Her Royal Baby

But even that was too much. The longer he spent with Henry the more the little boy wormed his way into his heart.

He’d leave him with the servants.

No. He couldn’t do it and Tammy knew he couldn’t. This was emotional blackmail, he thought furiously, and then thought- What had he tried to use with her? He’d tried to offload his responsibilities onto her slender shoulders and maybe it wasn’t fair.

‘I’ll take you home tomorrow night and make her see reason,’ he told Henry, and had a toast finger land on his nose in response. ‘Gee, thanks. Maybe your aunt can teach you table manners.’

But…

She…loved him?

He hadn’t imagined what she’d said. Her words kept ringing over and over in his brain but he shoved them away with all the force he could muster. They didn’t make sense. She hadn’t meant them. Or, if she had, well, then she just had to get over it.

He didn’t do love.

Then Henry dropped his toast, and the ancient collie who always slept by the stove leapt to his feet like a pup of six months and devoured it in a gulp. Henry’s roar of indignation almost raised the roof, and he sobbed inconsolably into Marc’s shoulder.

He didn’t do relationships?

‘We’ll make some more toast,’ he told Henry, then wiped the little boy’s eyes and gave him a shame-faced grin. ‘Okay, I know I’m hooked. I’m hooked on you. But it’s only for today. After that…somehow I’ll get my distance back, and that’s the way I’ll keep it.’

He wanted distance? Unbeknownst to Marc, that was exactly what he was getting.

Half an hour after Henry had demolished his last toast finger-while Marc racked his brains for a bedtime story to encourage his little cousin to sleep-half an hour after that Tammy was boarding a plane headed for Australia.

‘What do you mean, she’s gone?’

‘She left for Australia last night.’ Dominic glanced at his watch. ‘I imagine she’s nearly in Sydney by now.’

‘She can’t have.’ It was seven p.m. Time for handover. Marc had driven Henry back to the palace thinking this was the end. He’d make it clear to Tammy that from now on Henry was hers. But now he was standing at the castle entrance with a sleepy Henry in his arms while he stared at the elderly butler in bewilderment.

He and Henry had had a truly excellent day. Aware that this was the last day he’d agree to have him, Marc had shelved work and given himself up to amuse his tiny cousin. Now, almost asleep, Henry twined his little arms around Marc’s neck and snuggled into Marc’s shoulder. The butler gave the baby a curious glance as he responded to Marc’s demand.

‘I’m sorry, sir, but that’s just what she has done. She had her things in the car when she dropped Master Henry off to you last night, and went straight on to the airport.’

‘You knew she was leaving?’

‘Yes, sir.’

Marc was staring at him as if he’d lost his mind. ‘You didn’t tell me? You didn’t contact me?’

‘Miss Tammy asked us not to, and we couldn’t see the need.’

‘You couldn’t see the need!’

‘No, sir.’

‘But…’ He shook his head. Tammy, on a plane. Tammy, returning to Australia. Without him!

The thought made him feel ill. But Dominic was watching him with a strange expression on his face and somehow he forced himself back to practicalities. To things that mattered.

Tammy leaving…

Henry. Think of Henry.

‘She’s supposed to be looking after Henry.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘So who’s supposed to be looking after him now?’

‘I believe Miss Tammy assumed you would, sir,’ Dominic said woodenly, and Marc cast him a sudden suspicious look.

‘You’re in on this!’

‘I afraid I don’t know what you mean, sir.’ The butler’s face was impassive-which meant that Marc was even more certain.

‘It’s a plot!’

The butler’s mouth twitched. ‘Are you going to drag me out at dawn and have me shot?’

‘I should.’ Marc eyed him with frustrated bewilderment. ‘Damn, I should. What the hell’s going on, Dom?’

Dominic’s face relaxed a little, his old eyes creasing in sympathy. ‘I believe Miss Tammy meant this for the best,’ he said simply. ‘Would you like to read her note?’

‘She left a note?’

‘Yes, sir.’

Marc took a deep breath. Then he carefully set Henry on the polished wood floor, gave him his shoelace to untie and braced himself.

‘Give it to me.’

‘Yes, sir.’

The note was simple and to the point. Marc stood immobile and read it while Dominic looked on.

Dear Marc

I never should have come. When you told me my sister was dead all I could think of was Henry. I assumed he’d need me, and to be honest I needed him as well. Loneliness is like that. It gets you. And I didn’t see how you could care for him. I listened to your words. Not your heart.

But I’ve known you longer now: Long enough to understand that you’ll care for Henry so well I need never worry. Sure, it’d be better if he had both of us, but a split childhood isn’t going to work. Not if that split means you don’t commit to him.

Marc, I know this isn’t any of my business, but it seems to me that you’ve been running scared ever since your mother died. You’ve been terrified of getting involved. Of loving. But you’ve fallen for Henry. I came here because I thought Henry would be alone, but by the time the plane landed in Broitenburg I knew you’d look after him and love him. And these last few days I’ve learned that you need him as much as he needs you. You need to let down the barriers, and caring for Henry will do just that.

Maybe I’m naive, Marc, but you kissing me…it changes things. It means that I can’t bear to be close to you. Loving you is stupid.

I’m stupid. I hate it, but this is the only solution.

I’m going home.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

IT WAS the longest month of his life.

For the first week Marc stayed at Renouys. He hired a nanny who lasted for two whole days-just long enough for Marc to realise he couldn’t bear for Henry to be awake and in the care of a stranger. He tried desperately to stay in his study and work, but over and over he’d hear Henry sob in frustration and he didn’t have a choice but to investigate.

Then Henry’s little face, dull and indifferent in the care of the impeccably referenced and very nice nanny, would crease into laughter at the sight of him. He’d hold out his arms to Marc, and Marc would be hooked.

So the nanny left, smiling her appreciation at a parent who really cared.

After that Henry settled into a predictable schedule. He woke at dawn, played for a couple of hours, slept mid-morning, played again, napped in the afternoon and slept solidly from about seven at night.