Prince Brendon and Princess Francesca Fight for Narrating Privileges

Prince Brendon and Princess Francesca Fight for Narrating Privileges

Princess Francesca Cecilia Bernadette Rosalie Woeful, the second, was in love for the very first time in her life—none of the others before this counted—and it was not with the man currently standing in front of her.

Brendon had removed the helmet as soon as the door closed behind them. He was risking one of the staff coming in and asking uncomfortable questions, but that was better than trying to have this conversation with his senses dampened by metal. He had no idea how Kit had lived in the damn suit for almost a week.

“What happened?” Franny asked at the same time that Brendon demanded, “Why did you pull me in here?”

“We need to talk,” Franny replied at the same time Brendon said, “It’s a long story.”

Both stopped and closed their mouths, realizing that talking over each other wasn’t going to help anyone. Deciding she had every right to go first, Franny demanded, “Why are you here and where is Kit?”

“Kit went to intercept my parents,” he explained, falling back onto the couch. The wood creaked beneath him in warning. “I have no idea how she’s going to explain this situation, but it was necessary if we didn’t want a lot of uncomfortable questions.”

“Why couldn’t you go talk to your parents while Kit came back here?” Franny knew she sounded petulant, and she didn’t give a damn. She had spent all night genuinely worried about her brother and Kit—forgetting that if they were in danger, Brendon probably would be too—and all of that fear had curdled into anger when Brendon, not Kit, had come home.

“Because I’m the one who’s supposed to be in the armor, and Kit is the one who hasn’t officially been introduced to anyone.”

Franny resisted the urge to stamp her foot in distress. That would have been too childish even for her current mood. “And when are they supposed to arrive?”

“Can’t be too long now. I’m surprised they didn’t beat us here.” He wasn’t sure how long he and Rick had spent in the maze. It wasn’t long enough, as far as he was concerned. It had been the perfect opportunity for seduction, but the relaxed mood and comfortable atmosphere had lulled him to sleep. It was the second time his plans had been thwarted in less than twenty-four hours. The next time he and Rick found themselves alone, he was going to skip all the teasing flirtation and head straight to sex. Or at least more physical foreplay.

Franny finally sat down in a chair as far away from Brendon as possible. Being this close to him annoyed her—he looked too much like Kit, without having the knight’s charm, knowledge, or boobs. For a moment she was distracted as her hands recalled the soft flesh, the perfect size to fit in her palms, the way Kit moaned when Franny had taken one perky pink nipple into her mouth …

They both sat there fantasizing until Brendon shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat. “So.”

She scowled at him. “I want Kit back.”

He rolled his eyes. “She’ll return in a few hours.”

“I don’t want to marry you.”

The words no longer stung like they once would have. “Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”

They glowered at each other until she demanded, “So, why are we still engaged?”

“I might have taken care of that if you hadn’t dragged me in here. Rick and I just need a moment alone—”

“Haven’t you had several moments alone?”

“They keep getting interrupted!”

“Well, because of your lollygagging, we’ve run out of time.”

He wanted to argue over the word choice ‘lollygagging’—he’d been trying, after all, and Rick seemed receptive no matter what other … paramours he might have—but that was the least important part of her statement. “What do you mean we’ve run out of time? The wedding isn’t until tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow morning, and it is already past noon. We have less than twenty-four hours to fix this mess, most of which will be spent on the rehearsal. Unless you plan to sneak into Rick’s room in the middle of the night—” She paused, and they shared an appraising look.

“Which room would that be exactly?”

“Second floor, fourth door on the right,” she replied promptly. “But there is something you should know.”

“Is it about Rick’s lover?” Brendon guessed with a grimace. The last thing he needed was to go to Rick’s room for a seduction, only to find someone else in his bed.

“Lover?” she asked, her brow furrowing. “He doesn’t have one, as far as I know. At least no one who would come to the castle.”

That contradicted Kit’s information, but Brendon wouldn’t be surprised if Franny was in the dark about Rick’s love life. “Then what do I need to know?”

Her hands fidgeted in her lap. “It’s a bit of a family secret and scandal.” She shouldn’t tell Brendon—Fred would be mortified if he ever found out—but if she didn’t, someone else might, and it would be much better coming from her. “You see, you weren’t the first man Fred locked in that tower.”