Page 8 of Royally Matched
He barks out a laugh. “You do lead the most incredible life, Duck. Always darting off to here and there, never staying put for long. Not like the likes of me, toiling away at my career. Tell me, where haven’t you been?”
“Lots of places,” I reply vaguely. “But enough about me. What have you been up to, Austin?”
“Running the family business. You know how it is, Duck.”
“Actually, I don’t. That’s Enzo’s gig. Not mine.” I gesture at myself with my thumb. “Younger, utterly irresponsible brother, remember?”
His gaze slides over me. “Who evidently can’t find the right sized suit.”
I shrug because what else am I going to do? He’s right.
“You’re lucky. You’re free. You can do whatever you like with your life, including wearing whatever you want to the palace.”
“Being poor seems to be my choice these days. Traveler’s jobs don’t pay all that well. But I’ve started a landscaping business back here in the city, which I’m excited about.”
His lips sneer in distaste. “Plants, eh? You’ve always marched to the beat of your own drum. And now you’re here in Villadorata, looking for love with a princess?”
I chortle. “That’s more my brother’s style. I’m here in case he needs me.”
“But surely you’re on the invitation list?”
“I’m a single man in Ledonia, aren’t I? But that doesn’t mean I’m looking to marry Princess Sofia. I can’t imagine anything worse than marrying into the royal family.”
He leans in toward me and says, “I’ve got a plan.”
“A plan?” I ask, trying not to breathe in his whiskey breath.
“I’m going to pop the question, just as soon as I can. It’s what she wants, isn’t it? She just needs a man to take control of the situation. Get on with things. She’s the Pitiful Princess, after all. How picky can she be?” He takes another swig of his whiskey, his eyes bright.
I can hardly believe what he’s planning. But he’s right, Princess Sofia is said to be looking for a husband, and Austin, it would seem, is a willing candidate. Who am I to stand in his way?
“How romantic of you,” I deadpan.
He barks out another laugh. “Romance is for the birds. We all know she makes beige look vibrant. Nothing a glass or two of vino couldn’t sort out, though, eh?” He nudges me with his elbow as he holds his glass aloft and grins. “I bet her idea of thrill seeking is alphabetizing the spice rack.”
“Would a princess know what a spice rack was?”
“Good point, Duck. Good point.” He chortles, lifting his glass for another sip.
I may be the younger brother who’s only just found what he wants to do with his life, but I know people are who they are. They don’t change. If Princess Sofia is a serious type of person, then it’s clear she and I will have nothing much in common. In my experience, serious people tend to be interested in the sorts of things Enzo likes: chess, opera, and discussing politics. I’d rather play a frenetic game of soccer, followed by a hike in themountains, before relaxing with friends around a campfire in the evening, toasting marshmallows and telling stories.
I can’t imagine someone like Princess Sofia would want to do any of those things.
I shake my head, smiling. “I’m here tonight for the only member of my family who stands a chance with the princess, and that person is most certainlynotme.”
Chapter3
Sofia
I take a deep breath. This is it. This is the night I meet my future husband.
“Are you ready?” Alex asks. He’s wearing his red formal jacket with gold piping, the color matching the silk of my dress. Of course, being Alex, he looks utterly handsome and debonair. My brother has been the darling of the press ever since the first photo was snapped of him as a new-born. Once labelled the Party Prince—and, rather unsettlingly from a sister’s point of view,Prince McHottie—he’s now fully reformed, and the inner glow he has these days is all thanks to his fiancée, Maddie.
“You know, you really don’t have to go through with this if you don’t want to,” he says, echoing our sister’s words. “There are other ways to meet men. Ways that aren’t quite so—” He pauses, and I know what word he’s about to land on.
“Tragic?” I offer.
I know that’s what he thinks. It’s what everyone thinks.The Pitiful Princess can’t find herself a man, so she has to get her daddy to arrange a ball to pick one for her.I would protest if it weren’t for the fact it’s true.