Rebecca Winters: His Majesty's Marriage

“Because I didn’t know I would back out of this impossible charade until…after,” came her lame explanation.

Something flickered in the depths of his eyes. “After what?” he persisted.

Don’t ask me anymore.

She took a deep breath. “After you opened the car door and discovered that Philippe had brought me from the station instead of Sophie. I knew then it wasn’t going to work.”

“I must confess you came as a surprise.”

“Yes, well, the whole idea was ludicrous. Sophie should never have asked me to do it, and I should have had the courage to tell her no.”

“Why didn’t you?” he asked in a husky tone.

With adrenaline surging through her body, Lee couldn’t remain seated. What she had to tell him was hard to talk about, but it was probably the only way he would understand her bond with Sophie.

“My father was a colonel in the Army. When I turned seventeen, he was assigned to the Middle East. Mother and I left Jackson to join him. Unfortunately there were no good schools for me there, so they investigated other avenues. Someone recommended Beau Lac and the arrangements were made. Sophie and I hit it off from the first day and grew close, like sisters.”

She paused to catch her breath. “Three years ago Mom and Dad were living in the Middle East. I’d just been to visit them and my fiancé, who was also in the military. He happened to be my dad’s driver. Sophie had come to Beau Lac to welcome me back. We were in the salon when a military man arrived to inform me that my parents and fiancé had been killed in a terrorist raid.”

“Mon Dieu-”

She looked up at Raoul, fighting more tears. “There are no words to describe how I felt.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “I can’t imagine the horror of it.”

“If Sophie hadn’t been there for me, in all the ways of a true friend, I’m not sure what I would have done. Between her and her parents they saved my life, and have been like family to me ever since. The thing is, Sophie can be wilful, but when it comes to her betrothal to you I can understand why she has rebelled against marrying a man her parents picked out for her from birth, even if he is a prince.

“I-it’s nothing personal,” Lee hastened to assure him in a tremulous voice. “She doesn’t know you. And you must admit that over the years you’ve shown absolutely no interest in her either. But of course maybe you were- are interested in her. If that’s the case, she has no idea!” Lee hastened to add.

When he didn’t say anything, she felt more confused than ever and rushed on. “I’m pretty sure she’s lived in denial that the day would ever come when the two of you would actually have to do your duty. But her father didn’t like the idea that she wasn’t married yet, and I guess he talked with your father. So-when she asked me to do this favor for her, although I didn’t like anything about it, I saw no way I could refuse her.”

He nodded solemnly. “After what you’ve told me, I can understand that she put you in an impossible position.”

Lee rubbed her arms nervously. “What’s really ironic is that, after meeting you, I’m beginning to think that if the two of you hadn’t been betrothed and could have met by chance, you might be looking forward to your wedding. Besides being attractive, you’re both intelligent, wonderful people who are kind at heart.”

“There’s only one problem with that scenario.” Raoul’s voice grated. “Without the spark that drives a man and a woman into each other’s arms, the rest isn’t enough. Obviously you have already found that out.”

Her chin lifted. “What do you mean?”

“You say you haven’t been intimate with another man in three years. Judging by the behavior of my friends, who fell all over you vying for your attention, it’s not for a lack of attractive, intelligent, kind, wonderful male admirers. But, as you’ve learned…if you don’t feel the fire, the rest is meaningless.”

He was right… She was so on fire for him she knew in her heart there would never be another man for her. Her feelings for Todd were tame by comparison. That was what was so frightening to her now.

As she looked away, it suddenly dawned on her Raoul might have been telling her something else…

Sophie might have misread the whole situation.

Was it possible Raoul had never felt Sophie reach out to him in desire, so he’d withheld his true feelings? Had her rejection of him wounded more than his pride?

The Princess was a real royal beauty, who caused men’s heads to turn every time she went out in public. Maybe all along Raoul had nursed a secret longing for her, yet had always sensed his betrothed’s uninterest.

Heavens-it was entirely possible that he’d been hoping marriage would awaken her desire for him! It would explain why he’d allowed himself to become officially engaged a few months ago.

The more Lee thought about it, the more she wondered if Raoul hadn’t wanted to take Sophie up on the mountain as an excuse to get close to her.

If that was the case, then how awful it must have been for him to find someone else besides his intended sitting in the car with Philippe!

A shudder passed through Lee’s body when she realized what she’d said to him minutes ago.

The Princess doesn’t want to marry you.

How cruel that must have sounded, especially if in the depths of his soul Raoul had been looking forward to his marriage.

This was agony in a new dimension. Not only for him, but for Lee, who couldn’t imagine the bleakness of her life without him now. Their passionate interlude in the kitchen had probably been his way of venting his pain and frustration. But it had been a lifechanging experience for her.

She had to get away from him!

“I’ve been as honest with you as I know how to be. If you don’t mind, I’d like to leave for the train station now.”

He studied her for a moment through shuttered lids. “What will you tell Sophie?”

“Even if it costs me her friendship, I’ll tell her the truth-that I couldn’t go through with something that is strictly between the two of you and nobody else.”

“And what will you tell her happened between you and me?” he drawled.

Was he afraid? He didn’t have to be. Lee would go to her grave with their secret.

She faced him bravely for the last time. “Nothing happened between us, Your Highness.”

THEhellit hadn’t!

“Since you’ve been so honest with me,” Raoul muttered, “the least I can do is handle the matter with Sophie in a way that won’t jeopardize your relationship with her.”

His comment caused the mask to slip from her face. It fascinated him the way her eyes darkened to purple. “Wh-what do you mean?”

Pleased to hear the uncertainty in her voice he said, “What do you think I mean?”

He watched her swallow hard. “I guess what I meant to say is, do you have to do anything? Can’t we leave things alone?”

What was she frightened of? “I’m afraid that would be impossible now.”

Her complexion lost some of its color. “Please don’t say that-I’ll just tell her that after you phoned her I lost my nerve and stayed at a bed and breakfast while you left on a climb with your friends. That way she’ll never have to know about wha-about anything else…”

You mean like the way we were communicating a few minutes ago?

Raoul groaned, still shaken by what had just transpired. No matter what she’d said about her fiancé, Raoul could have sworn there had been no one else in that kitchen but the two of them.