Page 37 of Royal Surrogate 1

“Thank you.” It seems like the appropriate response, but now I feel guilty for deceiving her and everyone else. Would she be this friendly if she knew the truth?

“So don’t worry about whatever’s going on between Caspar and my aunt and uncle,” she says, squeezing my arm and smiling reassuringly. “He’ll sort it out. In the meantime, let’s go distract ourselves with a walk into town. I’ve been craving some spiced buns from the bakery.”

Sophia’s distraction does help—or at least, the spiced buns from Wintervale Town’s bakery are scrumptious enough to consume my full attention for a little while. When she and I finally return to the manor, I tell her I need a nap and escape back to my room to process things.

Caspar isn’t there. I don’t realize I was even hoping he would be until I feel the little dip of disappointment in my belly.

Probably still with his parents. I peel off my shoes and climb into the bed. I wasn’t lying when I told Sophia I needed a nap—all this wedding planning has been exhausting. Not to mention the poor sleep I’ve been getting at night.

I draw the covers up to my chin, closing my eyes and trying not to worry about what comes next. Caspar and I have a contract—that’s legally binding. He can’t just change his mind without consequences. And the money I’ve received so far will buy my dad a little time, at least. It’s not like he’ll be kicked out of treatment tomorrow, even if Caspar comes to me with bad news.

I don’t realize I’d fallen asleep until I’m suddenly rocked awake again by the pressure of someone sitting on the edge of the bed.

My eyes fly open, and I find myself looking up into Caspar’s eyes.

“Sorry,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I was just checking on you.”

“I’m fine,” I say, awkwardly pushing myself up and quickly wiping away the drool that had been dribbling from the corner of my mouth. “I guess you finally escaped your parents?”

He nods, and the solemnity of his expression makes my stomach twist again—This is it. He’s come to tell me the bad news—but then he sighs and says, “It took some convincing, but my mother has come around. And my father isn’t entirely opposed to it anymore.”

I almost can’t believe it. “Wait—you mean we’re still getting married?”

He nods. “It looks like it, little owl. Of course, now my mother wants to be involved in the planning, and I?—”

He’s cut off as I throw my arms around him in relief. “Thank God!”

Caspar laughs, his arms encircling my waist. “I didn’t realize it meant so much to you.”

“Well of course. I—” I mean to remind him that this is life-or-death for my dad, but when I pull back and see the look in his eyes my mind goes somewhere else completely. He’s definitely not thinking about my dad.

My stomach flutters, and for a moment I’m frozen, just looking into his face, and suddenly the air between us feels thick and charged.

His eyes darken, and I can feel the shift in energy as he leans closer, so slowly the movement is almost imperceptible.

He’s going to kiss me. And honestly, I don’t plan to stop him. My arms are still around him, my fingers clinging to his shirt, and though I know I should pull back I can’t seem to find the will to do so. My heart is careening against my ribs, and my skin has gone warm all over.

His gaze flicks downward—to my lips, I think, but then it moves further. To the bed. And then he jerks back, abruptly standing.

“You should, ah—” He clears his throat. “We should freshen up. My parents want us to join them for dinner.” And just like that, he leaves again.

CHAPTER 29

Caspar

This is not how things were supposed to happen.

I had every detail planned so perfectly, and now everything is shot to hell. I should be preparing for dinner, but I can’t think—I can’t remotely see how I’m going to get out of this mess.

So I go to the game room. If nothing else, a nice stiff drink of something will help me forget my current woes.

Of course, my brothers are there to greet me. I knew my youngest brother, Benedict, was in the other limousine just behind my parents this morning, but everything happened so quickly, I never had a chance to say hello. People say the three of us look alike, but I don’t see it. Benedict’s hair is darker, and Xavier and I have joked that he might have a different father, though I suppose we all have the same eyes.

Regardless, neither of my brothers will understand the truth. I can hardly tell them of my true arrangement with Renae. Though they both have a child, I doubt either would understand my need for a son. I fear I’m alone in this for good. Even my parents don’t understand.

“I hear you really stepped in it this time,” Benedict says, taking aim with his pool cue toward the white ball. “Father’s quite up in arms.”

If only they knew… My father had insisted on seeing the terms of my arrangement with Renae before he would allow me any leave, and he still wasn’t satisfied after reading it. But he agreed to a slight amendment. He also agreed not to mention the surrogacy to my brothers, mostly because I insisted. If they understood my need for a son, everything would make sense.

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