before she closed it behind her, she leaned back in. “Edmund did say something odd, though.”

“Oh yeah?” I sat on the bed in a daze.
His family likes me.

“He said something about there possibly being more to your story than meets the eye. Or something along those lines; I don't remember exactly.”

“Thanks, Caroline.”
Wonder what he meant by that?

With a wave, she closed the door.

Unable to support myself, I flopped back on the bed. My imagination slipped into overdrive. I saw Edmund in a tux, waiting for me down a long aisle lined with flowers. Next I pictured him carrying a little pink bundle in his arms.

Slow down, Evie. You haven't even made girlfriend status.
I rubbed my hands over my face and took a deep breath, trying to descend from my happy little cloud. The view sure was fantastic from up here.

Our last day on the slopes, we skied. Just before lunch we took a break for Edmund's family to hold a pseudo press conference. It was basically a chance for photographers and reporters to ask a few questions and get some nice shots of the family.

I stood on the sidelines with the group, watching. Behind everyone, I kept quiet, attracting as little attention as I could.

A man in a blue parka held up a microphone across the tape barrier and asked, “Princess Lauren, when will you give us an heir?”

Shielding her eyes from the blinding sun and snow combination, she answered, “When it's meant to happen it will.”

“Prince Edmund!” shouted a short woman. “Are the rumors true that you and Lady Jacqueline are seeing each other?”

“No. Lady Jacqueline and I have always been, and will continue to be, just friends.”

“Prince Edmund! Prince Edmund!” Several people yelled his name.

He pointed to a tall, slender man with a bright red beanie.

“You've frequently been seen in the company of an American girl and most recently been caught kissing her. What's your relationship with her?”

The snow at my feet suddenly held a new fascination for me as I nervously awaited his answer. It felt like my future hung on his next words.

Edmund cleared his throat. “Currently I'm unattached and that individual is a friend from University.”

Ouch.
My little cloud was now on a collision course with earth. After what Caroline told me last night I wasn't sure what to expect.
So, still not his girlfriend.

After a few more questions the press conference ended and we headed back to the château.

That evening, after dinner, I stood in my room and tossed my packed bags on the chaise. Too bad I couldn't squirrel the bed away in my bags and take it back to my dorm.

It was full dark outside, but still fairly early. I thought about crawling into bed. Instead, book in hand, I made my way to one of the great rooms. I knew I'd find a blazing fire in the hearth and could probably scrounge up a cup of tea. To me, the trio of book plus tea plus fireplace equaled heaven.

A large overstuffed chair next to the hearth welcomed me. Opening my book, I lost myself in the story. The next time I glanced up, the fire was dwindling. I felt a tap on my shoulder. Tilting my head back, I saw Edmund peering down at me.

“Trouble sleeping?”

“Just not tired yet. I thought I'd read for a bit.” I folded the corner of the page back and placed the book in my lap.