Page 1 of Royally Rivalled

PART ONE

latte girl and the dickish duke

one

PARKER

“Your Grace,dinner is ready. Would you like us to begin service?”

“Yes, please,” I answered.

I’d been conducting field research in France all summer—a scholar on a mission. I soaked up all the food, culture, and sunny days while collecting the last of my thesis research. His words pulled me back down to where I “belonged” in a grand house in Devon. I said no formal dinner, but the staff paid no mind. My mother was an overbearing piece of work and they deferred to her to keep the peace.

Downstairs, my family awaited my arrival—dressed in their finery. My mother—Elizabeth—glared as if my very presence annoyed her. She loathed my casual attire. Absorbed in their phones, my sisters—Carolyn and Ashleigh—focused on their social lives. Eventheywished to be elsewhere.

“Could you bother even to dress properly, Parker?” Mother was exasperated.

“I wasn't in the mood, Mother.”

“Call it academic chic,” Ashleigh joked as the firstcourse arrived.

I smiled. It was true. Political scientists weremanythings, but they werenotsharp dressers.

“What could be so interesting that you spend all your time up there?”

“I was organising my notes and figuring out which books I need to bring back.”

“Could you not spend more time around here? Why must you be in Shalestone if all you are doing is writing?”

“It is where I do my most productive work.”

Shalestone was a small university town on the edge of suburban London. Centred around the prestigious Shalebrook University, the town had been my home for the past four years. With my friends and colleagues due to return to campus any day, I was dying to see everyone again and finish the last chapters of my thesis.

“You know how he is, Mum.” Carolyn rolled her eyes. “He's a hermit.”

Carolyn was a society girl—she lived to go to lunch and parties. She was due to finish an art history course this year. I gathered her constant staring at her lap had to do with her boyfriend, who was already back in St Andrews.

“You've missed every party this year, Parker. Not to mention Ascot, Goodwood, and Cowes. Everything! How do you expect to meet a girl?” Mother asked.

This was the common refrain.Parker, you need to find a girl. Parker, settle down already! Parker, you must produce children. Parker, if you don't become more genial, no one will have you. Parker, books are silly! Parker, no one wants to marry a man who spent his twenties focused on his studies!

“I see girls every day at uni. I promise to try harder when I successfully defend my thesis. Right now, my focus must remain on school.”

Mum and Carolyn rolled their eyes.

Ashleigh defended, “I think it is good for him to finish. I am in no rush to wed. He isn'tthatmuch older. Daddy would have wanted that.”

“Thank you, Ashleigh. You're young and shouldn’t rush.”

Ashleigh was off to the Royal Academy of Ballet for her second year. I never understood how my parents produced a girl on her way to principal dancer or quite how we were related, but I knew she’d have a spectacular year. We’d be close. I expected to drop in and see her as I could.

“I thought you would go to uni and then be glad to settle down,” Mum said. “Not go back to school for an indefinite number of years. And then when your father died… I expected you to step up.”

She hated that as plans changed at home, I didn't alter my plan at uni.

“I deserve to finish this out,” I said. “That wasn’t what he wanted or expected.”

“It is about duty, Parker?—”

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