Page 30 of Royal Surrogate 2

“It doesn’t matter,” Caspar assures me. “I didn’t say anything to your father I wouldn’t say to you a hundred times over.”

The nurse realizes she’s stumbled into the middle of something personal, so she says, “Take her somewhere she can sit down. And get her some water.”

“Of course,” Caspar says without taking his eyes from mine. “I’ll give Renae whatever she needs.”

The nurse walks away, and I’m left staring into Caspar’s face, still trying to make sense of the swirl of emotions spinning inside my ribs.

Caspar takes my arm—tentatively, as if he’s afraid I might jerk away from his touch.

“I noticed a little courtyard just outside,” he says. “Maybe we can sit out there?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak, and let him lead me down the hall and out a door into a sunny little stone courtyard. There’s a trickling fountain in the center and wrought iron benches spaced all around. Thankfully, we’re the only ones out here now, so he leads me to the nearest bench and sits me down.

“Do you need anything?” he asks. “Water?”

I shake my head.

“Renae.” He takes my hand in both of his, drawing it towards him. “I love you. So much.”

I’m not ready to say it back. I’m still trying to sort through everything?—

“But let’s forget about that,” he says. “Let’s forget about—” He sighs, then shakes his head. “I know I can’t ask you to forget about how I lied to you. But I want…to start over. To try again from the beginning.”

I overheard this much, and I nod—which is apparently all the encouragement he needs.

“I want to court you. Properly,” he says. “I want to have a real relationship from the start—not a business arrangement. I want…a lot of things. But mostly I want you, Renae. And I want to show you how things could have been. Could be. If you’re willing to give me one more chance.” His thumb brushes across the back of my hand. “I’m not asking for your forgiveness—I know I don’t deserve it. But one more chance… If you could give me that…” His eyes meet mine, bright and blue and so full of feeling that they nearly knock me over. “If you could give me one more chance, despite everything, you would make me the happiest man in the world. And I promise I will spend the rest of my life—or as long as you choose to be with me—making up for what I’ve done.”

Silence falls between us. A faint breeze dances through the courtyard, lifting fallen leaves and swirling them around our feet before disappearing again.

Caspar’s eyes never leave mine. And I…I still don’t know if I can trust this man, not completely, but I know this: I can’t walk away. Despite his flaws, despite everything he’s done… I know underneath it all, he’s a good man. I’ve seen how he is with his nephew, with his brothers…with me. I have to give him another chance.

And so I nod, and then somehow find the strength and courage to say, “Yes.”

CHAPTER 24

Caspar

This is somehow even better than the day she agreed to carry my child. It feels as though my heart is going to burst from my chest, and I’m certain my smile has never been as wide.

“You’re certain?” I ask, dropping to my knee beside her as I lift her hand to my lips. “I promise to?—”

“Well, I already married you, so we don’t have to dothis,” she laughs as she pulls her hand from mine. Her cheeks are pink, and I see she’s noticed an elderly couple strolling through the courtyard nearby.

“Let them watch,” I say, taking the seat beside her again. “I love you, Renae. I don’t care if the world knows it.”

“I’m not sure if I’m quite there yet,” she says. “I mean…with the world knowing it.”

“So you love me, too?” I tease.

“I’m not sure I’mthere, either. I thought you were going to court me.” She cocks her head. “Properly. I should probably wait and see what that entails before I go professing my undying love and all that.”

“Excellent point, my lady.” I lift her hand to my lips again. “And I promise not to disappoint.”

“You’d better not. You have a lot to make up for.”

“Indeed, I do.” I give her my most dazzling grin. “And what, dear lady, would your most magical outing look like? To you?”

She laughs. “You’re asking me what my fairytale date is? Seriously?”

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