Page 52 of Royal Catch
Acid churns in my stomach at the harsh cruelty. Never see my family again? Villroy is a living, breathing part of me. I don’t know who I am without the island and my family. I am nothing.
My father’s head swivels toward hers. They exchange a silent communication before he turns back to me. I hope that means she’s bluffing about exiling me.
“Have you really thought about this?” my father asks. “You’ve only known the woman for a little over a week.”
“It’s an infatuation,” my mother says. “You want to sow your last oat before marriage.”
I shove a hand in my hair. “It’s not like that. I’m thirty years old. I know what I want.”
“She lies,” my mother hisses. “She’s misled you with false feelings.”
“She only lied to help Polly. The real Polly was practically under lock and key at home and escaped to the US. She’s now in Florida, about to go to trial for identity theft.”
My mother jumps. “My God, we have to get in touch with her people.” My father agrees.
“No. That’s the whole reason Anna pretended to be her. She was supposed to collect Polly’s inheritance—that false claim you dangled to lure women here—and use the money to get her a good lawyer to keep it quiet. The real Polly feared a conviction would expose her true identity. Her family would disown her and she’d be a target in prison.”
“Why would she want to escape Beaumont?” my father asks. “She was a princess living in paradise.”
“She was being pressured to marry a dishonorable man.” Anna explained it to me last night. I think of the real Polly, a virgin princess in an old-school monarchy, being pressured to marry a sleazy businessman. Damn, I knowingly defiled a virgin princess. And here Anna’s been singing my praises as an honorable man. Of course, now I know Anna wasn’t a virgin. Even so, my honor has a serious dent in it.
My mother’s voice rises. “Our sources said she is an eligible single royal.”
“She still is. She left before things progressed further with this other man.” I take them both in, pleading with them to understand how we got to this point. “Anna says she’s sent Polly the funds she needs for a lawyer through Polly’s private foundation from her prize winnings. Do you understand the kind of person she is? She acted honorably, selflessly.” These are the traits of a queen, but I keep that to myself. I don’t need Anna to be queen. I just need her by my side.
My mother frowns. “I still say we should contact her people. A princess facing jail, all alone—”
“Stay out of it,” I bark. “Let her live her life on her terms.” My tone is harsh because I’m also talking about myself.
My mother’s eyes narrow because she knows it too.
I lift my palms. “Please. All I’m asking is for you to give Anna a chance. I choose her, and she wants me to choose the crown.”
“Bring her here,” my father says. “Right away. I want to hear from her directly what she thinks about ruining your life.”
“It’s not ruining it!”
My father turns to my mother. Neither of them speak. I’ve been dismissed.
I need to bring Anna to meet my father. It’s the only chance we have. My mother is already closed against her.
I bow my head and quickly take my leave. I have an inkling of hope now. I go straight to my room, open the door, and stride inside. “Anna, my father wants…Anna?” She’s not in bed. I quickly check the en suite bathroom. I wasn’t gone that long.
Dammit! I told her to stay put. I couldn’t tell her what I was planning because I didn’t know if it would go in my favor.
I grab the phone and call the servants’ quarters, looking for Anna’s maid, who I just now realize is also named Anna. Weird coincidence.
“She’s gone, Your Highness,” her maid says. “She left on the ferry.”
“When?”
“Maybe fifteen minutes ago.”
I hang up. The ferry is no match for the sleek speed of our yacht.
~ ~ ~
Anna
