Surprise and anger showed in Angus’s face for a brief moment. Then as if someone had flipped a switch, his face became impassive. His bland smile gave nothing away as he continued to ignore their questions. He was annoyed by the renewed interest of the press at the worst possible time. It was certainly not the instant he would have chosen to introduce Siobhan to the public eye but he smiled at the cameras and kept an arm around her, strolling to his limousine as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
“Does your mother approve of you wedding a commoner and marring your impeccable bloodlines?”
Angus stopped walking and turned to the reporter, noticing that he wore a wedding band. “Did your mother approve of your wife?”
The reporter found himself on the opposite side of the lens as the other reporters turned their cameras toward him, eating their own for a change. Flashing cameras captured his surprise at the turnabout before he finally answered, “It doesn’t matter. I married the girl I love.”
“Well, there you have it,” Angus resumed a brisk pace, while laughter sounded behind him and a few intrepid reporters tried to break the throng of his security team.
For the first time, Siobhan fully appreciated how skilled Angus was at controlling his emotions and concealing his reactions. Yet, that comprehensive reserve and self-discipline unnerved Siobhan, who wore her feelings on the surface and rarely hesitated to express them.
His security team had been caught unawares and had neglected to warn him because it had been a long time since Angus had done anything to attract the attention of the paparazzi.
No expression she could interpret crossed his features as his security team pushed the journalists back for the limousine to pull away.
He would discover who had alerted the press. Someone at the optician’s? Or a stranger passing by who recognized me?
On the drive to the helipad and on the flight back home, Angus was unusually quiet. And although Siobhan didn’t think he was upset with her, she wasn’t entirely sure. She did argue with him about spending so much on clothing, but they got along fine after she acceded to his demand that she buy a new wardrobe. Or was it that he was regretting spending a fortune in clothes?
Finally, she couldn’t stand it any longer and had to ask. “Did I do something wrong?”
He turned his head from the scenery below and his golden eyes met hers. “What? Why do you ask that?”
“You’re not talking to me.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yes, I am. See? I just did it again.”
Siobhan laughed and smacked his arm. “But you weren’t, until I said something.”
“That means you weren’t talking to me either, before you said something,” he countered.
Oh, this man! “I’ll start over, okay? Angus, is everything alright? It seems as if something is bothering you.”
“Everything is fine, minus some residual anger at those savages who call themselves journalists. I want to hurt them.”
“Why? What did they do?”
“They insulted you. Viciously. And I won’t tolerate it. How dare anyone look at another person and tear into them and pass judgment on them based on the quality or price of their clothing. To do that to anyone is low and vile. But to you? It’s unforgivable, and that reporter will pay for it. One way or another. I’ll think of something. At the very least, he’ll be losing his palace press credentials, and I promise you, Angel, you will not be disrespected in that way again. Not if I can help it.”
Siobhan was somewhat stunned into silence for the remainder of the flight. This man really, truly did care about her. This had nothing to do with the baby. This was only about her and her feelings, and how people treated her. She sort of felt like she had her own personal champion; someone to look out for her in general, not just as the mother of the royal heir.
Is it my imagination or are we beginning, against all odds, to bond?
She could scarcely believe it. He was utterly out of her league, at least in terms of physical attraction and social savoir faire. She, differently from him, didn’t come from a privileged background, and the dissimilarities only began there. And yet she could feel something tentative between them.
It was scary and exhilarating at the same time, and it made her head spin, as if she was eight again and on one of those terrifying roller coaster rides her mother had taken her on during their last outing together.
Lenox Palace
7:00 p.m.
Catriona choked on her Martini. She couldn’t believe her eyes as the TV showed Angus and Siobhan exiting a high-end clothing boutique, her blood boiled in her veins.
The image on the screen zoomed in on the beautiful and startled young woman.
“Who is that?” Aileen asked.
“Shhhh,” Catriona silenced her sister-in-law and grabbed the remote control to increase the volume.
“Where did you meet?” one reporter was asking Angus.
“Oh, my God.” She could not believe her son, her beloved son, would stoop so low as to embarrass the country by wandering in Zurich with a nobody—a waitress—and buying her things!
“What are we going to do, Catriona?” Aileen whined when Angus seemed to confirm this woman was his fiancée. “This is not what we had planned at all!”
“Hush,” Catriona hissed, her head starting to pound.
“…His Majesty neither confirming nor denying that he’s engaged to the mystery woman. Meanwhile, in the capital…” the reporter said, moving to another topic.
They weren’t married yet. There was still time to save Angus from making a horrible mistake. “We need to find out who she is, and what her weaknesses are. Considering her poor state of dress, we should easily be able to offer her enough money to leave and never return.”
“Excellent plan,” Aileen stated, rising from her chair. “I shall call in a favor and we’ll know in a day or so whom we are dealing with.”
Catriona nodded, her stomach churning. Innes had been the perfect wife for her son; a proud woman to be his princess. She had been everything this woman was not, and Catriona was not about to allow this to happen.
No, she would find her weakness and eliminate her quickly. After all, knowing her son, there was no attachment that was going to make him think twice once she was gone.
She’d been through this once before with him making a ridiculous choice regarding a female companion. But after she’d been disposed of, Angus quickly forgot about her, and he would do the same with this one.
She just needed to make it happen.
19
Saturday, March 12, 2016
2:00 p.m.
It was yet another long day in the mansion, the rain that started in the morning followed through the afternoon, soft, slow, steady, postponing any thoughts of spending time outdoors.
It brought a chill, and a gloom that was no less appealing than the sunshine. Clouds hung over the water, turning everything to different shades of gray. Raindrops hissed on the roof and at the windows, making the mansion seem all the more remote. Occasionally the wind gusted, softly rattling the panes.
Siobhan turned another page of the book with a sigh, the sound of the rain lulling her brain to sleep with every passing second.
The entire house was silent and she couldn’t help but wonder where Angus was or what he was doing. For the last few days, he had been more occupied than usual and she was forced to find her own vices to keep her company.
She was bored.
“Siobhan.”
The book fell out of her lap as she heard the familiar voice, her sudden movements nearly upsetting the chair as she stood. “J-Jaxon?” Jaxon’s here! And Sunny, too!
Sure enough, her brother was standing in the doorway, a grin on his face, holding her cat in his arms. “Hey.”
Siobhan couldn’t believe it. In a flash she was crying in his arms, the familiar smell of him overriding her senses.
Sunny complained with a loud meow from being smashed between them and they stepped back fr
om each other laughing.
“How?” she asked as Jaxon kissed her cheeks and transferred Sunny to her arms.
“Your boy toy sent a jet after me,” Jaxon responded with a chuckle. “Not that I’m complaining. I mean, I could get used to being jetsetted all over Europe.”
Angus sent for Jaxon? Siobhan looked at him, surprise flooding her body.
“Don’t look so surprised,” he said lightly, tucking her hand in his arm as he walked them to the sofa. “He knew what would cheer you up.”
Siobhan laughed as she took a seat on the sofa, putting Sunny in her lap where he curled up, purring. “I confess I am so unbelievably glad to see you.”
“Me or Sunny?”
She laughed. “Both.”
Jaxon took the chair next to her and crossed his legs as he looked around the library that Siobhan favored. “This is a pretty sweet setup you got here. I don’t blame you for not coming home.”
“He wouldn’t let me,” she said softly, resting her hand on her stomach. “I think he was afraid I wouldn’t come back.”
Jaxon arched a brow. “Would you have?”
“I really don’t know, Jax. Everything he’s done is to benefit him, not me. He’s demanding, pretentious. Annoying.” Siobhan sighed. “But he has great qualities, too. He’s handsome, attentive, extra-careful with me and the baby, and it goes without saying…” She waved her hand in the air, a pretty pink staining her cheeks
Jaxon laughed, holding up his hand. “I think I get the point. But you still haven’t answered my question, Siobhan.”
She looked at him. “What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know why you insist on being so stubborn about this. I have said it before and I shall say it again.” Jaxon perched on the edge of his chair and leaned forward. “You want him. You like him. Do you love him?”
“I do not.” Siobhan’s voice was far sharper than she’d anticipated, and Jaxon smirked in response.
She certainly found him exciting, and he did trigger the most remarkable feelings whenever he so much as gazed into her eyes and, in the last two days, they had bonded more.
He was clever and kind, and regardless of whatever she might say aloud, Angus was far and away the only man she’d ever met she would even consider marrying.
He intrigued her with his solitude. Amused her with his formal ways. Excited and aroused her. Besides, even if she did love him, which she didn’t, but if she did, she was fairly certain he could never love her. His Majesty, the King of Lektenstaten, is not the type of man to fall in love.
Love played little role in the life of a man like Angus. She was a broodmare carrying his child; a reward for his efforts, nothing more. And she absolutely refused to dwell on what his touch did to her as she sat there petting Sunny’s fur. Still, she would not marry without love.
“I simply do not understand you, Siobhan.” Jaxon punctuated his words with a long-suffering sigh.
She frowned confused. “Precisely what don’t you understand now?”
“He is handsome and wealthy. His breeding is impeccable, his title unblemished. In addition, any man willing to do what you have asked is either a saint—”
“Et tu, Brutus?” Siobhan snorted in disdain. “Now he is Saint Angus? I hardly think so. Saints rarely frequent establishments such as the one we were at two days ago, unless they are looking for sinners to save. I daresay Angus’s previous visits to places like that have more to do with his sampling of the various ways to earn a place in hell, rather than a desire to save others from that fate.”
“Just because he lavished you with things? Did you know he personally went to London yesterday, for barely an hour, to have lunch with me and explain his intentions?” Jaxon cast her a pointed glance. “As I was saying, such a man is either a saint or a fool. And he is no fool. And come on, Siobhan, if he had tried to trick me by pretending he was in love with you, I wouldn’t be here encouraging you to take a chance on him. But, he did tell me he liked you a lot, which is enough to start a relationship, don’t you think?”
“No.” In point of fact, Angus was far cleverer than she’d anticipated. She wondered if she’d taken their war—or was it a game?—as seriously as she should have.
“Or,” Jaxon paused dramatically, “he is indeed a wonderful man and you would be the fool to let him slip away.”
“What about love?” Siobhan shot the words like an arrow. “I know you wish for love as much as I do.”
Jaxon swiveled back sharply. “Of course, I do. But Braxton-Lennox is a good man and it would take little for any sane, rational woman to love him with her whole heart and soul.”
“And I'm not sane and rational?”
“Not when it comes to this,” Jaxon snapped. “Furthermore, I cannot imagine, with time, he would not come to love you. Nobody could ever resist you.”
And that’s such a lie, Brother. “Well, I, for one, do not care to risk my future on that questionable premise.”
Jaxon shook his head. “You are an intelligent woman. I admire your strength, your courage, and your willingness to do exactly as you please despite every trap and every stone life puts in your way. But, I must say I have never heard you say anything so—well, stupid.”
“Stupid?” Siobhan gasped.
“Stupid.” Jaxon squared his shoulders. “You’ve told me a hundred times: life is not worth living without a certain amount of risk. Were you wrong?”
“No, but—”
“Then how on earth can you stand there and say you are unwilling to risk your future?”
Whether it was the heretofore unnoticed strength in Jaxon’s manner or the underlying truth of his comment, for once, words failed Siobhan.
“Just as I suspected, you can’t.”
A sharp knock on the door caught their attention.
“Enter,” Siobhan said sharply, wincing as she heard Angus’s voice in her head when he admitted a visitor. “Please.”
The door opened and one of the maids entered, looking at them nervously. “The doctor is here, miss.”
Siobhan swallowed. She had forgotten it was time for her checkup. “Tell him I will be there shortly.”
“Yes, miss.”
The door closed again and Siobhan looked at Jaxon, biting her lip. “I have to go.” She didn’t want to leave the conversation at such a tipping point, but if she kept the doctor waiting, Angus would likely hear of it and the last thing she wanted was any trouble associated with Jaxon’s visit. Even though she was pissed at him right now, she loved him to death. “I...”
Jaxon held up a hand. “Let’s not talk anymore right now.”
“How about supper this evening then?” Siobhan tried, clasping her hands in front of her.
Jaxon nodded crisply, turned, and strode from the room.
Siobhan sank down on the chaise and stared in stunned disbelief. Jaxon had never spoken to her quite like this before. Siobhan was always the one to take the lead, to speak her mind, and to encourage a certain amount of risk. What had happened to her? In spite of her protests, was she falling in love with Angus?
“I’m very pleased with your progress, Siobhan.” Dr. Singh stepped back, peeling off his gloves as he did so. “You have done a very nice job taking care of yourself.”
Siobhan looked over in the corner at Angus, who was watching Dr. Singh’s every move. “Thank you, doctor. I feel better than I have in quite some time.”
“Well, continue to drink fluids. The longer we go in this pregnancy, the more opportunity for you to become dehydrated. Continue your walks but do not overdo it, and make sure to keep your stress down to a minimum. Now is a crucial time in your pregnancy, and the slightest upset could put the baby in danger.”
Siobhan bit back a laugh as the doctor looked pointedly at Angus, who had the grace to look a bit shameful. Did the good doctor know what their arrangement was? It was full of stress and worry and after her heated discussion with Jaxon earlier, she was afraid her life would never be easy.
&n
bsp; “Well, that is all my dear. I will see you in another week.”
“Thank you, doctor,” she murmured, as Dr. Singh assured Angus it was fine if Jumani accompanied him to the door.
Angus showed him out of the examining room before shutting the door and leaning against it.
Siobhan forced herself to meet his stern gaze, wishing she could read what was going on in his brain, what he thought about when he looked at her. She doubted it was the same as what she thought when she looked at him.
“Do you want help?”
She slid off the table, adjusting the robe that she had put on before the doctor examined her. “I can take care of myself, Angus.”
“I have no doubt of your ability,” he said softly, pushing away from the door. “But it doesn’t mean I cannot worry in the meantime.”
Siobhan’s eyes widened. Did he worry about her or the baby?
He went to take a step forward, but hesitated, clearing his throat instead. “I asked Jaxon to have dinner with us.”
What would he do if she threw her arms around him and thanked him properly? Would he push her away or would it lead to something more? It took all of her will power not to succumb to his massive charm. Or for that matter to her treacherous body, which was doing its own thing, ignoring what her head was telling it to do.
“Thank you for bringing him here,” she said, as Angus turned back and walked to the door. “It means a great deal to me having him here.”
Angus’s shoulders stiffened, and for a moment she thought he was going to turn around.
“I will be waiting for you downstairs,” he finally said, opening the door and walking out before she could make up her mind.
Siobhan blew out a breath, placing her hands on her hips. No stress? Ha! My life is full of stress.
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