At supper that evening, which still included her aunt and uncle, relaxing was a little easier for Tia. Knowing Aleksi struggled with cooking somehow made him more human to her. She could relate. She’d never tell him about her prom fiasco, but at least she had cooking skills, or lack thereof, in common with him.
“What did you do today, love?” Aunt Emma interrupted her musings, for which Tia was grateful.
“We’re preparing for a big day tomorrow,” Tia said, and forked up some chicken. She thought it was chicken. Some kind of fowl, anyway.
“What’s on the agenda?” her uncle asked.
“We plan to sample all of the wells in Rurikstan City and then we’ll run a series of tests on them. Some will give us quick results, while the others will take longer.”
“You’ll have an incredible amount of information,” Rich said, sounding impressed.
“We hope so. I’ve been playing with the idea of having someone continue the testing, perhaps just monthly, after I leave,” she said and bit her lip.
Gracia brightened. “You’re leaving?” She sounded hopeful. Tia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She appreciated the dark look Aleksi sent her. He didn’t seem to appreciate his mother’s venom any better than she did.
“Not until we finish the testing and formulate a plan to fix the problem. But eventually, yes, of course.”
She noticed Emma frown at Gracia, but couldn’t place Emma’s expression. Her aunt appeared to be deep in thought, always an interesting outcome – when General Emma thought out strategies and the like, smart people fled. The woman definitely had sent more than one brave man and woman sprinting for the hills.
“Oh, you’re not leaving soon?” Gracia sounded disappointed.
“Not until I fix your well problem,” Tia said and turned to Aleksi. “Did you have any trouble when you mentioned we’d be testing the wells tomorrow?”
He shook his head. “All of the personnel my assistant spoke with actually offered to help in any way they can. We’d all like to see this problem solved.” He glanced at his mother, his expression stern, like he’d nearly reached his limit with her.
Tia almost felt sorry for the woman, but Gracia radiated a clear message of I-don’t-want-you-here. It was just plain silly. They needed her skills. And was it so wrong to have her aunt and uncle drop in? Aleksi could do a lot worse than personally knowing a powerful United States Admiral.
Surely the woman knew this, but she didn’t seem to care. It was strange behavior for a princess. One who’d been so for nearly forty years. One bright thought was that if Princess Gracia acted like such an idiot, maybe being a princess wasn’t so difficult after all.
“Mother, perhaps you should retire for the evening. You’re looking a little pale,” Aleksi said. Even Gracia couldn’t miss that order, and Tia figured she was thinking about that island he threatened her with, so she rose unsteadily to her feet.
“Yes, I could use some sleep,” she said and turned – barely acknowledging her guests. Even if it was proper royal behavior, it was still rude.
“I’m very sorry for her behavior,” Aleksi apologized. He stared after his mother with a rather lost expression, and Tia wanted to smooth the lines that bracketed his mouth.
“Aleksi, how long has she been acting like that?” Emma still wore her thinking face.
“The last year,” he said, and frowned at his barely touched dessert.
“Has your father been gone that long?”
“Yes.”
“Has her behavior been like this before his death, during, or after?”
Aleksi stared at her aunt, as though trying to flip through his memories to locate that answer. “I’d say it’s been gradual, but at least since after his death. Perhaps before, but not to the extent she’s exhibiting now.”
Emma nodded and sucked her lips between her teeth. “I think your mother needs grief counseling.”
Aleksi started. “Grief counseling?”
“Yes. Have either of you undergone any type of counseling since your father passed away?”
“No, there hasn’t been time,” Aleksi said.
Rich stirred. “Has your mother been out of Rurikstan since his death?”
“No,” Aleksi admitted. “You believe she is suffering from grief?”
“I think that’s a huge part of the problem. She might also be experiencing some symptoms from your well water,” Emma said.
Tia straightened in her chair. “I should have picked up on that.”
“Not necessarily, love. Right now, I think Princess Gracia needs to be sent to France or England – somewhere you trust to help her emotionally. Something is bothering her, I’d say.”
“How did you pick up on that?”
“I’ve experienced similar grief. I recognized the symptoms. But I’m also picking up from you that you don’t quite know what to do with her. Like her behavior now isn’t quite normal.”
“It is not,” Aleksi said fervently and shook his head. “I don’t even know her these days.”
“That’s probably because she’s not taking your father’s death well. Were they close?”
“Yes, they appeared to have a good marriage.” Aleksi’s voice was quiet. “I’ll speak with an advisor who knows her well.”
“That’s a good idea. Don’t take my opinion, because I don’t know her, but I think you’ll see a different person after only a few weeks with a skilled therapist.”
“But you advise I send her away, rather than bring someone qualified in?”
“Yes, only because if the water is part of the problem, then that might help to alleviate some of the more severe symptoms.”
“I’ll speak with some trusted people.”
“I think you’ll find you get your mother back once she’s feeling better.”
“Thank you,” Aleksi said with heartfelt sincerity.
Tia noticed his eyes slid to her and she wondered about it. Why would he send her such a speaking look? She wished she could help his mother, if what General Emma said was true.
If the woman really was grief stricken and couldn’t fight her way out, then she needed help and sympathy, not snarky, petty comments like Tia had been thinking.
See, another obvious reason why she wasn’t princess material. American girls did seem to do snarky well. Shouldn’t a princess be sympathetic and sweet?
Tia nearly choked on the next bite of cake. If so, she certainly didn’t qualify. To keep from falling into her own depression, Tia refused to look at Aleksi again. The man made her want things she knew weren’t good for her. Like a drunk who wanted another round of alcohol.
***
“You’re going to send me away?” His mother sounded horrified early the next morning, like he’d betrayed her.
“Yes.” He sucked in another deep breath of air, and continued. “I’m not sending you to the island, but to London.”
She perked up. “London?”
“Yes, mother. I want you to see some doctors there.”
“Why, there’s nothing wrong with me.”
“There could be. We can’t be certain those of us in the palace weren’t affected by the same thing that has caused our people to sicken.”
“You want me to fly to London to be checked by some doctors there? Dr. Mahon is perfectly capable...”
“Mother, Dr. Mahon is averaging three hours of sleep a night. He can’t afford to see yet another patient.”
“That’s not enough sleep.”
“No, it isn’t. I’m flying more doctors in to help ease the load, but I don’t want to take chances with you. So I’m sending you to London. You can stay at our flat there, where you’ll be comfortable, and the car can take you to your various appointments.”
She looked hesitant. “Do you really believe this is necessary?”
“I do,” he said firmly. Already the idea of leaving here seemed to have perked her up. His father hadn’t spent much time in London, but his mother loved that city. She always seemed to thrive there. London never failed to revive her spirits. “Once you’re given a clean bill of health, then we can speak of your returning home.”
She rose briskly from her chair, “I’d better go see about making the arrangements for my departure today.” Her eyes shone with a new light and her energy seemed to increase before his very eyes.
“Yes, you have much to prepare.” He could barely believe the difference just suggesting she leave. “Also, Mother?”
“Yes, dear?” she asked. She seemed more like his mother than he’d seen in the last year.
“I’ve arranged for you to see a few doctors. Make certain you don’t miss any of the appointments, okay? Each is important.”
She studied him for a few moments, and he could nearly see the beautiful person she’d been before his father died. But that woman had been replaced by one who was bitter and angry, so her beauty had faded. The more he thought of Emma’s belief that his mother needed grief counseling the more he believed her notion correct.
“I won’t miss any of the appointments if you feel so strongly about this,” she said. Still sounding like the mother he remembered.
“I do. I need you to keep every one of them.”
“Who are you sending to be my watchdog?” Her voice sounded wry, teasing almost. More glimpses of the woman he knew.
“Aunt Loletta is planning to join you there.”
“That is a most excellent bit of news.” His mother appeared even more excited. Loletta was her sister, and best friend. They lived in two different countries and although they stayed in contact regularly, didn’t spend much time together. But Loletta was also a force to be reckoned with and she wouldn’t allow his mother to miss her appointments. All the while making certain his mother also enjoyed herself.
“I thought you might enjoy the opportunity to see her and London again.”
His mother swooped down to kiss him on the forehead before she turned on her heel and swept from the room. She positively burst with renewed vigor and happiness. Maybe she had simply needed a change of scenery but didn’t feel she could leave him with his new duties.
Silly woman.
Her leaving the palace would provide everyone with a much needed break. And he could reassess his plans to seduce Tia. The enjoyment would have been decreased had he attempted to do so under his mother’s watchful eye.
The women she deemed appropriate left him... unfulfilled and dissatisfied. All of them would bore him in moments. Each of them already had, in fact. There wasn’t one of them who could carry on an intelligent conversation for an extended period of time.
He required stimulation. Mental stimulation as well as physical. With the women his mother had chosen he’d receive neither.
With Tia, she only had to be in the same room with him for everything to heighten. The birds seemed to sing prettier, the colors more vibrant, and the world was a more cheerful place. With Tia in the palace, he actually didn’t mind climbing out of bed in the morning.
Now with his mother off to London, he’d be even more apt to tumble out of bed. Especially if he could coax his princess-to-be into a few stolen kisses. Being a princess wasn’t exactly the easiest job in the world. She would have to undergo a thorough physical examination. And once their engagement was announced, she’d be under the scrutiny of his countrymen. He didn’t worry about this because she’d be a hero if she solved their well problems.
Ill people tended to be appreciative of those who took them from sickness to health. Actually, they might not deem him good enough for her. But he would have to worry about that when the time came.
His phone rang. “Aleksi speaking.”
“Answering your own phone?” Graham asked with interest.
“Everyone quit.” He tried to sound mournful, but figured he failed when Graham laughed.
“That’s what happens when you’re a dictator.”
“You could have informed me of this earlier,” Aleksi groused, as he always did when he spoke with this man. Graham had been more a father to him sometimes than his own father had. The principality had taken up much of his father’s attention, although he had spent time with Aleksi.
“You never asked. Now, how did your mother take being shipped out of the country?”
“She’s ecstatic,” he admitted.
Graham made a tsking sound in the back of his throat. “Isn’t that interesting how we all missed the signs in your mother? A total stranger saw what we didn’t.” Aleksi appreciated the shame he heard in Graham’s voice, but he didn’t want his mentor to feel bad.
“We’ve been too close to the situation. And we all had to grieve, too. How could we have known she couldn’t work through her sorrow?”
His mentor sighed. “I know. I just feel like one of us should have figured it out. Maria is usually very aware of that sort of thing.”
“Mother doesn’t allow Maria close.”
“Yes, there is that silly feud your mother insists on, isn’t there?”
“I’ve never thought Maria cared about keeping it up. She’d just as soon see the entire thing dropped, but my mother doesn’t appear to want to do that.”
“Do you have any idea what they originally fought about?”
“Graham, I’m not certain even Maria knows,” Aleksi said dryly.
“She knows. She has to.” Disbelief was the prominent emotion in Graham’s voice.
“Ask her. I doubt she does.”
“That would be sad.”
“That would be my mother.” Aleksi said grimly. Please, let him chose a better woman than his mother. Let him have Tia.
***
When she thought about it at breakfast the next morning, Tia realized she didn’t miss Aleksi’s mother at all. The woman was too busy preparing for her time in London and was supposed to leave today. Her thoughts drifted from the woman to her son. When Tia’s aunt and uncle left, she’d have to eat meals alone with him. But that shouldn’t be a problem since the palace was overrun with people at any given hour. Seems the place never quit. Much like she’d heard about New York City. Only smaller.
Therefore she would never actually “be alone” with him, which was both good and bad. Good because she didn’t trust herself, and bad because oh, but it could be fun to kiss his socks off. Tia had never kissed anyone’s socks off, nor ever had the same done to her, but she didn’t doubt the power of Aleksi.
Not that she would ever attempt this feat until after her aunt and uncle left. General Emma tended to notice things like that, and she’d have to tell someone, and then that juicy tidbit of gossip would eventually work back to her mother, who would start planning her wedding, even though Macy would tell her to cool it...
And Tia reconfirmed the need to keep her hands off her delectable host. Hottie though he was, he wasn’t up for grabs. At least not by her. She didn’t have the background, didn’t have the social manners required, nor did she have the grace and beauty necessary to pull off princesshood.
She shuddered just thinking about being a princess. No way. It was bad enough having to endure the moments when she couldn’t escape to her lab. The servants wanted to do everything for her. Including walk. She understood she wasn’t the most graceful of women and things didn’t truly grow ugly until she strapped heels on, but still, even she was capable of walking from one area to the next. Usually.
“Good news,” Aleksi announced, breaking into her thoughts, thank goodness.
“Oh?” General Emma asked. She looked fresh and radiant this morning. Part of the brightness might have something to do with Gloomy Gracia soon being en route to London. Tia took a moment to feel sorry for the British. But she suspected a goodly amount of the shine around her aunt had to do with general good health, her personality, and the fact that she was totally in love with her new husband.
“The plumbers have managed to install all the filters so we can take showers in our bedchambers,” Aleksi said. She noticed he sent her a rather speaking look. She swallowed.
“Oh, that’s wonderful news,” she murmured, thinking lustfully of the hedonists delight in her own bathroom.
“Yes it is wonderful. Although we certainly didn’t mind using that amazing bathtub, either,” General Emma replied as she dug into the oatmeal before her.
When Tia noticed her Uncle Rich seemed more interested in his filled plate than the bathing situation, Tia had to tease him. “Uncle Rich is going to mind not getting to trek down the hall.”
He swallowed and a lazy grin creased his lips. Yep, he was definitely handsome beyond belief. “Since I’ve lived in places where the bathing arrangements were downright primitive, I’ve learned not to complain when there are decent ones in place.”
Tia glanced at Aleksi. “Uncle Rich spent two tours in Kuwait,” she explained.
“Two tours?” His dark brows snapped together. “You must like punishment.”
Rich laughed. “No, but I guess I like my country.”
“You must. I do not care for Kuwait, myself. It is so sandy and hot,” Aleksi said.
“I imagine you’re used to some primitive conditions then.” Rich took another bite while Tia went on alert.
“Yes, I suppose I feel the way you do. So long as there are some provisions made for bathing, I am not one for complaint.” Aleksi did that Gaelic shrug again.
Her girls roused. She shushed them and in the meantime, Emma beat her to the question. “Why is that?”
The men turned to stare at her.
“All the men in my country must join the military between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one. I joined as soon as I finished university.”
“Just because he was the prince doesn’t mean that same law didn’t apply to him,” Rich continued.
“You were in the military?” Tia hadn’t been aware of that. Interesting.
“Of course. And I told my father I wished for no special treatment. He arranged for some men he knew who wouldn’t treat me any differently to undertake my military training. My experience was identical to that of the other men in this principality.”
She liked the satisfaction in his voice. Perhaps that’s why he seemed so much more down-to-earth than she had thought possible for a member of royalty.
“You didn’t have to do that, surely,” General Emma commented. She paused with her spoon halfway between her mouth and bowl.
“No, I did not. But the circumstances of my birth should not provide me rights over those who are my fellow countrymen. Besides, from that experience, I discovered true friends. It was one of the best periods of my life.”
“You weren’t any different from anyone else for the first time in your life,” Tia said, realizing how not fun it would be to have been born in a royal family. A woman had to be nuts to marry into one. Hello? Step away from the gorgeous prince, she reminded herself.
“That’s correct. The only other time I enjoyed such an occasion was when I attended university in America. There, I managed to hide my identity until my third year.”
“Who found you out?”
“My father called the Provost and spoke with him, having no idea I had failed to mention my heritage. I had managed to keep our people who dealt with the school from revealing my identity, but my father was not aware.”
“He didn’t approve?” Emma again asked the very question on her lips.
“Actually, I believe he did. He once told me that if I kept my attitude, about not wanting to be treated differently while in the military or at school, I could take our principality further than it would likely ever go. I am still not certain what he meant by that.” Aleksi bit his lip and Tia wanted to soothe the abused flesh with her lips and tongue. She wanted to swirl her tongue....
She cut off those treacherous thoughts because that way lay madness. And since she was a member of the Morrison family and sister to three Apes, she decided she didn’t need more insanity. Plus, she’d already given herself that little pep talk about marrying into royalty. Heck, dating royalty would be a... royal pain. She winced at her own stupidity. Oh well, at least she could entertain herself.
“It’s refreshing to know there are people like you still,” Emma said with a sweet smile Aleksi couldn’t take as anything other than support.
“Thank you,” he replied with a regal tilt of his head.
“You’re welcome.”
Anything else she might have added was lost when a shout went up. Startled, her heart beating a hasty retreat, Tia turned scared eyes on Aleksi.
He didn’t appear daunted though and instead, his lips curled to the side and he warned them with a, “Brace yourselves.”
“What is that?”
“That would be my best friend’s son, Hubert.” Aleksi turned in his seat and opened his arms to a little whirlwind who launched into them with a bright cry of welcome.
“Uncle ‘Leski,” the little boy said, holding something she couldn’t identify in his arms, “look!” And when he held the item aloft, Tia, having much experience with little boys and their interests, labeled the item a toy rocket. The kind that could be launched.
Hubert didn’t appear to be more than five or six years old, which made Tia wonder about the wisdom of providing him with a rocket but then an attractive, harried looking woman trotted into the room holding another child in her arms, one who looked exactly like her. The little girl wore the cutest little white dress with black polka dots. It matched the black with white polka dots the mother wore.
That lady bent to kiss Aleksi before she frowned at her son. “Remember what daddy told you at breakfast?” Her hair was red with golden strands intermingled and her eyes a laughing brown.
The little boy adopted that I-forget look kids perfected easily by this boy’s age. “No,” he said and shoved the rocket near Aleksi’s nose. This didn’t daunt the man in the least. She saw instead that he appeared as interested in the rocket as the boy. For that matter, when her eyes slid to her uncle, Rich looked fascinated as well.
Tia darted a look at Emma who rolled her eyes, smiled serenely, and squeezed her husband’s hand. He apparently appreciated the gesture, but didn’t seem inclined to take his eyes off the small tube in Hubert’s hand.
“Hello, I’m Sara Wellington, and this is Toni,” Hubert’s mother said, holding out a sticky hand. Yep, she was a mom. Tia accepted the invitation with enthusiasm.
Sara reminded her strongly of her cousin Ben’s wife, Treeny. “I’m Tia Morrison, and this is my aunt, Emma O’Riley. Her husband, Rich, is as interested in your son’s rocket as the other males.”
“Yes, I was afraid of that. My husband, Maks, is due to arrive any moment, so I imagine the males will all have to see what they can do about that rocket. I still think he’s too young, but Maks assured me it was okay with parental supervision.” Sara laughed then she sighed. “The only problem with that theory is when it comes to toys like that I’m the only parent around.”
Tia laughed. “My sister-in-law says the same thing. I have a nephew who’s fascinated by anything with claws, venom, fangs, and poison. Unfortunately, we believe he inherited that tendency from my brother, so she has to be the voice of reason.”
“Does she have gray hair yet?”
“Not yet. But she tells us it’s only a matter of time,” Emma answered with a smile. She reached out to flap Toni’s hand, and the little girl giggled and hid her face in her mother’s arm.
“How cute are you?” Emma asked and as was the custom, the little girl immediately warmed to Emma and even consented to let her hold her.
“My aunt has the best way with kids,” Tia said, shaking her head.
“Does she have a bunch of her own?”
“She has a daughter, but mainly her experience comes from all the Morrison offspring. There are a lot of us.”
“You come from a big family?”
“Oh yes.”
“And you’re American, I take it?” Sara’s voice held hope.
“We are. And you seem to have a bit of a Boston accent?”
“Yes, I grew up near Boston. Cambridge, actually. My dad is a professor at Harvard.”
“I thought so. Do you miss America?”
“I miss my family, especially now that I have children, but I do love Rurikstan and my husband.” She glanced at Toni, and smiled. “And our children.”
With the statement, the doors whisked open and a tall, handsome man with obvious European ancestry strolled through the doors. He and Aleksi might have been brothers, so close was their bone structure and bearing.
Maks could have stepped from any of the portraits of royalty scattered all over the palace. Tia realized he very well might be sired from them. He wasn’t the least bit intimidated by Aleksi’s position in the country either because when he sauntered past the prince, Maks swatted him. Aleksi grinned and beetled his brows at his friend. “We’re planning to launch this rocket, but I think we should do so without your father,” he stated to Hubert.
“But shouldn’t Daddy be there?” Hubert asked with a frown and concern etched on his little face.
“No, I think he’s going to end up in the dungeons.”
“Mommy tells him that all the time,” Hubert confided in a loud whisper.
Sara smothered her laughter with a hand. Aleksi exchanged a speaking look with her. “Your mommy is very smart, Hubert.” Aleksi introduced them.
“Daddy says...” But before Hubert could divulge more secrets, Daddy managed to clamp a large hand over his son’s mouth.
“Let’s not go there,” Maks said in deep tones. He had a very nice voice and reminded her of someone besides Aleksi but she couldn’t place him.
Hubert giggled and squirmed but when he nearly dropped the rocket the men in the room all returned their attention to the tube.
“I don’t know what it is about men and rockets...” Emma said with a sigh.
“Me either,” Sara returned and glanced at her husband and son.
Tia lost interest as another question popped into her mind. “Does your family get to visit much?”
“Yes. My mother comes for a month at a time. Aleksi is wonderful about sending a plane for her whenever we need her or she wants to visit. Same for my sisters, but they’re all busy with their own lives.”
“I understand that.” Tia nodded. Nick’s household was one of the busiest she’d ever seen. Before Macy, Tia knew there were whole weekends she couldn’t remember, they’d been so hectic.
“Maks’ family must be here?”
“Yes. Graham and Maria are his parents,” Sara said.
Of course. “That’s who Maks reminds me of. Graham.”
“Yes. His sisters look and act like Maria, but he’s all Graham.”
The men rose and with Hubert skipping between them, left the room with barely a wave. “Action time, I take it,” Emma drawled as she watched her husband leave the room with the others.
“No one is likely to get hurt are they?” Tia asked, feeling a niggling of worry. Rockets could cause injuries. She knew this because she’d been the unwilling recipient of many.
“No, I don’t think so. Aleksi and Maks wouldn’t let anything happen to Hubert,” Sara said, but she had a pleat between her eyebrows.
“What about anything happening to Aleksi and Maks?” Tia asked.
“Well, that’s probably more cause for concern.” Sara exchanged a worried glance with her.
Tia bit her lip. “That’s what I thought.”
“Not to worry, ladies,” Emma said briskly. She set her napkin aside.
“Why not?”
“Rich is with them. He can operate the Space Shuttle, so surely he can engineer how to set off a cardboard toy rocket safely.”
True, but would the other two men listen to Navy SEAL Rich, especially since he was an admiral, and not on active duty? They all exchanged worried glances. “On that note, maybe we should supervise,” Tia put forth briskly.
“Good idea,” Sara and Emma seconded and the ladies beat a hasty retreat from the room.