Harlequin Romance August 2014 Bundle

by Douglas, Michelle; Gordon, Lucy; Pembroke, Sophie; Hardy, Kate

  ‘Darling, she must have something—the prince seems besotted with her.’ This voice was more heavily accented.

  ‘But he can’t marry her, surely? She’s not blue-blooded,’ someone else said.

  ‘She’s definitely got her eye on the crown. Lorenzo’s easy on the eye, but he’s so reserved. He’d be such hard work as a husband. But I guess if you want money, you don’t care about that sort of thing.’

  Indigo was livid that these women had got Lorenzo so wrong and were being so mean about him. But she also knew that if she stormed out of the cubicle and put them straight, they wouldn’t believe her—because they’d already decided that she was a gold-digger and her word wouldn’t be accepted

  She wouldn’t be acceptable as Lorenzo’s partner, either.

  And although she knew he’d be gallant and fight her corner for her, it would place their relationship under such a strain.

  He’d said that he wouldn’t be like his father; if the woman he loved was unhappy in his world, he’d let her go because he wanted her to be happy. So now she needed to do exactly the same for him—to let him go, so he could find someone that the world would deem a suitable bride for him and let him be happy.

  She stayed in her cubicle until the gossiping women had gone—not because she was a coward and afraid to face them, but because she knew that nothing she said would make a difference so it would be a waste of time and effort to confront them—and then slipped back out into the ballroom and found Salvatore.

  ‘I’ve got a bit of a headache,’ she said. ‘I think I’m going to have an early night.’

  ‘Can I get you some painkillers?’ he asked.

  She shook her head. ‘That’s really sweet of you, Sal, but a bit of sleep’s the best thing for me.’ Not that she’d be able to sleep. It’d be another night of lying awake at two a.m., worrying and wondering just how she was going to fix things. ‘Can you give my apologies to whoever needs them, please?’

  ‘Of course. Would you like me to walk you back to your apartment?’

  ‘Thanks, but you don’t have to do that. Really. I’ll be fine.’ She kissed his cheek. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  As she headed back to her apartment, her heart was breaking.

  She was doing the right thing—she knew she was—but why did it have to hurt so much?

  Tomorrow morning, she’d tell Lorenzo about the baby, and then she’d get a flight back to England. She could work on the window over there and ship it over to Melvante when it was finished. And maybe they could time it so Lorenzo was away from the palace when she came to put the window in place.

  * * *

  ‘Where’s Indi?’ Lorenzo asked Salvatore. ‘I can’t see her anywhere.’

  ‘She had a headache. She’s gone back to her apartment for an early night,’ his assistant said.

  ‘Hmm.’ Lorenzo frowned. ‘Something’s wrong.’

  ‘Maybe the ball’s a little overwhelming.’

  Lorenzo shook his head. ‘There’s more to it than that. I’ve got a funny feeling. Cover for me, will you?’

  ‘Are you sure about this?’ Salvatore asked.

  ‘More sure than I’ve been about anything,’ Lorenzo said, and left the ballroom.

  When he knocked on Indigo’s door, she took a while to answer. She’d changed out of the ball gown into jeans and a T-shirt; with no make-up on and her hair pulled back, she looked young and very vulnerable.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked.

  ‘I’m OK,’ she said, and he knew she was lying. ‘You shouldn’t be here. You’re supposed to be at the ball.’

  ‘You disappeared,’ he said.

  ‘I have a headache. An early night will sort me out.’

  But he could see through the open door to her bedroom—and to the suitcase on the bed, half packed. ‘Indi, I think we need to talk.’

  ‘I...’ She sighed and stood aside to let him in.

  ‘Are you planning to leave?’ he asked when he’d closed the door behind him.

  ‘Tomorrow. I’ve finished the design. I’ll go back and make the window.’

  ‘Can’t you make it here?’ he asked.

  ‘Better not.’

  He frowned. ‘What about us?’

  ‘There can’t be an us,’ she said softly. ‘Lorenzo—sit down. I need to talk to you about something.’

  He frowned, but did as she asked and sat on the sofa.

  Instead of sitting next to him, she sat on the arm of the chair furthest from him. ‘I’ve been trying to find the right words to tell you, but I can’t, so I’m going to have to be blunt about it.’ She swallowed hard. ‘I’m pregnant.’

  ‘You’re...’ He couldn’t quite take this in. ‘How long?’

  ‘About nine weeks.’

  ‘How long have you known?’

  ‘A couple of weeks. I’ve had a dating scan at the hospital.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’

  ‘Because I couldn’t find the right words—or the right time.’

  That was fair comment. He’d been rushing around all over the place and hadn’t spent much time with her. Though there had been moments when they’d been close. Why hadn’t she trusted him with the news then?

  He blew out a breath. ‘OK. We’ll get married.’

  ‘We will not,’ she corrected.

  ‘Indi, you’re expecting my baby. What do you think I’m going to do, abandon you?’

  She flinched.

  Which wasn’t so surprising. She’d been abandoned by her parents, and then dumped by a man who’d cheated on his wife with her.

  ‘It’s kind of traditional in my family to get married before you have a baby,’ he said, hoping that he sounded light and gentle enough to ease her worries.

  Her face was set. ‘That’s not going to work, and you know it. We’ve already talked about why we can’t be together. Marriage is that—’ she gestured wildly ‘—multiplied by a hundred.’

  ‘We need to talk about this, Indi.’ He moved to take her hand, but she pulled away. Hurt, he stared at her. ‘Indi?’

  ‘Just—please don’t touch me. I need to keep a clear head,’ she whispered.

  That had to be the most backhanded compliment ever: she didn’t want him to touch her because she didn’t trust herself to think straight if he held her hand. Or did she not trust him not to bully her? He damped down his feelings. ‘OK. Let’s cut to the chase. You’re expecting my child. Of course I want to be there and support you. And the best way for me to do that is if you marry me.’

  ‘Because a king-to-be can’t possibly have an illegitimate child?’ she asked.

  ‘I don’t want to marry you out of duty or to satisfy any social conventions, if that’s what you’re thinking.’ He blew out a breath. ‘Right now, you’re upset and you’re worried. I don’t think you’ll believe me if I tell you how I feel about you.’ He looked her straight in the eye. ‘But I’m going to tell you anyway. I fell in love with you, back in Edensfield. You’re a breath of fresh air, Indi. My world’s a much better place when you’re in it. And I’d like you there permanently. You and our child.’

  ‘That picture I drew for you—did you look at it?’ she asked. ‘Really look at it?’

  ‘The prince in a bower of roses. Except the roses don’t quite hide the fact that he’s actually in a cage. Yes, I noticed,’ he said dryly.

  ‘That’s your life, Lorenzo. It was what you were born to and you’re accustomed to it. But I don’t want that kind of life for our child,’ she said. ‘I don’t care how gilded the cage might be, it’s still a cage. Our baby won’t have the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them.’

  ‘So what’s the alternative? Freedom, but not having his or her parents together? Not being part of a family?’
<
br />   She flinched. ‘Plenty of people grow up in single-parent families, and they’re just fine. They’re still loved and the parent they live with gives their best.’

  ‘You and I,’ he said, ‘were both brought up by our grandparents. Both of us were sent away to school. I think, if we’re both honest about it, we were lonely and we felt pretty much a burden to our grandparents. And I don’t want that for my child. I want to live with my child. I want to be there for the first smile and the first tooth and the first word and the first step. I want my child to be part of a family. With me.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘Are you saying you’ll fight me for custody?’

  ‘No.’ He raked a hand through her hair. ‘What kind of monster do you think I am? I’m saying I want to do all that with you and our baby. Yes, you’re right, as my consort you won’t have the kind of freedom you’ve been used to in your life so far. You’ll have a security team and a schedule. But there’s room for compromise.’

  ‘Is there? Because it seems as if I’m the one giving up everything.’

  ‘You don’t have to give up your friends or your job,’ he said. ‘OK, I admit, you won’t be able to do your work to quite the same extent that you do now, because sometimes I’ll need you to support me in state affairs and that means attending functions with me. But you don’t have to give it up completely. It’s important that you have your own interests.’

  She still didn’t look convinced.

  ‘I want you in my life, Indi,’ he said softly. ‘Not because you’re carrying my child, and not because I think this is the quick way to get everything a king is supposed to have—a crown, a queen and an heir. I want you for you.’ He paused. ‘You’ve talked about what you have to give up, but have you thought about what you’d gain if you married me?’

  ‘Marriage to a king, and an unlimited budget. Social status and money might be what some people would want—and it’s what people think I want.’

  ‘What people?’

  She swallowed hard. ‘In the Ladies’. I heard them talking about me. They think I’m after a crown.’

  He snorted. ‘Like hell you are. That’s not what you’re about, and if they’re too narrow-minded to see that then it’s their problem.’ He shook his head. ‘And, actually, it’s not what I meant. I think we can give each other something that neither of us has ever really had. We’ll both be the centre of our family, not a burden tagging round the edges. Not someone who’s going to be sent away.’

  For a second, he saw longing in her eyes. He was pretty sure she wanted this, deep down, just as much as he did. But he knew that if he pushed her too hard, too fast, he’d drive her away. She had to come to terms with her own demons, the things that stopped her from wanting to be with him. Maybe she’d come to trust him enough to help her, but at the end of the day the only person who could really fight her fears was Indigo herself.

  ‘At Edensfield,’ he said, ‘I asked you to make our relationship permanent. I gave you a choice. I knew what I wanted—just as I know what I want now—but I’m not going to bully you into choosing that. I want you to be with me because you want to be here. I don’t want you to stay because you think you ought to for our child’s sake or because you feel pressured. I want you to stay because you love me and you want to be with me, the way I want to be with you.’

  She bit her lip. ‘But how can I ever be acceptable in your world? How, with my past?’

  ‘Everyone makes mistakes. The trick is to learn from them and not repeat them.’ He sighed. ‘Indi, you’re hiding behind an excuse.’

  She glowered at him. ‘No, I’m not.’

  ‘If I wasn’t the heir to Melvante and I asked you to marry me, would it be different?’

  She was silent for a long time. Then she sighed. ‘Yes.’

  ‘And that’s the rub,’ he said. ‘I can’t be someone I’m not, Indi. I’m an only child and so was my father. There’s nobody else to take over from me. If I abdicate, so I can be the ordinary man you want, then I’d be letting my family down and I’d be letting my country down. But if I don’t abdicate, I don’t have you. Either way, I lose.’ He looked at her. ‘Unless you can be brave enough to believe in yourself and take me for who I am.’

  ‘I’m not sure if I’m brave enough,’ she said, biting her lip. ‘I’m scared that it’s all going to go wrong.’

  ‘You’re scared that I’ll let you down, the way Nigel did? I’m not your ex, Indi.’

  ‘No. You’re an honourable man. You didn’t even question whether the baby was yours.’

  ‘Why on earth would I? Of course the baby’s mine.’ He frowned. ‘Did he do that?’

  She nodded. ‘And he wanted me to have a termination.’ She dragged in a breath. ‘He said he already had one brat and he didn’t want another.’

  ‘That’s despicable,’ Lorenzo said. ‘I want him in a boxing ring with me. Right now.’

  She shook her head. ‘Violence doesn’t solve anything.’

  ‘I know, but it’d be very satisfying to bring him to his knees and make him grovel to you.’

  ‘I don’t care about Nigel. I stopped loving him when I realised what a louse he was,’ she said.

  ‘Good. Because I’d hate to think he could hurt you again.’ He stroked her face. ‘Indi. I’m not him. I’m not going to abandon you—or our baby. And I’m certainly not going to ask you to have a termination.’

  ‘I lost the baby. At thirteen weeks, I had a miscarriage. I’d already had a scan. I’d seen my baby’s heart beating. And I...I...’ She looked away.

  Lorenzo stood up and went over to her, scooped her up in his arms and sat down, settling her in his lap with his arms wrapped tightly round her. ‘I’m so sorry you had to go through all that. And on your own.’

  ‘I wasn’t on my own. Lottie held my hand all the way.’

  ‘I’m glad.’

  ‘She nearly missed Gus’s wedding. I said she had to go because she was a bridesmaid, and I’d be fine on my own.’

  ‘So that’s why I didn’t meet you at Gus’s wedding. I was the best man,’ he said. He kissed her hair. ‘I’m sorry you lost the baby. That must’ve been hard for you. But, Indi, having a miscarriage in the past doesn’t mean that you’re going to lose our baby this time round.’

  ‘I know. At least, the sensible bit of me knows,’ she admitted. ‘But there’s a bit of me that can’t help thinking, what if?’

  ‘Which is only natural. But you’ll have the best medical attention, I promise you. I’ll look after you.’

  ‘And that scares me, too. I’m used to being independent, Lorenzo. I don’t want to be wrapped in cotton wool.’

  ‘Noted,’ he said gently, ‘but at the same time I hope you’ll understand that I want to keep you and the baby safe.’

  ‘Because the baby might be your heir?’

  ‘No. Because the baby’s ours,’ he corrected.

  ‘Thank you. And thank you for believing me.’ She hugged him back.

  ‘Indi, you’re not a liar and anybody who meets you would know that within about two seconds.’ He stroked her hair. ‘I can’t believe we’re going to be parents. It’s...’ He couldn’t find the right words to explain how overwhelmed he felt.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, sounding miserable.

  ‘Don’t be. It’s not a bad thing. I’m terrified—but it’s awesome, too, and I want to jump up and down and tell the whole world that I’m going to be a dad.’

  She looked panicked. ‘I’m not ready to tell the world.’

  ‘Not until at least twelve weeks,’ he reassured her. ‘And definitely not until you’re ready. This one’s your call.’

  ‘You’re not angry?’

  ‘Of course I’m not.’ He smiled and held her closer. ‘I’m thrilled. I don’t care that our baby wasn’t planned. We’re going
to have a baby, Indi. We’ve made a family. Do you have any idea how amazing that is?’

  ‘Really?’ For the first time since she’d told him, she started to look less scared and more like the sparky, independent woman he’d fallen in love with.

  ‘Really,’ he confirmed. ‘I have no idea what kind of father I’ll be, but I hope I’ll be like my grandfather, and give love as well as boundaries.’ He wrinkled his nose. ‘Maybe slightly less rigid boundaries. And I’ll have you to help me do that. You’ve already made a difference to the way people see me. I’m a better man with you by my side, and I want to be the best husband and father I can possibly be. Right by your side, Indi. No compromises.’

  ‘But—those women in the Ladies’...’

  ‘Were having an idle gossip. And, actually, they’re totally wrong.’ He took his phone out of his pocket and flicked into a social media site. ‘Look. You’re trending. There are a lot of influential people talking about you.’

  ‘And how unsuitable I am for the King of Melvante,’ she said gloomily.

  ‘No. Look.’ He showed her the screen. ‘How you’re warm and natural. How you’re the perfect modern royal, low-key and approachable. How you’ve brought out a different side in me and they think I’m definitely ready to be king, now. How they hope the stories in the paper are true and that we really are having a secret romance.’

  She stared at him, eyes wide, and a tear spilled over her eyelashes. He kissed it away. ‘But the most important one for me was my grandfather. Yes, he had doubts. Especially when I told him that you had doubts about our lifestyle. He said that was sensible, but you were probably right. Today, he told me you’re still sensible, but you’re totally wrong about us. He thinks you’ll fit in just fine, and that you’re exactly what I need. Someone who’ll have my back, who’ll tell me things straight, and who—most importantly—will love me as much as I love you.’ He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Indi, I want to marry you. I brought you over here to introduce you to my country and because I hoped you’d see that, although I have duties, I’m not just a king-to-be. I’m a man. I love you, and I want to be with you. Not because of the baby, but because of you.’ He shifted so that she was sitting on her own, and dropped to one knee in front of her. ‘I don’t have a ring, but that’s probably a good thing because it means we get the fun of choosing one together. But I’m asking you first and foremost as a man, and only secondly as the future King of Melvante—will you marry me, Indi? Will you love me, and let me love you all the way back? Will you make a real family with me?’