Royal Family Read online

  Royal Family

  Synopsis

  For Veronica Clayton, the sudden death of her mother has turned her naturally bright and happy-go-lucky view of the world bleak. As the Police Protection Officer for the Queen’s children, she has purpose, but for the next six months, the Queen’s family is the focus of a documentary on royal life.

  The last thing Clay wants is a camera pointed in her face.

  Katya Kovach, a refugee to Britain, knows all about death and grief. She saw her family shot in front of her and has never recovered from those dark memories. Now trained at London’s most prestigious childcare school, she’s happy as the nanny to Queen Georgina and Queen Bea’s children.

  Clay is usually good-natured, but the rule-oriented Katya is not only a pain, but annoyingly beautiful, and they find themselves facing the awkward reality that everyone else is a couple except them while their every move is being filmed. Loss has defined both their lives, but guarding their hearts may prove to be the biggest heartbreak of all.

  Praise for Jenny Frame

  The Duchess and the Dreamer

  “We

  thoroughly

  enjoyed

  the

  whole

  romance-the-

  disbelieving-duchess with gallantry, unwavering care, and grand gestures. Since this is very firmly in the butch-femme zone, it appealed to that part of our traditionally-conditioned-typecasting mindset that all the wooing and work is done by Evan without throwing even a small fit at any point. We liked the fact that Clementine has layers and depth. She has her own personal and personality hurdles that make her behaviour understandable and create the right opportunities for Evan to play the romantic knight convincingly…We definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a feel-good mushy romance.”—Best Lesfic Reviews

  “There are a whole range of things I like about Jenny Frame’s aristocratic heroines: they have plausible histories to account for them holding titles in their own right; they’re in touch with reality and not necessarily super-rich, certainly not through inheritance; and they find themselves paired with perfectly contrasting co-heroines…Clementine and Evan are excellently depicted, and I love the butch:femme dynamic they have going on, as well as their individual abilities to stick to their principles but also to compromise with each other when necessary.”—The Good, The Bad and The Unread

  Still Not Over You

  “Still Not Over You is a wonderful second-chance romance anthology that makes you believe in love again. And you would certainly be missing out if you have not read My Forever Girl, because it truly is everything.”—SymRoute Someone to Love

  “One of the author’s best works to date—both Trent and Wendy were so well developed they came alive. I could really picture them and they jumped off the pages. They had fantastic chemistry, and their sexual dynamic was deliciously well written. The supporting characters and the storyline about Alice’s trauma was also sensitively written and well handled.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (UK)

  Wooing the Farmer

  “This book, like all of Jenny Frame’s, is just one major swoon.”—Les Rêveur

  “The chemistry between the two MCs had us hooked right away. We also absolutely loved the seemingly ditzy femme with an ambition of steel but really a vulnerable girl. The sex scenes

  are

  great.

  Definitely

  recommended.”—

  Reviewer@large

  “This is the book we Axedale fanatics have been waiting for…Jenny Frame writes the most amazing characters and this whole series is a masterpiece. But where she excels is in writing butch lesbians. Every time I read a Jenny Frame book I think it’s the best ever, but time and again she surprises me. She has surpassed herself with Wooing the Farmer.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  Royal Court

  “The author creates two very relatable characters…Quincy’s quietude and mental torture are offset by Holly’s openness and lust for life. Holly’s determination and tenacity in trying to reach Quincy are total wish-fulfilment of a person like that. The chemistry and attraction is excellently built.”—

  Best Lesbian Erotica

  “[A] butch/femme romance that packs a punch.”—Les Rêveur

  Royal Court “was a fun, light-hearted book with a very endearing romance.”—Leanne Chew, Librarian, Parnell Library (Auckland, NZ)

  “There were unbelievably hot sex scenes as I have come to expect and look forward to in Jenny Frame’s books. Passions slowly rise until you feel the characters may burst!…Royal Court is wonderful and I highly recommend it.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  Charming the Vicar

  “Chances are, you’ve never read or become captivated by a romance like Charming the Vicar. While books featuring people of the cloth aren’t unusual, Bridget is no ordinary vicar—a lesbian with a history of kink…Surrounded by mostly supportive villagers, Bridget and Finn balance love and faith in a story that affirms both can exist for anyone, regardless of sexual identity.”—RT Book Reviews

  “The sex scenes were some of the sexiest, most intimate and quite frankly, sensual I have read in a while. Jenny Frame had me hooked and I reread a few scenes because I felt like I needed to experience the intense intimacy between Finn and Bridget again. The devotion they showed

  to one another during these sex scenes but also in the intimate moments was gripping and for lack of a better word, carnal.”—Les Rêveur

  “The sexual chemistry between [Finn and Bridge] is unbelievably hot. It is sexy, lustful and with more than a hint of kink. The scenes between them are highly erotic—and not just the sex scenes. The tension is ramped up so well that I felt the characters would explode if they did not get relief!…

  An excellent book set in the most wonderful village—a place I hope to return to very soon!”—Kitty Kat’s Book Reviews

  “This is Frame’s best character work to date. They are layered and flawed and yet relatable…Frame really pushed herself with Charming the Vicar and it totally paid off…I also appreciate that even though she regularly writes butch/femme characters, no two pairings are the same.”—

  The Lesbian Review

  Unexpected

  Jenny Frame “has this beautiful way of writing a phenomenally hot scene while incorporating the love and tenderness between the couple.”—Les Rêveur

  “If you enjoy contemporary romances, Unexpected is a great choice. The character work is excellent, the plotting and pacing are well done, and it’s just a sweet, warm read…

  Definitely pick this book up when you’re looking for your next comfort read, because it’s sure to put a smile on your face by the time you get to that happy ending.”—Curve

  “Unexpected by Jenny Frame is a charming butch/femme romance that is perfect for anyone who wants to feel the magic of overcoming adversity and finding true love. I love the way Jenny Frame writes. I have yet to discover an author who writes like her. Her voice is strong and unique and gives

  a freshness to the lesbian fiction sector.”—The Lesbian Review

  Royal Rebel

  “Frame’s stories are easy to follow and really engaging. She stands head and shoulders above a number of the romance authors and it’s easy to see why she is quickly making a name for herself in lesfic romance.”—The Lesbian Review Courting the Countess

  “I love Frame’s romances. They are well paced, filled with beautiful character moments and a wonderful set of side characters who ultimately end up winning your heart…I love Jenny Frame’s butch/femme dynamic; she gets it so right for a romance.”—The Lesbian Review

  “I loved, loved, loved this book. I didn’t expect to get so involved in the story but I couldn’t help but fall in love with Annie and H
arry…The love scenes were beautifully written and very sexy. I found the whole book romantic and ultimately joyful and I had a lump in my throat on more than one occasion. A wonderful book that certainly stirred my emotions.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Reviews

  “Courting The Countess has an historical feel in a present day world, a thought provoking tale filled with raw emotions throughout. [Frame] has a magical way of pulling you in, making

  you

  feel

  every

  emotion

  her

  characters

  experience.”—Lunar Rainbow Reviewz

  “I didn’t want to put the book down and I didn’t. Harry and Annie are two amazingly written characters that bring life to the pages as they find love and adventures in Harry’s home.

  This is a great read, and you will enjoy it immensely if you give it a try!”—Fantastic Book Reviews

  A Royal Romance

  “A Royal Romance was a guilty pleasure read for me. It was just fun to see the relationship develop between George and Bea, to see George’s life as queen and Bea’s as a commoner. It was also refreshing to see that both of their families were encouraging, even when Bea doubted that things could work between them because of their class differences…A Royal Romance left me wanting a sequel, and romances don’t usually do that to me.”—Leeanna.ME Mostly a Book Blog

  By the Author

  A Royal Romance Courting the Countess Dapper Royal Rebel

  Unexpected

  Charming the Vicar Royal Court

  Wooing the Farmer Someone to Love The Duchess and the Dreamer Royal Family

  Wild for You Hunger for You Longing for You Wolfgang County Series Heart of the Pack Soul of the Pack Blood of the Pack

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to all the BSB staff for their tireless hard work.

  Thank you to Ruth for always helping my books be the best they can be.

  Thanks to my family for their support and encouragement.

  Finally, thanks to Lou and Barney for helping me cope with my stressful approaching deadlines!

  To Lou

  “We three are family…”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Veronica Clayton moved gingerly from behind deep undergrowth to the cover of a large tree. Her heart and breath were steady despite the exertion of tracking the target she was stalking. Clay’s training as a police protection officer kept her emotions in check and her head clear.

  She was the best shot in the protection command. In fact she’d always been the best marksman in every team she’d been in, from army cadets as a girl, to police training and her first assignment to the firearms squad.

  Clay heard the low murmur of voices, and then caught her target in her vision. She kept her weapon close to her side and edged around the tree trunk to get a better shot.

  She’d only need one—one opening, and her target would be down. She raised her weapon, and in a second…boom.

  There were screams followed by shrieks of laughter.

  Holly wiped snow from her jacket, and Princess Edwina, or Teddy as she was known, bounded up and down on the thick snowy ground.

  “Get her, Holls,” Teddy shouted.

  Holly shot her a glare. “I’m going to kill you, Clay.”

  Clay gathered more ammunition from the snowy ground and ran out into the gardens of Sandringham Estate. The royal family were gathering to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham, the Queen’s Norfolk Christmas retreat, in observance of an old tradition. Tradition was very important

  to the family, especially at Christmas, and this was a time they treasured.

  Clay laughed at Holly’s threat. “You can try, but I’m too fast for you.”

  Teddy started to lift snow and throw it in Clay’s direction, but being only three years old, her missile didn’t get very far.

  Holly shouted to Jack, one of the new members of the protection squad, to help them. After Beatrice, the Queen Consort, had her second child, Jack was placed under Clay’s command, to be an extra pair of eyes on the royal children.

  Clay got on with Jack really well and trusted him to help with the protection of Teddy and her three-month-old baby sister, Princess Anna. Jack ran across the snowy garden at top speed and gathered up a big pile of snow. The Queen’s dogs

  —Rex, Shadow, and Baxter—chased around and barked loudly.

  Teddy and Holly chased after Clay as fast as Teddy could run on her little legs, but when Jack’s snowballs hit Clay square in the back, she fell to her knees dramatically, as if she had been shot.

  “I got her, Princess Teddy,” Jack said in triumph.

  Clay played up her death scene as the princess and Holly hurried towards her. “I’m dying—you got me. Don’t shoot.”

  “We’ve no sympathy, Clay. We’re going to get you, aren’t we, Teddy?” Holly said.

  Teddy picked up handfuls of snow and threw them all over Clay as she sat on her knees in the snow.

  “I got her, I got her, Holls.” Teddy jumped up and down.

  “You sure did,” Holly told her.

  Clay loved spending time with the Queen’s children. She loved them like her own little sisters and would die to protect them. Being a protection officer meant she didn’t get the Christmas holidays off work, but since her mother had died a few months ago, she didn’t care.

  Her mother’s sudden death left Clay with no immediate family, and the quiet loneliness of her own flat was too much to bear. So she threw herself into her job. Protecting these two important children was her life now, and the hustle, bustle, and excitement of a royal family Christmas dulled the grief that she felt deeply inside.

  There was a lot of focus on the royal family at Christmas, and the protection team had to be on their toes. Despite Christmas being a private family time for most British families, the royal family had to be on display at this time of year, leading the nation in their celebrations.

  The snow rained down on Clay from above, and the dogs barked with excitement, until she said, “I’m dead.” She went still and feigned her death.

  The snow stopped, and Teddy said, “You okay, Clay?”

  “Don’t trust her, Teddy,” Holly said.

  Just then Clay made a grab for Teddy, and she squealed.

  Clay held Teddy above her head. “I’m going to get you, Princess.”

  This was her family now, and without her mum, this was the best way to spend Christmas Eve.

  ✥ ✥ ✥

  Queen Georgina heard shrieks of laughter from outside.

  She got up from her desk and walked to the window. She smiled when she watched Teddy, Holly, and Jack have an all-out snowball fight in the garden.

  This was the life she had longed for—spending Christmas with her family and children at Sandringham House. She had so many happy family Christmases at this, the Sovereign’s private estate. She only wished she had more time to spend outside playing with her children, but the affairs of state didn’t stop just because it was Christmas Eve.

  Although she had Christmas Day off from the boxes that came to her daily from her government, Christmas Eve was no exception. Now George knew how her father felt when he was always apologizing for having to slip away over the holidays.

  But she was glad to see her daughter Teddy was still having plenty of fun with Clay and Holly. Holly had been filling in, when she could, for the nanny, who’d been let go just last month, after it was discovered she was selling stories to the press.

  George sighed. After her own childhood nanny, Mrs.

  Baker, had retired when they returned from their American trip, it had been hard enough for Beatrice to choose this nanny. But now her wife trusted outsiders even less, and they had to start the whole recruitment process all over again.

  When it came down to it, she knew, Bea just hated having to rely on a nanny. She wanted to be the one looking after the children. But it just wasn’t practical with all the engagements they had to attend, both during the day and in the evening.
Relying on staff to help was a normal part of life for George’s family, and it was just taking Bea a little bit of time to relax about it and not feel so guilty.

  One thing that was secure was Clay’s position as Teddy and baby Anna’s protection officer.

  Teddy absolutely loved Clay, and Clay was young enough that she would be a stable influence on Teddy’s and her little sister’s lives for a long time to come. Above all both she and Bea trusted Clay. She had blossomed under Captain Quincy’s influence, and now that Jack had joined them, the wall around her wife and family was secure.

  She laughed as Shadow, her black Labrador, and Baxter, her boxer, chased Clay and Jack, while Rex, the honey-coloured Lab, stayed right next to Teddy. Rex, once her late father’s dog, fell in love with Bea when George met her, and

  when Teddy came along he became the princess’s unofficial chief of security.

  George heard a knock at her study door, and she retreated to her desk. “Come in.”

  Sebastian, her private secretary, entered carrying two red government boxes. He bowed at the neck and said,

  “Your Majesty.”

  “Come in, Bastian. Let’s get this paperwork done and get Christmas started.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Just two boxes today,” Bastian said.

  He put them on the desk, and George used her brass key to open them. She picked up the first folder and scanned the first page.

  “Why don’t you pour us both a sherry, Bastian, It’s four o’clock on Christmas Eve, after all.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. I will.” He walked over to the drinks table and poured two small glasses of sherry. “Here you are, ma’am.”