Free Hand-Me-Down Princess by Carol Moncado

as the country home where they’d spent the night before, it was still far beyond any other place she had ever been. Would she ever get used to the opulence?
    They were greeted by a couple of staff members Malachi hugged like long-lost grandparents.
    “I wish we could have been there,” the gentleman told Malachi.
    “It was short notice,” Jessabelle’s new husband pointed out. “I know you would have been there if you could.”
    Jessabelle stood behind him and a bit to the side, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Instead, Malachi turned and reached toward her, wordlessly urging her forward.
    “Mr. Rappellino, Mrs. Rappellino, I would like to introduce you to my wife. This is Jessabelle. Jessabelle, Mr. and Mrs. Rappellino. They have worked for my family for many years.” He winked at her. “Mrs. Rappellino always makes extra dessert.”
    Mrs. Rappellino laughed. “Because you love it, dear.” She reached for Jessabelle, dispensing with any formality from the very beginning. “I am so very glad to meet you,” she whispered in Jessabelle’s ear. “I look forward to getting to know you while you’re here.”
    “I do, too.” Jessabelle hoped her words sounded sincere. In reality, she had no idea if she wanted to get to know the other woman or not, but it seemed she would have little choice.
    “Let me show you to your room.” Mrs. Rappellino took Jessabelle’s purse from her and led the way to the grand staircase. “You’ll be in the room Malachi always uses when he’s here. It has its own bathroom and a balcony with a gorgeous view of the Mediterranean sunsets.”
    “That sounds wonderful,” Jessabelle told her honestly. She’d always loved sunsets.
    “And you’ll need to let me know what your favorite meals are so I can prepare them for you while you’re here.”
    “Oh, I like pretty much anything,” she told the other woman.
    “No matter. I want to make the kinds of foods you enjoy.” She peppered Jessabelle with question after question about her preferences in food, drinks, desserts, and anything else she could think of. “Your luggage will be delivered shortly.”
    Jessabelle was stunned when Mrs. Rappellino gave her another hug.
    As Mrs. Rappellino backed off, she said “Malachi will be up shortly, I’m certain. If you need anything at all, please let me know.”
    “I will,” Jessabelle replied, watching the other woman as she left. She turned and opened the French doors, walking out onto the balcony. The breeze coming off the Mediterranean was a bit chilly, but with her long sleeves, felt nice. Malachi had been right. The view was gorgeous.
    “You like it?”
    She turned to see Prince Malachi standing in the middle of the room. With his feet about shoulder width apart and his arms crossed in front of him, he made quite a figure. Obviously an athlete, she had a feeling he did more than just play sports with his brother or friends. He likely worked out regularly. She hoped he wouldn’t make her feel like “less than” since she rarely did.
    “I do,” she finally answered. “The view is spectacular.”
    “It’s nicer in the summer,” he told her walking across the room until he, too, stood on the balcony. “Right now, it’s really too cool to eat out here, and, of course, swimming is out of the question at the moment.”
    “I can imagine.” She hesitated before going on. “I love being in the water, but I never really learned how to swim.”
    Prince Malachi grinned. “Then I will teach you. Once the weather warms to swimming weather, we will have a few lessons. I am a fair swimmer myself.”
    Something niggled in the back of her mind. “Didn’t you swim competitively?”
    He chuckled. “I did, though it is not nearly as impressive as it sounds.”
    She tilted her head. “It’s not?”
    “No. I did swim for my school team, and did quite well, overall. I would have done better if I could have kept my toes positioned right while doing the breast