Page 29 of Rivals

“How did they become best friends when their countries are so far apart?”

“They all went to that boarding school in Switzerland, the one with a summer campus and a winter campus.” Beatrice, meanwhile, had been in the capital, at the same all-girls private school that generations of Washingtons had attended before her.

You don’t need to be at school with other royals; you should surround yourself with your future subjects,her father had said when Beatrice brought it up at her first League of Kings conference.You may be an American princess, but you’re an American first, and a princess second.

“It seems like they’ve all been close since they were kids,”Beatrice went on. “And they jet-set all over the place, to Louise’s family’s house on the Riviera, or skiing in Verbier.”

Teddy grinned. “Verbier, huh? I’ve never skied the Alps. If your new friends want to invite us this year, I’m willing to make the trip.”

Beatrice stepped forward, lacing her hands in his. “Oh, are you?”

“I promise to win them all over with my triple-cheese nachos and my chairlift banter. I’m an excellent chairlift buddy,” Teddy assured her. “I have great jokes.”

“You havedadjokes.” Beatrice laughed, shaking her head. “Actually, you’ll get to spend more time with everyone this weekend. Louise is throwing a party and she wants us to—” At the look on Teddy’s face, she broke off. “What is it?”

“I was going to tell you—I want to head back to Boston. I’ll stay for Louise’s party,” he said hastily, “but after that, I need to head home. I have to deal with a few things.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Just some stuff related to the duchy.”

Beatrice felt a pang of guilt. Several months ago, the Eatons had begun training Teddy’s younger brother Lewis as the future Duke of Boston, since Teddy would be forced to relinquish the title. Unlike Teddy, who’d been studying the ducal responsibilities and finances practically since birth, Lewis had grown up like Samantha or Jeff: assuming he would never have to carry the burden.

“It sounds like Lewis needs me,” Teddy added.And you don’t,Beatrice silently finished for him.

“Of course you should go,” she assured him.

The grandfather clock in her bedroom chimed, making them both jump a little. “I should finish getting ready,” Beatrice murmured.

“Here, I’ll help.” Teddy followed her through her bedroom and into her massive walk-in closet.

“If you insist,” Beatrice teased. She untied her robe, letting it fall in a fluffy heap to the floor, and nudged it to one side with her bare foot. Underneath she was wearing nothing but whisper-thin underwear; her gown tonight was strapless, and too tight to need a bra.

Teddy met her gaze in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. His eyes darkened, turning from cornflower blue to a deeper, burning sapphire. Heat pooled low in Beatrice’s belly.

“How much time do we have before dinner?” Beatrice murmured.

Teddy’s answer was hoarse. “Not nearly enough.”

“Then you’ll have to find me afterward,” she managed. “Especially if you’re leaving soon.”

Her gown—a delicate tulle one with floral lace appliqué down the skirt—hung on a hook inside the closet. Beatrice lifted it off the hanger and stepped inside.

Wordlessly, Teddy walked around to help with the silk-covered buttons that trailed up the back. Beatrice watched his reflection, holding her breath. He fastened the buttons slowly, one at a time, dropping a kiss on her neck with each one.Kiss,button,kiss,button. Beatrice felt like her body had surely reached melting point.

“I love you,” she told him, her breath catching.

“I love you,” he answered, fastening the last button.

Their eyes met in the mirror, and for a moment Beatrice was nothing more than a girl in a pretty dress, standing with the boy she loved.

When he was done, they backed away, breaking the spell that had woven itself between them. Teddy smiled and held out an arm so that Beatrice could place a hand on his elbow.

She stole one last glance at their reflections, then let her fiancé lead her downstairs to dinner.

“I can’t believe I’m going to a royal event without you.” Nina propped her phone against her shoulder and bent down to adjust a strap on her chunky red heels.

“It’s alibraryevent. This is the exception that proves the rule,” Samantha pointed out. A horn blared a few feet from Nina, and on the other end of the line, Sam sighed. “Please tell me you didn’t take the metro in a cocktail dress.”