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‘You look like a little prince,’ Frankie enthused, tears sparkling on her lashes as she studied her son. He’d undergone a similar makeover to her own: a haircut, new clothes, and he looked utterly divine.
‘’E is so handsome. Just like his father,’ Liana cooed, her eyes wrinkling at the corners as she bent down and picked Leo up. He didn’t arch his back with Liana in the way he’d taken to doing with Frankie, she noticed with a wry grimace. Liana always got hugs and kisses and yeses straight away. But Frankie couldn’t be cross about that—not when Liana had helped make Leo’s transition to life in Tolmirós so easy.
A whisper of guilt flicked through her because there were only days to go until the wedding and though Frankie had spent her days ensuring Leo was settling well and making sure this private residence of the palace felt like home, she was distracted almost all the time.
When she’d first agreed to this, he’d told her two things. Through the days, you’ll barely know I exist. At night, you won’t be able to exist without me.
The latter was true. Since the afternoon in the pool, when she had surrendered herself to his mouth and given up her determination to resist the passion that flared between them, he’d made no effort to touch her. He’d come to bed late and lay on his side until he’d fallen asleep, and she’d lifted her head up and watched him, and flopped onto her back and wondered what he’d say if she gave into all he
r body’s urges and straddled him, and begged him to forget what she’d said: to make love to her.
As for the days, she more than knew he existed then too.
He was everywhere she looked in this palace. He was in their son’s face, Liana’s pride, his servants’ obedience, the kingdom’s prosperity. He was in the enormous canary diamond and white gold ring he’d slid onto her finger two nights earlier, his eyes locked onto hers as he told her it reminded him of the yellow she’d painted the sunlight in the painting she’d been working on the weekend they’d met. And though it was a meaningless, throwaway comment, it had made her chest feel as if it were exploding with delirious joy, with pleasure and disbelief. With perfection.
He was everywhere, even when he’d said he wouldn’t be, even when he made no effort to seduce her. Their conversations were polite, cordial, and lacking any indication that he even wanted her. Perhaps he didn’t. Perhaps it was as simple as an impulse for him—she’d told him ‘no’ and he’d accepted that. If only Frankie had found it so easy to put him from her mind!
‘Thank you for getting him ready for tonight, Liana, and for agreeing to come.’
‘Of course! My place is with him at these functions—as much as you would like me to be,’ she added tactfully. ‘Royal parties are not much fun for children. They tire so quickly of being polite and well-behaved.’ She looked at Leo with a wink and then reached into her pocket, pulling out a small round chocolate. ‘And Leo knows there will be a treat at the end of the night, for his very good behaviour.’
Leo nodded sagely, and Frankie laughed. ‘Is this his prince face?’ she suggested, pride bursting through her.
‘He has been practising.’
‘Well, Leo, you’ve absolutely mastered it.’
Liana turned to face Frankie and, for the first time, looked at her properly. ‘You are very beautiful, Frankie. Like a princess yourself, no?’
‘Oh, no, but thank you,’ she demurred, feeling more like someone going to a dressing up party. ‘Ball gowns aren’t really my caper.’
‘Caper?’ Liana frowned.
‘Thing. They’re not really my thing.’ She ran her hands down the dress, a turquoise colour, it had a sweetheart neckline and was fitted to her waist, then fell into a flouncy skirt that made a beautiful swishing sound as she walked. It was a true Cinderella dress and the diamond tiara that had been styled into her hair completed the look. ‘The dress is very beautiful, though.’
‘It does suit you,’ Liana complimented.
‘Well, that’s good, because I get the feeling I’m going to need to go to a few more of these things in my lifetime.’ She shrugged her slender shoulders, her tan golden. She’d taken to spending time by the pool as well. Helping Leo swim, and swimming with him, lying in the sun while he napped, remembering how Matthias had felt in the water, how warm and cool had contrasted so sensually against her flesh.
Her cheeks flushed pink as the memories pushed into her mind and then, as if she’d somehow miraculously dredged him up from fantasy to reality, Matthias strode into the room.
If she looked like a princess, then he was King Charming come to life.
The suit was jet black, his shirt whiter than white, a white tie at his neck completed the look. But he wore across his middle a burgundy sash, military style medals were pinned to his chest, and at his waist there was a gold weapon, a blade, long and sharp. He was far more handsome than any man had a right to be.
‘Sword!’ Leo pointed delightedly and he jumped up off his little bottom and held his hands out, so Matthias smiled at Liana and then took his son into his arms, tousling hair that had, a moment ago, been perfectly neat.
She didn’t notice the way Matthias’s eyes lingered on Leo’s face with a hint of something other than happiness; she didn’t see the way his expression flashed with regret and—oh, so briefly—fear.
‘Sword,’ Leo said again and Matthias relaxed, smiling as he nodded.
‘Yes.’
‘For me?’
Liana laughed, and Matthias pulled a face. ‘Not yet. But soon.’
