Page 43 of Fake Fiancée, Real Baby
Claire was confused. They’d gone to the royal theater just a few days before, and Claire hadn’t thought anything more of it since. Why did Adrien want to meet her there?
“Well, I… now?” she asked, and the footman nodded.
“Immediately, Miss Bellamy. There’s a car waiting for you.”
The fact a car was waiting to take her on what was essentially a five-minute walk was a reminder to Claire of just how different her life now was. In Monaco — in every aspect of her life to date — she’d been anonymous. What she did, where she went, who she went there with — none of it had mattered. But now, everything was different. Plans had to be made. Nothing could be spontaneous. She still had time to get to the airport for her flight. But to do so would be churlish. Cruel, even. She wanted to speak to Adrien, and it was obvious he wanted to speak to her, too.
“All right. Let me just get my things,” she said.
Hurrying to fetch a coat, Claire was soon getting into the Bentley for the drive across the square to the royal theater. What was Adrien planning?
“I’m to take you to the rear entrance, Miss Bellamy,” the driver said, as he helped Claire into the car.
It was all very mysterious, but Claire was getting used to such things — life in Flandenne was nothing if not unusual…
“Thank you. That’s fine,” Claire replied.
Driving out of the palace gates, she heard the click of cameras as photographers hurried to see what was happening. Looking longingly out of the window, she saw tourists sipping coffee beneath the cathedral spires and strolling in and out of the stores on the square. She longed for that same anonymity, and yet the queen’s words still resounded in her mind — if it was love, the rest didn’t matter. The car had crossed the square and arrived at the back of the theater. No one had followed — their momentary glimpse enough to satisfy their curiosity. The driver got out and opened the car door.
“Just through here, Miss Bellamy,” he said, gesturing to what had once been the stage door.
It was all very mysterious.
“Is no one coming to meet me?” Claire asked.
The driver shook his head. “His Royal Highness is waiting inside,” he replied.
Claire didn’t argue. But she was still confused, and nodding, she stepped out of the car and hurried to the stage door, lest someone accost her on the way. It opened onto a narrow corridor, with doors leading off on both sides to dressing rooms,and a flight of steps up ahead leading to an open door, beyond which presumably lay the stage. No one was about, and Claire stepped forward, about to call out, when footsteps sounded above.
“Adrien?” she said, looking up the steps as a figure appeared above.
It was the prince, and he smiled at her as he came hurrying down to greet her.
“I’m so pleased to see you. I wasn’t sure if you’d come,” he said.
Claire smiled. “It was all so mysterious. I still don’t know why you wanted to see me here. But of course I came. I thought… well, I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me.”
He came down the steps, holding out his hand to her and shaking his head.
“I wanted to. I had to. No… please don’t think I didn’t want to see you, Claire. I haven’t thought of anything else but you… and the baby, and… please, I’m sorry. I know this hasn’t been easy for you.”
Claire sighed. He was right, but there were times when Claire hadn’t made it easy for herself either. She’d fought against the strangeness of it all, instead of allowing herself to embrace the growing feelings she’d had since arriving in Flandenne — feelings that now reared up at the sight of Adrien standing before her.
“It was meant to be a game, wasn’t it? It wasn’t meant to be serious,” she replied.
“I know, but that’s what it’s become, hasn’t it? Serious.”
She took his hand in his as tears welled up in her eyes. Nodding, she placed her other hand on her stomach, glancing down before looking back up at him, each holding the other’s gaze.
“I suppose we weren’t expecting… this,” she said.
“But you’re not angry, are you? I thought… well, perhaps you were going to leave.”
Claire felt guilty. She hadn’t meant to hurt him like this. To think of leaving on a whim had been a cruel thing to do. Now she was here with him — now she could see how obviously upset he was — she knew she’d been wrong to even think it.
“I don’t know, Adrien… I… it all got too much. I didn’t know what I wanted. I didn’t know what you wanted, either. And then the baby. I don’t feel ready to be a mom, but I’m going to be one. And you’re going to be a dad, and…”
Tears welled up in Claire’s eyes. It was all too much. Everything had changed, and she felt uncertain how to respond. Did he love her? If he did, then what his mom had said would be true, but if it was all a game to him…
