Best Friend to Princess Bride by Katrina Cudmore

Author:Katrina Cudmore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-12-03T13:14:51+00:00

* * *

Their main course finished, Edwin caught her eye from the opposite side of the dining table and, looking in the direction of his father and her mother, who were seated to her right, he raised an eyebrow. Kara smiled. Who would have predicted his father and her mother would bond over a shared passion for olives?

Her mother lived alone in a two-bedroom cortijo, surrounded by olive groves, in the hills north of Málaga City. Throughout the meal she had described in vivid detail her new life tending to her olive trees, talking about her hopes and fears for this season’s harvest. For the first time in years her mother was talking about the future.

The waiting staff reappeared, all five of them in a gracefully coordinated dance placing a tiny but exquisitely formed trio of chocolate desserts before each diner.

As they backed out of the room, her dad stood up.

Kara held her breath. Her poor father’s hands were trembling so badly the red wine in his glass was sloshing about.

He directed his attention towards Edwin’s father. ‘I would like to thank you for your welcome and hospitality, Your Highness.’

He raised his glass even higher, and the rest of the people at the table reached for their glasses to join in with the toast, but her dad wasn’t finished.

Clearing his throat loudly, he added, ‘I ask that you and your family take good care of my...’ his voice cracked and it took him a few seconds to add, ‘my little girl.’

Little girl. God, it was corny and sentimental but she could not help the feeling of delight and belonging that filled her heart at her dad’s description. For so many years she had believed he had forgotten that—that she was his daughter, that she was the same person he’d given piggy-back rides to around their garden, jumping over sweeping brushes, pretending they were taking part in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

She waited for her father to look in her direction, but instead his focus remained on Edwin’s father. He was waiting for a response. He had thrown down a gauntlet. Her dad, a small-time builder, was challenging the sovereign of a small but powerful country. Kara wanted to burst with pride.

His Highness’s frown deepened to a bottomless ravine transecting his forehead. Kara swallowed. He had done nothing in the weeks since their engagement to indicate he was shedding any of his misgivings as to Edwin’s choice of bride.

Sitting back in his chair, he studied her father, then her mother and then finally her, taking his time, a monarch accustomed to people waiting for his considered judgement. Her palms started to sweat.

Edwin said, ‘You have our word—’

With an annoyed shake of his head, His Highness interrupted Edwin, his attention now fully on his eldest son. ‘My marriage was arranged.’ He stopped and chuckled. Kara gave a nervous smile, uncertain what direction this conversation was going in. ‘At first my wife and I argued. She actually said I was too arrogant and had to accept that the marriage was one of equals.

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