Princess Fredericka Devereauxâs Christmas Wish List
1. A special first holiday season for my baby son, Leo.
2. Mistletoe hung with care throughout the palace.
3. A beautiful stocking for Leo, embroidered with his nameâand maybe one for my new bodyguard, Treat?
4. The ability to stop gazing at Treat from afar!
5. An evening snuggling under a blanket with my sexy guard to watch old Christmas movies.
6. A feast fit for a princess and my prince(s)âLeo and Treat!
7. A father for Leo ⦠and the husband of my dreams?
* * *
Royal Babies:
A new generation of little princesâand princesses!
Chapter One
Princess Fredericka hoped her brother wasnât going to be impossible.
She knew she had made more than her share of mistakes. Sheâd been a wild child when sheâd been a teenager and terrified her family with her antics. Everyone had breathed a sigh of relief when sheâd gotten married, because sheâd appeared to calm down. In many ways she had, but sheâd learned things didnât always turn out the way one expected. Sheâd managed to make the best of what life had dealt her. Ericka knew her brother Stefan, the ruling prince of Chantaine, however, would have a hard time seeing her as a competent single mother to her adorable son, Leo.
She resisted the urge to fidget as she waited to be invited into her brotherâs office. She nodded at staff members as they hung holiday greenery and put candles in the window. Ericka suspected the Christmas decorations had been ordered by Eve, her brotherâs wife. Ericka barely remembered seeing Christmas decorations when she had been growing up in the palace. With the exception of the huge Christmas tree in one of the formal rooms, one might not have known the holiday existed. Of course, the deep chill between her mother and father hadnât helped matters.
Her father, Prince Edward, had been a philanderer and an absentee father and husband. Her mother had felt trapped and bitter. Ericka remembered wishing only that she could run away. Sheâd done exactly that in more than one way, which was why she suspected this was going to be a messy discussion. Stefan was extremely protective.
The door to Stefanâs office finally opened. âYour Highness, Princess Fredericka, please come in,â Stefanâs assistant said.
She nodded. âThank you very much,â she said, then entered her brotherâs office while the assistant left the room. âStefan,â she greeted, walking toward her brother. She noticed a wisp of a couple gray streaks on the sides of his dark hair. The burden of his position was obviously weighing on him.
She kissed his cheek and he kissed hers. âHow are you?â she asked.
âIâm well,â he said. âIâm more concerned about you and Leonardo.â
Ericka smiled. âLeo and I are great. Iâm happy to be back in Chantaine after spending the last year with Tina in Texas.â
âYou could have spent the last year here in Chantaine,â he said, and rounded his desk to sit in his chair.
Ericka sat in the chair across from her brother, watching him as he tented his fingers and studied her. âI think it was good to be with Tina in Texas during my pregnancy and delivery. She and her husband were supportive, and it was fun having their daughter, Katarina, around. Sheâs quite the spitfire. Little ones put everything in perspective.â
âTrue,â Stefan said, giving a serious nod. âI think it would be best for you and Leo to live at the palace.â
Erickaâs stomach twisted and she bit the inside of her lip. She hated to go up against Stefan but knew it was necessary. âI think not,â she said. âIâve found a lovely gated cottage and a nanny. I think this will be best for Leo and me.â
Stefan frowned. âBut what about security? You and Leo need to be protected. That would be much easier within the palace walls.â
Ericka shook her head. âThe palace isnât the place for me. If you think about it, itâs not the place for most of us. None of your siblings live here. I apologize for how this may sound, but the palace feels claustrophobic. I donât want that for Leo.â