AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He could do that. Happily. But—
“How does that solve anything? Even if I’d understood all this back then, Dani still would’ve walked away. I can’t make her trust me. And I don’t want a relationship without it. Like—”
He broke off before he could say it.
“The one I had with your father,” Calanthe finished quietly.
Now it was his turn to offer consolation. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s quite all right.”
He looked away from her, glancing out the window that faced her gardens. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Always.”
“Why have you stayed?”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
She lifted her brows. “I guess we’re two peas in a pod. Because I’ve been staying to protect you.”
“Me? I haven’t been a part of this family for years.”
“I thought my presence would mean Marina couldn’t forget her promise to me and your grandfather to leave you out of the royalspotlight. And if she did, I’d be here to support you. Instead, she found a way around me by using my... complacency to get you to do her bidding.”
He’d marvel at his grandmother’s shrewdness if he wasn’t disgusted.
“If you hadn’t been worried about me, what would you have done?”
Calanthe smiled. “I have my eye on a little chateau in Provence.”
“Really?” Warmth flooded his chest. “How long have you been considering it?”
“I was going to tell you about it after my last visit, but—”
“You heard about me being the face of the tribute and you came rushing home.”
“Yes.”
The relief he felt made him giddy. His mother could finally carry on with her life. She’d given more than enough to the Lloyds. It was time she claimed some happiness for herself.
“If that’s what you want, then I’m thrilled for you.”
“Thank you, my darling. Who knows,” she said, a sudden twinkle in her eye, “I might start working on my memoir.”
She’d finally rendered him speechless.
“What? I’ve let other people tell my story long enough.” She laughed, then sobered. “And you’re right, you shouldn’t be with someone who doesn’t truly love and trust you. Who isn’t all in. But that’s not Dani, and deep down, you know I’m right. Do you still love her?”
He nodded.
“And you want to be with her?”
“Yes.”
“And if she was going through something and wanted to reach out to you, would you want her to?”
