Page 6 of Forbidden Bastard
But his own existence meant that love often succumbed to lust and that believing in the fairy tale made no sense. His lips quirked in a smile. “Well, please tell Cassidy that I asked the woman in question to marry me an hour ago and she said no. However, she’s willing to find me a replacement bride.”
Antonio's eyes widened in surprise, as if this was important news. Staff returned and took their plates while they sipped wine. Once the waiters left, Antonio asked, “Why did you ask her, if not for love? Was it only to receive your inheritance?”
Marriage and good women didn’t fundamentally change a man. Except Clara, who had guided him. She wanted him to be a noble and have his share of the royal funds. “Time is running out, even with the reprieve to my next birthday to find a suitable bride.”
To keep the titles and gifts meant he must marry. All that truly mattered was that Clara, the closest person he had to a mother, thought he was happy.
Clara had met Sheena over a year ago, and been dismissive of her right away.
Charles finished his wine and poured himself a second cup. “I'm following your laws. I don’t know of another way to prove I’m not a bad man out to destroy your country.”
“Our,” Antonio corrected him.
Charles laughed. He'd never owned anything long-term as ownership was a risk that could zero-out profits over time, and now here he was some duke no one wanted near.
He shrugged. “That might be a stretch.”
Antonio twisted his glass and peered at the liquid inside. “Because you don’t consider Avce home?”
Spot on. Someone had taught the prince… his half-brother, to shoot. He widened his legs beneath the table. “I’ve never had a home to consider as anything other than a place to sleep.”
Antonio put his glass down with a thump. “You’re complicated, Charles.”
Usually a woman said that to him, post-coital, as she shook her head to scold but was too happy with whatever he’d done in bed to give it much heat.
Charles folded his hands in front of him and bowed like he was just a peasant. “I’m not used to dining with royals. If I’ve offended you, please forgive me.”
Antonio was used to being in charge and accepted Charles's apology. “Nothing to forgive. To be honest, you’ve confused me.” His phone beeped. Antonio shifted and glanced at the screen. His lips thinned as he said, “Hold on. Your half-sister is texting me back.”
If it was Cassidy about the meeting he'd just had with Sandi Smith, then clearly everyone in Avce was deluded by the idea of love.
He’d met the woman listed in the email and she wasn’t interested in him anymore than he was interested in her.
So the whole matchmaker thing was just another delusion the country suffered from.
True love was a lie.
Having a soul mate was another lie.
All that was real was good sex and finding a few loyal people in life who were loyal back.
Antonio put his phone away after texting. Charles sipped his wine and said, “Interesting that your families are so close.”
For all he knew, Antonio desired Cassidy and the texts were flirtatious. His birth mother had attracted his birth father for at least one night to create him, and perhaps this was history repeating itself.
Attractive women slept with rich, powerful men--history hadn’t changed that cold hard fact.
Antonio picked up his wine. “Families… no, but Cassidy proved her loyalty, and skills, when she found me my wife.” He drank.
Maybe it was the other half-sister, Chelsea that he flirted with. She’d only married a non-titled Frenchman. “It seemsyourmother foundmymother a husband," Charles said, "which seems almost like symmetry.”
Antonio put his glass down as if Charles had hit on a sour note. “That’s not the story I was told," he said. "Listen, no one knows what exactly you want, and it’s my job to ensure our father is happy and stays in excellent health.”
Yet since Charles had announced his heritage and accepted the title and cash, he’d been asked his intentions on a daily basis. No one believed him that he was trying to figure out what he wanted next, but it wasn't the throne.
This Cassidy woman had emailed him the name of his "true love."
Chelsea had sent multiple party invitations.
