Page 45 of The Unseen
“Did many aristocrats flee to England?” Quinn asked, wondering about what might have led Valentina to Britain rather than France.
“Darling, Britain was having its own problems at the time, and the Russian Revolution was a very jarring wake-up call for the royal family. George VI, who was Nicholas II’s cousin and could be mistaken for his twin, first offered asylum to the Romanovs after the Revolution, but then the invitation was discreetly rescinded. Any association with the Russian royal family would not have been looked upon favorably by the British people. The unprecedented slaughter of World War I reminded British subjects that the royal house of England was, in fact, of German descent, and responsible for Britain’s involvement in the war. The strong anti-German feeling could very easily be redirected against the British monarchy if preventative measures weren’t taken. It was at that time that the royal family changed their name from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor. It was a calculated public relations move meant to disassociate the royal family from their German roots.”
“Thanks, Monty. That’s very helpful. I’m familiar with most of the events you mentioned, of course, but not in detail. Russia has never been a particular interest of mine. I’ve always been a lover of British history at heart, and now I’m developing more of an interest in American history as well.”
“No! Say it isn’t so,” Monty sputtered.
“Turns out my biological dad is American. From Louisiana.”
“Dear God, preserve us from the Americans!” Monty joked.
“Come, Monty, you and I will always have aspecial relationship,” Quinn said with a huge grin.
“There’ll always be a place in my heart for you. And Gabe. Because he’s hot,” Monty replied as he walked Quinn to the door.
“Monty, quit lusting after my husband. He has enough to deal with at the moment.”
“Just window shopping, darling.” Monty gave Quinn a peck on the cheek and waved cheerfully to Alex, who was looking at him with undisguised interest.
Quinn was still chuckling as she pushed Alex’s pram down the corridor toward Gabe’s office. It was nearly noon, and she had every intention of talking him into a pub lunch.
“Well, if it isn’t Dr. Allenby, in the flesh,” a familiar voice drawled as Luke stepped into her path. He’d emerged from one of the offices, no doubt lured from his lair by the sound of her voice.
“Hello, Luke,” Quinn said. She’d have preferred to keep walking, but Luke effectively blocked her way, and she didn’t fancy ramming Alex’s pram into his legs.
“Hello, yourself. How’ve you been? Motherhood suits you. I’ve never seen you look so…wholesome,” he said, a sarcastic smile tugging at his mouth. “You’re positively Rubenesque.”
“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment,” Quinn said, although, of course, it wasn’t meant as one. He was implying that she was overweight and matronly, nothing like the girl who’d caught his eye nearly ten years ago.
“And how’s the little moppet? I hear he looks just like Gabe. Well, at least that’s one thing Gabe doesn’t have to worry about.”
“Meaning?”
Luke shrugged off the question, allowing her to draw her own conclusions. She’d never been unfaithful to Luke when they were together, so his insinuation was completely unfounded. Even if Alex hadn’t resembled Gabe, there had never been any doubt that he was his son.
“How’s your American daddy?” Luke asked, his mouth twisting with dislike. Seth had threatened to kick Luke into the middle of next week when he came upon Luke harassing her in New Orleans, and it clearly still rankled.
“He’s very well. Thank you. He was just here in London. We had a nice visit.”
“I bet.”
“Look, Luke, I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure to see you, but it really hasn’t been, so I’ll just get going, shall I? Please step out of my way.”
“Don’t get too comfortable, Quinny. Gabe is not the saint you believe him to be.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Quinn replied in response to his childish parting shot.
Quinn maneuvered the pram around Luke and walked off toward Gabe’s office, head held high. She wasn’t going to allow Luke to rattle her, which was exactly what he was trying to do. He’d implied that she was fat and undesirable, and then tried to make her doubt Gabe’s loyalty to her.What a wanker!Quinn thought angrily as she rounded a corner.What a bloody wanker!
“You look murderous. I hope it’s not toward me,” Gabe said as she sailed past his PA and into his office, where she parked the pram alongside Gabe’s desk and slumped into a chair.
“I just saw Luke in the corridor.”
“I take it the reunion didn’t go well.”
“It was like exchanging pleasantries with Voldemort.”
Gabe laughed, reached out to pick up Alex, and made a funny face at him. The baby smiled happily. “I think you deserve a treat. The Grafton Arms, or would you prefer the Marquis Cornwallis?”
