Free A Royal Engagement: The Young Royals Book 1 by Emma Lea Page B

sat low on his hips and a dirty white t-shirt that fit him snugly, revealing muscles that I didn't know he had, with an open plaid shirt over the top, the sleeves of which were rolled up to the elbows, leaving his well defined forearms bare.   He also had a hat on his head, like a real American cowboy, and I felt my face flush as I was assaulted by Meredith's cowboy fantasies.
    "Are they descended from our Merveille Guernsey?" I asked, wanting to prolong the conversation.   My voice sounded strange to my ears, breathy and low.
    "Not exactly," he replied, and I caught the brief flash of white teeth as he smiled,"But I can't go giving away all my secrets."   His voice was also low and I closed my eyes as it washed over me, imagining him whispering all his secrets in my ear as he kissed me.   I shuddered with anticipation, my entire body breaking out in goosebumps.
    These were the most words I'd heard Will say in over ten years and he actually sounded relaxed, playful even.   The few times we'd met over the last couple of weeks he had been stiff and cold, but this Will sounded like the guy I had known all those years ago and I didn't want this moment to end.
    "If that's all the questions for now, Princess, I really need to get these ladies back to the milking shed."
    "Of course," I said, disappointed, "Thanks for the talk."
    "My pleasure," he said softly and it sent an irrational thrill through me.   I tapped Benjamin on the shoulder, "Can I get back on my horse now?"
    "Lord Darkly would you mind terribly turning your back so the Princess can mount her horse."
    "Are you kidding me Benjamin?" I hissed.
    "You are in an official mourning period and no one outside the palace is to lay eyes on you," Benjamin hissed back.
    "It's okay, Princess," Will called, "I don't mind."
    My face flamed with embarrassment, anyone would think I was naked or something!   As soon as I was able, I ran for Monty and swung up onto his back, kicking him into a gallop to get as far away from there as possible.

Chapter Seven

    Over the next ten weeks, my life fell into a predictable rhythm.   I woke early for a run, and I'd be lying if I said my motives were pure.   I was hoping to get another glimpse of Will delivering the palace's order of cheeses, but no such luck.   Because of the mourning period that was enforced on the castle, no more deliveries were made, instead the kitchen staff took a van into the city to pick up what they needed.
    After my run, I sparred with Meredith.   I hadn't yet tempted any of the other guards to spar with me, but I thought I'd begun to wear Jamie down.   Each time I challenged him, I could tell he was a little closer to giving in.   Carlos remained standoffish, but he no longer looked at me like something he'd have to scrape off his shoe.   I hoped that seeing me hold my own against Meredith lifted his opinion of me.   I wasn't, and never had been, a pampered Princess and I didn't intend to be a pampered Queen.
    Alex was a dream assistant.   The woman was so organised I suspected she colour coded her underwear drawer.   She was also a whiz at research and had been helping me learn the finer points of the constitution as I armed myself against the fight with Parliament that I knew was coming.
    Savannah, meanwhile, had appointed herself my personal stylist.   Because I was neither allowed to leave the palace nor have any one come to see me, she had begun taking trips, with Margaret in tow, to meet with designers and order a new wardrobe for me.   She had also decided to clean out my current wardrobe and I'd had to hide my favourite Levi's to ensure they didn't get thrown out.   I actually had to snitch them from the pile she had declared unsuitable for a future Queen.
    Once a week I had a fitting with her and she had turned it into a girls night where I would model all my new outfits for her and the rest of my entourage (Meredith, Alex, Margaret, Priscilla and Jeanette) and then we would drink cocktails