Forbidden King (Princes of Avce Book 9)

by Victoria Pinder

  She cupped his face that must scratch her soft skin as he hadn’t shaved this morning. “Don’t be hard on yourself,” she said. “I’m quite positive that you’re changing for the better.”

  Responsibility hadn’t always been his middle name, except for his duty. All Anna had just proved was that she actually cared about him. And despite her words, nobility wasn’t a character trait so much as a title and she’d clearly confused the two. He kissed the back of her hand. “I only want to be worthy of your love. It’s enough for me.”

  She bounced in her seat and then kissed his cheek as she asked, “So you like that I love you?”

  How could he not? Now he needed to solve his mess, ensure Francesca’s child wasn’t his and then tell Anna about the near-scare once it was over. “Love makes more sense on why you agreed to marry me.”

  “And that we’ll start a family.”

  She glanced ahead of them and must have noticed the storm. She motioned she was going to move the rudder so he stood to adjust the sails. It was time they headed back, but as he took the ropes, she asked, “Were you thinking we should have children right away? Is that where the question came from?”

  He and Anna would have the next king. The Aussa family had ruled Avce for almost two thousand years and were supposedly blessed by Mary herself for some ancestor building a church once upon a time. Unlike him, Anna would influence young angels. He tightened the knots. “I… maybe. Would you want a son or a daughter?”

  She directed them back to the castle while she said with a nod, “A son. More than one.”

  His heart thumped. Anna with his child was an image that warmed him. Once he settled the ropes, he sat down as they were now going over choppy waters to get back to the castle. “Why not daughters?”

  She directed the ship to shore and so stared ahead of them as she said, “Daughters would be fine, especially if you change the laws like you said. But I’d like to surround myself with little boys who all look like you… their father.”

  With Anna beside him, a future where he had little children around him didn’t scare him. If only it was just the two of them. Francesca’s tears on his wedding day flashed in his mind as he said, “Anna, I’ve made so many mistakes in my past.”

  She sighed and glanced at him briefly. “But now that’s over and you’re here, with me.”

  She turned back and he looked behind them now toward the storm that was closer. It was good they were turning in. With luck, they’d never have anything but the future she wanted, so he turned toward her again and said, “Can you… I hope your vision of our future is the truth.”

  She shrugged and shared as they made it into the harbor, “You confuse me, Leo.”

  He understood her feelings. The hospital was aware that this was a royal situation so they’d speed up what data they could. Pierre seemed to be handling things fine. He stood to help with the sails as she guided them to the pier where they’d leave the ship. “I don’t want to do anything but honor you as my wife and lover.”

  She laughed while he lowered the sails and she used the motor now that they were close to the dock.

  Lightning flashed across the sky behind them as she said, “Then we’re good because I’m not going anywhere.”

  He’d tell her soon. He had to. The weight on his shoulders was getting too much, so he nodded at her and found the ropes to tie them to the post. “I’ll hold you to that promise.”

  “Absolutely.” She turned off the engine as they’d made it home.

  At least they’d avoided the storm. Hopefully, like the dolphin tale, this was another sign that he’d avoided a major screw-up too.

  Chapter 12

  Anna Camila combed a snarl from her hair in the bathroom of their suite while Leo read his mail. Next time she sailed, she’d wear a hat, but it was worth the tangles to have faced the ocean with Leo at her side. Time on the ocean would help, and today it had been almost as if her parents had been watching over her out in the bay.

  She glanced at herself in the mirror and groaned—thanks to her vanity of wanting Leo to see her face without the fabric she now had freckles and a burn on her nose because of her silliness.

  She applied moisturizer to her face that cost way more than anything she’d have bought for herself, confident the thick cream would fix the damage. Once she finished dabbling with her face and hair, she called out to the sitting room, “Be right there, Leo.”

  He called back, “I’m almost done myself.”

  They were a good team. Hopefully he was working on something important for the future of their country.

  She glanced at the time and wondered if her grandmother had moved yet, and if she’d settled in. Leaving the bathroom, Anna sat on the edge of the bed and called her grandmother’s number but it went right to voice mail.

  Hmm. Maria was probably safe and sound, but it was better to ask.

  Anna called Pierre and on the first ring he answered. “Pierre, I’m checking my messages.”

  He laughed like they were still working together in the castle on some formal dinner where they’d stayed late and he’d joked about the silverware costing more than their salaries. “You mean you want to know if your grandma made it to the dower house?”

  They knew each other well. She laughed back. “You caught me.”

  “Maria Bruno and her staff had a meeting where she laid out her schedule—it revolves around game shows.”

  Her grandmother was devoted to certain shows where she said the questions kept her mind sharp. Anna chuckled. “That sounds like her. So she’s moved in?”

  Pierre lowered his voice like they were still gossiping about the royal guests who snuck out of parties, “She wasn’t too keen on a second floor bedroom until the staff showed her the service elevator.”

  Her grandmother had lived in the home she did because there was hired staff to take care of the elderly. While the royal staff would do a better job, Maria might be more… lonely. She sighed and shared, “Good. I was worried about her hip.”

  “Then why didn’t you speak to her?”

  Because Pierre always knew everything about what happened to every royal, even if they didn’t live in the castle. She didn’t say that but instead she shrugged and said, “She’s not answering and I wanted to know how the staff and Maria got along?” Her opinionated grandmother had never been upper class.

  Pierre smacked his lips together like he was talking about the Duke of Blueridge and the actress caught in the staff office having sex on the housekeeper’s desk. “Everyone’s good. We’re happy the prince married you, Anna Camila, and that your grandmother intends to host her friends three times a week where the staff is to cater to a bingo game, a movie night, and bocce tournaments that will be hosted at the dower house.”

  “Sounds like Maria is bringing the retirement community with her.”

  “Maria told the staff that they could invite their parents if they wanted to join the party.”

  “The dower house will be the new retirement community.”

  “And we’re happy to see what changes you bring to the palace when you come back.”

  Her ears burned. Why would the staff talk about her? She crossed her arms as she asked, “Why would that matter to the staff? I’m pretty easy.”

  “But still, there are changes.” Pierre’s voice hitched up a notch. “Besides, the alternative… Francesca… she’d have been a nightmare of a queen.”

  Her stomach twisted like there was more to the story as she said, “I guess.”

  “She’s stayed the night at Lord Pascal’s so hopefully that means no more unannounced palace visits.”

  Wait. What? Her entire body froze. She tugged her ear that didn’t hold the phone as she asked, “She was at the palace again?”

  Pierre’s voice cracked as he explained, “Just the once, on your wedding day, to see your prince. But he still chose to marry you so forget I mentioned anything.”

  She massaged her temple. Her heart was heavy. Francesca
hadn’t let the wedding happen easily, but her ears buzzed like she missed something as she asked, “Is there something else you’re not telling me?”

  “No. Why would… umm… look I have to go.” Pierre’s words were short and panicked—she knew the tone.

  There was more. She pressed her lips together and wished he’d just spit out what had happened as she said, “Pierre.”

  In one fast breath he said, “Talk to you later, Your Highness.”

  And just like that he hung up on her.

  She paced as she tried to understand. Leo had married her. He’d said he wanted her love. They’d talked about children earlier.

  So Francesca couldn’t mean much. She’d even cashed the check that Anna had hand delivered.

  There was no way she could have something on Leo, was it?

  He would tell her. Francesca wasn’t a secret between them, but then her mind swirled. Why hadn’t he told her Francesca had been at the palace on their wedding day?

  She replaced the phone and straightened her shoulders, then headed into the sitting area toward Leo as he read his mail. She stood above him and glanced down. He had her heart. She said a little prayer to herself that she was overreacting as she sat beside him. “Leo, I just got off the phone with Pierre.”

  He folded an envelope and turned toward her, instantly pressing his hand on hers. He gestured to the window and the dark clouds. “The storm is here, so I’m thinking we can have a nice dinner in our room.”

  Thunder echoed through like it highlighted his words. She shrugged, narrowed her eyes and ignored the speed of her heartbeat. “That’s fine, but why didn’t you tell me Francesca went to see you on our wedding day?”

  His eyes widened as he asked, with his voice pitching higher, “Pierre told you?”

  Huh. Her gut twisted. Francesca was a problem. She blinked, unsure what to do as she tilted her head and said, “He hadn’t meant to and he rushed off the phone, but why didn’t you tell me she was there?”

  He lowered his head. “I was waiting.”

  He hadn’t left her that day, and they’d grown closer. She tried to hold onto hope while she blinked and asked, “Waiting for what?”

  “Till the time came up.”

  Her heart contracted but she folded her hands in her lap, taking them from him as she asked, “When were you expecting that to be?”

  He squared his shoulders like he was a soldier as he said, “I guess when we got home. I didn’t invite her on our wedding day. She came to find me.”

  Something in her head whispered there was more. She swallowed, unsure what to say or think. Anna crossed her arms and asked, “Will you leave me for her? Or are you planning to continue some affair and rebel against me too?”

  He stroked her shoulder. “Never. Anna, I married you. You’re wearing my ring on your finger and I swear I will never be unfaithful to you.”

  The ring. Her finger became hyper aware of the gold she wore. But he was right. He had walked into the church and married her of his own free will. She stood and stared at the rain that tapped against the window as she asked, “So why didn’t you just tell me? Why keep this all a secret?”

  He stood and she saw his reflection in the glass pane right behind her. She turned toward him while he said, “I need to know everything Francesca said was true and not just believe the story I was told.”

  Story. Her gaze sharpened but her heart slowed down. The woman she’d been, his secretary, nodded with understanding. “So you think she lied about something?”

  “I hope she did.”

  Okay. If this was more about exposing some scandal that would blow over, and whatever had happened had been before the wedding, she’d be okay. But her pulse zipped like there was something important she’d missed. She stepped closer to him and stared into his brown eyes that fascinated her as she asked, “And you’ll know tomorrow?”

  “Yes.”

  The last thing she’d do is let another woman ruin her honeymoon or her chance with Leo. Right here, in this room, with him, she’d been happier than she’d ever been. Doubts didn’t need to exist in her mind. She reached up and caressed his jaw. “Then I can wait. Dinner sounds lovely.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up as he said, “Anna, you won’t regret this.”

  A laugh escaped her lips and she kissed his forehead before her feet touched the ground again. “I don’t regret marrying you, Leo. And I knew about Francesca and how she wanted to be queen.”

  He squeezed her hips before he let her go. “That would never happen.”

  Good. She licked her lips as her body heated. This was what she wanted. Right here. Right now. She asked her burning question, “Leo, do you think one day you might love me?”

  He sighed. “Part of me already does. Your faith in me intimidates me though.”

  Hmm. She wasn’t sure what to say next. She stepped back. Part of his heart was more than she’d had before--and time was on her side as his wife. She took a few deep breaths while she decided what to do and then nodded at him.

  Before she could speak she heard silverware being set in the next room. Leo nodded at her and said, “Dinner is here.”

  End of conversation, so she listened to the rain.

  Leo wouldn’t let a scandal ruin them and what had happened before would soon be a distant memory. Possibilities of their entire life flashed before her eyes. They would have a chance to be happy and maybe have the children they discussed. He’d be at her side.

  The clanging of silverware stopped and they walked over to the dining area. “Alone again,” Leo said.

  She hugged her waist as she stared at him and asked, “Why would my faith intimidate you?”

  He bowed his head. “Because you expect me to be a good ruler, a good husband and a better man than I am.”

  Anna hadn’t known Leo suffered from self-doubt. He had no reason to ever think less of himself. She reached out and brushed the warm skin of his elbow to bring him toward her. “You are a good man. I don’t know why you keep saying that.”

  He traced her cheekbone with his knuckle. “If I was good, I’d have seen through the other women and noticed you a year ago.”

  Where she’d worn a boring black skirt and always had her hair up. He’d commented she’d never had her hair down. She’d been so focused on doing a good job for him when she started and thought flirty would be absolutely inappropriate. Indispensable was a more secure a goal for her then. “Is that why you’re upset with yourself?”

  He pulled her closer to him and she knew he was hard, everywhere. “It wasn’t just Francesca. I almost missed a treasure that was right under my nose.”

  He rested his forehead on hers as her lips tingled for a kiss. “Well, that’s all forgivable. More than that. Sweet actually.”

  He whispered, “Anna Camila, I don’t ever want to lose you.”

  This was just the two of them. No one else mattered. She sighed, stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Then you better take me to bed then.”

  “As you wish.” He scooped her legs up, carrying her to the bedroom. Dinner could wait. She was with Leo and she loved him. Life was too good to let doubts in, not now, not ever.

  Chapter 13

  Leo’s heart lifted as he glanced into the formal dining area of their suite that they hadn’t used, but now Anna sat there with a stylist and a makeup consultant for her first official outing as a royal. The island was isolated so it was a good place to practice and in a few hours, they’d be done.

  The noon sun was already high in the sky which meant their afternoon began once she finished with the makeup. As a future queen, anytime she ever stepped out of the palace, even on her worst day, the staff would ensure she was put together.

  His mother had complained about her stylists right after giving birth to his sisters, upset that she needed to look fabulous when she’d just birthed a child and why there had been no back door to sneak her out of.

  He knocked on the open door to an
nounce his presence and said, “Anna, you look beautiful.”

  She stood, ignoring the stylist with the curling iron in her hand, and came toward him. “If we’re going into town, I need to actually spend time with the makeup artists and hair dresser. I won’t disappoint you.”

  She hugged him, and he saw her face had already been air-sprayed. He winked. “You couldn’t, even if you tried.”

  She kissed his cheek. “That’s lovely to hear. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Anna returned to her new team, quietly asserting her control over them. Her year as his secretary had taught her how the royal palace operated on subtleties rather than hard lines.

  Leo headed into the sitting room he’d been using as his office away from the palace and picked up his phone.

  Another missed call from Pierre. This made seven since this morning. Now that Anna was settled, he plopped on the couch and called his new secretary back. On the first ring, he asked, “Pierre, what’s going on?”

  Pierre spoke without taking a breath. “A lot, Sire. Francesca is planning a press conference at the hospital in under an hour. Your parents are now involved, and the medical reports confirm that the DNA is a positive match.”

  His chest caved.

  It didn’t matter how it had happened, but he was going to be a father.

  He could no longer put off telling Anna.

  He closed his eyes and wished he’d never put himself in this situation as he massaged his temple. Perhaps he’d heard wrong so he asked, “What does that mean?”

  “She’s having your baby,” Pierre announced.

  There it was, plainly said. He had to keep his head up and figure out what happened next. He let out a long sigh, nodded and then Pierre’s words about his parents ran through his mind. He stared out the window. “I see. What are my parents doing?”

  Pierre’s voice held a hint of controlled excitement at the drama. “The king and queen said they will silence Francesca, and for you not to worry about her. The way the queen’s staff talks, it sounds almost medieval.”