Page 17 of Back to Claim His Crown
‘And if I say no?’
‘You wouldn’t want to be seen as ruthless and uncaring,’ she said. ‘Because if you said no, then I would have no choice but to walk out the front gates in my shredded wedding dress and tell the world that the King of Monrayne abandoned me in my hour of need. Shamed again.’
His ice-blue eyes remained trained on her. ‘Are you blackmailing me?’
‘I guess that could be one interpretation.’
‘You realise I could truss you up and have you on a flight out of here in less than ten minutes? And I could do that with one hand tied behind my back—’
‘And no doubt blindfolded as well,’ she added drolly. ‘But you won’t.’
‘No?’
‘No. You don’t want anyone hurt. You want your country safe. You need to be well regarded for that to happen.’
He looked at her a second longer and then his attention dropped to the half-decimated apple. ‘I suppose I could inform your family that you’ve gone to a private sanctuary. Buy you some time to sort your life out.’
‘A private sanctuary?’
Was he going to send her away? Oddly, that wasn’t what she wanted at all.
But, of course, he had far bigger things to be concerned with than some lowly princess who had no riches, no real kingdom and no real purpose. Of course he didn’t want her to remain under his actual roof.
‘Do you mean like a spa or something?’ She tried to summon enthusiasm and appreciation. ‘A luxury health retreat?’
‘No. That would just be the cover for you staying here. Despite the fact that if I so much as sneeze it will be reported on, you can likely hide best right here behind the palace walls.’
Stupidly relieved, she popped another piece of apple into her mouth to hide her smile.
‘Just for a day or so,’ he added, still watching her closely. ‘Please yourself, Princess. Rely on no one.Counton no one.’
‘Is that your mantra?’ She regarded him curiously. She didn’t believe that she couldn’t count onhim. He’d helped her multiple times already and, honestly, she was considering asking him for even more. She didn’t particularly want to—but what she’d said was true. She had nothing. Would he consider giving her a loan, perhaps? So she could upskill and get an actual job. She’d pay him back with any interest he wanted. But having just secured his permission to stay a couple more days, she decided now wasn’t the time to push for more. Especially when he seemed determined to keep his distance.
‘You can have full freedom within the palace.’ He ignored her question. ‘I’ll be busy so our paths are unlikely to cross. If there’s more you need, ask Victor, the new servant.’
He didn’t want to be bothered by her. Of course, why would he when he had an entire kingdom to restore? Yet she couldn’t help feeling slightly piqued.
‘May I? Thank you so much.’
He paused peeling yet another apple and focused his attention on her again. ‘You want more from me?’
Some vestige of emotion? An iota of humanity—of heat? What shereallywanted was...not appropriate. She froze as she realised that truth, staring at him while desperately fighting off the sudden yearning inside. The silence thickened. His ice-blue eyes were suddenly hot and awareness of his mounting tension rippled through her.
She put down her apple slice. ‘I appreciate your patience in putting up with me. I know I can be...’
To her astonishment, a smile suddenly flickered on his face. She was so surprised she couldn’t finish her sentence.
‘What do others say you can be, Zara?’ he prompted softly.
A disappointment. An annoyance. A drain on resources. But this was a man who’d survived an assassination attempt. She couldn’t complain to him more than she already had in the last few minutes. That would be too pathetic.
‘It doesn’t matter.’ She shook her head. ‘I promise I’ll be good. Quiet. You won’t even know I’m here.’
He studied her even more intently and she felt that sensual awareness bloom anew.
‘I won’t know?’ He regarded her consideringly. ‘Do you equate being good with being quiet?’ he asked slowly. ‘Because that’s not appropriate in all situations.’
Tension simmered as she stared at him. Was thatinnuendofrom the virtuous King? He was too measured, too considered for itnotto be deliberate. But—
