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‘I’m offering both. She’s my daughter too, Anastasia. My blood. I have a duty of care. Had I known of her existence—’
But he hadn’t known. He’d never, ever thought there’d be those kind of consequences. Ana had been so determined to have a career.
‘I should have known about her. Followed up with you. I should have made it my business to know.’ He was not flawless. He could admit that. ‘Now that I do know I will not do wrong by you. Sophia will need a nanny while she’s here. Tutors,’ he continued, and his daughter wasn’t the only one who’d need tutoring. ‘Would you object to me providing a tutor for you? I would have you educated in royal protocol and diplomacy so that you in turn can guide our daughter. I meant what I said about not cutting you out of Sophia’s life. That’s not what I want.’
She was silent a long time after that, and he wondered if he’d offended her. He hadn’t, had he? He’d offered a service. Politely.
They reached the bathing room and stepped inside, and he’d switched on the underwater lights before she finally answered.
‘I don’t object to being tutored,’ she murmured. ‘I would like to be involved in helping Sophia make the transition from ordinary girl to… Duchess.’
‘I’ll make it happen,’ he said. He padded towards his favourite pool. It was smaller than the others, hotter, and set back into the shadows. No underwater lights for this pool. It was all dark, lapping water and unspoken promise.
‘Have you made any progress when it comes to knowing why we were under surveillance in Geneva?’ she asked.
‘Not yet.’
‘What happens when the two weeks is up and your people still don’t know what they want?’
‘You stay here.’ Where he wanted her.
‘If safety is to be an ongoing issue for Sophia, why not simply put protection measures in place for us in Geneva?’
Because they wouldn’t be enough for his peace of mind. ‘I want to make you an offer,’ he told her instead. ‘I want you and Sophia to live in Byzenmaach on a permanent basis. In return I will do everything in my power to ensure your career as an interpreter continues.’
‘In Byzenmaach,’ she said flatly, her eyes shadowed.
‘That’s right. I can offer you ongoing comfort and security in any number of living situations. Not necessarily here. You could have more independence than this. You could create new career opportunities and the palace would help with that. I truly don’t regard the offer as a bad one.’
‘This is your idea of negotiating a way forward for us all?’
Yes. ‘And now you speak and tell me what you do and don’t like about the offer. And I listen and take it into account.’ He dropped his towel and walked to the side of the pool.
‘Are you deliberately trying to distract me with your naked self?’ There was frustration in her voice, liberally mixed with something that sounded like want.
‘All’s fair in love and negotiation. Is it working?’
‘Well, you’re even more spectacular naked than I remembered, so I’m going to have to go with yes.’
‘Are you coming in? It’s very pleasant.’
‘I know it’s very pleasant,’ she muttered grudgingly, but she made no move to undress. ‘I want Sophia to live with me in Geneva. She can visit you at weekends.’
‘No.’
‘I want to keep working for the UN.’
‘A travel account will be set up so you can move freely between countries and residences. You’ll have more freedom to pick and choose the work you undertake than you ever had before as a single mother. You’re good at what you do, Anastasia. I have every confidence you can turn my offer into a career-enhancing move, assuming career progress is truly what you’re interested in.’
She scowled at him and said nothing.
‘It will, of course, be necessary to inform the palace of your plans from now on, whether you’re in possession of Sophia or not. You’ll have access to my secretary.’
‘And do I get to know your every move from now on?’ she enquired a little too dulcetly for comfort.
