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The carpet must have muffled his steps. She hated it that he’d caught her in a private moment like that. And that her body had immediately zapped to life in his presence, nerve endings tingling.
She lifted her chin. ‘Time to confirm all is well with your precious heir?’
His eyes glittered, as if he was angry at her insolence. ‘The doctor is waiting for us at the hospital.’
Alix stood back to let Leila precede him from the room and she prayed he wouldn’t see how brittle her sense of control was.
They walked down another seemingly unending labyrinth of imposing stone corridors and Leila had much more of a sense of the grandeur of the castle. She had to admit it: she was impressed. It was a little overwhelming, to say the least.
As was the display when they got to the entrance of the castle and about a dozen bodyguards jumped to attention. Alix opened the passenger door of a Jeep for Leila and after she was in got in the driver’s side.
She watched him take the wheel with easy confidence, the guards preceding them and following them.
Slightly nervously, Leila asked, ‘You said things were precarious here—is there any danger?’
Alix flashed her a look and she saw his jaw tighten before he said, ‘I would never put you or the baby in danger. We are being protected by the best security firm in the world.’
Leila was slightly taken aback at his vehemence and said, ‘I didn’t mean to imply that you’d put me—us—in danger.’ She’d realised, of course, that Alix probably couldn’t care less if she was in danger. It was the baby he cared about.
She saw his hands tighten on the wheel and then relax. ‘Forgive me. But you don’t have to worry. The opponents to the throne are small in number, and weakened after years of not living up to their promises to build an egalitarian society. They have no real power. I’ve made sure of that. Still, I would never take anything for granted—hence the protection until Isle Saint Croix is on a much more solid footing economically.’
They were driving through the
town now, and Leila could see its charm up close. She could also see that it was badly in need of sprucing up, with a general sense of neglect pervading the air.
A few people waved at their Jeep and Alix waved back. He said now, ‘It’s going to take time for the people to adjust to having their King back. They’re not sure how to deal with me yet.’
Leila asked, with a feeling of something like disappointment, ‘And do you really want them bowing and scraping to you?’
Alix looked at her again, slightly incredulous. ‘God, no. I couldn’t imagine anything worse.’
He looked back to the road, one hand on the wheel, the other on his thigh. Which Leila found very distracting, as she remembered how those thighs had pushed hers apart so that he could sink deep—
‘I want to live side by side with my people. To move among them as an equal. I don’t want pomp and ceremony. But equally I want to be their leader and protector. To provide for them.’
Leila jerked her gaze up. Alix’s voice was quiet but his words had a profound effect on her. He sounded so...protective.
Before she could truly analyse how that made her feel she saw that they were driving into a car park outside a beleaguered-looking building.
Alix grimaced slightly as he pulled to a stop. ‘The hospital doesn’t look like much, but it houses some of the best consultants in the world. I’ve personally put many of our medical students through college for this very purpose—to bring them home to work and teach others. We’re in the process of building a new hospital on a site nearby, and this one will be pulled down once it’s built.’
Once again Leila was surprised to discover the depth of Alix’s commitment to his island. And to discover how little she really knew him.
He got out of the Jeep along with a flurry of movement from the cars before and behind them, and as Alix solicitously helped her out she saw staff lining up to greet them.
Alix kept hold of her hand and Leila figured that of course he’d want to project a united front. Promote the fairy tale that they were in love.
She was introduced to the staff and the doctor who would be taking care of her prenatally—a genial older man. And then she was whisked away to be prepped for the scan, leaving Alix behind talking to the staff. The nurse was shy and sweet, and Leila did her best to put her at ease even though her own nerves were jumping.
What if they found something wrong?
When she was dressed in a gown and lying on a bed the doctor came in with Alix. He was chatty and warm, but Leila couldn’t help her nerves mounting as cold gel was spread on her belly.
She glanced at Alix, but he was looking intently at the monitor where the doctor was focusing his attention as he moved the ultrasound device over Leila’s belly.
She winced a little as he pressed in hard and almost reached for Alix’s hand—some reflexive part of her was craving his solid strength and support. Instead she curled her hands into fists and looked at the monitor too. Her mother had done this alone. And even though Leila’s baby’s father was beside her she might as well have been alone too, for all the emotional support he was offering.
Suddenly a rapid beat filled the room, and it took Leila a second to figure out that it was the baby’s heartbeat.
