Page 49 of Prince She Shouldn't Crave
‘May I come inside?’ he asked.
‘You’re on your way to your sister’s wedding.’
‘And yet here I am, finding I can’t go any further.’
‘What if you’re late?’
‘I’ll be forgiven.’
By his sisters at least. His parents might never overcome the theatrics, but he didn’t care. He’d said enough after his world had imploded the day Lena had left. He liked to believe that his mother and father were taking the time to think about those harsh truths, though he was satisfied to continue communicating with them, private secretary to private secretary, until he had a suitable apology. It was easier, now he’d bought a home away from the palace. The purchase contracts only just settled. Soon he’d be moving.
He hoped to bring Lena home with him.
A few people began pointing phones at Lena’s doorway to film what was happening. Whilst he spent his life under constantscrutiny, he wanted to ease Lena into her moment in the spotlight. If he could convince her of the truth of his feelings, today was going to be a big day.
Lena seemed to catch herself, seeing all her neighbours peering at them. The phones pointed their way. She stood back.
‘Come inside. Quickly. I don’t want to be the story here.’
He stepped over the threshold, and she shut the door gently behind her then turned. In the shock of seeing her again he hadn’t noticed how tired she looked. A little like himself. She hid it well under make-up, but it still wasn’t enough. And there was something else he noticed about her too. The way she wrung her hands in front of her. Bit into her lip. The look on her face, troubled. He’d done that to her. Failed to realise how tender and soft her heart was. How much his rejection would hurt because of what her father had done to her. In the beginning he’d kidded himself that their secrecy was for her. To protect Lena from the bright lights of media attention when nothing was certain. But that had never been the truth. His deepest confession was that keeping her hidden was entirely selfish.
He’d been trying to come to terms with so many things. Managing the media, sure, but his own feelings. He hadn’t understood those at all, when they were now clear and bright like a beacon. He’d been in love with her before he’d even realised, because she saw Gabriel Montroy. A man who wasn’t proud or proper or any of those things. He simplywas.
‘Why are you here?’ she asked him. ‘I don’t want to be responsible for holding up your sister’s wedding to my future king.’
‘As far as I’m concerned, the whole world can wait. Nothing’s more important than this, thanyou, Lena.’
A wash of colour flooded her cheeks. ‘That’s not true.’
‘And there lies my greatest mistake.’
Gabe would never stop regretting how uncertain he’d made her. Causing this doubt. Together, he’d not only found someone who saw him, but he’d seen her too. A woman who’d blossomed when given attention. Someone strong. Who could take over the world if she wanted to, because she’d completely taken over his. Every day, every waking thought. All his dreams.
‘I have so much to apologise for,’ he said. ‘Most of all I want to apologise for making you believe that you hadn’t become the most important person in my life. That I was in some way embarrassed, and wanted you hidden, when all I should have done was show the world what I saw. How incredible youare.’
‘But your parents—’
‘Need to learn that you were never a whim. I’ve had strong words with them, my mother in particular, about the things she said. But that’s for another day. What I came to tell you was that you’re the woman who unlocked my heart. The woman I would give upeverythingfor.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I have my sister’s wedding to attend, but I find I don’t want to go.’ Lena’s eyes widened. Huge pools of blue. A colour he’d missed, craving it over the last few months without her. ‘Not without you by my side.’
Lena wished there were something she could hold on to. Anything. She wanted to fall over on the spot. Even though she might have hoped and dreamed, Gabriel stood in a place she’d never believed she’d see him. Her lounge room. On his sister’s wedding day. And if she believed her ears, he wanted her to join him as his guest.
Impossible.
‘Your parents would never accept me.’
‘I don’t care about them.’
‘You should.’
He frowned, looking confused. But then, he wouldn’t understand. He’d been accepted wherever he went.
‘They’re steeped in tradition, which has locked them in the past. But I’ve told them that until they’ve reflected on their behaviour and suitably apologised, there’s going to be a distance between us. Though I have little doubt that if they truly came to know you, then they’d love you. As I do.’
‘You what?’ A sensation burst inside, like a thousand birds taking flight at dawn, singing a joyous song.
