The boy nodded eagerly and took his father’s hand. Rafael frowned slightly. Was it appropriate for a male child this age to hold his father’s hand? He could not remember ever having such contact with his own father.
He glanced at Mia, but she didn’t act as if anything was amiss. Perhaps his childhood should not be the measure of normal, he admitted. There would be time for Daniel to learn how to behave royally.
“Where is it?” Danny asked. “Is it big? Is it soldiers? Is it lots of soldiers?”
“It is not soldiers and it is not large.” Rafael looked at the boy. “It may seem large to you. Come. You will see for yourself.”
They walked down the stairs. The Grands were already in the kitchen, fixing breakfast.
“Mornin’” Grammy M said, beaming at him. “You’re up early.”
“I have a surprise for Daniel,” Rafael told her.
Grandma Tessa narrowed her eyes. “He’s barely four. Still a little boy.”
Rafael paused to kiss her cheek. “And here I thought you had accepted me, Tessa.”
She gave him a smile. “All right. I’ll wait to see what it is before I complain.”
“Thank you.” He reached for Mia with his free hand. “You will be very impressed.”
“I’m already having doubts.”
“How can you not trust me?”
“Fascinating question. We’ll have to explore that later.”
Later he would have her in his bed again. Later he would make her forget everything but the pleasure she felt in his arms. Later she would make plans for their wedding and he would let her.
They walked outside just as Umberto led a small pony out of a horse carrier. The animal was pure white, with a long mane and tail. Ribbons and bells had been woven into both, so the pony fluttered and tinkled as it walked.
Danny gripped his hand tightly. “For me?” he asked with a gasp. “For my birthday?”
“Yes, Daniel. This is a Calandrian pony. They are specially bred and revered all over the world.”
Mia came to a stop. “You bought him a pony?”
“As you can see.”
“You bought him a pony and you didn’t tell me?”
He frowned. “Why would I?”
“Gee, I don’t know. Because I’m his mother? Because we don’t exactly have a spare stable here on our vineyard?”
“You do not have to worry about details, Mia.”
“Why not? Someone does.”
“All will be taken care of.” He turned to Daniel. “His name is Gaspare, which means bringer of gifts.”
Danny stared wide-eyed. “He’s really mine?”
“Of course.”
“Can I ride him?”
“Right now.”
Oliver appeared with a saddle and bridle.
“There is much work in owning a horse, or even a pony,” Rafael told the boy. “You will have to be very responsible. Do you know what that means?”
Danny shook his head.
“It means you will have to take care of him. You will have to brush him and feed him.”
“What? He doesn’t get a groom with the horse?” Mia asked.
“Yes, of course there is a groom, but Daniel needs to learn to take care of things. To be responsible.”
“All part of his once-and-future-king training?”
There was something in her voice, something that made him watch her closely. “You are angry?” he asked, not sure how that was possible.
“Anger isn’t the right word. Shocked. Rafael, a pony is a big deal. How could you not have discussed this with me?”
“You worry too much,” he said, then kissed her on the mouth. “Help me saddle him so Daniel can ride him.”
Five minutes later a very excited boy sat on top of his pony. Mia hovered, which Rafael allowed. It was a first ride, after all. But in time she would have to learn to let her son go. He needed to be a man.
“I’m riding, I’m riding!” Daniel crowed as they made a slow circle around the backyard. “Daddy, this is the bestest present ever.”
“Socks are going to be a real letdown after this,” Mia mumbled.
“You did not buy him socks.”
“Not exactly.” She tentatively patted the pony’s neck. “He seems friendly enough.”
“He is very gentle, but with enough of a spirit to be a challenge as Daniel learns to ride more. In a few months, he’ll graduate to a horse, but Gaspare works for now.”
“I love my pony,” Daniel said as he leaned forward and hugged the animal’s neck.
“Keep control of the reins,” Rafael told him. “It is how you control your mount.”
Daniel grinned. “He’s a pretty pony. Can I take him to school to show my friends and Miss Valdrake?”
“His teacher,” Mia said. “Honey, I’m thinking we’re going to wait on pony show-and-tell. Just until we get this figured out.” She looked at Rafael. “You haven’t said what we’re going to do about a stable.”
“The weather is mild enough that the animal can stay out.”
“And in winter?”
Daniel and his pony wouldn’t be here, Rafael thought. But what he said was, “I have a staff to deal with details, Mia. Please, try not to worry. All will be well.”
“I don’t have a staff,” she said. “I’m used to solving my own problems and you’re not helping with that.”
“Do we really need to discuss this now?”
She smiled at Daniel, who urged Gaspare to go faster.
“I guess not,” she admitted. “It’s just…Wow. A pony. The whole prince thing is still something I have to get used to.”
“You will.”
“I guess I have to. What with…” Her voice trailed off.
He knew she referred to her acceptance of his proposal. That she would have to get used to being royal herself. He wanted to reassure her that the job would be much less taxing than she imagined for she would be only have it a few weeks.
“He bought Danny a pony,” Mia said as she paced around Brenna’s office at the winery. “He never said a word. He just announced he had a surprise and then there it was. An honest-to-God pony.”
“It wouldn’t be my first choice,” Brenna admitted, “but hey, he’s royal. Maybe it’s a big fourth birthday thing with his family.”
“I guess. It’s just…shouldn’t he have talked to me about it? I’m Danny’s mother.”
“Rafael is his father.” Brenna rolled her eyes. “I really hate taking the guy’s side against a woman, especially my sister, but this time I think you’re freaking over nothing. It’s a pony. It’s not like he bought him an island.”
“Calandria is an island. As heir, I guess Danny already has that.”
“Okay, then strippers. That would have been a gift to get crabby about. Families do odd things. Grandpa Lorenzo made all of us learn about wine even though I was the only one interested. It happens. Don’t worry about it. Danny is a prince, which is just too weird. Don’t all princes need to learn how to ride? Isn’t it in the prince handbook?”
“Probably. I should Google him again.”
“Rafael?” Brenna asked.
Mia walked to the desk and sat in the large chair across from Brenna’s. “Yeah. I did it once and I was overwhelmed by pictures of him with beautiful young women. It got depressing.”
“Mia, you’re gorgeous and smart and a lot more interesting than any high-society rich bitch he might meet at some charity event.”
“You don’t actually know that.”
“Of course I do. He fell for you years ago and now he wants to marry you. Doesn’t that mean you win?”
Mia rubbed her temples. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. I can’t believe Danny is a prince.”
“It’s a little too late to take back Rafael as his father. You should have thought of that before you did the wild thing.”
“Who knew it would come to this?” She sighed. “Who knew Diego was really Crown Prince Rafael in disguise? My life is a soap opera.”
Mia looked at her sister and drew in a breath. “I said yes.”
Brenna stared at her. “To his proposal?”