Heart of Mine

by Lindsay Bergman

  “We’re attending the polo match next weekend,” Alexander replied.

  “Oh, that's wonderful! I’ll be there, too,” Emma said, smiling radiantly. “Adam will be playing, as usual. You’ll need to make sure to say hello.”

  Alexander’s eyes brightened. “I will. Does he still breed horses?”

  As Emma proudly shared the details of a breeding farm with over two hundred horses, I recalled what Alexander had told me about Emma’s older brother. In between his job as a professional polo player and horse breeder, Adam Rousseau was also a Patron for some of the same charities as the prince. They had become friends last winter when Alexander was dating Emma and although the break-up had put a strain on their friendship, the prince still spoke fondly of him.

  “I would love to take Maddy to his breeding farm,” I heard Alexander say, and looked up to see him smiling at me. “She’s loved horses ever since we were kids.”

  “I know,” Emma said softly. “You’ve told me before.”

  Our eyes met and behind the friendly mask she always wore I could see the jealousy that blazed within, along with a spark of bitterness. I knew it, I thought with vindication. Despite her amiable behavior toward me, I had often questioned her sincerity, wondering how she could possibly be that friendly when I was the one who stood in the way of her happily-ever- after with Alexander. That one glimpse was enough to show me that the lovely, sweet and besotted Emma Rousseau carried envy in her heart. Maybe that bitter darkness had spurred her into action.

  “Lord Rousseau told me something interesting,” Alexander said after he closed the door to my guest room.

  Our dinner party had ended less than an hour ago and while I had learned a few interesting facts, there had been nothing definitive. Slipping my heels off with a sigh, I began digging through my dresser for some comfy pajamas. Alexander sat down on the couch, his expression speculative.

  “What did he tell you?” I asked, pulling out some yoga pants and a tank top.

  “The Head of the Lower House has been speaking to Parliament members behind my back trying to persuade them to keep the Royal Marriage Act,” Alexander said in frustration. “Do you remember him? Simon Mercier? We had dinner with him and a few other Council members two weeks ago. He had assured me that he was in agreement with us.”

  “I want to change out of this dress,” I told him as I moved toward the bathroom. “I’m still listening though.”

  He caught my eye as I reached the door, desire clear on his face. “That’s a shame. I really like that dress.”

  My face burned a brilliant shade of red, and I saw the smug grin that crossed his face before I disappeared into the bathroom. “Do you trust Lord Rousseau’s word?” I asked him a moment later. “I’m sure he would love to see you marry his daughter instead of me. How do you know that he’s not the one speaking to Parliament behind your back?”

  Dressed in my pajamas, I stepped back into the sitting room. The prince’s eyes roamed over me, a slow smile spreading across his face. “I think I like those pants more than I liked that dress,” he said hotly.

  I blushed again as heat washed over me and sat next to him on the couch, careful not to touch him. When he looked at me like that, I found it very difficult to keep my hands to myself.

  He cleared his throat before speaking. “Yes, I trust Lord Rousseau. He’s an honorable man, a highly respected politician, a valued member of the Executive Council—and most importantly, my father trusts him. So I trust him.”

  “Then what are you going to do about Simon?”

  “I’m going to see if I can catch him red-handed. I’m not sure if he has any involvement with those hate notes, but I don’t trust his deceit and can’t afford to let him sway Parliament.” He reached out to take my hand, his long fingers threading through mine. “But it’s not going to be easy.”

  “Since when has anything ever been easy for us?” I asked ruefully.

  Alexander smiled softly, one dark brow lifting in amusement. “Well, dolcezza. If you want to make it easier you can wear another sexy dress like the one you wore tonight.” A warm gleam entered his eyes. “Because we’re going to have another dinner party with Simon as the guest of honor and maybe he’ll be so enchanted by your beauty that he’ll confess everything and beg you to be his queen.”

  “Alexander.” I rolled my eyes and shoved him playfully.

  His grin widened, eyes bright with humor as he tugged me into his arms. The momentum carried us down onto the couch. I landed on top of his firm chest, cradled close in his strong arms. Our gazes locked, heat blazing like an inferno between us. The humor in his eyes changed into a dark blue that smoldered with desire.

  “If you were my queen,” Alexander said in a husky voice, “I would move heaven and earth just to see you smile. Sono tuo, dolcezza. Body, heart and soul. I promise to protect you, to honor you, and to love you for the rest of our lives. Mia bella principessa. Mia regina.”

  Then he sealed his promise with a kiss so passionate that it consumed me from the inside out, until everything that I was and everything that I could be was tied irrevocably to him. His breath was my breath, his heartbeat was my heartbeat. Our souls were so intricately entwined that I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. In that moment I knew unconditionally that my heart was his forever, and that to part from him would cause me to lose a part of my soul.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  It was another night and another long dinner party. After three other dinners with politicians this week, tonight we were joined by four Parliament members, including the unmarried Simon Mercier. The seven-course meal had been delicious as usual, with smoked salmon and filet mignon in a rich béarnaise sauce, and a chocolate lava cake that I nearly devoured whole. The dinner conversation had centered on politics and occasional gossip shared by the politician’s wives, and while droll, it had also been uneventful.

  We had been dining with various members of Parliament in an effort to gain some information on Simon’s behavior and whispered betrayal. Alexander was convinced of Simon’s guilt, even without proof, but I personally had a difficult time believing that the man was capable of deceit.

  For the second time since I’d known him, Simon was a perfect gentleman. His smile was friendly as he continuously entertained me with jokes throughout the meal. His emerald green eyes were filled with amusement when I shared stories from my life on a cattle ranch. When he did participate in the political conversation, his opinions seemed fair and well thought out. It was obvious that the other politicians respected him.

  Over the past hour we’d been enjoying coffee and brandy in the front parlor, passing the time with idle chitchat. The night was drawing to an end. From across the room I saw Alexander pull Simon aside into a private corner and knew he was planting the bait for his trap. The prince had decided to tell Simon that he planned to abdicate regardless of Parliament’s decision on the bill. He hoped that it might spur the politician into action.

  After bidding farewell to the Attorney General, Monsieur Lawrence Dumont, I turned to find Simon at my elbow. My smile of greeting faltered uncertainly when I caught sight of his face. Though his expression was jovial, I could detect the subtle tension in the air between us.

  Simon shook his head slightly as if clearing his thoughts, then seemed to notice my hesitant expression. His grin widened with genuine delight as he reached for my hand. “Thank you for another delightful evening, ma chérie.” His eyes sparkled as he added, “And that chocolate lava cake was absolument délicieux.”

  “I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Simon. I added it to the menu especially for you.”

  He kissed my hand with a gentlemanly bow. “How very thoughtful. It’s truly been an honor getting to know you, ma chérie.” His striking green eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a brief flash of remorse.

  “It’s been a pleasure getting to know you as well, Simon. Please join us again soon,” I told him sincerely, hoping that Alexander was wrong abou
t him.

  “Thank you.” He smiled softly. “Au revoir, Madison.”

  Frowning slightly, I stared at the empty doorway after he had disappeared, feeling unsettled. Something had seemed off, although I couldn’t put my finger on it. He had seemed almost sad before he’d left. For the first time since I’d met him, I wondered if Simon was truly capable of the betrayal that Alexander suspected.

  Stifling a yawn, I dried my wet hair with a towel and let my thoughts wander aimlessly, feeling too tired to even think straight. I hadn’t slept well after the dinner party last night. I was anxious to find out if Simon would take the bait Alexander had planted, and had been dragging my feet all morning as a result. Simon seemed so kind and friendly that I had a hard time believing he was working behind the prince’s back. It had taken me hours to fall asleep, only to then toss and turn in bed all night long. I quickly ran a brush through my wavy brown hair while it was still damp, then moved into the bedroom to check the time on my phone. I was supposed to meet Alexander downstairs before noon.

  “Shoot!” I exclaimed after accidentally knocking over the glass of water on my nightstand. I snatched up my phone, dried it off with my shirt and pushed the home button to check if it had been damaged. The screen popped up immediately and I sighed with relief. Fetching my towel from the bathroom I grabbed the empty glass and was mopping up the water when I saw the note.

  It was placed very precisely in the center of my pillow.

  The glass slipped from numb fingers as I reached for the note. I heard the crash of shattering glass, though it was muted as if from a great distance. My hand trembled. I carefully unfolded the note in a daze and had to read it through at least three times before the words seemed to register within my frazzled brain.

  You traitorous little Cinderella. Do you think that you can rob this country of its beloved Crown Prince? Alexander cannot be allowed to abdicate. You will not go unpunished. We’re coming for you.

  I lost track of how long I stood frozen in place, surrounded by shards of broken glass, with my heart hammering erratically inside my chest. I thought I heard a knock on the door but couldn’t find my voice to speak. The world around me seemed still, as if frozen in time, yet my thoughts raced sporadically. The person behind the hate notes knew about Alexander’s plans to abdicate, and they were angry. For the first time they had even threatened to hurt me. What concerned me most of all about the note—that I’d found on my pillow—was that it meant the person who had been harassing me for weeks had been in my room. I’d thought that I was safe inside the palace, but now that I knew how easy it had been for them to come and go without detection, I was suddenly afraid.

  Fear shot down my spine when I felt the touch of a hand on my cheek. I jerked back and looked up into alarmed blue eyes.

  “What happened, Maddy?” Alexander demanded. “Are you all right?”

  Relief rushed through me at the sound of his voice. He was hovering over me with dark brows drawn together in concern. I watched as he searched my face, seeking answers, but I couldn’t find my voice to respond. Alexander bent down suddenly to sweep me up off the floor. He carried me to the couch and sat down, cradling me on his lap. He murmured sweet Italian endearments and stroked my hair with one hand, waiting patiently for me to explain.

  At the sound of a gentle knocking, I sat up to see Charlotte standing in the open doorway. My mind finally snapped to attention. Her emerald green eyes flickered from us over to the broken glass spilled across the floor. She curtsied, then bustled into the room, clucking disapprovingly as she began sweeping up the shards with a hand broom.

  “I’m so sorry about the mess,” I told her, feeling embarrassed.

  “It’s no trouble, mademoiselle,” Charlotte answered, smiling kindly at me. She worked in silence, efficiently cleaning up the mess in a matter of minutes. After a quick curtsy she paused in the doorway and glanced briefly at us before disappearing from view.

  I straightened in Alexander’s lap and frowned at the empty doorway. Her eyes. There was something about her eyes. A memory drifted through the back of my mind. I tried to latch onto it, but it was out of reach and faded away too quickly.

  Slipping down off Alexander’s lap, I closed the bedroom door and turned back to my prince, knowing that he wouldn’t wait any longer for an explanation. He was standing by the couch, his wary blue eyes fixed on me. Since he had the day off he was dressed casually in jeans and a forest green button-down shirt. He was so handsome and dashing, as always. My chest tightened painfully as the spot of blackness grew even more. The doubt twisted around my heart, crushing me to the point where I could barely breathe. This note was another challenge for us to face. Another sign that maybe we weren’t meant to be together.

  “What happened, Maddy?” Alexander asked quietly.

  “I found another note this morning,” I said hesitantly, my gaze holding his. “It was ... left on my pillow while I was in the shower.”

  Alexander crossed the distance between us in a heartbeat. He yanked me against his chest and wrapped strong, protective arms around me, his grip like iron, unbreakable. His heart thundered beneath his ribs and the hard muscles of his body were tensed. “Did you see anyone?”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “Just the note.” Easing back, I held out the crumpled paper.

  Alexander held my gaze for a long moment before taking it. His expression darkened when he read the words, then he pulled out his cellphone from his pocket and quickly sent a text message. “I’ve sent for Gerard and your personal guard. You will not go anywhere without them, dolcezza. Not even inside the palace.” He tugged me into his arms again and held me close against his chest until Gerard arrived a few minutes later.

  My guard escorted us to the other side of the palace where we were met by the king and queen. Alexander wasted no time in showing them the note. I only half-listened as they discussed more safety procedures and background checks on all the staff. They questioned the security guards, but since Princess Arianna was in the middle of hosting a brunch, many people had been coming through the palace all morning, including her two hundred guests.

  Alexander slammed his hand down against the desk and snarled angrily, “There are hundreds of people in the palace today. One of them must have seen something!”

  “Alex, if we start questioning the guests then they’ll know that there’s a problem,” Queen Gabriella told her son. She was seated on the couch next to me, holding one of my hands in a motherly gesture that reminded me of my own mom. I swallowed dryly, suddenly wishing my parents were there. Looking at Alexander, the queen continued to speak. “Besides, if the security guards didn’t notice anything suspicious—”

  “Someone was in her room!” Alexander exploded. “How could they have missed that?” He was furious, standing with his arms crossed and blue eyes fierce.

  “Alexander,” King Mathis reprimanded, his expression stern.

  They exchanged a look. Then Alexander’s jaw tightened and his hands balled into fists as he struggled to regain his control. I watched as the angry lines of his face softened, his fury being carefully contained behind his aristocratic mask.

  “I’m sorry, Mama,” Alexander apologized to his mother. “I didn’t mean to be so curt. Please forgive me.”

  “It’s all right, figlio.” Queen Gabriella smiled compassionately. “I know you are merely worried for Madison after the threat she received.”

  Alexander’s blue eyes darted to me. I saw the brief flicker of fear that crossed his face. Rising from the couch, I was safe in his arms within seconds. I hugged him close in an effort to reassure him as much as myself.

  He tilted my face back and bent down to kiss me. I could sense a hint of desperation in his touch. “I will keep you safe,” he promised, holding my gaze. He kissed me once more, then touched his forehead to mine.

  I stayed close to his side for the remainder of our meeting. I felt comforted by the weight of his strong arms around me and his determination to catch the
person behind the hate notes. I knew he wouldn’t give up until he found them.

  Our conversation eventually transitioned from the issue of my safety to the concerning breech of secrecy. The person behind the hate notes knew about Alexander’s plans to abdicate because someone had betrayed our secret. The prince was certain that this was proof of Simon Mercier’s involvement; his treachery extending to both the Parliament and the hate notes. But I disagreed with Simon’s involvement in the hate notes.

  The person behind them was angry and jealous and harbored a deep-seeded hatred toward me that most likely indicated a woman. That didn’t seem to fit with Simon’s motive, which we suspected was political. King Mathis and Alexander thought Simon’s outdated morals and prejudice was the reason he didn’t want the Royal Marriage Act abolished. Like many of the other members of Parliament, he probably hoped that Alexander would choose to break off our engagement rather than renounce his claim to the throne. Alexander thought Simon was sending me those hate notes as a precaution; a last ditch attempt to scare me into breaking off our engagement in case we were able to succeed in abolishing the marriage law.

  But without proof we could do nothing to stop him. King Mathis arranged for Simon Mercier to be put under surveillance and commanded that I continued to be thoroughly protected at all times. Alexander seemed appeased by the king’s orders, but I still felt uneasy. My heart was telling me that it wasn’t Simon behind the notes. It was a jealous and heartbroken noblewoman—and I had a feeling that we already knew who she was. Despite my doubts, I was hesitant to tell Alexander, unwilling to give him reason to worry about me even more. After declaring that Simon was the culprit, he seemed less tense, and the fear in his eyes was gone. I could only hope that my silence wouldn't be a deadly mistake.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight