A Royal Christmas Proposal. Leanne Banks

deep breath, hating that he was speaking the truth. She so wanted him to be wrong. “I can handle it.”

      “I’m your security detail,” he said, and extended his hand. “I can’t let you drown yourself.”

      She ignored his hand and walked away, her limbs heavy from her exertion. “You ruined my swim.”

      “I saved you from drowning,” he corrected.

      She turned around and stared at him. “You are a total pain and you will be gone in six days.”

      He gave a crooked smile again. “Your brother insisted that you give me a trial period.”

      Ericka scowled. I hate you, she wanted to say. “Good night. You’ll be gone soon enough,” she said, and then turned to walk away.

      “You know Beethoven wrote some of his most famous work when he was deaf,” he said.

      She stopped and her heart stopped, too. Ericka took a deep breath, more moved by his words than she would ever want to admit. “Good night,” she repeated, although even she would admit she sounded less hostile.

      Although she turned on a light in Leo’s room, he still awakened in the middle of the night and screamed bloody murder. Nanny was there to help, but Ericka felt responsible. She was his mother. She was the one who should soothe him back to sleep. As soon as she drew him into her arms, he quieted.

      As she rocked him in the middle of the night, she wondered if she would ever be the mother he needed. He was such a precious soul. How could she be all he needed?

      She dozed a bit with him in her lap then rose and carefully placed him in the crib, keeping her hand on him for several moments. She felt him drift to sleep and carefully walked away.

      An hour later, he awakened again. This time, she let Nanny take him. At the same time, she felt like a failure. Why couldn’t she help her son so that he would sleep through the night?

      Exhausted, she awakened later than usual and forced herself to climb out of bed. Stumbling toward the bath, she splashed her face with water and brushed her teeth then headed for the kitchen for coffee. She wanted to mainline it through her veins.

      Nanny offered her a cup. “Would you like cream and sugar, ma’am?”

      “That sounds wonderful,” Ericka said. “Have you gotten any sleep since four am?”

      “Yes, ma’am, I have,” Nanny said. “His royal self gave it up after half a bottle. Men,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s all about food.”

      Ericka chuckled and took a sip of her coffee. “So true. And this morning?”

      “He’s still asleep,” Nanny said.

      “That can be good,” Ericka said. “And bad.”

      Nanny nodded. “I’ll take a nap in just a few moments,” she said.

      “I’m thinking of hiring back-up assistance for cooking and cleaning,” Ericka said.

      “It shouldn’t be necessary,” Nanny said. “I know our arrangement is for me to return to my apartment a few days every month. Is that a problem?” the woman asked with a worried expression.

      “Not at all. Trust me, you are irreplaceable. I think a little additional back-up may help. For both of us,” Ericka said. “Leo has us coming and going. There’s too much of cooking and cleaning left to do.”

      “Well, it’s not as if you’re a woman of leisure,” Nanny said. “You work very hard.”

      Ericka felt a sliver of relief. “Thank you for saying that. I somehow feel as if I should manage all of this on my own.”

      Nanny shook her head. “Never. It’s not as if you have a husband,” she said, and then covered her mouth as if she were shocked by her frank words.

      Ericka shook her head. “Don’t worry. What you say is true. I’m just trying to figure it all out.”

      “And you’re doing a wonderful job,” Nanny said. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. It won’t help you get any job done, motherhood or your other duties.”

      Ericka made more phone calls to continue to secure the arrangements for the upcoming conference. Her sister Bridget called in between calls. “Hello, Bridget, how are you?”

      “Pregnant and busy with the twins and all the animals my husband insists on having at our so-called ranch. When I agreed to marry a Texan doctor, I didn’t realize he was serious about recreating home on the range here in Chantaine,” Bridget said in a mock huffy voice.

      Ericka smiled at her sister’s tone. Although Bridget had been known as the socialite in her family, she’d been tamed when she’d fallen in love with her doctor husband and the two nephews he’d adopted. “More animals? Horses, cattle, goats. You’re turning into a zoo,”

      “Oh, darling, we became a zoo a long time ago,” she said. “Now, I know you’re busy, but Pippa, Eve and I want to have a get-together for lunch before I get much closer to my due date. Before you know it, it will be Christmas. Or I’ll be in labor. One of the two.”

      “I’d love to,” Ericka said, “but I’m feeling strapped for time. Between caring for Leo and planning the conference...”

      “I feel terrible that you’ve had to take over the conference, but when the doctor put me on limited activity, it squashed my schedule even more. You have a nanny and back-up, don’t you?”

      “I have a wonderful nanny, but I think I’m going to have to get someone part-time for shopping and errands,” Ericka said.

      Bridget made a tsk-ing sound. “You should have done that right away. Trying to do too much. You’re starting to act like overachiever Valentina before her husband took her away from us.”

      Ericka smiled at the description. Bridget had nailed Tina’s personality perfectly. “I’m not sure I’ll ever measure up to those standards,” Ericka said.

      “Well, you have too much right now, so I think you should ask for a loaner or referral from the palace. Anyone they recommend will have been properly vetted. You can ask for a few choices,” Bridget said.

      “I’ve been trying to avoid placing any extra burdens on the palace,” she confessed.

      “Oh, yes. I know all about it. Stefan is huffing and puffing because you won’t stay at the palace where he can make sure you’re safe and secure. Can’t blame you for wanting to escape, though. Even though I live in a circus with these five-year old twins and all these animals, I much prefer living outside the walls. But I insist you let the palace help you out. I also insist you join us for lunch day after tomorrow. No arguments,” Bridget said in her best no-nonsense voice.

      “All right,” Ericka said. “When did you become so bossy?”

      “You get a family of instant twin baby boys and you’ll be amazed how bossy you become. Ciao, darling. Go eat some chocolate and have some wine. Drink an extra glass for me.”

      Although reluctant, Ericka put in a call to palace personnel. Two applicants would apply tomorrow. She fed the baby and carried him around for a while. Suddenly it was eight o’clock and she was tired and cranky. Thank goodness for Nanny. She thought about how Bridget had suggested wine and chocolate, but she was in the mood for something different. Something she’d had when she was pregnant and living in Texas.

      A peanut butter and bacon sandwich.

      * * *

      Treat followed the scent of bacon inside the house. He’d missed that smell. “Bacon?” he said.

      Ericka whirled around to look at him. “Technically pancetta.”

      “Smells like bacon,” he said.

      “It’s not quite the same thing,” she said. “But I’ll make do. If I burn