‘Rose?’ he said helplessly, and Rose shrugged and tried to smile.
‘Why not be honest? It is a fraud.’
‘But…’
‘That’s what you called it this morning,’ she said.
He had. But last night…Over and over the image played in his head. Rose standing in her bare feet and chemise, aiming her gun with her eyes filled with terror.
Rose against the world. Rose with bumblebees.
Rose in his arms.
But Rose was moving on. ‘If Julianna is resigning, then I could too,’ she said, attempting to sound brisk and businesslike. ‘I’ve just thought-if neither Julianna or I will take the crown, then Nick is Crown Prince. Which makes sense. My father wasn’t really royal, and you want it, don’t you, Nick?’
Did he want it? Suddenly they were all looking at him, and the question hung.
Of course he did. This had started as something that seemed exciting, almost as a Boy’s Own adventure. But somewhere in there…
‘My mother was a princess here,’ he said slowly. ‘She was so homesick. She’d want me to take it on…’
‘There you go, then,’ Rose said. ‘You can do it.’
‘But together,’ Ruby said urgently, sensing trouble. ‘Because you’re married.’
‘No.’ Nick took a deep breath. ‘Maybe it’s time for Rose not to be married.’
Ruby sighed. She put her hands on her hips and surveyed him with care.
‘Right,’ she said at last. ‘You know, I’m getting really muddled here. Didn’t you just get married yesterday?’
‘Yes, but Rose didn’t want to get married,’ he explained. ‘She did it out of obligation. Rose has had too many obligations for too long. Like Julianna, she needs to be free. If Julianna’s prepared to renounce her succession too, then it leaves Rose free to do what she likes. We can have the marriage annulled and she can renounce her succession too, if she wishes.’
‘I have a feeling the people in this country are going to get very confused,’ Ruby said darkly. ‘If I’m anything to go by, they’ll be very confused indeed.’
‘Maybe they’ll kick Nick out,’ Rose said. The group seemed to be reviving now. Just a little. Rose’s words contained just a trace of her old perkiness.
He loved that about her. He loved her to distraction. How could he let her go?
He could let her go, because he loved her.
‘You know, they might,’ Julianna said, breaking back into the conversation. She was suddenly tremulously hopeful. She’d faced the nightmare and come out the other side. ‘The riot when we put you under house-arrest was frightening. I’ve never seen anything like it. Until then I hadn’t realised…Maybe I still don’t realise what power the throne has.’
‘I can’t see Nick taking on the throne alone,’ Erhard said.
Ruby had been concentrating really, really hard. She still looked confused, but she wasn’t prepared to be relegated to the role of mere onlooker yet.
‘Nick will do whatever needs doing,’ she declared. ‘He’s a very responsible boy.’
‘Yeah?’ That was Rose. She’d been hugging Julianna, but her attention was caught by that. Her eyes flew to Nick’s. ‘Responsible-is he just? Well, well. I’d never have thought it.’
And suddenly she smiled, then gave him a measured look which was suddenly all about who’d remembered the condom last night. It was like the sun had come out. After all this emotion, after all this fear, she was suddenly teasing him.
He’d never realised he could blush.
‘Why don’t you want the throne?’ Julianna asked Rose.
‘I suspect no one’s asked Rose what she’s wanted for a very long time,’ Ruby said, putting her oar in again. ‘Did you know her mother-and father-in-law were trying to make her have babies with her dead husband’s sperm?’
No one knew what to say to that. Especially Nick. He stared at Ruby. Then he stared at Rose. Appalled. ‘Is this true?’
Rose nodded, her eyes suspiciously bright. ‘Yes, but how Ruby found out…’
‘I found out exactly the same way as Monsieur Fritz found out about Nick,’ Ruby said with asperity. ‘My friend Eloise at my macramé club told me she’d been talking to someone who was asking about you, Nick. So I did the same. I have a friend who lives in your district in Yorkshire, Rose, and I got an in-depth report of what you’ve been going through. You’ve been bullied into taking over your poor husband’s life, and now you’ve been bullied into taking over this one. Enough.’
‘I chose.’ Rose ventured.
‘The worst of two alternatives,’ Nick said slowly, watching her. And suddenly things were clear. Or as clear as they could be in the circumstances. She should never have been asked to do this, he thought. In all of this, that she’d been asked to take on more responsibility…
‘Why did you ask Rose?’ he said to Erhard, and there was something in his voice that made them all turn to him. ‘Rose’s father thought Rose wasn’t royal. You’ve inferred Julianna wasn’t Eric’s legitimate child either. You’ve said the DNA thing isn’t an issue, but maybe it could be. You didn’t go down that path. Why not? Shouldn’t I have been the one to take responsibility?’
‘But I didn’t know you,’ Erhard said bluntly.
‘You didn’t know Rose.’
‘I did.’ Erhard was still clutching his brandy glass as if he needed it, but a little colour had crept back. ‘Rose was here until she was fifteen. She was always the reliable one. Her mother was ill. Her father was a drunk. The old Prince was failing. She took everything on her shoulders, worrying about everything. When I enquired about her, it seemed she’d kept right on doing that in Yorkshire. She was responsible, and that was what I wanted.’
‘You wanted Rose to keep on taking the burden.’
‘I didn’t think.’
‘No,’ Nick said gently. ‘We couldn’t expect you to be thinking of Rose’s welfare. You were frightened for your country and you wanted what was best. Rose is the best. We all know that. But it’s time someone looked out for her interests. That time is now, and that someone is me.’
Rose was looking confused. He reached out and tugged her against him, feeling almost compelled to hold her close. But he wouldn’t hold her. He mustn’t.
He loved her too much.
‘So here’s the plan,’ he said softly, feeling Rose mould to his body, loving the feel of her, but knowing he had to offer her freedom. ‘Julianna, you abdicate. We’ll do our best to find Jacques and put him in jail, but maybe for the time being you could go home with Ruby.’
He smiled at Ruby. ‘I know. You’re annoyed with me, but I’m asking for your help, and when have you ever refused it? Ruby lives in Dolphin Bay, which is the best place in the world to recuperate. Maybe, Erhard, you could go too. You’re looking ill. There are two wonderful doctors at Dolphin Bay.’ He grinned. ‘And there are all sorts of weird and wonderful dogs. If you take your wife, I’ll guarantee you come home with a new puppy.’
‘And Rose?’ Ruby asked, sounding wary. Not hostile to his plan, though, just thoughtful.
‘I think Rose should go too,’ he said.
‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Rose said, stiffening.
‘You must.’
‘Oh, sure. And leave you here to get yourself killed?’
‘Well, that won’t happen,’ Ruby said, still sounding thoughtful. ‘I’ve organised that.’
‘You have?’ Nick blinked.
‘You’re not the only one who can organise,’ Ruby retorted. ‘This is a mess. People going round at midnight shooting other people…I brought my boys up to be responsible citizens, which is why they’re all flying in tonight.’
‘All?’
‘Pierce will be a bit longer because he’s coming from Australia,’ she said. ‘Sam couldn’t go back to fetch him. But when I got here this morning and found out about the shooting I said enough, I need all my boys. So they’ll be here. Sam’s taking security over right now-Monsieur Fritz has se
t it up for him, and Sam swears we’ll have this Jacques person locked up by lunchtime. Blake’s got the legal mind. Darcy can sort out the army. Between them they’ll have this place sorted, and then it’ll be time for Rose to decide whether she wants to come back again.’
‘I don’t…’ Rose tried, but Nick smiled and shook his head.
‘You’re trying to argue with Ruby?’
‘I’m not leaving you,’ she said.
‘You don’t need to worry,’ Ruby said. ‘I realise Nick is a very good-looking boy, and he has a very nice smile, but he’s got to give you time to think. Don’t worry about him being lonely-his brothers will be here.’
‘But I can’t afford-’
‘You can afford,’ Nick said, feeling gutted, but knowing he had to let her go. ‘I’ve looked into the royal exchequer this week. For all the poverty in the country, the royal fortune is practically obscene. I want to plough some of that into capital works to get the economy going, but there’s more than enough to let you and Julianna spend the rest of your lives in comfort. You can take that trip around Australia you wanted to do. You can do anything you want. You have no responsibilities, Rose. Not one.’
There was a moment’s stunned pause.
‘So I’m free,’ Rose said. ‘When I said I could resign…’ She swallowed. ‘I didn’t think. And I couldn’t take Hoppy-or not straight away.’
‘Who’s Hoppy?’ Ruby asked, and Rose motioned to the little dog who’d been standing in the background looking innocuous. As well he might. He’d come via the kitchens where he’d been given a rather large ham-bone leftover from the festivities of the day before. He was paying attention to the goings on-but only just.
‘There’s quarantine regulations in Australia,’ Rose said. ‘I can’t leave my dog. So…’ She took a deep breath. ‘I do have a responsibility.’
‘Nick will look after your dog,’ Ruby said.
‘Nick’s not very responsible,’ Rose retorted.
‘You should know,’ Nick said, and smiled. ‘You’re my wife.’
‘You said it was a sham marriage,’ Ruby said sharply, looking from one to the other.
‘That was Nick,’ Rose said.
‘Do you want it to be?’ Nick asked. ‘Sham, that is?’
‘I haven’t learned to swim yet,’ she said, and she was smiling tremulously, as if she was about to take a very large step and wasn’t quite sure if it was in the right direction.
‘So it’s not sham?’ Ruby said.
‘Ask Nick what I have on my knickers,’ Rose whispered.
‘Bumblebees,’ Nick said promptly.
‘And my wedding knickers?’
‘Butterflies.’
‘There you go, then,’ Rose said. ‘How sham is that?’
There was a loaded silence. No one said a word.
‘You know,’ Ruby said finally, looking vaguely into middle distance, yet not looking at anyone at all. ‘I could really use a brandy. It was very inconsiderate of Nick to bring one for Erhard and not for me. I’m a frail old lady and I need my sustenance. Julianna. Erhard. If you were to take an arm each, I might just be able to stagger feebly forth and find my own brandy.’
‘You’re sure they’re safe to leave alone?’ Erhard asked, but he was smiling.
‘They’re talking bumblebees and butterflies,’ Ruby said. ‘Unless you’re interested in botany, I have a feeling this conversation is going to get really, really boring.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
T HEY were left alone. Apart from Hoppy, who’d gone back to bone munching.
Nick was aware that it behoved him to tread warily. Very warily. There was so much at stake.
He had to forget the bumblebees and start from scratch, he decided. Repeat the conversation they’d just had, and hope he got the same outcome.
Had he got an outcome? He found his heart was having trouble beating. Maybe because he was having trouble breathing. So much depended on these next few minutes.
‘That was frivolous,’ he said, and she nodded.
‘Yes.’
‘So we need to be businesslike.’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m not sure where to start,’ he said, which seemed a good sort of start. It was the best he could do under the circumstances.
‘Start by telling me that you still want this job,’ Rose said, being brisk. Trying not to smile. ‘And tell me why.’
He hesitated. ‘Rose, I didn’t think this through,’ he admitted. ‘Yes, it appealed, that I could do a bit of good. And it seemed an amazing offer-to be Prince Consort-to spend a few weeks here and get off scot-free.’
‘But…’
‘There’s the “but”,’ he said. ‘It had to happen and it has. I can’t walk away now. I’m in too deep. The kid who rescued Hoppy is depending on us-on me-as are his parents, and his aunts and uncles, and his whole extended family. The country’s a mess and it can be put to rights. I want that job, Rose, and I intend to take it.’
‘So I really can walk away?’ she said, wondering.
‘It’s up to you. I told you. There’s more than enough money in the royal coffers to provide well for you and for Julianna. There’s no need to be a princess to have a life of ease. You deserve the choice.’ He smiled. ‘Julianna won’t have to take in that washing after all.’
‘I don’t want a life of ease,’ she said.
‘You wanted to travel around Australia. You told me that. I figure this gives you the freedom to do it. I’ll be Prince Regent. When you’ve done with your travelling, maybe you can come back, decide whether or not to take on the throne, and I can leave or stay, whatever you wish.’
‘But that puts your life in limbo.’
‘No,’ he said forcibly. ‘I want this job, Rose. There’s so much I can do. There are so many plans to make-so much to do to get the economy turned round. It’s the most exciting job I’ve ever taken on-it’s an honour to be asked to take it.’
‘But…’ she said.
‘But?’
‘I wouldn’t mind helping.’
‘You can at the end of the year. Or you can now. You can take over in your own right.’
‘I’m not a legitimate princess.’
‘You’re the acknowledged daughter of a prince. You’re my wife. You’re legitimate in every sense of the word.’
‘It was a fake marriage.’
‘We signed all the documents,’ he said. ‘It felt real to me.’ He smiled. ‘And you’ve personally introduced your botany collection to the world. There’ll not be one person in this castle who’ll believe our marriage is sham now.’
‘But you don’t want me to stay…with you.’ It was a soft whisper, but behind it…Was he imagining it, or had there been a tiny thread of hope?
‘You want to be free,’ Nick said, trying not to let his heart leap. She couldn’t want him. He had to be imagining it. Theirs was a marriage of convenience.
But, damn it, he wasn’t going to let her go without giving it a shot.
‘Though I wouldn’t mind,’ he said softly. ‘If you wanted to stay. I mean, freedom means freedom of choice, so there is that option.’
‘Freedom does mean choice,’ she whispered back. ‘So if I chose, say, not to travel round Australia but instead maybe to travel, say, round the perimeter of this castle…With my dog and my companion.’
‘What sort of companion?’
‘Ooh. Maybe a husband?’
The world stilled. The world held its breath.
‘What about that for an idea?’ she said cautiously. ‘In theory, are there things about it that might appeal to you?’
‘There might be,’ he said, just as cautiously.
‘Like, um, what?’
‘Sharing a tent is always fun,’ he said.
The smile was returning to her eyes. It was the smile he’d fallen for.
He smiled back, and for Rose it was the same. Nick’s was the smile that had lifted her from the bleakness of her past and propelled her into the futu
re.
‘There’s probably room in the grounds of the royal castle for a small tent,’ she told him. ‘But we’d have to get your brother’s security forces to leave us be. Floodlights in the wee small hours sweeping our tent might not be as romantic as I’d like.’
‘You’d like it to be romantic?’
‘Wouldn’t you?’
His smile died. The look he gave her was searching. He wasn’t touching her. Why not? She wanted so badly to be touched.
She couldn’t reach out to him. She wouldn’t. A girl had some pride.
‘Rose, your freedom.’
‘What about your freedom?’ she asked. ‘You never wanted to be married.’
‘I never wanted to be married to anyone at all until I met you. Now I never want to be married to anyone but you. But I won’t hold you, Rose.’
‘I want to be held.’
‘You’ve never been free.’
‘Freedom’s got some downsides. It needs some inclusions.’
‘Like what?’
‘You.’
There it was. Out in front, for both of them to see.
And his smile didn’t fade one bit. It changed, deepened, broadened, and the smile in his eyes was a caress all by itself.
‘I love you, Rose,’ he said simply, and her heart did that stupid stopping thing all over again. He’d said it. She looked deep into his eyes and saw immutable truth: love and wonder and need. But also a trace of bleakness-even fear-as though even now he felt like he was exposing himself. A child who’d been brought up in foster homes. Who’d struggled to be independent. Who’d struggled not to need, and who’d come to the same sweet conclusion that she had.
That need wasn’t such a bad thing. In fact, need could be the most glorious thing in the world.
‘How can you love me?’ she managed, and he smiled.
‘In a million ways. Far too many to count. But Rose, your freedom…’
‘I am free,’ she told him. ‘I’m free to go wherever I want in the world. I’m free to leave the shadows of Max behind, and move forward without guilt or regret. You’ve given me that. I’m not sure how, and I’m not sure why, but you have. I’m free to be my own woman and I’m free to love. And I do love, Nick. I choose to love you.’
Royal Marriage Of Convenience Page 16
