Page 14 of Royally Matched
Breathing a sigh of relief, I put my head down and make my escape, silently vowing to ask Father to knight Duck at the earliest opportunity—right after I update the palace security protocols.
Chapter 4
Marco
“What the heck did you dothatfor?” Austin demands as he wrestles his arm from my gentle but determined grip. He must have worked out the promise of free drinks was just a ruse to extract him from the clinch he had the princess in.
I’ve managed to lead him away from the stunned princess to the back of the ballroom, where some of the guests are still watching us to see what the drunk guy who jumped the proposal gun by about a hundredfeet does next.
“I’m saving you from embarrassing yourself any further in front of the entire ball, mate, the King and Queen, and the princess included.”
“You’re only jealous because I got in there first with the princess and you’ve missed out,” he spits. “I came prepared. I even brought a ring.” He pats his top pocket. “Where did that dang ring get to?”
I pull it out of my own pocket and hand it to him.
“Why did you have it?”
“Let’s just say I rescued it for you.”
He harrumphs.
I think of the look on Princess Sofia’s face as she realized Austin was proposing, complete with a rock large enough to eclipse the sun. I put the chances she would have said yes at well below zero, but the last thing I want to do is further antagonize a drunk—although you might well say that ship sailed the moment I pulled him away.
“How about we get you some coffee?” I suggest, regretting the fact I managed to drag him toward the bar with the false promise of shots.
“Coffee? Are you mad?” he scoffs. “This is a ball, not ladies’ morning tea. I’m going to get myself another drink.”
“How about you take a breather? We can go outside.” I gesture at an open door, leading to a balcony overlooking the gardens. Night has fallen and several trees are lit from the ground, and a hedge, leading to a fountain, is covered in fairy lights in a latticed pattern. The overall effect is one of something out of a fairytale.
“I suppose,” he grumbles, and I lead him out onto the deserted balcony, where we both lean on the stone balustrade, looking out at the extensive gardens.
“Why did you propose?” I ask.
“She’s looking for a husband, isn’t she? I was simplysaving her the trouble. Look at me, I’m the perfect man for a girl like her. I’m rich, successful, easy on the eye if I don’t say so myself. She would be lucky to have me.”
“But you don’t even know her.”
“What’s to know? She needs a husband, and I’d like to be a part of the royal family. It’s a match made in heaven.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “So romantic.”
He turns to face the palace. “I don’t take well to being knocked back, you know. I’m important. I’m powerful. She would do well to say yes to a man like me.”
I shake my head at him. “Settle down, Austin.” I too lean my back against the stone balustrade, gazing into the ballroom. It’s hard to miss the princess. She’s the only splash of color in a sea of dark suits, glowing red, the color complementing her olive skin and bright eyes.
They say red is the color of passion, and watching her right now, talking with her guests, smiling benevolently, I’m surprised to say they’re right.
Huh. I never expected to see someone like Princess Sofia as passionate.
I watch her move, so very prim and proper. But she’s not what I expected. Sure, I knew she was poised and beautiful in a highly controlled, stiff kind of way. I might have been out of the country for the past few years, but I don’t live under a rock. I’ve seen photos of her, although in person she’s more beautiful than I anticipated.
When we spoke, I noticed her dark eyes had depths to them no photograph could pick up, her elaborately arranged hair a warm chestnut brown. Her skin looks soft and smooth to the touch, her lips plump and painted an inviting red.
Not that those lips will be invitingmeto kiss them. Not with all the so much more appropriate options in the room.Why would she be interested in someone like me? I’m a guy who’s spent most of his adult life traveling the globe, making enough money to move onto the next place, who only just recently worked out what he wants to do with the rest of his life.
Nope. There’s no way I’m at the top of her list.
Or evenonher list.