A Princess in Waiting (Rothman Royals Book 3) Read online

  A Princess in Waiting

  Noelle Adams

  I was born the youngest princess of a tiny country in the Alps, but I've never been any good at being a princess. I'm shy and bookish, and I don't know how to flirt. The only man I'm comfortable around is my best friend, Alex. I used to have a crush on him, but I don't anymore.

  I absolutely don't.

  Right now, I'm interested in a handsome French millionaire, but I need Alex to help me learn how to be attractive to men. He agrees because he's my friend, but he doesn't seem happy about it.

  And I need to remember that Alex is just giving me lessons. He isn't the man I'm trying to win.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 by Noelle Adams. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means.

  Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Bay Song

  About Noelle Adams

  One

  Old romantic stories would have you believe a lie—that if there is a princess, then there must be a prince.

  I’m here to testify that those old stories aren’t even close to the truth.

  I’ve been a princess for the twenty-one years of my life—the youngest daughter of the King of Villemont, a little-known microstate in the Alps—but I’ve never been good princess material. I was quiet and shy and terrified of big crowds, and I always preferred a book to a tiara. I’ve never even had a boyfriend, which was an embarrassing fact to admit. No man has ever been interested in me at all, despite my royal pedigree.

  I am Lisette Rothman, and my Prince Charming was nowhere to be found.

  At the moment, I was lying on a blanket in the grass—in the far corner of the palace grounds. It was the only place, other than my bedroom, where I could genuinely feel alone.

  Being alone was quite important to me. As a princess, I lived a very public life, and all the social functions expected of me were incredibly draining to someone with my introverted personality. If I didn’t have alone time, I felt like a wet paper napkin that had been stretched too far, causing little tears that soon threatened complete disintegration.

  So I came to this spot a lot. It was better than hiding in my bedroom all the time.

  It was nice to be away from the world for a little while.

  As if on cue, my phone buzzed, and I picked it up and held it over my face so I could see the message without lifting my head.

  It was Alexander Georgeson.

  Alex had been my best friend since I was five and he was six. He was the son of my father’s longtime administrator, who took care of all the logistics of our complicated household, so Alex and I had been raised together.

  You hiding?

  I smiled and sat up so I could tap out a reply to his text. No. In my spot. Just getting away.

  You might want to hide for real.

  Why?

  Visitors.

  I cursed under my breath and glanced around, but there was nothing in sight except an old stone wall—one that had survived basically intact since the sixteenth century—and the trees that blocked my resting spot from the view of the palace.

  It might sound impressive to live in a historic palace, but it was not nearly as comfortable as a modern residence would be. The rooms were drafty, the walls were creaky, and the grounds were really not very expansive. When you were the royal family of a European microstate, you might have the largest piece of property in the country, but it was right in the middle of a city. With the limitations of medieval standards of size and the immovability of the city walls, there was simply nowhere for the palace grounds to expand.

  Who are they? I texted back to Alex.

  French. Came a day early.

  We’d been expecting our French visitors for a couple of months now, but they were scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I wasn’t ready to face strangers in a formal setting. My heart started to race.

  I was about to text Alex another question, but I was interrupted by a male voice calling my name.

  I looked up and saw my brother, Henry, pushing his way through the low branches of the surrounding trees. There was no path to this particular spot. You had to tramp through the wooded grounds to find me.

  I had two older sisters and one brother. Henry was the oldest. He’d always been the perfect representation of a prince—a genuine golden boy who was good at both athletics and academics, not to mention being charming and kind and funny. Even his tanned skin and fair hair looked golden in the sunlight.

  “I thought I’d find you here,” he said with a warm smile.

  No one can look at Henry’s smile and not smile back. At least I never could. “You’re not here to drag me in to talk to people, are you?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “Can’t you say you couldn’t find me?”

  “No one would believe me. You haven’t left the grounds, so how many places are there to hide?”

  There was nowhere. I’d learned that sad fact a long time ago. Even my secret hideaway just wasn’t very secret.

  He leaned over and stretched out a hand to help me to my feet. “You’re better off meeting them now, when it’s less stuffy and awkward. There are only three of them. We’re just having tea in the small parlor.”

  I let out a breath, relieved by that news. The easiest socializing happened in that small parlor. It was more comfortable, more intimate, far less intimidating. “Fine. But I’ll need to change clothes.”

  Henry glanced down at my outfit, which consisted of ankle boots, leggings, and a soft, thin tunic sweater. “You look fine. They’re not dressed up.”

  I looked down at myself dubiously and then over at Henry, who was wearing brown trousers and a rugby shirt but still managed to look attractive and pulled together. Amalie and Victoria, my sisters, were like that too. Everyone in the family was like that but me. “Mother isn’t going to like this outfit.”

  “She doesn’t have a say in the matter, does she? She sent me to get you, and I’m getting you.”

  I brushed myself off although I didn’t have any grass on me. I used to come to this spot and lie directly on the grass, but too often I’d ended up with grass or dirt on my ass. I leaned over to pick up the blanket, shake it off, and fold it up in the waterproof plastic box where I kept it so I didn’t always have to lug it out to this spot.

  “All right,” I said with another sigh. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Anyone who isn’t as shy as I am has no idea how much courage it takes to face so many meetings with strangers. It wasn’t something I’d ever gotten used to. Every time, it required a great effort of will, and afterward I was always exhausted.

  “This one will be easy,” Henry said as if he’d seen some of those emotions on my face. “Just three of them. Tea for no more than an hour.”

  I nodded, feeling better when he reached over and put a supportive hand between my shoulder blades for a few seconds.

  I appreciated the encouragement, although it also left me feeling silly and incompetent, as if I weren’t capable of dealing with normal life. “I’m fine. I just wasn’t expecting it today. I usually prep myself.”

  “I’ll have your back. I can cover for you so you don’t have to talk much.”

  “Thank you. I’m sure I
’ll be fine.”

  “Just so you know…”

  I cursed under my breath again, knowing from his tone that something was going to be said that I didn’t like.

  “The son is single. And rich, with a good pedigree. And about your age.”

  “Damn it.” This time the mutter wasn’t quite under my breath. “Does Mother already have her eye on him?”

  “She homed in on him within fifteen seconds. And what makes it worse is he’s going to stay in the city for a couple of months for an internship.”

  This was another sad truth of my life. Not only was I forced into a lot of uncomfortable socializing as a princess, I was also the target of my mother’s endless matchmaking.

  I’d had a reprieve on that until recently because both my sisters are prettier than me and more outgoing and charming. But Amalie was living with her boyfriend in the States now, and Victoria was married, so I was the only available daughter.

  I was the only one left.

  “Thanks for the warning,” I murmured.

  Then I remembered I’d left Alex hanging on a response to his text, so I paused to text him back. Trapped.

  Sorry. Will be over quick.

  I hope.

  I believe in you.

  My hand trembled slightly as I stared down at my phone, at the words. Alex meant it. I knew he did. He always had.

  I wasn’t sure why it was making me so emotional at the moment, but I realized Henry was watching me, so I tried to compose myself.

  “All right?” Henry asked, peering at me closely.

  “Yes. Sorry.” I gave my head a little shake and smiled at him.

  “Is that Alex?”

  “Yes. How did you know?”

  Henry seemed to be hiding a smile. “No reason.”

  I frowned at him but didn’t have time to interrogate him further since we were walking through a side door of the palace.

  We made our way to the small parlor, where my mother and Victoria were chatting with the three guests. Both of them were really good at small talk. So was Henry.

  Everyone in my family was good at it except me.

  Henry was as good as his word however, and he covered for me, diverting conversation and keeping the focus from landing on me too often. He did it all without appearing to even try. I desperately wished I was as good with people as he was.

  We had tea and a lot of boring, pleasant conversation, and I was just starting to relax in the knowledge that I was almost done with this encounter and it hadn’t been too painful when my mother suggested I take the young, single man outside to show him the gardens.

  “I’ll go with them,” Henry said quickly, starting to stand up.

  “No, no,” my mother insisted in her crisp, authoritative voice. She was British and had met my father when they’d both been in school in Switzerland. “Lisette can show him. You need to stay here and chat with us.”

  There was no way Henry could object now without causing a scene. He would do it if he needed to however, and I saw him eyeing me with a faint question.

  I gave him a little shake of my head to let him know the rescue was unnecessary. “I’d be happy to,” I said with a smile, getting up out of my chair.

  The young man’s name was Stefan, and he’d barely said anything during tea. He was attractive in the very polished, sophisticated way that was common in European men with “good pedigrees,” as my mother would say.

  Maybe he was shy like I was.

  Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad.

  As soon as we were out of earshot of the guard stationed at the garden door, Stefan turned to me and said in a wry voice, “I’m afraid my parents have plans for us already.”

  I let out a groan of relief at his breaking the subject that way. “My mother certainly does. It’s inevitable, I suppose.”

  “Yes.”

  I waited, wondering if he’d continue the conversation now that he’d broached it. He sounded intelligent and lucid.

  He didn’t say anything else as we made our way around the perimeter of the formal gardens lined by sculpted hedges.

  I frowned. Maybe he was like Victoria’s husband, Edward. Edward was an introvert and so he didn’t like to talk. For years my sisters and I had assumed he was a snob for never speaking to us, but we’d been completely wrong.

  Maybe Stefan was similar.

  Clearing my throat, I forced myself to restart conversation. “So my brother said you’re staying in the city for an internship?”

  “Yes.” He had eyes like dark chocolate, and they rested on my face briefly. “With Banque de Villemont.”

  That was a prestigious bank headquartered in Villemont. It must have been hard to snare an internship with them.

  “That’s excellent,” I said with a smile. “How long does the internship last?”

  “Two months.”

  “I see.”

  I waited to see if he would say anything else, but he didn’t.

  I’d given it a fair shot. I’d initiated conversation enough. If he wasn’t going to reciprocate, then there was nothing else I could do.

  I was uncomfortable and strangely defeated as we finished the circuit of the garden without speaking further.

  When we reached the door back into the palace, his mouth turned up slightly. “You have a lovely smile,” he murmured.

  I blinked, staring after him as he walked away. My heart had done a little flutter of surprise and pleasure.

  No one ever complimented me like that.

  Maybe Stefan wasn’t so bad after all.

  ***

  I returned to where my mother was still talking to Stefan’s parents, and I lurked in the background until the conversation had ended and the people had dispersed.

  As soon as I was free to leave, I pulled out my phone.

  I wanted to talk to someone I trusted. I wanted to talk to Alex.

  In nearly all his free time, he worked with his father, but he didn’t have regular hours. He may or may not have been at the palace right now.

  But he replied, saying he was still here. On the roof, to be specific.

  I hurried up the back stairs so I could find him.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked, turning around from where he’d been standing near the railing, looking out at the city and the Alps beyond the stone walls. His eyes ran up and down my body, checking out my appearance.

  I was still wearing my casual clothes, so there was nothing particularly impressive about how I looked. I still hoped he thought I looked pretty although he’d never given any sign of it.

  Alex was tall, broad-shouldered, and handsome in a square-jawed, clean-cut way. I liked his brown hair and brown eyes. I liked everything about him. He wore decent trousers and a dress shirt, his uniform when he worked at the palace.

  “Nothing,” I replied, joining him by the railing.

  “Something is wrong. You look strange. Was he that bad?”

  I hesitated before answering, still feeling odd about my interaction with Stefan. “N-no,” I said at last. “He wasn’t that bad.”

  Alex’s broad forehead wrinkled as he peered at me. “What is it?”

  “He wasn’t bad at all,” I told him, trying to act normal, natural.

  How was I supposed to tell Alex that Stefan had made my heart flutter—just a little.

  Not like Alex was capable of doing but at least something.

  Alex’s frown deepened. “Did you… did you like him?”

  “You don’t have to make it sound like a bad thing.”

  “You did? You liked him? I thought he looked like a normal asshole rich boy.”

  He sounded more bad-tempered than he normally was, and it annoyed me because there was no reason for it. “Well, he isn’t. He was nice. He said I have a lovely smile.”

  “And that’s all it takes for you to decide he’s the best guy ever?”

  “I don’t think he’s the best guy ever. I just said he was nice.”

  “I can’t believe you’re swoo
ning over the guy for giving you a compliment.”

  “I’m not swooning. And just so you know, I don’t get very many compliments.”

  “I tell you that you have a nice smile all the time.”

  I gave an indignant gasp. “You certainly do not! You’ve never told me that!”

  “Yes, I have.”

  “No, you haven’t! You think I wouldn’t remember?” I moderated my tone, realizing I would soon give something away that couldn’t be given away. “Anyway, I repeat—I’m not swooning. I’m just saying he isn’t as bad as I thought.”

  Alex looked like he was going to reply, but he didn’t. He turned away to face the cityscape again and took a few long breaths before he replied, “So what are you going to do?”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means, if you like him, what are you going to do?”

  “I never said I like him.”

  He turned back to face me, narrowing his eyes in a significant look.

  “There’s nothing I can do even if I do like him,” I added, feeling weird and fluttery again but not about Stefan this time.

  “Of course there is. Women do it all the time.”

  “I’m sure they do, but I somehow missed the days those lessons were taught. I have no idea how to attract a man.” I sighed, my whole body drooping as I came to terms with this sad fact of my existence.

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “It is not ridiculous. Never once have I managed to attract a man. You know it’s true.”

  “I know men have found you attractive.”

  “Not so I’d know.” I paused, an idea suddenly coming to me. “Seriously, I have no idea what to do. I need those lessons I missed.”

  “What lessons?”

  “Lessons on how to attract a man.”

  He chuckled, shaking his head. “And where do you think you’re going to find lessons like that?”

  I slanted him a look.

  He took a step backward, his expression changing. “Oh, no! You’re not going to expect me to teach you how to hook up with that asshole, are you?”

  “He’s not an asshole. And it’s not really about Stefan. He’ll just be a useful tool for trying out my lessons.”