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What was I doing wrong? Judging by the way she stared at me every morning, she found me attractive, yet she never acted on her desire. There were no coy glances or attempts to corner me in secluded places, which I would have happily welcomed. She was bold in her perusal when she thought I was sleeping, but actively avoided me any other time.
Perhaps I was going about things incorrectly. I’d been waiting for her to come to me, but a woman like her would want to be wooed. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure I knew how. Presents wouldn’t do it. Damaris lived frugally but the Bar Nines ranch had significant cash reserves and a healthy income from oil and natural gas. The best I could offer was a title she didn’t need, and sex that would rock her world.
Worse, in just a few hours, I was scheduled to fly to Stockholm for a week of funding meetings for the observatory, giving me even less time to figure it out, and I couldn’t stand the idea of missing the best chance to get her pregnant.
I’d thought the observatory would draw her out, considering she was a doctoral candidate in astronomy, yet she’d changed the subject when my mother mentioned it. I’d already found a completed application for a fellowship on her laptop, along with an unfinished thesis I barely understood. If she intended to apply, why hadn’t she asked Mother for a reference? Her qualifications were more than impressive, yet a personal recommendation from Princess Valeriya would guarantee her a spot. It was also the perfect job for a future princess of Agafonza.
Stubborn, perplexing Americans…
Then again… I grabbed the thumb drive I’d used to copy her information from her laptop and plugged it into mine. There had been something in there about her having a pilot’s license. I couldn’t recall her exact qualifications, but I was more than happy to let her fly me to Stockholm just for the opportunity to keep her close.
At first glance, it surprised me. What would a young coed need with a pilot’s license? After I’d comprehended the sheer size of her property, it made more sense. At almost a million contiguous acres, she needed a plane to survey her stock.
Well, it would be hers when she came into her inheritance. Sadly, she wasn’t qualified for any of the aircraft owned by the Agafonzan crown. She’d gone just far enough to fly her father’s Cessna and didn’t have instrument rating.
When a soft knock sounded at my door, I cursed and tucked the thumb drive into my pocket. With my luck, it was Damaris coming to change the sheets and remove the breakfast cart. The last thing I needed her to see was me invading her privacy.
“Come in,” I called.
Eliza, my secretary, pushed the door open and strode inside, carrying the ever-present tablet she used to schedule my life until it screamed. “Good morning, Your Highness. I’m afraid I won’t be able to travel to Stockholm with you, but I might be able to make it later in the week.”
I blinked and tried to keep my mouth from falling open. In almost forty years of service, first to my father, then to me, Eliza had missed exactly three days of work. In her words, it had been because her only daughter had had the poor manners to be born on a Wednesday. She’d even refused the standard sixteen-week maternity leave and had worked from home.
“Is something wrong? Are you unwell?”
“I’m perfectly fine, Your Highness. Thank you for your concern. I’m afraid Oxana is passing her inability to schedule on to my grandchild.” In a decidedly uncharacteristic show of emotion, a faint smile blossomed on her thin lips. “I’m going to be a grandmother.”
“Why are you still here?” I got up and shooed her gently toward the door. “Don’t let me see you for at least two weeks, and I don’t want to hear about you working from home either.”
“But—”
“Out.”
She let out a relieved breath and pushed the tablet into my hands. “Thank you, Your Highness. Your itinerary is here, and I’ve already taken the liberty of asking that lovely American student to act as your assistant.”
“Which one?” I already knew though. There was only one American working in this wing of the palace. If Eliza hadn’t been older than my mother and an employee, I’d have kissed her full on the mouth. Perhaps I’d kiss Oxana for her absolutely brilliant timing instead.
Flowers would be more appropriate. There would be no more kissing of anyone who wasn’t my American princess.
“Damaris Lawton. I believe she’s the housekeeper for this wing. You might not be aware, but she’s studying astronomy in university, and I feel she’d be a helpful addition to your meetings.” She glanced down the corridor, then took a step out the door. “I do apologize for the short notice.”
“Not to worry. I’ll be fine with Ms. Lawton. And congratulations to you and Oxana on the blessing.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. Yes, well, I’ll be off. Enjoy your trip.”
CHAPTER 2
DAMARIS
“Don’t look so glum,” Val said, directing Tati, her maid, to place yet another gorgeous dress into a designer garment bag. “You’ve been in the palace over a month and haven’t done a single touristy thing. You should be out having fun on your days off.”
“But—”
“And I’m glad to be cleaning out my wardrobe. I should have done it years ago.” She held up a vintage, emerald-green sheath and sighed, then passed it to Tati. “I wore that one to Wimbledon in… was it 1982?”
Although I’d worn dresses for school dances, they’d been nothing like the elegant things Val was giving me. My idea of fancy was jeans that didn’t have horse spit on them and a clean shirt without too many holes or stains.
“Nineteen eighty-four, Your Highness,” Tati murmured. “You sat next to Diana, remember?”
