Page 113 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

She shook her head, refusing to listen to that argument. ‘He’s getting better.’

‘In fact, he is far worse than I realised. He has been for a long time.’ Something tightened in Sebastian’s features. ‘And even then, he didn’t think to bring my mother home. To bring me home.’

Rosie toyed with her wedding ring. She felt her husband’s anger, and she could even understand it. What she didn’t appreciate was that anger being channelled at her. As if she would call the king’s wayward, exiled daughter and grandson to inform them of his declining health without the express consent of the king!

‘He wants us to have a child.’ Sebastian tamed whatever emotions were running riot inside of him with apparent ease, offering Rosie a look that was rapier sharp. ‘And soon.’

She gasped as panic surged in her body. ‘It’s...it’s not possible.’

Curiosity sparked in Sebastian’s gaze, and then something else, something that surprised her for how human it was: sympathy. His voice even took a gentler tone as he enquired, ‘You can’t conceive?’

Rosie hadn’t expected him to possess anything like a ‘gentle’ tone. She blinked, clearing away the strange feeling his apparent kindness had invoked and tried to concentrate. ‘I don’t mean that. I presume I can.’ That was true. There was no reason to believe what had happened to Juliet Marrone would happen to Rosie, but somehow, Rosie had just alwaysknownthat they were alike in this way. Her mother’s stroke, so soon after giving birth, had rendered her in a vegetative state that had persisted for Rosie’s entire life. She bit down on her lip. ‘I just—don’t want to. Especially not with you.’

‘Your husband?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘You know what I mean. This isn’t a real marriage—we’re not a real couple.’

‘How true.’

‘How could we possibly have a baby together? We hate one another.’

‘I don’t hate you, Rosalind.’

Her eyes widened. ‘No need to lie to protect my feelings,’ she said with a firm shake of her head. ‘We both know what this marriage is.’

‘I hate that you agreed to this,’ he contradicted, gesturing around the room. ‘I hate that you do whatever the king asks. And I hate that he chose you for me.’

She flinched a little.

‘I am curious as to your feelings, however. Why should you hate me?’

Her stomach churned uncomfortably. It was a question she’d never asked herself and certainly hadn’t expected him to ask. She settled on the first answer she could think of that made sense, and convinced herself that it was right. ‘Because you openly despise the king, a man I love.’

Sebastian’s lips formed a tight line. ‘And unless that changes, you will always hate me?’

‘Of course,’ she spat. ‘So, you see, even if I wanted children—and I really don’t—I know how important it would be to give them a happy home. A loving home. That’s not what we are, and you’ve just said we never will be!’ she added triumphantly.

‘Strangely,’ he drawled, ‘this might be the first time we’re in agreement.’

Relief flooded her as she exhaled. ‘Then we’ll tell him “no”.’

Silence rolled around the room. Her nerves stretched taut. Sebastian drew a hand through his thick, dark hair. ‘Unfortunately, I am also in agreement with the king. The country needs an heir. If he were to die—and he might at any point—I am not considered to be a trusted pair of hands.’

Her mouth felt unnaturally dry. ‘You will be.’

‘In time, yes. But for now, I’m an outsider, courtesy of my grandfather exiling my mother and me twenty-five years ago.’

‘You never miss a chance to blame him for that, do you?’

‘Who else is to blame?’

Rosie kept her mouth shut. This wasn’t the time to go into the ancient history of their family drama.

‘A child, born here, to someone like you, will calm the people and the parliament. It will legitimise my place.’

‘Your place is legitimate. You were born to a princess of Cavalonia...’

‘You and I both know that’s not true. If itwere,’ he continued, moving a step closer, ‘I would not have needed to marry you.’

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