Royal Marriage Of Convenience

close. But he wouldn’t hold her. He mustn’t.

He loved her too much.

‘So here’s the plan,’ he said softly, feeling Rose mould to his body, loving the feel of her, but knowing he had to offer her freedom. ‘Julianna, you abdicate. We’ll do our best to find Jacques and put him in jail, but maybe for the time being you could go home with Ruby.’

He smiled at Ruby. ‘I know. You’re annoyed with me, but I’m asking for your help, and when have you ever refused it? Ruby lives in Dolphin Bay, which is the best place in the world to recuperate. Maybe, Erhard, you could go too. You’re looking ill. There are two wonderful doctors at Dolphin Bay.’ He grinned. ‘And there are all sorts of weird and wonderful dogs. If you take your wife, I’ll guarantee you come home with a new puppy.’

‘And Rose?’ Ruby asked, sounding wary. Not hostile to his plan, though, just thoughtful.

‘I think Rose should go too,’ he said.

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Rose said, stiffening.

‘You must.’

‘Oh, sure. And leave you here to get yourself killed?’

‘Well, that won’t happen,’ Ruby said, still sounding thoughtful. ‘I’ve organised that.’

‘You have?’ Nick blinked.

‘You’re not the only one who can organise,’ Ruby retorted. ‘This is a mess. People going round at midnight shooting other people…I brought my boys up to be responsible citizens, which is why they’re all flying in tonight.’

‘All?’

‘Pierce will be a bit longer because he’s coming from Australia,’ she said. ‘Sam couldn’t go back to fetch him. But when I got here this morning and found out about the shooting I said enough, I need all my boys. So they’ll be here. Sam’s taking security over right now-Monsieur Fritz has set it up for him, and Sam swears we’ll have this Jacques person locked up by lunchtime. Blake’s got the legal mind. Darcy can sort out the army. Between them they’ll have this place sorted, and then it’ll be time for Rose to decide whether she wants to come back again.’

‘I don’t…’ Rose tried, but Nick smiled and shook his head.

‘You’re trying to argue with Ruby?’

‘I’m not leaving you,’ she said.

‘You don’t need to worry,’ Ruby said. ‘I realise Nick is a very good-looking boy, and he has a very nice smile, but he’s got to give you time to think. Don’t worry about him being lonely-his brothers will be here.’

‘But I can’t afford-’

‘You can afford,’ Nick said, feeling gutted, but knowing he had to let her go. ‘I’ve looked into the royal exchequer this week. For all the poverty in the country, the royal fortune is practically obscene. I want to plough some of that into capital works to get the economy going, but there’s more than enough to let you and Julianna spend the rest of your lives in comfort. You can take that trip around Australia you wanted to do. You can do anything you want. You have no responsibilities, Rose. Not one.’

There was a moment’s stunned pause.

‘So I’m free,’ Rose said. ‘When I said I could resign…’ She swallowed. ‘I didn’t think. And I couldn’t take Hoppy-or not straight away.’

‘Who’s Hoppy?’ Ruby asked, and Rose motioned to the little dog who’d been standing in the background looking innocuous. As well he might. He’d come via the kitchens where he’d been given a rather large ham-bone leftover from the festivities of the day before. He was paying attention to the goings on-but only just.

‘There’s quarantine regulations in Australia,’ Rose said. ‘I can’t leave my dog. So…’ She took a deep breath. ‘I do have a responsibility.’

‘Nick will look after your dog,’ Ruby said.

‘Nick’s not very responsible,’ Rose retorted.

‘You should know,’ Nick said, and smiled. ‘You’re my wife.’

‘You said it was a sham marriage,’ Ruby said sharply, looking from one to the other.

‘That was Nick,’ Rose said.

‘Do you want it to be?’ Nick asked. ‘Sham, that is?’

‘I haven’t learned to swim yet,’ she said, and she was smiling tremulously, as if she was about to take a very large step and wasn’t quite sure if it was in the right direction.

‘So it’s not sham?’ Ruby said.

‘Ask Nick what I have on my knickers,’ Rose whispered.

‘Bumblebees,’ Nick said promptly.

‘And my wedding knickers?’

‘Butterflies.’

‘There you go, then,’ Rose said. ‘How sham is that?’

There was a loaded silence. No one said a word.

‘You know,’ Ruby said finally, looking vaguely into middle distance, yet not looking at anyone at all. ‘I could really use a brandy. It was very inconsiderate of Nick to bring one for Erhard and not for me. I’m a frail old lady and I need my sustenance. Julianna. Erhard. If you were to take an arm each, I might just be able to stagger feebly forth and find my own brandy.’

‘You’re sure they’re safe to leave alone?’ Erhard asked, but he was smiling.

‘They’re talking bumblebees and butterflies,’ Ruby said. ‘Unless you’re interested in botany, I have a feeling this conversation is going to get really, really boring.’

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THEY were left alone. Apart from Hoppy, who’d gone back to bone munching.

Nick was aware that it behoved him to tread warily. Very warily. There was so much at stake.

He had to forget the bumblebees and start from scratch, he decided. Repeat the conversation they’d just had, and hope he got the same outcome.

Had he got an outcome? He found his heart was having trouble beating. Maybe because he was having trouble breathing. So much depended on these next few minutes.

‘That was frivolous,’ he said, and she nodded.

‘Yes.’

‘So we need to be businesslike.’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m not sure where to start,’ he said, which seemed a good sort of start. It was the best he could do under the circumstances.

‘Start by telling me that you still want this job,’ Rose said, being brisk. Trying not to smile. ‘And tell me why.’

He hesitated. ‘Rose, I didn’t think this through,’ he admitted. ‘Yes, it appealed, that I could do a bit of good. And it seemed an amazing offer-to be Prince Consort-to spend a few weeks here and get off scot-free.’

‘But…’

‘There’s the “but”,’ he said. ‘It had to happen and it has. I can’t walk away now. I’m in too deep. The kid who rescued Hoppy is depending on us-on me-as are his parents, and his aunts and uncles, and his whole extended family. The country’s a mess and it can be put to rights. I want that job, Rose, and I intend to take it.’

‘So I really can walk away?’ she said, wondering.

‘It’s up to you. I told you. There’s more than enough money in the royal coffers to provide well for you and for Julianna. There’s no need to be a princess to have a life of ease. You deserve the choice.’ He smiled. ‘Julianna won’t have to take in that washing after all.’

‘I don’t want a life of ease,’ she said.

‘You wanted to travel around Australia. You told me that. I figure this gives you the freedom to do it. I’ll be