Alex’s heart lifted when Sophie offered him a smile. “I only just remembered that very recently. And something else I was grateful for at the time, but didn’t know how or why...whatever happened to Nanny Celeste?”
Alex’s expression turned hard. “I dismissed her that very afternoon. At the time, I was certain that whatever bad influences you’d suffered, my love and attention, and the company of your siblings, would cure. After your mother died I made a conscious decision to speak of her to you and your brothers and sister only in a positive light. She was gone, and regardless of how much or how little affection you children had received from her, she had been your mother. And I also determined that my relationship with the four of you would take a more prominent role in my life.
“I am sorry, Sophie. So very sorry that I let you down. My own arrogance had me believing that I could make everything right for you. But I never looked deeply. I never realized the way you felt about yourself.”
Sophie felt fresh tears welling up in her eyes, but the cause of these was different. “You didn’t let me down, Papa. I should have come to you sooner. I think...I think that at some point, I simply accepted what Maman and Nanny said because it was easier for me. And it became so ingrained that I didn’t think about it. I never had to think about it, really.”
Sophie smiled, and then her smile turned into a chuckle. Alex was damn glad to see that sparkle. “What has you laughing?”
“I had a plan of my own. I did go along with Maman and Nanny Celeste, on the surface, but there was a tiny rebellion within me. I never wanted to do to a child what had been done to me, and I came up with plan—the perfect plan—that would guarantee I never married or had children. It was a decision I made, and I know I would have gone through with it if I’d had to.”
“What decision did you make?”
“I decided to join a convent.”
Alex opened his mouth to respond, but someone else beat him to it.
“There is no way in hell you’re joining a convent!”
Chapter 19
Stephan couldn’t believe what he’d just heard her say.
He’d known she felt unsure of herself, but he never could have dreamed she would react to that by making such an irrevocable choice. It no longer mattered if he had the right words or not. In three long strides he was in front of her. Unable to keep his hands off her, he set them on her shoulders and squeezed.
“If you think you’re going to run away and hide yourself behind cloistered walls, woman, you can think again. It is not going to happen. I forbid it!”
“I beg your pardon?”
The frosty tone of Sophie’s question sent a stream of panic into his heart. Apparently, laying down the law was entirely the wrong tact to take, even if it had felt good to say those words. My God, for a moment there I’d sounded like my father. As he looked into Sophie’s eyes, his love for her drowned every other emotion, even pride.
“How can you ever believe that you’ll turn into a cold and unfeeling woman? My God, look what you’ve chosen to devote your life to! You could do anything, or nothing, and instead you spend your time with orphaned children. You love those children, Sophie, with all that is in you. I was there when Anna finally had that breakthrough and began to heal. I saw the joy on your face, and the tenderness with which you held her. You cried for her! You may have kept to yourself all these years, but that was a choice made, I’m certain, at a time when you were vulnerable and needed to defend yourself in the only way you could.”
“Stephan—”
He wouldn’t let her interrupt. He’d have his say, and say it all. “And how can you deny the way you melt in my arms? From the first time I ambushed you and laid my lips on yours, you’ve been hot for me. You love me. I know you do. Loving me, how can you sentence yourself to a lonely, sheltered life?”
“Stephan, you don’t understand—”
Desperation welled up in him. He was losing her, and he didn’t know what more he could say to make her understand. His hands gripped her shoulders, but even in his anxiety, the shake he gave her was gentle. “Damn it, Sophie, you could be carrying my child. There is no way in hell I’m going to let go of you. Not now. Not ever.”
“Well now, I think we’re going to have to talk.”
Alex’s voice cut through the emotion running hot in his veins. Someone else made what sounded like a strangled laugh. Stephan had completely forgotten about the other men in the room, too focused on convincing Sophie of his love that he’d ignored everything and everyone else around them.
“I can explain,” Stephan said slowly. Unwilling to let Sophie go even in the most simple, physical sense, he put his arm around her and turned to face his honorary uncle.
“I don’t believe that’s necessary. If you recall, I am a man on my honeymoon.”
“Yes, sir.”
“However, Sophie is my daughter, and I’m sure you will agree a father with a daughter may be excused if he’s somewhat overprotective.”
“Uncle Alex, you know that I would never deliberately do anything to hurt Sophie.”
“Do I? Hmm, let me think about that.”
Alex looked at him in a way that made Stephan feel as if he was being dissected. When the king turned to Peter, and that man stepped closer, Stephan’s face heated with embarrassment. He really had forgotten he and Sophie hadn’t been alone in the room.
Alex walked over to his desk, but remained standing as he opened the file folder that rested there. “First, you accost my daughter in her own home. I have witnesses to that effect. Something about stealing kisses on the sly and an interlude in a cloak room that caused a maid to blush and stammer when questioned about it. And then you appear in public, in my realm, in the uniform of another nation.”
“Uniform of another nation?” Stephan shot a look to Sophie, who appeared equally confused. Yes, he had participated in the tournament as the black knight, but he had been in full armor, not a uniform.
“Sir,” Peter interrupted, “he carried no flag into battle. On the high seas, a ship bearing no flag and taking up arms is considered a pirate.”
“Quite right, Peter. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. So far, then, we have assault and piracy.”
“Papa! What are you—?”
“Silence. I have not given you leave to speak.”
Alex’s tone made Sophie stiffen, and Stephan watched her cheeks redden. His words also called to mind his own father whose ire had been raised more than a time or two by his sons. It would be wise, Stephan thought, to keep silent. He gave Sophie a small squeeze in commiseration.
“Now, that brings us to the biggest crime of all. Kidnapping a member of the royal family of Boisdemer, and forcible confinement of a member of the royal family of Boisdemer.” He stopped for a moment and looked at his security chief. “Did I leave anything out?”
“Actually, in light of new information, I do believe there is still a statute on the books requiring any member of the royal family to seek consent from the king before attempting to conceive a child.”
“Is that one still there? Amazing. I don’t think it’s actually been used since the 1700s when one of my ancestors had to deal with a somewhat licentious son.”
Peter shook his head in a show of chiding disapproval. “You know, sir, you really should take some time one of these days to have a look at all the laws not yet repealed. If nothing else, the list makes for some very entertaining reading.”
Well, Uncle Alex and his chief of security seemed to be having a fine time, Stephan thought sourly. He didn’t appreciate their repartee, either. His world was coming apart at the seams, and they were having fun at his expense. His temper heated up.
“I’ll do that,” Alex answered him. “In the mean time, what on earth am I going to do about all these illegal activities?”
Peter shot a look at him, but Stephan didn’t particularly like his smile when he said to Alex, “Sir, you’re the king, ruler of all you survey. You can do whatev
er you like.”
Alex chuckled and said, “Yes, I really like that part of my job.” Then he leaned over his desk, both hands flat on the surface. All humor had left his face. “Sophie, running away is never the answer to any problem. From the scene I just witnessed, and the one that preceded it, it’s clear to me that the two of you need time, and peace to discuss matters. Any ideas on that score, Peter?”
“Well, sir, the dungeon isn’t being used at the moment.”
Stephan stepped forward, because Sophie had gasped, and the look on her face said that she believed her father was serious. The thought of Sophie being even a little frightened, even by a father he knew loved her, robbed him of diplomacy.
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Ah, Stephan. You’re the second person in recent times to say that to me.”
* * * *
“I can’t believe my father has done this!”
“Believe it,” Stephan said ruefully. “These chains seem real enough. Are you all right?”
She and Stephan were sitting side by side in very comfortable plush chairs. The room—or rather, she thought, the cell—was cast in shadows. There was a small round table between their chairs, and on that table were cups of tea and an assortment of thin, delectable sandwiches and pastries. In fact, if it weren’t for the leg shackles holding them to the chairs and the manacles securing one arm each—his left and her right—the scene had all the appearance of a genteel repast from decades past.
“You mean other than being furious with my father? Of course I’m all right.”
“I don’t think he did this to upset you. I think he just wanted to give us the opportunity to talk.”
“You’re not angry?”
“Well, I cannot hold or kiss any part of you, other than your hand. That doesn’t make me very happy. On the other hand and please pardon the pun, you can’t run off from me, either.”
There was a trace of anger in Stephan’s voice, but she was astute enough to understand it wasn’t directed at her father.
“I’m sorry, Stephan. I probably should not have left without telling you.”
“Probably?”
Sophie ignored his autocratic tone for the moment. “It was rude of me to leave without so much as writing you a note. After all I was a guest in your home.”
“You are going to make me say words that I have never used in the presence of a lady.”
Ignoring his warning growl, Sophie continued with righteous hauteur. “However, I thought I was doing the right thing at the time.”
“Sophie, how could running away be the right thing?”
“Well. That’s just what I was trying to tell you upstairs in father’s office when you were issuing orders and commandments like some sort of...of...”
“Future king?”
The look on his face was pure Stephan. One part devil, one part saint.
“You’re very funny. I had never seen that side of you before. It didn’t take very much for that arrogant, domineering trait to rise to the surface, either,” she noted. “A little emotional upset—”
“A little emotional upset? First, the woman I love vanishes from my bed without so much as a by-your-leave or thanks-for-the-sex. Then, I’m forced to wait an entire day to follow because of a sudden, unexpected storm. Then I arrive but can barely step foot off my plane because a phalanx of guards, led by my beloved’s future brother-in-law are ready to tear my heart out. Then I finally convince everyone that I mean no harm, I arrive where I need to be, open a door and hear the woman I love, the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, who even now may be carrying my child, telling her papa that she has decided to join a convent and you think I was a little upset?”
Sophie waved her left hand, dismissing his complaint. “That is not important. What is important is this new and disturbing trait I’ve seen in you. Am I going to have to worry about you ordering me around like one of your minions after we are married? Because, my love, that is not something that holds any appeal for me whatsoever.”
She turned to look at him, and had the pleasure of watching his face as her words, their meaning, penetrated. When he reached for her hand, she gave it. When he kissed hers, then brought it to his face, her heart melted. There was such love in his eyes, such joy, that she knew the spectres of the past would soon be completely banished for good.
“I cannot promise that you will never see that side of me again, but I’ll try. I can promise that I will never cease being grateful that you’re my wife. I’ll never tire of doing all that I can to make you happy. I promise that there will always be family time, for you and me, and the children we have together. I promise to never, ever stop loving you.”
“I promise to never let anything come between us, ever again—not even my own fears. I promise that I will never cease being grateful that you’re my husband, and I will never tire of doing my best to make you happy. I love you, Stephan, and I want, very, very much to have your children.”
“No joining any convents?”
There was teasing in his voice and laughter in his eyes. “No convents. If you had barged into that private conversation just earlier little bit sooner, you would have heard me tell papa that it was an idea I’d had years ago, but did not have to use. Most happily, now, as it turns out.”
Sophie wanted to kiss him, but knew she couldn’t. The chains didn’t give them much leeway. Frowning, she jerked her right arm, testing the strength of the metal.
“We’re good and truly shackled together, love. How long do you think your father is going to leave us down here like this?”
Sophie couldn’t reach Stephan’s mouth with hers, but she could rest her head on his shoulder. She smiled as he automatically adjusted the way he was sitting to better accommodate her. “Well,” she said softly in answer to his question, “before today I never would have believed he’d have done this at all. But as to how long we’ll stay this way, my guess would be about thirty seconds after Hannah finds out what he’s done.”
As if her words had summoned them, the sound of the outer door to the corridor opening and her new stepmother giving her father merry hell reached them.
“So, Your Highness,” Stephan began, speaking quickly, “I didn’t ask, and you didn’t answer. Yet. But I will now. I want you as my best friend, my wife, and the mother of my children. Sophie, will you marry me? Will you be my princess, and one day, my queen?”
“Yes, Stephan, I will.”
They reached for each other automatically. But it wasn’t until their kiss ended that they noticed the chains that had so recently held them apart had fallen to the floor. From the sounds of their voices, Hannah was still giving Alex a dressing down in the next room.
“Do you smell lilacs and hear music?” Stephan asked.
Sophie laughed, as she looked from the chains to her fiancé. “I do. Just like that day that Catharine accepted Philip’s proposal. Perhaps their fairy godmother stayed around for a while.”
“Oh, that wasn’t their fairy godmother, darling.”
“No?”
“No, that was ours.”
Epilogue
Sophie opened her eyes, the soft haze of sleep cocooning her and keeping her warm beneath the blankets. Standing with his back to her at the end of the bed, Stephan, gloriously naked, spoke softly. Soft moonlight spilled into the room, dappling his bronzed flesh, illuminating him in a way that she thought almost looked angelic. His pose—his arms gathered to the front—and the tilt of his head were enough even without the soft words to tell her what he was doing up in the middle of the night.
For a moment she decided to simply enjoy this sight. There’d been many such moments in the last month. Watching Stephan in this, his newest role, was fast becoming her favorite pastime.
“Is she hungry?” Sophie finally asked, sitting up and gathering pillows behind her back.
“Mmm. She may be, a little. She was definitely wet, and we couldn’t have that.”
“Come back to bed da
rling. Bring her with you.”
A tiny gurgling sound was enough to stimulate Sophie’s breasts so that her milk was ready by the time the tiny mouth fastened greedily on her left nipple.
“I will never get over the wonder of her, or you,” Stephan whispered. His finger continued to caress their daughter’s tiny cheek. “Alexandria Sophia Isabella Marie...what a big name for such a tiny angel.”
Sophie relaxed, so filled with joy and contentment she thought it a wonder she didn’t burst. “It is a big name,” Sophie agreed. “At the christening today, Catharine dubbed her ‘Allie’. I think I like that.”
“Allie. Yes, that is a very good name for our daughter.” He looked up at her, then leaned in for a quick kiss. “I didn’t get much of a chance to visit with your sisters today. I’m glad they’re staying for a few days. How are they?”
“Both are past the morning sickness. Did you know that they are due within days of each other?”
“That I did know. Peter and Philip were considering placing wagers, but I think Hannah’s appearance beside them stemmed that plan.”
“Thank you, Stephan.”
“For?”
“For this happiness in my heart that grows every day. I love you so much. Thank you for stealing kisses and keeping after me. And thank you for this beautiful baby.”
“I am the one who should be saying thanks. One taste and I knew I had found my soul mate. I am the luckiest man in all the world.”
“I’m the lucky one, husband. I’ve been a princess all my life, but it never seemed special or magical until you. Marrying you has been like living a real fairy tale.”
“There is no doubt in my mind at all that there will be nothing but magic and love in our home, forever.”
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