Betrothed: To the People’s Prince

woman’s terrified.’

‘Are you kidding? She’s every inch a princess.’

‘You’re only seeing the clothes,’ she said and sounded disappointed in him.

What was there to see but the clothes?

A lot. He knew-a lot. But hell, it hurt to think that.

‘Then there’s your son,’ Lily said, and he stilled.

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Your son.’ She was all seriousness now. ‘Alex says rumours flew from the time people saw him at the ship. He says the age is right and you and Athena were lovers. No?’

‘I…’ What the hell…? ‘Yes.’

‘Then there’s another reason to take care of your princess. Your son is now heir to the throne. Any threat to Athena would also be directed at him. Have you thought of that?’

No. No! The thought poleaxed him.

‘Lily.’ Alexandros was ushering Athena forward. ‘Princess Athena, may I present my wife, Princess Lily.’

Lily smiled, then, astonishingly, dropped into a deep curtsey.

‘There’s no need for curtseys,’ Athena said, sounding breathless, bordering on appalled.

‘There certainly is,’ Lily said. ‘If you’re about to take on the role of Crown Princess, you need every bit of respect you can get. Nikos, bow or something.’

‘We’re expected in the great hall,’ Nikos growled. ‘Princess Athena’s kept the kitchen waiting. I hope dinner’s not spoiled.’

Which earned him a glance of gentle reproof from Lily. ‘Princess Athena’s permitted to keep anything she wants waiting,’ she said grandly. ‘Including you, Nikos. Take the lady’s hand and lead the way.’

She was seated in the centre of the head table, at a royal reception just for her. It was almost too much to take in.

To her left was Nikos, then Alexandros and then Lily. They were chatting as old friends. She’d love to be included.

But on her right was the Archbishop, talking and drinking at an alarming rate. He spoke in theological platitudes, and any attempt she made to make the conversation more general-to include Nikos, or to talk to the woman on the other side of him-saw the platitudes grow louder.

Being royal was suddenly boring.

She pecked desultorily at her dinner, not hungry, but then Nikos leaned over and murmured into her ear, ignoring the Archbishop’s monotone; ‘Thena, the kitchen staff have worked themselves into a lather getting this meal ready tonight. There hasn’t been a royal reception on this island for twenty years. I need to tell you that they’re likely to fall on their kitchen knives if you don’t eat your dinner.’

She stared at him, astonished, and saw he was serious. And she had no comeback. He was already talking again with Alexandros.

Okay, she’d eat her dinner. She’d listen to the Archbishop. She’d be a good princess.

What was she letting herself in for?

She might look like a princess. She didn’t feel like one.

Nikos was simply dressed in a black suit, beautifully cut, with a crisp white linen shirt. Alexandros was wearing full royal regimentals.

They looked like two princes, she thought. They were two princes. By right, if not by birth.

This Crown should belong to Nikos.

Finally the Archbishop paused for breath. He rose, a little unsteadily, and headed towards the bathroom.

Alexandros rose and slipped into his seat.

Once upon a time Alexandros had been her friend as well as Nikos’s friend. Once upon a time, when life had been innocent.

‘I’m sorry about this,’ he said softly. ‘Nikos is throwing you in at the deep end.’

‘This should be him-not me.’

He smiled and shook his head. ‘He works behind the scenes, our Nikos. His mother’s done an extraordinary amount for this island and so has Nikos. But they do it quietly and with no fuss.’

Another woman had made an almost unseemly rush to fill Alexandros’s vacant chair beside Nikos. Nikos smiled a welcome at her. The woman simpered.

‘Does he have a girlfriend?’ Athena asked Alexandros, before she could help herself.

‘Not seriously. Lots of short-term encounters but little more. I don’t think he’s ever got over Marika.’

‘That was nine years ago.’

‘How long does it take after a bad marriage to trust yourself to a good one?’ Alex asked quietly. ‘To learn to trust another after such betrayal…?’

They were quiet for a moment. Watching Nikos. Watching the woman inch her chair closer.

‘You and he…’ he said softly. ‘You know, we all thought it’d work.’

‘Me included,’ she said before she could stop herself.

‘Marika was a very attractive woman. And Nikos was very young.’

‘The same age as me. Nineteen.’

‘So maybe you need to forgive each other? Especially…’ He hesitated and then obviously decided to be frank. ‘Especially if you have a son.’

‘I don’t need to forgive Nikos.’ She looked at Alex full-on. ‘Nikos gave me my son. I regret nothing.’

‘So if he forgives you…’

‘He’ll have it flung back in his face.’

The Archbishop was back, waiting for his chair. She turned to him and smiled sweetly.

‘I’m glad you’re back. Where were we?’

Nikos could do nothing but watch.

This dinner was interminable. Alexandros had abandoned him to talk to others. The woman hanging on his words was driving him crazy. He wanted out of here.

He could go. But that would mean not watching Thena, and he was mesmerised by her.

He sat and watched. He responded to the laughter and noise around him. The islanders were jubilant that they had their princess home.

He’d brought her home. He’d done his job. He should leave.

Coffee was served. An orchestra, playing gently in the background until now, raised its volume and struck up a waltz.

This had been prearranged. Alexandros was to lead Athena onto the dance floor. Alexandros, in full ceremonial uniform, was every inch a prince.

As Athena was every inch a princess.

In moments she and Alexandros were swirling round the floor with skill and grace. If Lily hadn’t been sitting on the sidelines he’d have been jealous.

Jealous? He didn’t want any part in this goldfish bowl of royalty. He needed to support Thena from a distance- nothing more.

The waltz ended. There was a moment’s pause and he thought they were about to dance another. But Alex whispered something to Athena and strode back to Lily.

Athena stood alone for a moment, as if considering. And then she walked deliberately back to the head table, so she was standing right before him.

‘Nikos, it’s thanks to you that I’m here tonight,’ she said steadily, clearly, so all the room could hear. ‘The Prince Alexandros tells me you’ve taken care of this island-you’ve worked ceaselessly behind the scenes to protect the islanders from the worst excesses of the old monarchy. I thank you, and I ask you to do me the honour of this dance.’

She was play-acting, he thought. She’d swept down those stairs in her magnificent dress and she’d assumed