The princess deception, p.28
The Princess Deception, page 28
“I’m going to miss you,” Duke murmured against her skin.
“Have you taken up mind-reading?” Viola kissed the top of her head. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
Duke pulled back just far enough to meet her eyes. “Really?”
At the note of insecurity in her voice, Viola decided it was time to come clean. “Yes. And there’s something else I need to tell you.”
She took Duke’s hand and led her to the pair of chairs in front of the fireplace. Duke’s expression held a mix of curiosity and wariness. Their relationship was still so new that Viola didn’t feel offended by the latter. In time, they would become sure of one another.
“I’m accompanying you to Africa tomorrow.”
Duke blinked, then smiled brilliantly. “That’s a very pleasant surprise.” She laced their fingers together. “What will you do while I’m working?”
“I’ll stay in Harare to attend to some state business while you go on to Msango. But I’ll join you there after a few days to do some photography for Eclipse.” Viola squeezed Duke’s fingers lightly. “I promise to be on my best behavior and not distract you…too much.”
Duke shot her an imperious look. “You won’t distract me at all. I’m a professional, and I won’t let you. Not during the days, anyway.”
“But at night?”
“We’ll see.”
Viola laughed. “I promise to do nothing to jeopardize your professionalism. I’m just glad I’ll be able to see you in your element.”
“Me, too.” Duke’s smile was soft and loving, and it made Viola want to coax her back into bed. But soon, they would join her parents for brunch, and there simply wasn’t time. “How long will you be able to stay in Msango?”
“Three days. Then, I’ll stop by the Congo before coming home.”
“What will you do on the state visits?”
“I’ll meet briefly with the presidents of both countries, and with our ambassadors there, but I’m most excited for the meetings I’ve arranged with the National Arts Council in Zimbabwe and a few grassroots women-centered initiatives in the Congo.”
“You’re amazing.” The awe and pride in Duke’s expression made Viola feel ten feet tall.
“So are you,” Viola countered, knowing Duke didn’t believe it yet, but hoping she might, one day. “You inspired me, you know.”
“I inspired you? How?”
“I never felt all that passionate about public initiatives until I impersonated Sebastian,” Viola said. Suddenly nervous, she licked her lips. What she was about to say was important, and she wanted it to come out perfectly. “I took on responsibilities here and there because I was expected to, but as an artist, I was always focused on my individual work. ‘Becoming’ him changed my perspective, and falling in love with you motivated me to act.”
Duke looked dazed. “That last part,” she said. “Would you mind repeating it?”
Viola brought Duke’s fingers to her mouth for a kiss. “Maybe I should say it a different way. I love you, Duke. I love you. And once you’ve fulfilled your commitment to Eclipse, I want us to sit down together to make our own plans.”
Duke’s face was radiant. She stood and pulled Viola up from her chair for another embrace, threading her fingers through Viola’s wild hair. Viola wrapped one arm around her waist and cupped the back of her neck with a gentle, worshipful touch.
“Our plans,” Duke whispered. “Big, world-changing plans.”
“Yes,” Viola said. “They’ll take years to come to fruition. Maybe even a lifetime. How would you feel about that?”
Duke pulled her head down for another kiss—a fierce, triumphant kiss that sparked every nerve in Viola’s body and urged her to consummate the declarations she had just made. Without breaking the kiss, she began to back them toward the bed. Duke followed willingly for a few steps before suddenly coming to a halt.
“No,” she gasped as she tore her lips away. “If we go to bed, we’re not going to brunch, and I absolutely refuse to be the brazen hussy who tempts you away from family meals.”
Viola had to laugh, and it felt so good. “Brazen hussy?”
“I’m sure it will sound even worse in French.” Duke lowered her arms and freed herself from Viola’s grip. “Let’s go now, before that look in your eyes disintegrates my will.”
They walked through the halls hand in hand while Viola entertained Duke with various translations—in both French and Dutch—of “brazen hussy.” They were still laughing when they emerged into the solarium, a circular room with walls and ceiling made almost entirely of glass. Warm and bright, it was a cheerful space.
Her parents were already seated, and they welcomed both her and Duke with genuine smiles. Thankfully, they weren’t interested in holding any kind of grudge—especially once Viola had explained Duke’s role in discovering how Sebastian had overdosed, and Sebastian had described Duke’s efforts in Zurich. It hadn’t hurt that a few days after their testimonials, FIFA had reinstated the Belgian-Dutch bid. Duke had been self-conscious in their parents’ presence at first, but as the weeks passed, she grew more and more comfortable.
“How are your preparations coming along for tomorrow?” her father asked Duke.
“Very well.” Duke squeezed Viola’s hand. “And I’ve just learned that Viola will be joining me for the flight, which was a welcome surprise.”
“We’ll miss you,” her mother said. “Both of you. But we’re proud of your good work.”
“Where is Sebastian?” Viola said suddenly. A spike of fear lanced through her. She didn’t want to alarm anyone, but since becoming sober, he tended to run early to his obligations, and he was most certainly late now.
Her father frowned. “I haven’t heard from him yet tod—”
“Good morning!”
Sebastian’s voice, clear and strong, filled her with relief. She turned to the sight of him striding toward them, his steps brisk and confident. He had gained some much-needed weight since leaving rehab, and his cheeks were no longer sunken. Today, his color was high, and as he approached, she could feel the energy crackling around him. She opened her mouth to ask what had happened, but he beat her to the punch.
“I’m sorry to be late. I was detained by a call, but I hope you’ll forgive me when you hear the good news.”
A heartbeat before he said the words, Viola knew. She gripped Duke’s hand so hard it must have been painful, but Duke didn’t flinch.
“The call was from FIFA,” Sebastian continued. “We’ve won the bid.”
Her mother gasped. Her father exclaimed in French. As disbelief turned to triumph, Viola leapt from her chair and threw herself at her brother, embracing him tightly before leaning back to grasp the lapels of his sports coat.
“You did it,” she said fiercely. “I am so proud of you!”
“We did it.” Sebastian’s eyes were bright. “We did it together.”
Viola nodded, suddenly unable to speak around the knot of emotions in her throat. She turned, needing to include Duke in their triumph, only to realize that Duke was weeping. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and when their eyes met, Duke buried her face in her palms.
“Go,” Sebastian whispered, but she was already in motion.
“No, no,” Duke said as she knelt before her and gently pulled her hands away. “Go back to Sebastian.”
“I love you,” Viola said, because it was true and it made Duke happy. When a smile flickered on her lips, Viola leaned in to kiss them lightly. In the background, she heard her parents telling Sebastian how happy they were, and how proud. “Tell me what you’re feeling. Please.”
“Relief, mostly.”
“But?”
“But also some guilt and sadness. If I had made different choices, the bid would never have been endangered in the first place.”
“Perhaps,” Viola said. “But the choices you made brought you to me, and I’m grateful for that.” When Duke’s eyes widened, Viola gently squeezed her fingers. “And don’t you dare ask me if I’m certain. I am.”
“I love you,” Duke murmured. “I love you so much.”
Viola stood, then pulled her upright. “Thanks to you, I have everything I need. Your love. Sebastian in good health. The respect of my family. Purpose. I don’t expect our life to be easy all the time, but I know it will be good.”
“Oh,” Duke said, the word saturated with emotion. “Please don’t make me cry again.”
“Only happy tears.” Viola gently tugged her toward where Sebastian was being simultaneously embraced by their parents. “It’s time to celebrate.”
The End
About the Author
Nell Stark is an award-winning author of lesbian romance. In 2013, The Princess Affair was a Lambda Literary finalist in the romance category, and in 2010, everafter (with Trinity Tam) won a Goldie Award in the paranormal romance category. In addition to the everafter series, she has published five standalone romances: Running With the Wind, Homecoming, The Princess Affair, The Princess and the Prix, and All In.
By day, Nell is a professor of English at a college in the SUNY system. With their son and two dogs, she and Trinity live a stone’s throw from the historic Stonewall Inn in New York City.
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