Page 46 of Back to Claim His Crown
Regret welled within him. ‘I know. There will be no speculation about anything between us. You’ll have returned from your sanctuary, that’s all.’
There was no “them”.
‘People are going to stare at me,’ she muttered.
‘Maybe.’ He adopted a teasing drawl. ‘They’ll stare at me more, though. So I’ll stay on the other side of the room and distract them for you.’
At last she smiled. ‘How very chivalrous of you.’
‘I’ll even go without my sunglasses so they can all unsubtly stare at my scar.’
Her smile grew. ‘I don’t think anything can surpass the bare chest in the cathedral moment.’
‘You think I should wear something revealing?’ He chuckled. ‘Perhaps, just for you, I will.’
‘Full drama, Lucian. I have to hand it to you.’
‘So you’ll go?’
‘If you really want me to.’
‘I do.’ More than that, he wanted her toenjoyit. It mattered so much to him. That she wanted to turn her back on this life didn’t sit right when she didn’t really know what it could be like. ‘You’ll need support to get ready. I’ll arrange a maid.’
He’d show her that she truly was a princess.
‘I don’t need a maid—’ she laughed ‘—I’veneverhad one.’ She lifted her chin. ‘I can manage on my own perfectly well. I can even put my own toothpaste on my own toothbrush.’
‘All the essentials of life,’ he teased.
‘Quite. I might not be able to survive on the streets just yet, but I’m going to be fine on my own.’
He really didn’t want to think about her leaving. Not yet. Even though he knew it would happen sooner rather than later. Even though he knew he was going to help her get away in the end. She hadn’t asked him yet, but he knew he would fly her out of here when she did.
‘Have you something you can wear to the ball?’
‘Well...’ She lit up. ‘I do have this really big white dress that’s only been worn once.’
‘Notthat.’ He laughed. But he didn’t want her wearing anything associated with Anders. None of those perfectly princess-appropriate dresses that Garth’s minions had ordered either. ‘I’ll arrange something.’
‘Given they’re all going to be looking and judging me, that would be amazing and thank you. But please just rent something, you don’t need to buy anything.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘I definitely don’t want another total makeover.’
‘No? Hadn’t we better get a beautician in for these horror nails?’ He couldn’t resist taking her hand.
‘Not those scary assistants again,’ she groaned.
‘Someone else, I promise.’
‘I’m not having them that ridiculous length again. And at least I’m not going to have to flash around some massive ring.’
‘Such a relief not to have that burden,’ he agreed gravely and lifted her fingers to his mouth. ‘You’ll need some jewels though.’
He’d missed her softness. Her scent.
‘I think my family vault has been depleted,’ she muttered jerkily.
‘This time you may borrow from me.’ Something tightened in his gut at the thought of draping a chain of diamonds across her sensitive skin.
‘Oh, no.’ She shook her head. ‘It would not be wise to wearanythingassociated with the Monrayne Royal family, given I’ve just been jilted by the Crown Prince,’ she said caustically. ‘Even if he is now a fugitive.’
