He looked at the tiara tossed on the bed, the shoes obviously kicked off and left to fall, the ten-thousand-dollar dress half-lying on the floor. His scrupulously neat Giulia hadn’t even let the maid in the room to tidy it.
The rings he’d given her were on her right hand now. The clothes she wore were bargain-bin stuff from a Sydney store, from her old life. Her eyes had dark hollows beneath them, and she was far too pale.
“Do you want me to go?” She was too on edge for this.
“Yes,” she snapped. “No!” she cried when he turned to go, and when he turned back she was there in his arms. He held her close, breathing in her simple lavender scent with a sense of coming home.
“I miss you,” she rasped, holding him so hard his chest hurt. “I don’t feel alive.”
“I know, love, I know.” He’d given his life to her so long ago that without her, even with his privacy and his job and all the things he claimed he needed, he’d just existed, stumbling through each day; he hadn’t lived. She wasn’t there. She wasn’t there, and everything he’d wanted in his life was dust and ashes.
“Charlie says he ordered books for you that you didn’t read, arranged a day out in the mountains you didn’t take,” he said softly, kissing her hair.
“I can’t. I can’t do those things any more. They’re all you. They’re you and me, and I can’t bear to.”
He tipped up her face and kissed her with all the aching tenderness in his heart. He didn’t speak. What could he say to that?
“I was—I thought I was—but then you came, and the pain started all over again.” She shook her head against his shoulder. “Please, just go home.”
If there was one thing he knew now, it was that they couldn’t live apart. “Ask me to stay, my Giulia,” he whispered. “Ask me to make love to you, to be here day and night for you for the rest of our lives.”
“Don’t you understand? I couldn’t stand it when I’m only going to lose you again!” She broke away fiercely. “I can’t keep going through this. I cried all night when I got my period. I—It was a week late, and I’d hoped…”
And she’d done that alone, too, and survived. So much strength and courage.
“Then ask me to stay because I need you,” he said quietly. “I’ll stay for ever, beloved. I’ll be whatever you need me to be.”
She shuddered. “Don’t, Toby. I couldn’t do that to you!”
A tiny bud of anger began to blossom in his heart at her constant denials. “What if I said I want to stay—that I need to stay—to be with you?”
“You don’t. You’re doing this for me, I know you are.” She was hugging herself, arms around her waist in self-comfort. “I can’t let you sacrifice anything more for my sake. Please, just go!”
He stared at her, wondering when in the past six weeks she’d forgotten all the words he’d said as they’d made love. “Loving you is no sacrifice, Giulia. It never has been. You’re the love of my life. We can compromise. Losing the love we have is the sacrifice neither of us needs to make!”
“You’d hate me in the end. I saw your face when you asked the family if you could live with us. You hated being put in a beggar’s position.” She wouldn’t turn back, wouldn’t look at him. “It’s what you’d always have to be with me. No matter how much I need and love you, it wouldn’t be enough.”
Adrenaline surged through him. Fighting for his love or a fire, it made his pulse pound and his limbs itch with the urge to do. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “That’s not true. Just having you love me is more than enough, more than I could dream of having. Giulia, don’t you see?” he growled. Frustration filled him when she shook her head again. He hated hearing his own words given back to him with such faith. Damn it, she knew him inside and out; why had she believed him when he’d said he needed freedom and privacy more than he needed her? He’d barely believed it himself. He’d lied to them both for the sake of his pride and to set her free to do what she must, and now they were both paying the price for it.
“Asking for my family was the best thing that ever happened to me, Giulia. It gave me a life I love, with people I belong to, belong with. I know that now, because everything I said I wanted is empty without you.” He looked in her hurting dark eyes, hoping like hell she’d understand. “Asking for what you need doesn’t make you low, it makes you human. I’m asking, Giulia. I need to stay. I need you.”
“Not like this. I know you, Toby.” She smiled at him through lonely tears. She stood in a shaft of cold moonlight, small and fragile, yet too strong to let him in. “Go home. I need you to be happy.”
“I can’t be happy without you,” he rasped, bending to kiss her. God help him, he needed her like air, like sunlight, and she was leaving him in blackness.
A cloud obscured the moon; darkness fell over her as she turned from him. She shook her head as he reached for her. “Please go.”
At that, the fury of her self-image flooded him heart and soul. After all these years, she still couldn’t see how much he needed her. He was furious at himself, because she was only holding to the words he’d told her, but even more so at her because she was trying to give him what she thought he needed, but still didn’t know that life without her—best friend, lover and yes, damn it, even princess—wasn’t life.
So he’d prove to her he was nobody’s supplicant. And he’d prove that, while she might be able to live without him, she damn well wasn’t going to get the chance to try. He wouldn’t let her!
He scooped her up in his arms, his mouth on hers in a deep, drowning kiss until she was shivering against him and helplessly kissing him back, her hands caressing his skin with feverish hunger. “Now tell me to go,” he snarled.
Great, fawn eyes stared up at him, aching with love. Trembling hands pulled him down to her for another kiss. “I can’t,” she whispered. “I need you, Toby, I need you.”
“Good.” He smiled grimly as he carried her to the bed.
Charlie summoned him to the royal study soon after dawn, and his personal assistant actually laughed as he delivered the message over the phone. “King Kyriacos requests your immediate presence in his study. He said to tell you it’s either an emergency or a miracle delivered via a lawyer. I’m waiting outside Princess Giulia’s door for you.”
Arrested by the words, by the palace officer’s acceptance of his relationship with Giulia, Toby flung off the covers to dress. “I’ll be back,” he whispered when she stirred, reaching for him in her sleep.
She smiled and drifted back into much-needed rest.
Charlie’s assistant ushered Toby through the quiet palace and into the sitting room that used to be King Angelis’s. It looked like Charlie’s room now, with the gilt-laden furniture taken out and replaced by half the amount, all strong, clean, masculine pieces. “What was worth waking me up for after about an hour’s sleep? If this is about my staying with Giulia—”
“It isn’t. I knew you would.” Charlie wasn’t even looking at him; he was sitting behind his desk, staring down at a sheaf of papers with a stunned look on his face.
“What’s going on, Rip?” he asked, sensing something strange was going on. “What’s that you’re reading? I gather it’s something to do with me?”
“Yes, it is,” Charlie muttered. “The King told me a little secret you saw fit to tell him but not me.” Hellenia’s new king held up a thick file filled with packets and what looked like letters. “These are from Papou, through his other lawyer.”
Beginning to understand, Toby sat down. “So this stuff is from Mr Mendoza?”
“Yes—the lawyer with whom he drew up his real will, just before he died, with specific instructions,” Charlie said slowly. “The lawyer you always knew about, if the letter that came with Papou’s will is any indication.”
Slowly, he nodded. “I’m sorry, Rip. Yiayia and Papou made me promise to keep it a complete secret.”
“Yes, I understand—but, damn it, knowing this could have saved us all some hea
rtburn.” Charlie shrugged, face grim. “By Papou’s arrangements, this lot should have reached me before the wedding, but Mr Mendoza passed away just before that, and the new lawyer only found them in the safe after we got ASIO onto the job.”
Toby frowned. “I gather this new will has some legacy or instructions for me?”
“It’s got a whole lot more than that, you idiot.” Charlie flung a set of papers his way. “This changes everything.”
“The King said it changed nothing,” Toby argued, his heart pounding.
“Well, of course he would, wouldn’t he? But if you’d told me the truth about what happened fifteen years ago we wouldn’t be in this mess now!”
CHAPTER TWELVE
TOBY was gone when she woke up, with not even the traditional note on the pillow. Not knowing what happened, she got up, showered and dressed. She had a lot of duties to attend to this morning, with all the guests.
Except it was lunch time. She’d slept for seven hours?
She bit her lip and grinned, thinking of her own proven insomnia-remedy.
Ask me to stay because I need you. He’d proven through the night, loving her with a desperation and power that had showed her he’d missed her as much as she’d missed him, that his love for her was as timeless and unending as hers for him.
Ask me to stay, my Giulia.
Dared she do just that? Could she believe she was enough for a lifetime, when she could only give him what they had now—a beautiful affair in the shadows?
She headed down the stairs to find him, but Charlie caught up with her before she made the stairs. “It’s so good to see you smiling again, Lia.”
She hugged her brother. “Thanks for bringing him to me,” she whispered.
Charlie reddened and grinned. “What? I had to have all the nobles together for coronation, and he’s one now whether he likes it or not.”
She smiled again, but it soon faded. “What happens if I’m pregnant?”
To her surprise, Charlie, the most old-fashioned brother in the world, shrugged. “We’ll deal with it if it happens. You won’t be the first unmarried pregnant princess—maybe the second.”
Lia blinked. “Is this the same brother who barrelled me out for daring to even think I could love a commoner?”
“Yeah, actually, it is—the same brother who always loses his temper and speaks without thinking it through. I’m pretty new at this royalty caper, and I won’t always get it right.” He grinned at her expression. “What, did you think I’d disown you?”
She smiled back. “Well, at least get me married to some suitable noble at gunpoint before I started showing.”
“Maybe I deserve that,” he said ruefully. “But none of us want you to be as unhappy as you’ve been the past weeks, Lia. Trust me, okay?”
She looked at her brother, saw his eyes shining with new-found strength.
“Jazmine and I know what’s going on in our country, and in our family. We’re doing what we can to make you and the people happy.”
“Do you know where Toby is?” she asked, to test that trust. Would he answer?
Charlie nodded. “You’ll see him later. I needed him to go to Malascos for me. He’ll be back by this afternoon.” He hesitated. “I need you to clear your schedule today. I’ve called an extraordinary meeting of the Hereditary House of Lords. We have another shock to deliver to the crusty diehards in parliament—” he grinned “—and we need you to be there. For backup, you know?”
She frowned, trying to think. “I’m supposed to meet a representative of the European Court about the conditions for women here, to follow up on—”
“Reschedule it,” Charlie interrupted her, his tone commanding. “We need you there.”
She peered at him. “What’s going on, Charlie? I need to have some information ahead of time if I’m to help you.”
Obviously relieved she was obeying without further argument, he kissed her cheek. “I think it’s best if you look as shocked as everyone else. It’ll work better.”
“All right,” she said slowly. How to say it? “Charlie, Toby said he wants to stay…with me.”
Charlie sighed. “Look, Lia, today’s meeting’s important, okay? We’ll get to your problems soon. I’ve only been king eighteen hours, and maybe I don’t have any rabbits to pull out of hats for you just yet.”
Ashamed, she nodded. “I’ll call the European Court representative and reschedule.”
Extraordinary meeting of the Hereditary House of Lords
Lia sat beside Jazmine as Charlie stood up in the royal box. He was ready to make his first announcement as the King of Hellenia. Lia whispered to her sister-in-law, “What’s going on?”
Jazmine grinned. “Stop cheating, Lia, and wait like everyone else.” Her brows lifted. “We’re about to throw a firecracker right into the dry old powder.”
Lia smiled, but couldn’t help wondering if Toby was back. She had to tell him…
Tell him what? Stay for my sake, make me happy at your own expense?
Loving you is no sacrifice, Giulia, he’d said…
“The Queen and I called this meeting because we have several questions needing resolution.” Charlie’s voice broke into her thoughts. He was standing tall over all the seated lords. “First and foremost, there is the pressing question you all wish answered—that of the marriage of my sister, Princess Giulia, to a suitable consort.”
Lia stiffened in her seat. She glared at Charlie, who pretended not to see it. Jazmine wouldn’t look at her either.
“I know you all have your opinions as to whom she should marry.”
Pandemonium broke out as all the lords yelled their opinion, or tossed a name in the ring, as if she was a lucky-door prize, she thought disgustedly. This was why Charlie wanted her here?
“She can only marry a Hereditary Lord, one of his sons, or a prince!” one of the counts with a marriageable son yelled.
“That’s true,” Charlie agreed calmly. “Now please bear with me, I’m not trying to go against the laws. I brought this up because the Queen and I are aware of the rumours regarding my sister and my oldest friend, Sir Toby Winder, while he was here in Hellenia. I wish to resolve this. You all know him, or know of him—he did so much for our nation in the four months he was here, including risking his life to save others. During our last meeting, he was knighted for the rescue of the Grand Duke of Falcandis, and for uncovering the plot by Lord Orakis to destroy all the healing we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
What was Charlie trying to achieve with this line of argument?
“Yes, and we agreed with it—but a commoner can go no higher than a knight.” That same count was red-faced with the force of his voice. “He cannot receive a hereditary title worthy of asking for the hand of the Princess Royal!”
The lords all nodded, some shouting, and Lia’s pounding heart slowed and sank. Why had Charlie brought her here, to break her heart over again? How he brought Toby back to Hellenia only for her to lose him, to say another unbearable goodbye?
“Again, that’s accepted.” Charlie kept his cool. “A commoner cannot gain a higher title than knight, and cannot ask for the hand of my sister. Since Princess Giulia and the Grand Duke of Falcandis have refused to wed, the question of her marriage remains open for the moment.”
At the decision in his voice, the lords’ din died down.
“Moving on, there is one thing that confuses me still about the laws regarding inheritance and adoption.”
The lords sat forward, interest in every face. They seemed to thrive on debate.
“May an adopted son inherit lands and titles, along with any true children a hereditary lord or duke might have?” Charlie asked, his tone carrying no more than mild query.
To Lia’s surprise, it was Theo Angelis who spoke up, sitting at the back of the royal box. “If the child is legally adopted by the laws of the nation before he or she reaches their majority, and accepts the name of the family, then he or she is entitled to whatever the lord le
aves in his will to that child.”
“Ah, thank you, Your Majesty,” Charlie said, giving Theo Angelis the title for life he deserved. “And that is Hellenican law? We are all agreed?”
The lords all nodded.
“Then, in light of your agreement, I want to share with you some papers pertaining to my grandfather, the former Grand Duke of Malascos, which only came to my attention this morning. This includes a set of full and legal adoption papers for his adopted son.”
The House broke into a hubbub of sound. Lia, hardly daring to hope this was real, swung her gaze to Jazmine, who grinned at her and winked before she walked to her husband’s side.
She looked at Theo Angelis. He sat stiff on his throne, staring only at Charlie, but there was something in his eyes; he knew what was going on.
Charlie smiled at the assembled room, waiting until the sound died down again. “I’d always known my grandfather called Sir Toby his adopted son—but I thought it a courtesy title. I never knew my grandparents had made it formal and legal. But here is the irrefutable proof, stamped by the Australian government. Fifteen years ago, my grandparents, Kyriacos Charles Marandis and Giulia Maria Marandis, adopted Tobias Andrew Winder while he was still a minor according to law. They changed his name to Tobias Andrew Winder Marandis, with all the privileges and responsibilities that go with the name.”
And she’d thought the sound before was pandemonium? Now the shouting sounded like a bunch of football hooligans attacking the winning team.
Charlie gave them a minute or two, then spoke right over them, his voice strong and implacable. “My grandparents also made a will, leaving everything to the three of us equally. After Princes Michael and Angelo died, leaving my wife the sole heiress to the throne of Hellenia, my grandfather obviously realised King Angelis would try to discover if his cousin had any male issue. He lodged a final will with the same lawyer that arranged Sir Toby’s adoption. He stipulated that this will be released only if my grandfather’s real identity should become known and the question of inheritance was raised.” Charlie’s smile grew. “There are too many clauses and codicils to read now, such as which titles and lands my friend or I should have from my grandfather’s many Hellenican possessions, so I will now read you the pertinent part of my grandfather’s real last will and testament.”
His Princess in the Making Page 16
