Taken aback by the vehemence in her voice, he asked, ‘Why not?’
She twisted away, walked into the centre of the room, as though gathering herself. Whipping around, she answered, ‘Because...because I’ve already lost one family...’
He inhaled deeply, the feeling of being way in over his head hitting him. ‘You’re not going to lose me.’
‘Neither of us can pretend that our marriage is going to be easy. I don’t think either of us can say that we’ll come out of it unscathed. We need to be careful as to what we promise each other.’
A wave of frustration pushed through him. Kara was right. Wanting to kiss her, thinking they could be family...what was he thinking of? Raising his hands, he sighed. ‘You’re right.’
‘What have you told Luis and Ivo?’
‘Luis is in Australia at the moment and Ivo’s in Budapest, competing, so I spoke to them both in a conference call this morning.’ He paused and frowned. It had not been an easy call. ‘Let’s just say that once they got over the shock of learning that our father was going to abdicate, they were livid with him for forcing my hand and even more livid with me for dragging you into this mess.’ Over the years Luis and Ivo had got to know Kara when they met in both London and Monrosa. Kara and Luis spoke regularly by text, their relationship one of endless teasing and banter, while Ivo was a goodwill ambassador for the charity, promoting its work within the sporting community.
‘Wait, are you saying that they didn’t know about your father’s abdication until you told them?’
‘He wanted to wait until tomorrow morning to inform them. I couldn’t persuade him to tell them earlier. Things are as tense between him and my brothers as they have ever been.’
‘Why won’t he accept that they are both professional sports people who compete at an international level?’
‘In his eyes they are wasting their time, when they should be here in Monrosa fulfilling their duties.’
She swept her hands over her dress, wriggling to smooth out the material clinging to her hips.
‘Don’t be nervous,’ he reassured. ‘You look incredible and I know you’ll do great.’
‘Aren’t you nervous?’
From a young age he had been taught to present a public persona, one that was polite and composed and detached. That persona got him through so many aspects of his public life and was a shield behind which he could hide his true self. ‘Why would I be nervous when I’m ready to celebrate my engagement with the world?’
She gave a disbelieving huff. ‘Now you just sound corny.’
‘Think of all the positives that can come from this—we can run together every morning and we can go hiking into the mountains without having to schedule it months in advance. We can watch movies together rather than just chat about them. And I can finally teach you how to sail.’
‘You almost had me until you mentioned sailing. And what of the old adage, familiarity breeds discontent?’
‘I think it’s contempt, not discontent.’
Kara hit him with a teasing smile. ‘I know, but I wouldn’t go that far.’
‘I want to marry you. And I hope that I’ll be a good husband.’ His chest tightened, a wave of emotion catching him unawares. ‘I want to make you happy. If you are ever unhappy in the marriage then we can end it.’
‘Even before the two years?’
Dio! What if she did walk away? Walked away because their marriage had gone horribly wrong? Their friendship destroyed. What if he had hurt Kara when he swore he would only ever protect her?
He clenched his hands. ‘If that’s what you want.’ Opening the terrace door, he asked, ‘Are you ready?’
She gave him a nervous smile. ‘With you at my side, what can go wrong?’ And she stepped out onto the covered terrace.
* * *
A lot was the answer to that particularly hopeful question, as Kara soon found out.
As she stepped from the shade and obscurity of the courtyard gallery into the bright spring day and the glare of the world’s media, her legs began to shake. All those eyes and cameras. Assessing. Already formulating words and images to describe her, to pass judgement on her.
And Edwin wasn’t helping matters with his long stride. Through a clenched smile, she muttered, ‘Will you please slow down? And shouldn’t we be acting more coupley?’
Edwin came to a complete stop, his expression unreadable. Then, giving her that serious public smile of his that always swelled her heart with pride and affection for this honourable man who took his responsibilities so seriously, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and murmured, ‘Is this “coupley” enough?’
At the periphery of her vision, reporters jostled each other for a better view of them, one reporter actually pushing another into a flower bed. She nodded frantically, worried Edwin might decide he should do something even more in his pretence of devotion.
He took her hand in his and they resumed their approach towards the reporters, her toes tingling from the sensation of his warm hand enclosing hers with an unnerving gentleness. Keen to distract herself from the endless walk across the vast courtyard, she whispered, ‘My dad promised he’d try to watch the announcement on a livestream.’
Not breaking his gaze away from the media, Edwin whispered back, ‘Once the abdication is over, we’ll go and visit both of your parents. I’m sure we can persuade them to come to the wedding.’
‘I’ve tried endless times during the past few days to talk them round.’ Now was probably not the moment for this conversation but the need to offload her worry was too great—especially as she had been storing it up for several days, expecting to share it with Edwin on the phone, but his calls had always been cut short by some crisis or another. ‘You know how private they both are—being in the public eye is their idea of a nightmare. And they think what we’re doing is crazy—that it will never work. I’ve tried to tell them about all of the positives that can come from our marriage—raising the profile of the charity, your plans for Monrosa. But they won’t listen to me. We’ll need to find a suitable explanation as to why they won’t be at the wedding ceremony.’
With one easy movement, Edwin pulled them to a stop again.
Standing in front of her, blocking her from the media, he studied her while a silence descended on the courtyard, the assembled media holding their breath at the prospect of a sensational story unfolding.
‘The media are waiting,’ she whispered.
‘Your parents have been through so much—I don’t want to cause them any further distress. We really don’t have to go through with this.’
For a brief moment, she was tempted to agree with him. God knew, she didn’t want to create even more tension with her parents than already existed, but this marriage and all the publicity it would bring to the work of Young Adults Together was the most fitting way to make sense of Michael’s death. She was doing the right thing. And in time, maybe her parents would come to understand that Michael, so passionate about helping others, would have wanted her to do everything possible to help those in need. Seeing the tension in Edwin’s eyes, she tilted her head back. ‘As I remember it, you’ve promised me a spectacular honeymoon—you can’t back out of that now.’
Edwin studied her for a moment and then with a hint of a smile he turned around and led her towards the waiting media.
In his earlier briefing, Raúl had given her a thorough run-through of the engagement announcement procedure that had included showing her a photograph of each correspondent who would be permitted to ask questions. Sofia Belluci, the royal correspondent for the main state broadcaster, would be the first to speak to them.
‘Congratulations, Your Highness.’ Pausing, Sofia turned her attention to Kara with a hint of bafflement, and said, ‘And to you, Miss Duffy.’
Beside her Edwin said in a clear, neutral voice with no hint of emotion, ‘Thank
you.’
‘Your Highness, after so many years of knowing each other, why have you and Miss Duffy decided to marry now?’
‘We’ve come to realise what we mean to one another.’
Sofia narrowed her gaze, clearly wanting a much more elaborate answer. ‘Which is?’
Without missing a beat, Edwin answered, ‘Kara is my best friend.’
God, he was good at this. To the point. Unemotional.
‘And for you, Miss Duffy?’
She had practised her answer with Raúl endlessly this morning, but, opening her mouth to say all those practised lines, she paused and stared blankly at the media, whose sceptical stares were hardening by the second.
What were her lines...what had she agreed to say?
Tumbleweed moseyed through her brain. And then she blurted out, ‘Edwin’s my world.’
Oh, what? Why did you say that?
She’d sounded like a gushing teen fan who had just met her boyband idol.
Edwin, looked at her with a bewildered expression for a moment, but to his credit managed to somehow gather himself enough to place his hand tenderly on her cheek and gaze into her eyes, playing the in-love fiancé perfectly.
It was all pretence, of course, but to be gazed at with such unbridled affection had her struggling to breathe.
Edwin turned back to the media, his arm resting on her waist.
The microphone was passed from Sofia to a man in his late sixties, impeccably dressed. Óscar Collado, the major news correspondent from Monrosa’s largest selling newspaper. And, according to Raúl, a man with a hound dog’s scent for a story. ‘How does His Royal Highness your father feel about your announcement...is he as surprised as the rest of us?’
Edwin stiffened beside her. ‘Surprised? No. In fact he’s pleased that finally one of his sons is settling down.’
Óscar reflected on that answer for a while, clearly sizing up Edwin’s tense demeanour and trying to decide if he should repeat the first part of his question, but instead he changed tack and asked, ‘And how about your family, Miss Duffy?’ Here Óscar paused as though searching for the right words. ‘They must be truly amazed.’
It was clear what Óscar was insinuating. Edwin went to speak but she got there before him. With a gracious smile in Óscar’s direction she decided to tackle this issue head-on. ‘Edwin and I may come from very different backgrounds but our ideologies and outlook on life are very similar. We both value loyalty and friendship and serving others. It’s our hope that people will be open-minded and supportive of us.’
Óscar gave an unconvinced smile to her answer. ‘How do you think your late mother would have reacted to your engagement, Your Highness?’
Edwin’s hold tightened, and he edged her in even closer to him. She swung her gaze towards him, tempted to whisper to him that he should refuse to answer a question that was so unfairly personal and intrusive.
Seconds passed as the media waited for Edwin to answer. Her heart flipped over to see Edwin’s jaw working. She placed a hand on his, which was resting on her waist, and threaded her fingers between his. ‘I believe my mother would have been delighted to have a daughter-in-law like Kara.’
He spoke with raw emotion in his voice. Taken aback by the sincerity of his answer, she had to force herself to concentrate on Óscar’s next question. ‘And the engagement ring—is it part of the royal collection?’
‘No, it was especially commissioned,’ Edwin answered.
She looked down at the sapphire ring Edwin had presented to her earlier that day. It was a stunning ring, an intense violet-blue stone mounted on platinum and surrounded by a cluster of diamonds.
At the media’s beckoning she lifted her hand to display the sapphire.
And forced herself to smile.
Don’t let the media see you’re thrown. So what that he’s given you a brand-new ring and not one from the royal collection? It was the sensible thing to do. For a marriage of convenience. Thinking he might not trust you with a ring from the historic royal collection or believe you aren’t worthy of one...well, they’re just silly thoughts. Aren’t they?
When the media had finally had their fill of photographs, it was the turn of another journalist to speak, asking with a bright smile, ‘Have you any message for the people of Monrosa, Your Highness?’
‘I hope they will enjoy the wedding celebrations, which are currently being planned and will be announced in full in the coming week,’ Edwin answered.
The female journalist swept her bright smile in Kara’s direction. ‘And you, Miss Duffy—do you have a message for the people?’
Oh, just that I’m terrified and not to judge me too harshly when we divorce. Oh, and, yeah—sorry to all of you who will be heartbroken to hear that one of the world’s most eligible men is no longer available. Don’t hate me for it—it wasn’t my idea, honestly. At least you have the consolation that this has nothing to do with love or passion or any of those normal things.
‘My message is that I very much look forward to living here in Monrosa and getting to know this beautiful country.’
The woman, in her early thirties, asked enthusiastically, ‘And what will your role be when you marry?’
The journalist seemed genuinely interested in her role, and, seeing an opportunity to talk about the charity, she answered, ‘I will continue with my work for my charity, Young Adults Together, focusing on expanding its efforts internationally to promote the advocacy and support of positive mental health in young adults. But I also see my role as supporting Edwin at all times...’ she paused there, at the point to which she had rehearsed with Raúl, but, seeing the journalist’s encouraging nodding, as though willing Kara to say more, Kara found herself saying, ‘especially during the transition...’
She stopped, her eyes widening, hot panic making her pulse thud wildly.
I almost gave away the abdication.
She stared blankly at the media as they all shifted forward in their seats with interest, that sixth sense of theirs intuiting a story. What was she supposed to do now? They were waiting for an answer. How on earth did Edwin think she was capable of taking on the role of princess?
Laying his hands on her shoulders, Edwin calmly finished her sentence, ‘During our transition to married life. We have both led independent lives but we are looking forward to living together. I know Kara is excited to settle into palace life...’ Pausing, his eyes alive with devilment, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, he added, ‘She has a lot of intriguing plans for life in our private apartments.’
Kara reddened, a nervous giggle escaping.
The journalists gave each other a quizzical look as though wondering if anyone else got the joke.
With a pinched expression, Raúl swept in from where he had been watching proceedings at the side of the courtyard and spoke to the media. ‘Thank you all for attending today’s announcement. His Highness and Miss Duffy will now pose for more photographs.’
Edwin pulled her in closer to him. They embraced and smiled.
Maybe this was all they would want. No kissing required.
But no sooner had she had that thought than a chorus of, ‘How about a kiss?’ rang out from the assembled photographers.
Edwin turned her towards him.
Her stomach took a nosedive.
He leant down to her ear and whispered, ‘Do you still think my kiss will be chaste?’
He drew back. She smiled at him nervously. And in return he gave her a wicked grin.
What had she started?
The teasing look on his face disappeared and suddenly he was looking at her with a heart-stopping intensity. This was no longer a game.
Time slowed down.
She fell into the golden depths of his eyes, only now realising there was a solid single fleck of brown in his right eye. What other secrets did he hold? A hun
ger to know him better swept through her.
Oh, help.
She needed to get a grip. He was her friend, her pretend fiancé.
Stop getting caught up in the crazy pretence of it all. This is not real.
His mouth lingered over hers.
His hands ran down the length of her arms, coming to rest at her elbows. The warmth of his touch had her sigh ever so lightly.
Something shifted in his eyes. A heat. A masculine heat.
His lips brushed against hers.
Firm and warm.
Light-headed, she swayed against him. Oh...oh...his heat, the hardness of his body, the electrifying rightness of all of him.
This is so wrong, but so right.
He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, his arms wrapping around her, tilting her backwards.
This wasn’t a polite kiss. It was personal. Intimate. His taste, his scent, the heat of his skin against hers was perfectly wrong.
Every cell in her body dissolved to nothing and fire burnt along her veins.
No man had ever had this effect on her.
Oh, please...this can’t be happening.
Her pretend fiancé seriously couldn’t be the hottest kisser ever. This wasn’t fair!
She willed him to keep on kissing her and he obliged by twisting her so that she was hidden from the media, his back to them, and he deepened the kiss even more, exploring her mouth.
Her hands clasped the hard muscle of his neck. Any moment now she was going to burst into flames. They should stop. This was crazy. Beyond madness to be doing this in the glare of the media. But she just couldn’t pull away. One more second. One more spine-tingling, head-spinning, belly-warming second. One more thrilling, life-affirming second of hot craving zipping along the length of her body.
Edwin ended the kiss. And studied her up close for a moment, his pupils dilated, heat on his cheeks.
Dazed, she stared at him. Why did he look so different? More handsome, more male...he had always been gorgeous but now there was a raw edge to him that spoke of danger...of lust. Of... Crikey, what was happening to her?
Best Friend to Princess Bride Page 6