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‘Much,’ Rafe agreed. ‘And I was just telling Nico how much I’ve enjoyed my stay here.’
‘Any time,’ Nico said. ‘You are always welcome here, and I shall always do my best to ensure that your time in Silibri goes unreported. Consider the August Suite your bolthole.’
‘I am sure,’ Aurora said, ‘that Rafe will soon grow bored with all Silibri has to offer.’
He could feel her animosity, and in truth it was merited. Rafe knew that he had earned his poor reputation with women. And he knew, too, that his time had run out and very soon he would have to settle down.
Nico’s suggestion that he use Silibri as a bolthole had rattled Rafe—because it appealed. He sat making polite small talk with his hosts as visions of regular returns to Silibri scrolled in his mind.
And then he shocked himself by imagining how much nicer this gathering would be if Antonietta had joined them.
Rafe had always enjoyed Nico’s company, although it had taken a new direction since his friend had settled down, and now took the form of tame lunches rather than parties aboard Rafe’s yacht.
But to say there could be no future for himself and Antonietta was the understatement of the century.
Well, no tangible future, anyway.
She could be vetted, of course, and liaisons arranged beyond the reach of a camera lens. But Rafe knew even at this early stage that Antonietta deserved far more than that.
‘We should get going,’ Nico said now, but as farewells were exchanged, Aurora took another shot.
‘So you will be going home for Christmas?’ she checked. ‘Or, given how well you have recovered, perhaps sooner?’
Rafe heard the veiled threat and was about to make a smart reply—for he did not appreciate being told what to do by anyone, let alone a newly married friend’s wife. Except her concern was merited. And in truth he was grateful that Antonietta had Aurora on her side.
‘There is a lot to take into consideration before I leave.’ Rafe met her gaze, and with solemn eyes told her he had heard her concerns. ‘Believe me, I am giving it much thought.’
So much thought that instead of strolling across the grounds to wave them off, and ‘dropping in’ on Antonietta, Rafe resisted the pull and headed back to his suite.
The thought of being with Antonietta appealed way more than it should. But he was a prince who needed no distractions, and it was time to pull back.
For Antonietta, the conclusion was the same.
She had spent an adorable hour playing with Gabe and the little wooden train. He was an absolutely beautiful baby, with dark curls and big brown eyes, and just the distraction she needed for a confused and troubled heart.
Aurora’s phone, resting on the table, had called to her, but Antonietta had resisted.
‘Look,’ she’d said, waving the train again. But after an hour it had become clear, even though Gabe took it, that all he wanted to do was sleep. Eventually Gabe had thrown the toy down, and Antonietta had only been able to smile, because he’d reminded her then of Aurora.
‘You win,’ Antonietta had said, pulling cushions from the sofa.
She’d made Gabe a little bed on the floor and in a matter of moments he’d been asleep.
By then Aurora’s phone had developed its own magnetic pull, and she hadn’t been able to help walking over to it.
You don’t want to know, Antonietta had told herself.
Oh, but she did.
It hadn’t taken her long to find out that Aurora’s dark assessment of Rafe had been correct. Crown Prince Rafael of Tulano did indeed live a life of excess. There were endless photos, taken from a distance, but zoomed in enough, capturing the depravity taking place aboard his yacht. On land he was no better, be itaprès skior falling out of casinos, and always,alwayswith a beauty hanging off his arm.
Yet his lovers remained nameless and theynevertold all.
She’d been able to find no interviews, no bitter tears spilled in the glossies. He paid for their silence, Antonietta guessed, and finally she understood his reference to ‘paperwork’.
His life of excess was not just with women. Antonietta had winced at the photos of a sports car wrapped around a tree, from which he had been cut out. And there had been falls from horses and an accident involving jet skis.
Yet through it all his people still adored him, despite seeming to wish for their Prince to slow down.
