Royal Affair by Alice Gaines Page B

course,” Marta said. “Thank you for
telling me.”
    “Now, I think I’ll go see if the men folk
are through,” Dixie said. “I’m dying to find out what
happened.”
    *
    Someone had graciously ordered coffee for
Friedrich’s interrogation. Standing in the gold sitting room—the
site of so many family confrontations over the years—he poured
himself a cup and waited for the others to arrive.
    Dev appeared first and went directly to the
coffee service. “Not an occasion for brandy?”
    “Too early in the day.” Friedrich took a
seat on one of the divans and tasted his coffee. “Besides, I don’t
think I’ll need the fortification.”
    Dev chose an armchair and sat. “What’s this
all about?”
    “I’ll let my youngest explain. He called
this meeting.”
    The other two arrived. Kurt appeared in his
usual calm mood. Ulrich, on the other hand, had obviously rushed
dressing because his shirt wasn’t buttoned to the top, and his
socks didn’t match. He must have thrown on whatever he found.
    Kurt also served himself some coffee and
selected a seat near Friedrich. After a moment, he glanced up at
his younger brother. “Are you going to tell us what his is all
about?”
    “You would not believe,” Ulrich began,
“where our dear, upstanding father slept last night.”
    Dev arched an eyebrow. “In the palace, I
assume.”
    “Of course, in the palace.” Ulrich let out a
huff. “Where else?”
    “I don’t know,” Dev said. “If you’re going
to play guessing games, that’s my best effort.”
    Kurt tried to suppress a chuckle, but it
came out as a cough.
    “I suppose you all think this is very
funny,” Ulrich said.
    “How can I when I don’t know what it’s
about?” Kurt said.
    Friedrich remained silent, sipping his
coffee from time to time. He’d have to tell his children about his
plans to marry Marta at some point. That’s where he’d been headed
since the beginning of their affair. He’d want them all to be happy
about the match, but he wouldn’t allow any of them to keep him from
the woman he loved. If Ulrich objected now, he’d come around. Most
likely his reaction came from shock to discover that his father had
engaged in the marital act. No child liked to think about a parent
having sex.
    “Our father spent the night in the arms of
Lady Marta. No, in her…” For a moment, Ulrich appeared as if he’d
choke on the word. “…bed.”
    Dev’s eyes widened. “Do tell.”
    “I found him leaving her suite early this
morning, and he hadn’t changed clothes since the night before.”
Ulrich pointed an accusing finger toward Friedrich. “Obviously,
he’d spent the night with her.”
    “Father, you scoundrel.” Kurt’s face broke
into a grin. “I never would have guessed.”
    “That was the whole point of keeping it
quiet,” Friedrich said.
    “Aren’t you going to say anything to defend
yourself?” Ulrich demanded.
    Friedrich calmly set his cup on the table at
his elbow. “Why should I? It’s all true.”
    “Well done, Father,” Dev said. “I didn’t
know you had it in you.”
    “I’m getting old, but I’m not dead,”
Friedrich said.
    Ulrich made another one of his grand
gestures. “What about your heart?”
    “My heart is perfectly fine,” he answered.
“As you well know.”
    “If you’re worried about his health, love
will keep him younger,” Kurt said. “Sex, too.”
    “By God, I thought I’d noticed a spring in
your step,” Dev said. “This is wonderful, Father. Just
wonderful.”
    Ulrich gaped at his brothers as if they were
speaking a language he didn’t understand. “Aren’t you two
forgetting something?”
    “I’m sure you’ll remind us if we are,” Kurt
said.
    “They’re not married.” Ulrich threw up his
hands in pure frustration.
    “And you’re the arbiter of decency now,
little brother?” Dev said. “As I recall, you got around pretty well
before you met Dixie.”
    “That was me. This is…well…him,” Ulrich
said.
    Dev