‘I’m sure we can.’ But inwardly she froze, petrified by her own internal reaction to him.
Her brain was fixed along one utterly inappropriate track. She had the horrible feeling it was like the teen girl’s first crush she’d never actually had. The fact was he didn’t need to do or say anything but he’d half seduced her already. Could she really be so shallow as to be beguiled by his looks alone?
‘It’s going to be fine,’ she said firmly. ‘We have a whole year and most of the time I’ll stay safe inside the palace, right?’ She moved into the room, faking her comfort within the large, luxurious space. ‘Actually I’m happy to stay here while you go to that meeting now, if you like.’
His eyes widened. ‘Are you dismissing me, Hester?’
She smiled at his mild affront. ‘Are you not used to that?’
‘You know I’m not.’
‘You’ll get used to it.’ She couldn’t help a small giggle as she echoed his own reassurance.
‘What if I don’t want to?’ He stepped closer.
Hester swallowed her smile and stilled. For a long moment they just stared at each other. Then, once more, he took a step back and the dimples flickered ever so briefly.
‘I’m afraid I need you for another few minutes to show you something else.’ He gestured towards the door.
‘Do I need string?’ She grimaced.
He chuckled. ‘It’s very near.’
She followed him through another doorway and then down a curling flight of stairs and blinked on the threshold of a huge airy space. There was a gorgeous pool—half indoor, half out, surrounded by lush plantings and private sun loungers.
‘My father had this built for Fiorella’s privacy, but she wanted her freedom. After my mother died, my father became overprotective and the palace became a bit of a prison for her.’
Hester swallowed at the mention of his mother. She’d not been brave enough to ask him about her at all. ‘Was it a prison for you too?’
‘I was older. And—as bad as it sounds—I was a guy. He didn’t have the same concerns for me as he did for her.’
‘Seriously?’
‘I know,’ he sighed. ‘Double standards suck. She was a lot younger though and she’d lost her mother. Everyone needs some freedom of choice, don’t they? Fi definitely did.’
‘She told me you helped her get your father’s approval for her to study abroad,’ Hester said. ‘That it was only because you promised to stay and do all the royal duties that she could go. And that now your father’s gone, you’ve told her she can do whatever she wants.’
He glanced out across the water. ‘She enjoys her studies. She should have the freedom and opportunity to finish them. She’s a smart woman.’
Hester’s curiosity flared. ‘What would you have done if you’d had the same freedom of choice that Fiorella now does?’
His smile was distant. ‘There was never that choice for me, Hester.’
Alek’s phone buzzed and he quickly checked the message. ‘The wedding dress designers have arrived.’
Oh. She’d forgotten about that. But she found herself anticipating the planning—she’d very recently decided that there was something to be said for smoke and mirrors. The look on his face when she’d appeared after her airplane make-over had been both reward and insult. She’d quite like to surprise him some more.
‘Is there a particular style you’d like for my dress?’ she asked demurely.
He gazed at her for a moment, his eyes narrowing. ‘I’m sure you’ll look amazing in whatever you choose to wear.’ But his dimples suddenly appeared. ‘Though I do wonder if you’ll dare to go beyond the basics for once.’
‘Feathers and frills?’
‘Why not?’ He led her back to her apartment where Hester found the women waiting. Hester drew in a deep breath and followed them in.
* * *
Four hours later Alek was hot and tired from going through the military-like wedding arrangements with his advisors and answering all their incessant questions. The media had already begun staking out the palace. The news had reverberated in a shock wave around the world. The news channels were running nothing but the photo that had been taken in the plane on the way over and digging deep for nuggets about Hester already. Fortunately her family were already on their way over and unable to comment because he’d ensured Wi-Fi wasn’t available on their flight so he still had time to guide their speculation.
Though he’d learned more about her in the small pieces being published as soon as they were written than from her own too-brief mentions of her past. The bald facts were there, but the real truth of her? The depth? He doubted the investigative reporters would get anywhere near it. She was so self-contained even he was struggling and he was the one with her. What had happened to her parents? Why was she so alone? What did she keep in that broken little box that she kept nearby at all times?
‘Alek?’
He blinked, recalling his concentration. He couldn’t waste time wondering what made her tick—what secrets and hurts she held close—he had to run the palace, reply to invitations to tour another country, clarify Triscari’s position on a new European environmental accord, and not least decide the next steps for the stud programme at his stables. Too much at the best of times.
Yet he still couldn’t help thinking about Hester, concerned about how she was dealing with all those designers and the decisions she had to make, wondering how else he could make her comfortable. He’d liked being able to do something that had truly moved her—seeing her real response pierce her calm exterior had been oddly exhilarating. He wanted to mine more of that deeply buried truth from her and know for sure he’d pleased her.
In the end he called an assistant to check
