by Dani Collins
She scheduled Fiorella’s diaries, replied to messages and emails and organised almost everything without leaving their on-campus apartment. It was perfect.
‘Then you’ve passed all our security checks and proven your ability to meet our family’s specific demands.’ Prince Alek took another step closer towards her.
Hester stared at him, unable to believe he was still going with this.
‘Furthermore it’s perfectly believable that we would know each other behind palace walls,’ he added. ‘No one knows what might have been going on within the privacy of the palace.’
‘Sorry to poke holes in your narrative, but I’ve never actually been to the palace,’ she pointed out tartly. She’d never been to Triscari. In fact, she’d never been out of the country at all. ‘In addition, we’ve been in the same airspace only once before.’
Prince Alek had escorted Fiorella to the university in lieu of the King all those months ago.
‘And this is the first time we’ve actually spoken,’ she finished, proving the impossibility of his proposal with a tilt of her chin.
‘I’m flattered you’ve kept count.’ His wolfish smile flashed. ‘No one else needs know that though. For all anyone else knows, the times I’ve called or visited Fi might’ve been a cover to see you.’ He nodded slowly and that thoughtful look deepened as he stepped closer still. ‘It could work very well.’
Hester’s low-burning anger lifted. How could he assume this would work so easily? Did he think she’d be instantly compliant? Or flattered even? He really was a prince—used to people bowing and scraping and catering to his every whim. Had he ever been told no? If not, his response was going to be interesting.
‘Well, thank you all the same, Your Highness.’ She cleared her throat. ‘But my answer is no. Why don’t I tell your sister you’ll be waiting for her at your usual hotel?’
She wished Princess Fiorella would hurry up and get home and take her insane brother away.
‘Because I’m not there, I’m here and you’re not getting rid of me…’ He suddenly frowned. ‘Forgive me, I’ve forgotten your name.’
Seriously? He’d just suggested they get married and he didn’t even know her name?
‘I don’t think you ever knew it,’ she said wryly. ‘Hester Moss.’
‘Hester.’ He repeated her name a couple more times softly, turning it over in his mouth as if taking the time to decide on the flavour and then savouring it. ‘That’s very good.’ Another smile curved his mouth. ‘I’m Alek.’
‘I’m aware of who you are, Your Highness.’ And she was not going to let him try to seduce her into complying with his crazy scheme.
Except deep inside her something flipped. A miniscule seed long crushed by the weight of loss and bullying now sparked into a tiny wistful ache for adventure.
Prince Alek was studying her as if he were assessing a new filly for his famous stables. That damned smile flickered around his mouth again and the dimples danced—all teasing temptation. ‘I think this could work very well, Hester.’
His soft emphasis of her name whispered over her skin. He was so used to getting his way—so handsome, so charming, he was utterly spoilt. Had he not actually heard her say the word no or did he just not believe it was possible that she meant it?
‘I think you like a joke,’ she said almost hoarsely. ‘But I don’t want to be a joke.’
His expression tightened. ‘You wouldn’t be. But this could be fun.’
‘I don’t need fun.’
‘Don’t you? Then what do you need?’ He glanced back into her bedroom. ‘You need money.’
‘Do I?’ she asked idly.
‘Everyone normal needs money.’
Everyone normal? Did he mean not royal? ‘I don’t, I have sufficient,’ she lied.
He watched her unwaveringly and she saw the scepticism clearly in his eyes.
‘Besides,’ she added shakily, ‘I have a job.’
‘Working for my sister.’
‘Yes.’ She cocked her head, perceiving danger in his silken tones. ‘Or are you going to have me fired if I keep saying no to you?’
His smile vanished. ‘First thing to learn—and there will be a lot to learn—I’m not a total jerk. Why not listen to my proposition in full before jumping to conclusions?’
‘It didn’t cross my mind you were really serious about this.’
‘I really am,’ he said slowly, as if he didn’t quite believe it of himself either. ‘I want you to marry me. I’ll be crowned King. You’ll live a life of luxury in the palace.’ He glanced toward her room before turning back to her. ‘You’ll want for nothing.’
Did he think her sparse little bedroom was miserable? How dared he assume what she might want? She wanted for nothing now—not people or things. Not for herself. Except that wasn’t quite true—and that little seed stirred again, growing bigger already.
‘You don’t want to stop and think things through?’ she asked.
‘I’ve already thought all the things. This is a good plan.’
‘For you, perhaps. But I don’t like being told what to do,’ she said calmly. And she didn’t like vapid promises of luxury, or the prospect of being part of something that would involve being around so many people.
But the Prince just laughed. ‘My sister tells you what to do all the time.’
‘That’s different. She pays me.’
‘And I will pay you more. I will pay you very, very well.’
Somehow that just made this ‘proposal’ so much worse. But, of course, it was the only way this proposal would have ever happened. As a repellent job offer.
He looked amused as he studied her. ‘I am talking about a marriage in name only, Hester. We don’t need to have sex. I’m not asking you to prostitute yourself.’
His brutal honesty shocked her. So did the flood of heat that suddenly stormed along her veins—a torrent of confusion and…other things she didn’t wish to examine. She braced, struggling to stay her customary calm self. ‘An heir isn’t part of the expectation?’
He stiffened. ‘Thankfully that is not another onerous legal requirement. We can divorce after a period. I’ll then change the stupid law and marry again if I’m ever actually willing. I’ve years to figure that one out once I’m crowned.’
Hester swallowed. He was clearly not interested in having kids. Nor ever marrying anyone for real. He didn’t even try to hide the distaste in his eyes. Too bad for him because providing an heir was going to be part of his job at some point. But not hers.
‘We’ll marry for no more than a year,’ he said decisively. ‘Think of it as a secondment. Just a year and then back to normal.’
Back to normal? As the ex-wife of a king? There’d be nothing normal after that. Or of spending a year in his presence as his pretend wife. She was hardly coping with these last ten minutes.
He hadn’t even thought to ask if she was single. He’d taken one look at her and assumed everything. And he was right. Which made it worse. Another wave of bitterness swept over her even though she knew it was pathetic. Hester Moss, inconsequential nobody.
‘Can you use your country’s money to buy yourself a bride?’ she blurted bitterly.
‘This will be from my personal purse,’ he answered crisply. ‘Perhaps you aren’t aware I’m a successful man in my own right?’
She didn’t want to consider all that she knew about him. But it was there, in a blinding neon lights, the harsh reality of Prince Alek’s reputation. She couldn’t think past it—couldn’t believe he could either.
‘There’s a bigger problem,’ she said baldly.
‘And that is?’
‘You’ve a very active social life.’ She glanced down, unable to hold his gaze as she raised this. ‘Am I supposed to have just accepted that?’
‘I didn’t realise you’ve been r
eading my personal diary.’
‘I didn’t need to,’ she said acidly. ‘It’s all over the newspapers.’
‘And you believe everything you read?’
‘Are you saying it’s not true?’
There was a moment and she knew. It was all so true.
‘I’ve not been a monk,’ he admitted through gritted teeth. ‘But I didn’t take advantage of any woman any more than she took advantage of me.’ He gazed at her for a long moment and drew in an audible breath. ‘Perhaps you’ve held me at bay. Perhaps I’ve been hiding my broken heart.’
‘By sleeping with anyone willing?’ she asked softly, that anger burgeoning again.
‘Not all of them.’ He actually had the audacity to laugh. ‘Not even my stamina is that strong.’
Just most of them, then? ‘And can you go without that…intimacy for a whole year?’
He stilled completely and stared fixedly at her. ‘Plenty of people can and do,’ he said eventually. ‘Why assume I’m unable to control myself?’
That heat burned her cheeks even hotter. ‘It’s not the lifestyle you’re accustomed to.’
‘You’d be amazed what hardships I can handle,’ he retorted. ‘Will you be able to handle it?’
He was well within his rights to question her when she’d done the same to him. But she didn’t have to speak the truth. Provoked, she brazenly flung up her chin and snapped, ‘Never.’
But he suddenly laughed. ‘You’re so serene even when you lie.’ He laughed again. ‘Marry me. Make me the happiest man on earth.’
‘If I said yes, it would serve you right,’ she muttered.
‘Go on, then, Ms Moss,’ he dared her softly. ‘Put me in my place.’
A truly terrible temptation swirled within her and with it came a terribly seductive image. She shook her head to clear it. She couldn’t get mesmerised into madness just because he was unbearably handsome and had humour to boot. ‘It’s impossible.’
‘I think you could do it.’ His eyes gleamed and she grew wary of what he was plotting. ‘If you don’t need money…’ he trailed off, his voice lifting with imperceptible disbelief ‘…then give it to someone who does.’
Hester froze.
His gaze narrowed instantly. ‘What’s your favourite charity?’ He sounded smoothly practical, but she sensed he was circling like a shark, in ever-decreasing circles, having sensed weakness he was about to make his killer move.
‘I’ll make a massive donation,’ he offered. ‘Millions. Think of all those worthy causes you could help. All those people. Or is it animals—cats, of course. Perhaps the planet? Your pick. Divide it amongst them all, I don’t care.’
‘Because you’re cynical.’ But her heart thudded. Because she’d give the money to people who she knew desperately needed help.
‘Actually, I’m not at all,’ he denied with quiet conviction. ‘If we find ourselves in the position to be able to help others in any way, or to leave the place in a better condition than which we found it, then we should, shouldn’t we? It’s called being decent.’
He pinned her with that intense gaze of his. Soulful or soulless? Her heart beat with painfully strong thuds.
‘You can’t say no to that, can you?’ he challenged her.
He was questioning her humanity? Her compassion? She stared back at him—he had no idea of her history, and yet he’d struck her with this.
‘If you don’t need it,’ he pressed her, ‘isn’t there someone in your life who does?’
There were very, very few people in her life. But he’d seen. He knew this was the chink in her armour. And while she really wanted to say no again, just to have it enforced for once in his precious life, how could she not say yes?
At the drop-in centre she’d been trying to help a teen mother and her toddler for the past three weeks. Lucia and her daughter, Zoe, were alone and unsupported having been rejected by family and on the move ever since. If someone didn’t step in and help them, Lucia was at risk of having Zoe taken and put into care. Hester had given Lucia what spare cash she could and tried to arrange emergency accommodation. She knew too well what it was to be scared and without security or safety or a loving home.
‘You’re emotionally blackmailing me,’ she said lowly, struggling to stop those thoughts from overwhelming her.
‘Am I?’ He barely breathed. ‘Is it working?’
He watched her for another long moment as she inwardly wrestled with the possibilities. She knew how much it mattered for Lucia and Zoe to stay together. Her parents had fought to stay together and to keep her with them and when they’d died she’d discovered how horrible it was to be foisted upon unwilling family. With money came resources and power and freedom.
Prince Alek sent her a surprisingly tentative smile. ‘Come on, Hester.’ He paused. ‘Wouldn’t it be a little bit fun?’
Did she look as if she needed ‘fun’? Of course she did. She knew what she looked like. Most of the time she didn’t care about it, but right now?
‘You like to do the unpredictable.’ She twisted her hands together and gripped hard, trying to hold onto reality. ‘You delight in doing that.’
‘Doesn’t everyone like to buck convention sometimes? Not conform to the stereotype others have put them in?’
He was too astute because now she thought of those bullies—her cousins and those girls at school—who’d attacked her looks, her lack of sporting prowess, her lack of parents…the ones who’d been horrifically mean.
‘I really don’t want to be used as a joke.’ She’d been that before and was sure the world would see their marriage that way—it was how he was seeing it, right? Nothing to be taken seriously. And she was too far from being like any woman he’d make his bride.
‘Again, I’m not a jerk. I’ll take you seriously and I’ll ensure everyone around us does too. I’ll make a complete commitment to you for the full year. I promise you my loyalty, honesty, integrity and fidelity. I only ask for the same in return. We could be a good team, Hester.’ He glanced again at her desk. ‘I know you do a good job. Fi raves about you.’
Hester’s pride flickered. She did do a good job. And she knew she was too easily flattered. But this was different, this was putting herself in a vulnerable position. This was letting all those people from her past see her again. She’d be more visible than ever before—more vulnerable.
But hadn’t she vowed not to let anyone hurt her again?
‘Working for Princess Fiorella is a good job for me,’ she reminded herself as much as informed him. ‘I won’t be able to come back to it.’
‘You won’t need to,’ he reasoned. ‘You’ll be in a position to do anything you want. You’ll have complete independence. You’ll be able to buy your own place, fill it with cats and books about serial killers. All I’m asking for is one year.’
One year was a long time. But what she could do for Lucia and Zoe? She could change their lives for ever. If someone had done that for her parents? Or for her? But no one had and she’d spent years struggling. While she was in a better place now, Zoe wasn’t.
Hester squared her shoulders. If she could survive what she already had, then she could survive this too. And maybe, with a little change in ‘packaging’, she could subvert that stereotype those others had placed on her—and yes, wouldn’t that be a little ‘fun’?
That long-buried seed unfurled, forming the smallest irrepressible bud. An irresistible desire for adventure, a chance impossible to refuse. She couldn’t say no when he was offering her the power to change everything for someone so vulnerable. And for herself.
‘I think you’ll like Triscari,’ he murmured easily. ‘The weather is beautiful. We have many animals. We’re most famous for our horses, but we have cats too…’
She gazed at him, knowing he was wheedling because he sensed success.
‘All right,’ she
said calmly, even as she was inwardly panicking already. ‘One year’s employment.’
Predatory satisfaction flared in his eyes. Yes. This was a man who liked to get his way. But he was wise enough not to punch the air with an aggressive fist. He merely nodded. Because he’d expected her acquiescence all along, hadn’t he?
‘It’ll cost you,’ she added quickly, feeling the sharp edge of danger press.
‘All the money?’ His smile quirked.
‘Yes,’ she answered boldly, despite her thundering heart. ‘So much money.’
‘You have plans.’ He sounded dispassionately curious. ‘What are you going to do with it?’
‘You want your privacy, I want mine,’ she snapped. ‘If I want to bathe in a tub full of crisp, new dollar bills, that’s my prerogative.’ She wasn’t telling him or anyone. Not even Lucia and Zoe, because she didn’t want any of this to blow back on them. This would be a secret gift.
‘Wonderful. Let me know when you want them delivered.’ He looked amused. ‘Shall we shake on it?’
Gravely she placed her hand in his, quelling the shiver inside as he grasped her firmly. He didn’t let her go, not until she looked up. The second she did, she was captured by that contrary mix of caution and curiosity and concern in his beautiful eyes. She had the horrible fear they were full of soul.
It didn’t seem right for him to bow before her and, worse, she couldn’t make herself respond in kind, not even to incline her head. She couldn’t seem to move—her lungs had constricted. And her heart? That had simply stopped.
‘Let’s go get married, Hester,’ he suggested, his lightness at odds with that ever-deepening intensity of his gaze. ‘The sooner the better.’
CHAPTER TWO
ALEK COULDN’T QUITE believe what he’d just established. But that reckless part of him—that sliver of devilishness—felt nothing but euphoria. Here she was. The method by which he’d finally please the courtiers and parliamentarians who’d been pestering him for months. The means by which he’d find his freedom and fulfil his destiny at the same time.