Part 11 (1/2)
Princess Maria Sofia? Justin swallowed hard. So this was the royal princess and heir presumptive to the throne of San Gabriel. Princesses were only supposed to be stunningly beautiful in fairy tales, not real life.
He bowed forward in his saddle. ”Your Royal Highness, I am honored to meet you.” He barely remembered to add, ”And you also, Miss Markham.”
”The pleasure is mutual, Mr. Ballard. We have been awaiting your arrival with great antic.i.p.ation.” There was amus.e.m.e.nt in Miss Markham's eyes. She was probably used to seeing men struck witless when they met the princess.
When Maria Sofia's gaze met his, her eyes widened for such a brief instant that he wasn't sure if he was imagining it. Then the polished manners of a royal princess took over and she offered her hand. ”On behalf of San Gabriel, I give thanks for your willingness to help us.”
Her gloved hand was delicate, but her grip was firm. This was a girl who had learned to be more than a demure maiden of no opinions. He supposed that princesses learned early to deal with whatever and whoever came their way.
How old was she? Seventeen, perhaps eighteen? Too young for him. And a princess, for heaven's sake! The Ballard family was well-off, but not remotely royal.
Putting inconvenient attraction aside, he released her hand and said seriously, ”The war has cost so many people so much. I'm glad to contribute to San Gabriel's recovery in some way.”
”Your men can be accommodated in the military barracks, but you must stay at the castle. We have a great deal of s.p.a.ce, and I'm sure you and Major Masterson have much to catch up on.”
”Indeed we do.” Could he sound any more vapid if he tried?
Thankfully, Will said, ”Empanadas and sangria await. Later we can determine which projects to undertake first, now that the supplies have arrived.”
”The grapevine cuttings must be planted as soon as possible,” Justin said, glad to have a subject he was knowledgeable about. ”It's already rather late in the season for planting. The sooner they're in the ground, the sooner they can begin to grow.”
”Very true,” the princess said as she turned her horse back toward the river. ”The vines must be a priority. But now that you have the nails and hardware you need, it is time for you to build the bridge you promised us, Major Masterson. How soon might that be possible?”
”I think planting and building can be started at the same time,” Miss Markham said. ”But there remains the question of the long timbers needed for the bridge.”
”I've calculated the amount required,” Will said. ”Now all we need is to locate usable lengths of seasoned wood.”
The princess glanced at him. ”I believe I have a solution, Major. Senor Oliviera and I have discussed this. Two castle outbuildings that were constructed with long timbers can be spared. If you believe they will suit, the buildings can be torn down and the wood used for your bridge. That will work, yes?”
”I've been thinking along those lines myself,” Will admitted. ”Once in Spain we tore down a nearby inn for its timbers when an emergency bridge had to be built, but it's not a popular solution. The innkeeper wasn't happy, even though he was compensated.”
”We need the bridge more than we need so many barns, particularly since much of our livestock was stolen by the French and it will take time to rebuild the herds. Tonight, the four of us must dine together and discuss how best to proceed, now that Mr. Ballard has arrived with the supplies and workmen.” The princess gestured for Justin to ride beside her. ”And, please, sir, tell me about the wine-s.h.i.+pping business. This may be information San Gabriel can use.”
”I can talk about the wine trade all day and into the night, your highness,” Justin said, absurdly pleased. ”You are warned!”
She laughed. ”Please call me Sofia. This is a very small kingdom, after all.”
He'd never been on a first-name basis with a princess, even a very young one. ”I'm honored. In return, I hope you'll call me Justin. Now about the wine s.h.i.+pping . . .”
As he began to explain how the business worked, he gave thanks that he'd decided to come to San Gabriel himself. He'd wanted an adventure, and he'd found more than he'd dreamed of.
Athena and Will fell behind Sofia and Justin. When they were out of earshot, Will said in a low voice, ”Was it my imagination, or did those two both light up like lanterns when they met?”
”Not your imagination,” Athena said, her brow furrowed. ”I trust Justin Ballard is an honorable man?”
”Without question,” Will said as he studied the other couple. ”They seem to have skipped friends.h.i.+p and gone straight to flirting.”
”Which is as far as they can go.” Athena had never seen Sofia react to a man so strongly. Granted, Ballard was very attractive, with the dark hair and suntanned complexion of a Gabrileno, but with bright blue Scottish eyes that sparkled with humor and an air of worldly sophistication.
Still, he could never be a suitable match for the queen of San Gabriel.
Chapter 17.
Athena entered the family sitting room early, and found Will already relaxing there on the sofa while he studied a sheaf of papers. He'd removed his water- and mud-spattered clothes and wore a well-tailored navy blue coat, buff breeches, and polished black boots.
She stopped dead as icy shock jolted through her. He looked too much the fas.h.i.+onable London gentleman. Worse, he was dressed like her father on the one ghastly occasion when they'd met.
Her brief recoil vanished when he looked up and gave his wonderful, warm Will smile to her. He set aside the papers and rose to greet her, so she relaxed and stepped into the sitting room, closing the door behind her. ”I'm glad Sofia suggested a small private dinner tonight. I'm not up for a full Oliviera meal, and your friend Mr. Ballard must be even more tired after his trek from Porto.”
”Justin has always had excellent stamina.” Will gestured toward the papers. ”I've been going over the packing lists and he exceeded my expectations.”
”I look forward to seeing the lists after dinner.” Athena shook her head. ”For months, we were barely staying afloat. Now San Gabriel can begin to move forward, thanks to you and Mr. Ballard.”
”I look forward to sharing a brandy with him later tonight while we catch up with months of gossip.” Will moved across the room toward her, a mischievous light in his gray eyes. ”But at the moment, I'm interested in defining 'flirtation.' Does it include a well-mannered kiss?”
”I suppose it would depend on how well-mannered the kiss is,” Athena said as she watched him a little warily.
”Very well-mannered indeed.” The brush of Will's lips on her left temple was feather soft, but at the same time his arms encircled her with warm thoroughness. ”What about hugs? Is a well-mannered hug acceptable as flirting?”
Athena smiled, unable to resist relaxing against his broad, strong body. ”Hugs are dangerous territory, but I'm exceptionally fond of them.”
She tilted her head against his as tension flowed out of her. He smelled of fresh soap and his own appealing self. Though pa.s.sion could be as close as the next breath if they allowed it, this embrace was pure, simple affection. She'd be happy to be held like this forever.
”I'm liking flirtation,” he said thoughtfully as one hand stroked slowly down her spine. ”Though I'm unwilling to accept that flirting can never go any further.”
Athena was also having some trouble accepting that. At moments like this, it was easy to imagine that there could be more. That they could be more. And yet . . .
She made a face and backed out of his embrace. ”It's easier to flirt with a wet, muddy engineer than the rather alarmingly fas.h.i.+onable gentleman I saw when I entered the room,” she said with rueful honesty.
”I can take off this well-tailored coat and pour water over my head if that would help,” he said earnestly.
She had to laugh. Will was so down-to-earth that it was easy to forget he was a landed gentleman. Though not a peer like her disdainful grandfathers, he could move easily in that level of society. From comments he'd made about highborn friends, she was sure that he did. It was best to enjoy flirtation and not yearn for anything more.
Though when she studied that powerful, masculine body and his laughing eyes, it was impossible not to yearn for more. ”I shall forgive you the well-tailored coat, since I'm sure it's an accident that you look fas.h.i.+onable.”
”Once, long ago, a valet informed me that it was impossible for a man built like me to look fas.h.i.+onable,” he said seriously. ”I'm too big. Excessive shoulders, excessive muscles. So I gave up on any thoughts of fas.h.i.+on and now settle for respectable.”
”I have no complaints about your size. It's an exotic pleasure for an overly tall female like me to look up at a man,” she said mischievously.
”I think you're exactly the right size,” he said, a gleam in his eyes. ”Deliciously huggable.” Fortunately, laughter and footsteps sounded outside the door before Athena could decide whether to step toward him, or back away.
Athena and Will moved apart just before Sofia entered with Justin Ballard right behind her. The two were laughing together and Sofia had a bright happiness in her face that Athena hadn't seen since the French invasion. It was wonderful to see Sofia happy again, but not for a reason that guaranteed pain. Be careful of your heart, little sister.
After greetings all around, Sofia raised a bottle of red wine that she'd brought with her. ”Justin kindly did not mention the quality of the sangria this afternoon.”
”It was delicious and most welcome,” Justin protested.