Page 39 of Awakened On Her Royal Wedding Night
“Oh? Is that why you left? You knew you couldn’t win all scuffed up like that? Or did you simply find a bigger fish to fry?”
“Have Benedetto removed,” Felipe said to Vinicio without otherwise acknowledging the man.
“Your brother is engaged. Have you heard that happy news?” Benedetto said, shaking off the hold of two burly security guards before walking away of his own accord.
Engaged? Already?
Felipe ignored him.
“Shall we dance, Claudine?”
“That sounds nice. Please excuse us,” she said to the wide-eyed people they’d been talking with.
Felipe cocked his head very briefly for a whisper from Vinicio before he waved Claudine to precede him.
Claudine pasted an unbothered smile on her lips and let him steer her toward the floor, but the harm was done. She could feel the sidelong looks.
Despite Felipe’s impassive expression and the smooth way he guided her into the steps, she could feel the ire that radiated off him.
“Who is he?” she asked under her breath.
“No one. He raced the speedboat circuit with Francois and worked for the Italian Embassy until he was fired for misappropriation of funds. You’ll never see him again. He must have been subbed in as a last-minute plus-one or he wouldn’t have been allowed in.”
“He’s been a thorn in your side before?”
“I couldn’t care less what my brother’s cohorts say about me, but this salvo tells me Francois is unleashing his hounds onyou, knowing full well I won’t stoop to going after his own fiancée.” A muscle pulsed in his jaw.
“Did you know about her? Who is she?”
“Vinicio just received the text. Princess Astrid, the daughter of a Danish prince. She was on Mother’s short list.” His mouth curled.
“She’ll be pleased, then. Unlike how she feels about me.” Claudine was starkly aware she fell far short in the Queen’s estimation.
“You’re not marrying her. You’re marrying me.” His firm hands pressed her back two steps before he gave her a slow twirl and brought her back into his arms.
It was the smallest gesture, but somehow she was breathless.
The dance ended and they left soon after.
As they entered their suite, he still wore tension across his cheekbones.
“I know what I said earlier, but I need to call the palace,” he said.
“That’s okay.” All the travel and stress were catching up to her, leaving her yawning.
As she started into her room, he said, “Claudine. My bed is your bed.”
She paused. “Is that an order or an invitation?”
“I thought it was what we both wanted. It’s whatIwant.”
Mollified, she said, “I was only going to my room to wash off my makeup and have Ippolita help me change.”
His expression relaxed a fraction. “I won’t wake you when I come to bed.”
“You can,” she said over her shoulder. “If you want to.”
Some indeterminate time later, the mattress dipped and the covers stirred. She woke and rolled toward him, finding him naked.
