She picked up the stick and followed the directions, waiting the exact amount of time listed while watching the long hand of her watch. If she were pregnant, a line would appear. If she weren’t the little circle would remain blank. She’d never wanted to see a blank space so much in her life. Her eyes started to play tricks on her during the agonizing wait, so she hid the stick under a tissue while the time was passing. When she reached the full five minutes she held her breath and lifted the tissue….
To see a thick pink line bisecting the white circle.
“Oh.” She said the word aloud, and startled herself. Then she ran from the room as if she could run away from the whole situation. Which, of course, followed her. Apparently—and she still couldn’t believe it—there was a baby growing inside her belly, right now. She glanced down at the waistband of her jeans. Her snug T-shirt sat against a totally flat stomach. Though of course at this stage the baby probably wasn’t larger than her pinkie nail.
Suddenly she felt dizzy and plunged for the sofa. How could it all happen this fast? She’d slept with Simon for the first time less than two weeks ago and now her entire life was about to change forever. It didn’t make sense.
She jumped out of her skin when the phone rang. A quick glance at the number revealed that it was Francesca. Normally she shared everything with her. She’d even taken her mother’s very private letter to show Francesca when it had first arrived and she needed to share it with someone. But her friend was now madly in love with the head of the most powerful television in network in the country, and this was quite possibly the scoop of the century. What if Francesca tried to convince her to announce it on air? After meeting her father for the first time in front of the entire country, it seemed anything was possible and her own privacy, even her feelings, were of little importance.
She let the call go to voicemail, as guilt trickled through her. More secrets and subterfuge. She wouldn’t tell Simon until he got here. It wasn’t the kind of news you should break over the phone and she’d see him in a few days. She’d have to tell Scarlet right away, especially since the nausea came and went in waves and she wasn’t sure how useful she’d be on the floor at events if she might have to rush to the ladies’ every few minutes.
And then there were the reporters. The TV special had reignited interest and she’d had a harrowing couple of days trying to smile and answer journalists’ questions every time she left the house. The creepy bearded guy who practically camped on her block had been joined by a few other camera-laden competitors, all vying for a money shot of her doing something newsworthy, like having a bad hair day. Maybe she could sneak away and run off to Ireland? It had worked for her mom, though of course she’d had her baby before she left.
The similarity in their circumstances smacked Ariella across the face. On instinct she picked up the phone and dialed the number of her mother’s D.C. hotel room. Ted Morrow had persuaded Ellie to stay in D.C. at least until the end of the month, so they could all have a chance to get to know each other again. Ellie’s now-familiar soft voice answered.
“It’s Ariella.” A strange wave of relief rushed through her, which was crazy as she’d barely met Ellie, but already she knew in her gut she had someone to confide in. “Something really strange has happened. Can I talk to you in person?”
“Of course, dear. Would you like me to come to your house?” Ellie had grown increasingly confident at navigating her way around D.C. despite an entourage of reporters.
“I’ll come to your hotel if that’s okay. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
Ellie glowed with warmth as she opened the door, and Ariella felt oddly relaxed in her presence despite her dramatic news. This one person would know exactly how she felt.
Ellie ushered Ariella into the large suite that ANS had reserved for her, and they sat on the sofa. “What’s going on? You look white as a sheet.”
“I’m pregnant.”
Ellie drew in a breath. “Oh, no.”
Ariella’s throat closed. This was not exactly the comforting response she’d been hoping for. Though she had to admit it was her own initial reaction. “It’s okay. I’m perfectly healthy and I’m in a pretty okay financial situation to have a baby.” Now she was trying to soothe her mother, not the other way around. The irony of the situation made her want to laugh.
“Do you love him?” Ellie’s question shocked her.
“I don’t know. We’ve only been seeing each other a few weeks. It’s Simon, who you met in London.”
“Oh, dear.” Ellie’s face crumpled.
Ariella put a hand on her arm. “What’s the matter?”
“I feel like history’s repeating itself. Why couldn’t you be pregnant by a nice ordinary man who could marry you and live a comfortable ordinary life?”
“Simon’s surprisingly ordinary for a prince.” She tried to smile. “Okay, maybe not ordinary but he’s very warm and down to earth.”
“But his family. Those royals are absolutely bound by tradition. That’s why Prince Charles couldn’t marry Camilla in the first place like he should have.”
“He’s married to her now, isn’t he?”
“Yes, but.” She sighed. “So much sadness happened in the meantime. I’m still not sure they’re ready to welcome an American into the family.”
“Me, either, to be quite honest.” She lifted her brows. “I socialized with them at a polo match last weekend and I felt like any of them would have happily driven me to the airport right then and there.”
Ellie stroked her hand and looked softly into her eyes. “So they’re not going to be too happy about you having his baby.”
Ariella’s breathing was steadily becoming shallower. She stopped and drew in a deep draught of air. She certainly didn’t need her baby to be deprived of oxygen at this crucial stage in his or her development.
She laughed.
“What?” Ellie’s eyes widened. She was probably wondering if Ariella had lost her mind.
“I was thinking about my baby. I wonder if it will be a boy or a girl.”
Ellie’s eyes brightened. “I always knew I was having a girl. I dreamed of little girl dresses and dolls and all kinds of frilly pink things over and over again.”
“And you were right.” Though Ellie had never had a chance to enjoy dressing her daughter in fluffy dresses or buying her Barbie dolls with extravagant wardrobes.
Ellie’s blue eyes suddenly shone with tears. “You won’t give the baby up, will you?”
“Not a chance of it. I’m lucky that I’ve had a good career for a few years now and I have some savings. I can work right through the pregnancy, and probably hire a nanny soon afterward and work from home a lot. It’s very doable.” She was trying to convince herself as much as her mother.
Ellie smiled through her sudden tears. “You’re much more confident and capable than I was. That’s a blessing.” Then her face grew serious. “Have you told Simon yet?”
Ariella shook her head. “I haven’t told anyone yet. You’re the first.”
Ellie gasped, and suddenly their arms were around each other. “That’s a great honor.”
“An honor?” Ariella buried her face in her mother’s soft hair. “You were the first person I thought of when I needed to tell someone. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am to have you back in my life.”
“Back in your life?” Ellie pulled back a little. “They took you from me as soon as you were born. They never even let me see you.” Her eyes still glittered with tears. “They said it was for the best, but even then I knew they were wrong.”
“You took care of me for the nine months that I was growing inside you. During that time we formed a bond that could never be broken. Not really.”
Ellie breathed in slowly. “I thought about you every day for all of those twenty-eight years.”
“See? In a strange way we were always connected, and you came back into my life just when I need you the most.”
Her chest heaved as she
held her mother tight. It was going to be okay. But first she had to tell Simon.
* * *
Simon couldn’t stop whistling. It was midmorning and he’d been floating on air ever since he got off the plane in D.C. the previous evening. He had some urgent business to attend to and now Ariella was on the top of his agenda. She had invited him to her apartment, and he took that as a very promising sign. She’d been cool on the phone lately—when he could even reach her. Suddenly she wanted to see him, and as soon as possible. Apparently meeting his family hadn’t scared her off as much as he thought.
The sweet and gracious way Ariella had handled his large and intimidating family further confirmed that she was the perfect woman for him. He’d trusted his instincts when he first saw her across that crowded ballroom, and so far they had been dead-on. She was the one they talked about, who came along once in a lifetime. He felt it deep in his gut. Or was it his heart? His whole body sang with emotions that he’d only read about in books before. He didn’t plan to waste his once-in-a-lifetime chance at happiness. Now all he had to do was convince Ariella herself that they were meant to be together.
His jacket pocket bulged slightly with the tooled leather box delivered just before he left. Nestled in white satin was the loveliest ring he’d ever seen. He had to admit he hadn’t paid too much attention to engagement rings before, but once he’d decided to propose, he did extensive research among his female friends.
He made up the elaborate excuse that he might be interested in helping promote the sale of African diamonds to help his charity, and he wanted some feedback on designs. He wasn’t entirely sure they fell for it, but he got a lot of great information anyway: not too bulky; flashy is fine but not for everyone; steer clear of color unless you know it’s one she adores. There was a long list he’d carried in his mind to the jeweler.
With the help—and promised discretion—of the queen’s appointed jeweler, he’d chosen a stunning, very pale pink diamond with a provenance dating back to the maharajas of India. Together they’d designed a setting of tiny diamonds and, since she always wore silver jewelry rather than gold, a simple platinum setting. The jeweler’s workshop had put the ring together almost overnight and he was convinced that it was the perfect ring for Ariella and that she’d adore it.
If she’d agree to be his wife.
He wasn’t nearly so confident about that part. Ariella wasn’t the type to accept just because he was a prince—which was one of the many reasons he loved her. He’d missed her so much since she’d returned to D.C. Playing it cool and not bombarding her with phone calls had been torture. He ached to see her again. To put his arms around her and kiss her as if the world was ending. He’d never felt even a fraction of this passion for a woman before. He knew his intense feelings meant that Ariella was the only woman for him.
The car pulled up in front of Ariella’s tidy Georgetown house and he got out. A sizzle of anticipation ran through him as he saw the lights were on in her first-floor apartment. He intended to build up to the proposal. He’d woo her and get the mood romantic before he plunged in with the question of a lifetime.
She’d had cold feet the last time he saw her. He’d be sure to warm them up and reassure her that even the most intractable members of his family would come to their senses. The monarchy hadn’t survived for so many years by being inflexible. No one was going to force him out of the country or make him give up his position in the royal family because of whom he loved. Together they’d slowly but surely win them over and make them realize that an infusion of fresh energy from across the Atlantic was just what they all needed. He’d kiss her until she was weak in the knees and maybe even make love to her until they lay spent in each other’s arms—then he’d ask her.
His driver handed him the big bunch of pink roses he’d ordered. No doubt any nearby photographers would have a field day, but soon enough they’d all be scribbling the story of their engagement so it didn’t really matter what they were speculating. In fact he welcomed them heralding the happy news that he and Ariella would spend the rest of their lives together.
He climbed the steps to her building with glowing anticipation and rang the bell a little too long. The first sight of her face after a two-week absence almost made him shout. She was unquestionably the most beautiful woman on earth, with her long dark hair tumbling about her shoulders and those big, soulful eyes fixed right on him.
When he flung his arms around her, still clutching the roses in one fist, he noticed she seemed a little stiff. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“Yes.” Her answer seemed a little less than enthusiastic.
“I brought you some roses. I thought they might remind you of our English rose gardens.”
She smiled. “Your country does have the most beautiful gardens in the world.”
They were talking about gardens? He was dying to propose to her and get it over with, as the suspense was killing him. But something wasn’t right. She looked pale. “How are you?”
She ushered him into the apartment. Wordless, her shoulders slightly hunched, she seemed very tense. “Please sit down.”
He frowned. “I feel like you’re about to drop some kind of bombshell. I’m not going to fall down like an old granny.”
That gentle smile hovered about her mouth again. “I’m sure you wouldn’t, but just in case.”
“You do have a bombshell to drop?” His mind ran through the possibilities. Her father had asked her to go live in the White House and forbidden her from dating? She couldn’t take the press anymore and had decided to go underground? Aliens had invaded and…
“I’m pregnant.”
Ten
Ariella watched as Simon’s amused expression faded to a blank. “What?”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but I took a test and it was positive.”
“We didn’t have sex until…two weeks ago. Is that even long enough to know you’re pregnant?” He stared at her in astonishment and confusion.
“Apparently so.” Did he think she was pregnant by someone else and had decided to pin the blame on him in the hope of a big royal payoff? Indignation stirred in her chest. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect anything of you. I know the timing is terrible and it’s the last thing we expected, but it’s happened and I intend to raise the baby. I’m financially well off, so you don’t need to worry that I’ll ask for money.”
“That’s the last thing I’m worried about.” He blinked, staring at her. “We used a condom.”
Apparently he still didn’t believe it was possible. “It could have leaked or broken or who knows what. They’re not very effective. At this point it doesn’t really matter. I’m definitely pregnant.” She’d done another two tests. Different brands, same result.
“Wow.” He climbed to his feet and came toward her. “Congratulations.”
She laughed. “You don’t have to congratulate me. We both know it was a big accident.”
“Still, it feels like an occasion for celebration.” He reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
Oh, no. A leather box. Her heart seized as she realized what he was about to do. Could she refuse a proposal before it was even made?
He got onto one knee, confirming her worst fears. “Ariella.” His eyes were smiling, which seemed downright strange under the circumstances. “Will you marry me?”
She bit her lip, hoping to hold back sudden and pointless tears that threatened. She couldn’t seem to get words out so she simply shook her head.
He frowned. “You won’t? Why not?” His sudden indignation would be funny if she didn’t feel so sad. This must be one more sign that they weren’t meant to be. It didn’t seem to cross his mind that she might have her own opinion and it could be different from his. Probably being a prince trained you to think that everyone was on your side and wholeheartedly agreed with you.
“It would never work.” Her voice came out broken and raspy. “Your family would be horrified. They made it abundantly cl
ear that they intend for you to marry someone else.”
“They’ll get over it.” His gaze turned steely.
“No they won’t. I’ve seen enough press coverage of your family to know they’re very set in their ways. I don’t want to be the outcast and black sheep for the rest of my life. Nor do I want the queen to take away your beloved estate or kick you out of your charity. You’ve built a life that you love and marrying me would ruin everything, so it’s not going to happen.”
The truth of her words echoed inside her. She truly didn’t want those things to happen, for Simon or for herself.
“Why are you talking about everyone else? I want to marry you. Now that you’re pregnant there’s all the more reason to do it, and soon.” He was still on one knee in front of the sofa where she sat. The whole situation seemed ridiculous. Especially as his words were undermining her conviction. Could they really just forget about his family and the reporters and the British public and her presidential father and do what they wanted?
No. They couldn’t. Life didn’t work like that.
He smacked his head suddenly. “In all this talk about a baby and my family, I think I forgot to mention the most important thing.” He took hold of her hands. “Which is that I love you. I never knew what love was until I met you. Every minute I’m not with you I’m wishing I was. When I am with you I don’t want to leave. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Ariella. I need to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you.”
Her chest tightened as he tried to put such strong feelings into mere words and those words rocked her to her core. What hurt most was that she felt the same way. Since Simon came into her life nothing else seemed very important any more. But the truth was that the world was still out there, and hoping and dreaming wasn’t enough to build a life on. “Love doesn’t last forever. It’s a brief flash of excitement and enthusiasm that brings people together. The rest of it is work. I know my parents—the ones who raised me—worked hard to keep their marriage strong in the face of all the tiresome details of life. My birth parents obviously couldn’t manage to do that.”
Affairs of State Page 14