Honeymoon With a Prince (Royal Scandals) (42 page)

“He’s had a rough go recently, hasn’t he?”

“Vittorio likes to live life according to plan, but love isn’t one of those things that can be scripted like a coronation ceremony.
 
It involves a lot of unknowns.
 
A lot of trust.
 
Over the course of a relationship, you discover that trust is either there or it’s not.
 
In his case, it wasn’t.”

Massimo paused.
 
“The fraud allegations
do
involve Carmella, don’t they?”

“Let’s just say that Vittorio did what he needed to do, both to be true to himself and to protect our family.”
 
She shrugged, then strode to the door to let him out.
 
“I’m confident he’ll be fine in the long run.
 
As will all of my children, I’m sure.”

Her words resonated in his brain as he reentered his own apartment a few minutes later.
 
How was it that a mother—even a mother like his, who was a maternal figure to an entire country and had little private time with him during his formative years—knew exactly which issues her children faced?
 
Because as much as Queen Fabrizia had talked about trust in relation to Vittorio, Massimo knew his mother’s words were meant for him.

A snort of laughter echoed from somewhere in the back of Massimo’s brightly lit apartment, followed by gales of laughter—presumably aimed at the snorter—and a feminine voice exclaiming, “I can’t believe you just did that, Robert!”

The feminine voice he recognized as April’s.
 
But surely the Robert to whom she referred wasn’t—
 

“Madam, I have no idea what you mean.”

Massimo paused in the living room, a wide grin splitting his face.
 
His
stylist
?
 
Buttoned up, stoic Robert, was laughing with the women in the closet?

Chapter Twenty-Four

“I heard a distinct snort,” came Kelly’s voice, followed by enthusiastic agreement from two male voices whom he assumed to be the second carpenter and the electrician.
 
“But maybe it wasn’t coming from you, Robert.
 
It did sound more like Gaspare.”

That brought another round of laughter.
 
There was a scuffle of footsteps and a few taps of a hammer before one of the men said, “That’s the last of the hang rods.
 
Robert, I assume you’d also like us to wipe everything down and vacuum before you bring in the clothing?”

“Thank you, that would be helpful.”

Massimo peeked around the corner to his bedroom only to see a large plastic sheet covering the closet doorway, presumably to stop dust from entering his bedroom.
 
Unwilling to disturb the group, he dropped into one the living room sofas and listened as they continued laughing and teasing each other.
 
Apparently, April met a man the afternoon of the parade—one who’d shown her a fabulous night on the town after the fireworks—which resulted in another round of playful chitchat.
 
Before long, the hum of a vacuum filled the air.
 
April and the other carpenter walked through the living room and left without noticing Massimo, but a moment later, when Robert emerged, he instantly tipped his head in Massimo’s direction.
 

“Your Highness, I hope we aren’t keeping you awake?
 
I wasn’t aware you’d returned.”
 

And no wonder, Massimo thought.
 
Though sporting a well-tailored suit and shoes polished to an impeccable shine, as always, Robert strolled from the back room with color high in his cheeks and a toothy grin spread across the lower half of his face.
 
At least until the older man spied the prince, when his usual serious visage snapped back into place.

“Not at all, Robert.”
 
Massimo kept his voice down so those in the back room wouldn’t hear.
 
“It sounds like the closet is nearly finished.”

“Yes, sir.
 
The shelves are complete and the lighting all installed.
 
I just went through the space with Ms. Chase to confirm the arrangement of your clothing.
 
Now we only need wait for a few spots of wood varnish to dry before your belongings can be put in order.”
 
The older gentleman folded his hands in front of him.
 
“I should warn you that your bedroom does smell of the varnish.
 
The closet window was left open, but I’m afraid it wasn’t sufficient.”

“I’ll sleep elsewhere if it bothers me.”
 
Massimo raised an eyebrow.
 
“So tell me, what do you think of the closet?”

“I think you’ll love it, and that’s not a word I use often.”
 
Robert’s face softened.
 
He glanced toward the bedroom to ensure he wasn’t being overheard, then said, “If I may be so bold, you hired the right person for the job, sir.
 
Ms. Chase is one of a kind.
 
In all my years, I have never seen a room more tailored to its owner.”

Massimo leaned forward and folded his hands in front of him.
 
“In what way?”

“She plans to show it to you in a few days, once we have your clothing and accessories in place.
 
I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.”

“I see.
 
Thank you, Robert.”
 
The British gentleman nodded, but before he took his leave, Massimo said, “I imagine you’ll be quite busy with the closet and final clothing purchases this week, but I’m hoping you’ll have time for one more task.
 
A favor for Ms. Chase.”

When Massimo explained the idea that’d suddenly formed in his mind, Robert’s rather ungentlemanly grin made another appearance.
 
“Sir, nothing would give me more pleasure.
 
Consider it done.”

* * *

At precisely three o’clock Friday afternoon, Kelly hung the last of the black leather belts Robert had purchased on the closet’s newly-installed retractable belt rack before sliding it into place at the end of the shelf nearest the full-length mirror.

“All we have left are the suits on the rack beside Massimo’s nightstand,” she told Robert, who was arranging the prince’s cufflinks and watches in a velvet-lined tray that fit neatly into the bureau’s top drawer.
 
“Then you can go home and enjoy the weekend.
 
I can’t believe we’re going to pull this off before the prince’s charity ball.”
 

The design elements that had concerned her most—the imported area rug, the custom-designed display cases, even the specialty racks—were complete.
 
Everything had fallen into place, exactly as she’d hoped, and with two hours to spare.

“I would say that it’s a testament to your efficiency,” Robert commented, his voice droll.
 
“However, I suspect it’s because you’re an invited guest and want time to find something suitable to wear.”

Kelly turned from the belt rack to face Robert.
 
“I’d be insulted if I wasn’t distracted by the fact you know I’m going.
 
Who told you?”

“No insult meant, Ms. Chase.”

“I told you, please call me Kelly.
 
Ms. Chase is my mother.”

One of his eyebrows raised slightly, but he kept his focus on the cufflinks, ensuring each pair matched as he moved them from the last of Massimo’s old boxes to the new tray.
 
“In that case, Kelly, I can tell you that Prince Massimo himself informed me several days ago.
 
I believe he wanted to thank you for all you’ve done here.
 
You’ve left quite an impression on him.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks.
 
She wondered exactly what Massimo had said to the older gentleman.
 
Was Massimo’s gratitude solely for her professional role, or did it extend to the personal?

He’d kissed her a few nights ago, true.
 
But when she’d asked if tonight was a date, he’d said
you’ve earned a night out and I’d like you there
.
 
That sounded more like a reward for a job well done.
 

On the other hand, in just over twenty-four hours she’d be heading back to the States, so there was no point in labeling the event a date or not-a-date.
 
In the end, she’d have a good time and she’d go home to Dallas.
 
Alone.

“The prince is very kind,” she finally said.

“That he is,” Robert replied.
 
“While I finish this, would you mind fetching that last rack?
 
If you roll it in here, I can help you remove the protective wrap and get the prince’s suits arranged on the appropriate hang bars.”
 

She did as he asked, rolling the long rack to the center of the closet, near the section set aside for Massimo’s suits.
 
One by one, she began uncovering them, wrapping the plastic used to keep dust off the suits into bundles and tossing them into the bedroom to recycle later.
 
Robert pitched in to help, making the work quick.
 
When they reached the last suit, Robert put his hand over it and said, “Why don’t we save this one?
 
Put the others up first, then we’ll celebrate putting away the very last item.”

“All right.”
 
Odd, but why not?

They arranged the suits by color so Massimo could quickly find what he needed.
 
Once finished, Robert gestured to the last suit with a swoop of his hand.
 
“I’ll let you do the honors.”

She shook her head, then lifted the opaque, off-white plastic covering from the suit.
 
Except it wasn’t a suit.
 

Under the wrap a stunning light blue ball gown shimmered under the closet’s new overhead lights.
 

“Well, so much for a celebration,” she said with an exaggerated grimace.
 
“This must’ve been delivered to the wrong apartment by the palace dry cleaners.
 
I wonder if it belongs to Princess Sophia or Queen Fabrizia?”

“Neither.”
 
With movements honed long ago in London’s most exclusive shops, Robert lifted the garment from the rack and laid it across his arm in front of Kelly, drawing it out so she could see its full length.
 
Meeting her gaze, he said, “It was selected just for you for tonight’s ball.
 
If my guess is correct, it should fit perfectly.”

Shock left her speechless.
 
Robert had selected a gown for her?

“If you wish to try it on, I’ll wait in the living room.
 
I have a tailor available to make any necessary adjustments, then I’ll have it steamed and delivered to your suite.
 
It should be ready in plenty of time.”

Her hand went to her mouth.
 
It was the most amazing creation she’d ever seen, one truly fit for royalty.
 
At the same time, it was very
her
, with a clean, classic cut.
 
“Thank you, Robert.
 
I don’t know what to say.”

“Just let me see you in it, dear.”
 
He placed it in her arms and left for the living room.
 
A few minutes later, she tiptoed in after him.

“It’s beautiful, Robert.
 
More exquisite than anything I’ve ever worn.”
 
One look in the closet’s mirror had confirmed her initial impression of the gown.
 
The inner label noted that the gossamer-light creation was from one of the most exclusive fashion houses in Italy.
 
And, true to Robert’s guess, it fit her perfectly.
 
“I’m touched that you took the time to find it for me.”

“It was my pleasure.”
 
He swirled his index finger to indicate that she should turn for him.
 
“I don’t believe it needs a single alteration.
 
Wonderful!”

She stopped spinning and exhaled, smoothing her hands over the fitted waist.
 
“I feel like Cinderella.
 
But on that note, as much as I love it, I can’t possibly afford it.
 
It would be—”

“It’s a gift.”

“Robert!”

“No, not from me.
 
Though I wish it were.”
 
To Kelly’s astonishment, color appeared in the man’s cheeks.
 
“Prince Massimo ordered it for you.
 
Now go put it back on the hanger so I can have it steamed.
 
You’ll find there are a half-dozen pairs of shoes inside your suite waiting for you to try on.
 
Any of them will work with the gown, but if it were my choice, I’d lean toward the silver pair with the round-cut crystals across the toes.
 
They’re not as high as some of the others, so they’ll make for easier dancing while still catching the light from the ballroom chandeliers.”

Proper, prim Robert.
 
He’d become her fairy godmother…of a sort.
 
Though she knew it wasn’t at all his manner, she closed the space between him and gave him a hug.
 
After a moment, he hugged her back.
 
First, it was a mere pat on the back, but then he held her close as a father would a beloved daughter and wished her a wonderful evening.