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“We can add it to our original plan,” said Teresa. “I think the cruise line will be faster to implement and be more profitable in the long run. I’d like to take it on and partner with you on the project. I feel certain it’ll be a huge success.”
“You feel certain about Esme’s idea.”
Teresa nodded, tapping notes into her phone. “When you know, you know.”
“I do know.”
Leo looked down at Teresa. She had never once reached for his hand. It was always occupied with her phone. She had only twice looked him directly in the eyes before something else called her attention away. Meanwhile, when Esme was in the same room as him, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. His hand itched even now to be filled with her.
“I can’t wait to hammer out the details with you.” Teresa practically bounced in her seat, scooting closer and holding out her handheld, pulling up a calendar. “When can you clear your schedule?”
“I suppose we’ll be very busy planning the engagement and the wedding.”
Teresa blinked, once, twice. “Right. Of course.” She put her phone down and scooted back to her side of the car.
“You still want to get married?” he asked.
“Of course. Our union makes sense. We meet all the criteria of a strong partnership.”
“You make us sound like business partners.”
“We do make good business sense.”
Leo chewed at the inside of his lip. “But not romantic sense?”
Teresa raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you were a romantic.”
“I am,” he said. “I just never got to show it.”
“Of course not, being a royal. It’s not a trait outside of fairy stories and romance novels. It’s not our tradition. Royals are practical people. Everyone else gets to dream.”
“What do you dream of, Teresa?”
She hesitated and then smiled sheepishly as she answered. “I dream of ships and the sea and charting new territories.”
“So, this business deal between us, does it need to include romance?”
“I never expected to fall in love with the man I marry. I’ll be a good wife. I like kids if you’re worried about that. I’m willing to try for a son soon after the wedding, but I want to continue working during and after the pregnancy.”
Lady Teresa would be good for Cordoba’s future, that was clearly true. “Lady Teresa, I have a different proposition I’d like to present to you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“And the first place prize goes to ...”
The announcer twiddled his blonde mustache, dragging on the announcement of the winner of the pie maker contest in true showmanship fashion, but Esme wasn’t truly paying attention. She hadn’t tasted any of the pies. She hadn’t even been there to help her friend make the pie. That had been left to Prince Alex who was gung ho in winning his rivalry against the duke.
The duke and his ringer stood confidently beside the announcer as if certain of their imminent victory. Alex and Jan stood on the other side. As the silence dragged on, Alex reached down and grabbed Jan’s hand, lacing their fingers together.
Jan startled but didn’t pull away from the prince. At any other time, Esme would be focused on that show of affection, ready to make it out to be more than it probably was. She’d let her imagination run away with her and start planning Jan and Alex’s baby shower. But not today.
Esme’s mind was still back on the docks, still watching Leo walk away hand in hand with the Duchess. It should have been her getting into that car with him. Or him staying behind on the docks with her. That was how the story was supposed to go.
The thing would’ve dictated nothing less. But Esme was starting to doubt that the thing had been there. Had she imagined it all? Had she seen what she wanted to fit the story she wanted to tell?
She’d cast herself as the heroine in this tale, but Leo had already written his name down in a different story. One that made no mention of her.
Esme hated to admit it, but the duchess was probably perfect for him. When Leo had mentioned this duchess last night after kissing Esme, she’d imagined a lemon-mouthed, wart-faced, stick of a woman. But that hadn’t been the reality.
