“I give you permission to call me Knight,” her guest said.
“Knightly—”
“She’s four, Regina. And she invited me to her party, so we’re friends. It’s acceptable. Unless you want to spend the afternoon explaining the peerage.”
She sighed. The man always complicated matters. “We’ll make an exception for the day.”
“Very good. Regarding the name for your pup, whatever you like.”
She was not going to weep at the way Knightly placed an elbow on his firm thigh and bent toward her daughter so they could discuss and discard various names, as though Regina had no say in the matter. It didn’t help the situation that from the moment she’drealized she was with child, she’d only ever been able to envision Knightly cradling the babe in his strong arms, offering his protection... and love. She’d have moments of despising him followed by hours of thinking no one else would ever treat her daughter as well. Chidding would. Certainly. Had she ever asked him about children? He would no doubt want her to deliver to him an heir and a spare. But surely the kindness he’d bestowed upon her thus far, in spite of her lack of proper parentage, was an indication of his benevolence toward all creatures.
“Princess!” Ari shouted.
With a start, Regina glanced around wildly. With Knightly’s appearance, she most certainly wouldn’t be surprised to find someone from a royal household had also arrived. “Where?”
Ari laughed delightedly. “The puppy. We’re gonna call her Princess.”
Regina clapped a hand against her breast, to stop her heart from striving to push through her ribs. Then she chuckled low. With this child, there was never a dull moment. “Oh, the dog.”
The dog that had awoken and was now licking cake off Ari’s fingers. “Do you like it?” Ari asked hopefully.
“Your grandfather used to call me his princess.” Reaching out, she tweaked her daughter’s nose. “You probably don’t remember but he called you that as well.” Just as her father had made her a princess in a tower, so she was doing the same for her daughter. But only for a short time, and then they would climb out of the tower together. “I like it very much.”
“It was his idea.” She pointed at Knightly. He appeared neither smug nor haughty, but rather subdued. Odd when he’d obviously won the naming game, and he was very fond of winning. But in some strange way, he almost looked as though he’d lost.
“Of course it was. Splendid name.” She gave her head a little bow. “Well done.”
“A compliment. I like this truce,” he said.
“Don’t get used to it.”
“What’s a truce?” Ari asked.
Regina smiled fondly as she tugged on one of her daughter’s earlobes. “Little ears hear everything, don’t they? And little girls need an afternoon nap.”
“Can he nap with me?” Once more, she directed her tiny finger Knightly’s way.
He seemed as surprised by the request as she was. “Absolutely not.” Before her daughter could object and cause a row, she added, “But the puppy can.”
Regina looked past Ari to where the nanny waited patiently, having arrived only a few minutes earlier. “Have a footman assist you with Princess. Perhaps she can sleep in the basket.” She turned her attention to Ari. “Now, come give me a hug.”
Her daughter did, and Regina gloried in the small arms tightening around her neck. Nothing was more magnificent. When she was finished, Ari ran around to the other side of the table and flung her arms around Knightly’s neck. “I love you,” she declared.
His look was one of pure devastation as his arm came around her, holding her close. “I love you, too, moppet,” he rasped, and Regina hated him all themore at that moment for the ease with which he could speak words he didn’t mean.
She wanted to reach across the table and free her daughter from him. Wished she could be completely rid of him. Marriage. He’d said once she was married, he’d be gone from her life permanently. She needed Chidding, desperately, now more than ever, because she couldn’t have this man near her daughter. Because one day he would disappoint her, hurt her.
She didn’t know what expression marred her face, probably loathing, because the nanny came over and eased her charge away from their guest. “Come along, little one. Let’s show this puppy all the joys of the nursery.”
“Oh, yes! Let’s!”
Any other time, Arianna might have balked at a nap, but now she had someone with whom to share it. As she went with Nanny, she was chattering away, whether to the woman or the dog, Regina couldn’t be sure, but she held still, unmoving, until her daughter was in the residence and then she shoved herself to her feet. “The party and the truce are over. Get the hell out of my sight.”
Slowly, so very slowly, he stood. “Go for a ride with me.”
She wanted to shriek to the heavens. “Can you not get it through that thick skull of yours that I want nothing to do with you?”
“But you do want Chidding. We need to strategize, speed up the tortoise.”
