Free Royal Affair by Alice Gaines

gripping him.
    When it ended, he lay in her arms. Spent and
utterly helpless. Serenely happy and at peace.
    He hadn’t imagined she wanted him. He’d been
with her twice now, baring himself in every way one human could
with another. And she’d accepted him, fully and without
reservation. He was truly the most fortunate man alive.
    *
    With the preparations for a royal wedding
and the return of Dixie’s stepmother and stepsister, the palace
staff had their hands full. Marta happily took over acting as the
lady of the house with Felice’s blessing. An American from a
middle-class family, the young princess had little experience in
running a noble household. She’d learned a lot since marrying Dev,
but if Marta could help, why wouldn’t she? Besides, assisting with
domestic matters kept her closer to Friedrich…and Herr Schmidt, if
he cared to make an appearance.
    Then Vaclav arrived with his considerable
entourage, and after a brief greeting, Friedrich retreated to his
study, leaving Marta to deal with dozens of new guests and a butler
whose last nerve was about to shred.
    “Marta, my darling,” Vaclav declared on
seeing her. “You’re looking particularly lovely.”
    She offered her hand, and Vaclav kissed the
back, bowing extravagantly. When he turned it over as if to also
caress her palm, she gently pulled it back.
    “Dapper as usual, Archduke Marek,” she said.
He’d dressed himself in flowing black pants, dress shirt, and a
black and gold checked satin vest. A Dracula-style full-length cape
covered the entire ensemble. With his curled mustache, he might
have played the villain in a Victorian melodrama—the fellow who
snickered as he tied the young woman to the rail tracks for failure
to accept his immoral advances. Now that she thought of it, the
image wasn’t all that far off. She’d never heard of him taking
revenge for a rejection of the heart, but he’d left a trail of
disgusted women all across Europe.
    “My lady, if I might have a word,” Wilson,
Friedrich’s butler said quietly into her ear.
    “Of course.” She and Wilson retreated a few
steps.
    “I put Mrs. and Miss Beaumont in the suite
the archduke usually stays in.” Wilson appeared distraught enough
that he might actually tug at his collar. “It was the only one that
met all their…ahem…demands.”
    “Of course. Why don’t we give our friends
from Rosnia the entire north wing? I’ll explain it to the
archduke.”
    “Thank you, my lady.”
    “And Wilson, call my house and have my
butler and housekeeper come here to assist you. My ladies’ maid
knows a good agency to supply temporary staff.”
    “That won’t cause problems in your
household?”
    “We’ll muddle through.”
    Wilson gave her a very grateful, very
un-butlerly smile. “I’ll do that, then.”
    She returned to their new guests, shaking
hands and kissing the air next to women’s cheeks. Chattering in
several languages echoed through the entry hall, and footmen
scurried all around, carrying suitcases, hatboxes, and even trunks.
Wilson managed to direct them all, and soon everyone had
disappeared upstairs except Vaclav.
    “Such a lovely group,” Marta said. “We
decided you’d all enjoy being together in the north wing.”
    His eyes widened in surprise. “Not with the
family?”
    “You wouldn’t want to be crowded. Everyone’s
home, and Dixie’s family’s here as well.”
    “Ah, another beautiful American.” His
expression turned wistful. “The VonRamsberg boys get to them before
I do.”
    “If you’re so keen on American women, why
not make a trip there?” she said. “There are millions more.”
    “A fine idea, but first, my dearest Marta,
tell me what’s changed you. You’re positively radiant.”
    She couldn’t help but blush. Love and
intimacy could make a woman glow. Had everyone noticed?
    “Just the excitement of a wedding, I
suppose,” she said.
    “Are you staying at the palace?” He twirled
one end of his mustache. Perhaps he