Betrothed: To the People’s Prince

‘You’ll be under petticoat rule now,’ someone called to Nikos.

‘And he’ll love it,’ someone else called.

‘Our Princess isn’t one for petticoats as far as I can see,’ someone else added. ‘I’m thinking climbing trees and saving kids and making us proud of her is where she is. That’s where they both are. Our royal couple.’

But Athena wasn’t listening. She was watching Nikos.

‘Well?’ she said softly. ‘How about the beach? Is it private enough? Or should we go back to our sky dome?’

‘Thena…’

‘Your call, but we have to talk,’ she said, and he stared at her for a long moment-and then he smiled, that wonderful heart-twisting smile she loved so much. He rose and he took her hand.

And the men of the island council rose again and cheered as one, as the people’s Prince led his Princess from the room.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THEY didn’t need to go far. Just as far as the cliff path, where they could look out on the rising moon, the moonbeams glittering over the ocean, where there was only silence and each other.

‘What have you done?’ Nikos asked gently, and Athena smiled because she knew that even now he’d be honourable.

“I’ve claimed my own.’

‘You don’t need to marry me to be a princess.’

‘I never did,’ she said. ‘But I do need to marry you because I love you and I need you by my side.’

He took a deep breath. He turned to face her and he took both her hands in his.

‘Thena, I hurt you…’

‘So you did,’ she said. ‘And I hurt you. It’s in the past.’

‘But you explained…’

‘And you can’t.’ She hesitated, but it had to be said. Once and then never again.

‘Nikos, when I left the island…You know I went hoping you’d follow. I knew you’d be hurt but I hoped…I hoped so much that I could explain my reasons for leaving. But then I found I was pregnant. And, while I was working up the courage to phone you, I was told that Marika was pregnant. And that you’d promised to marry her. And that she was further gone in her pregnancy than I was.’

He groaned.

All she wanted to do was hold him-kiss him-but this had to be said. She had to sort this in her head. Get it right.

‘So I thought you’d betrayed me,’ she said softly. ‘Until today…’

‘So what’s happened today?’ he demanded in a voice she hardly recognised. ‘To make you change your mind.’

And somehow she found the strength and certainty to answer.

‘When Annia said: “He can’t have her. He’d never love her,” I knew then what had happened. I knew.’

‘How can you know? No one…’

‘No one will ever know from me,’ she whispered. ‘You know, and Annia knows-or maybe she’s just guessing as well. But when I left the island I was heartbroken, and I can only imagine how you must have felt. Maybe, given time, you’d have contacted me, seen how things really were. But along came Marika. Sure, I’m guessing, but I know I’m right. I’m guessing Marika came begging for your help. Pregnant by Demos. Abandoned by Demos. Terrified that her bully of a father might well kill her if he found out.’

She couldn’t bear to watch him. She couldn’t bear to see the pain. Nikos said nothing but the bleakness in his eyes told her all she’d ever want to know. She was speaking the truth.

‘So I’m guessing you thought why not? You thought I’d betrayed you and abandoned the island, so why not help Marika? So you went with Marika to her parents and said yes, Marika’s pregnant, but the two of you wanted to marry. Instead of being appalled, her father would have welcomed you with open arms. So you married.

‘But then a baby was born,’ she whispered. ‘A little girl with Down’s syndrome. A child who Demos would never have cared for. Marika herself obviously couldn’t cope and she chose to run.’

Still he said nothing. His silence was frightening her. But she’d come this far-there was no choice but to take it to its conclusion.

‘But you…’ she said, and she knew in her heart that she spoke the absolute truth. ‘You stood with Christa in your arms and you declared to all the island that she was yours. With the respect you and your mother are held on this island, affection for Christa is guaranteed. She has Annia as a grandmama. She has you as her papa. She’s safe.’

And at last he broke his silence. ‘You’re just guessing,’ he said explosively.

‘So tell me I’m wrong. Look at me straight, Nikos and tell me I’m wrong.’

He didn’t. He couldn’t. The pain that had wrapped itself around her heart ten long years ago dissolved and faded to nothing.

He’d do…whatever it took.

Her Prince. Her Nikos.

‘I’ll never ask you to confirm it,’ she said softly, seeing raw pain. ‘But I know I’m right.’ She forced a rueful smile. ‘Christa is your daughter. She stays your daughter, no matter what else happens. My only regret is that I’ve been so stupid. A bit of terror and fifteen minutes in an open boat and I’ve guessed it all. Oh, Nikos, I love what you did. I love what you are.’ She hesitated then, but she’d come so far…Why not go on.

‘So…I know it’s not the woman who’s supposed to say these things,’ she whispered. ‘But your honour won’t let you. So here it is. Nikos, I’m saying, right here, right now, that I love you with all my heart. That if you demand it of me, then I’ll rule this island alone, but only if you refuse what I’m asking. Because it seems to me that we’ve had ten years alone and why wait one minute longer? You asked me to marry you ten years ago and I accepted. Only then Giorgos destroyed it. So today I’ve accepted again, in front of the full island council. And I accept again now.’

His hands were tight on hers. His face was expressionless again, but she knew what that meant. It meant he was hiding what he felt. She knew this man as she knew herself.

‘I love you, Nikos,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve loved you since I was eight years old and I love you still. If you want me to be your wife, it would be an honour and it would be my joy to accept.’

‘If I want you,’ he whispered.

‘So?’ she said, and tilted her chin and even managed a smile. ‘So, Nikos Andreadis? Prince of my heart. Dare you.’

‘Dare to marry you?’

‘I’ll make a very demanding wife,’ she whispered, venturing a smile. ‘Plus I have it on the best authority that I snortle.’

‘I love your snortle.’

‘I don’t snortle.’

‘I believe you just said…’

‘Nikos!’

‘I like to get my facts right,’ he said, mischief emerging, the wicked grin that had her heart doing handsprings causing its normal damage again-and more. ‘I need to let myself know what I’m getting into,’ he said. ‘One wife?’

‘Only one,’ she said. ‘No Henry the Eighth absurdity for this royal couple.’

‘Agreed,’ he said promptly.

‘One son?’

‘And one daughter,’ she said serenely. ‘And…and maybe even more?’ And his answering smile was enough to make her heart turn over.