Page 40 of Royal Player
“I won’t be disappointed. All I need is to see her take her place as queen.”
“You want her. It’s so obvious.”
I won’t deny it, but I also refuse to ruin her chance to be who she’s meant to be. She’s meant to soar, and she can’t do that with me on Villroy.
I stand. “I want the casino and now I have it.”
Chapter Ten
Polly
It’s late Friday afternoon, and I’m back at the palace on Villroy. I went to visit Anna first thing and she’s doing great. The doctor thinks it’ll be another week or two before the baby is born. She’s hoping for more time than that because the day spa’s grand opening is in two weeks. Now I’m back in my room, gazing at the sea, unusually relaxed and happy. Soon I can get out from under the weight of Peter’s threats, and as a side benefit, I get to be part of a business I’m very much interested in. Maybe I can hold off on the need for a husband a little longer, buy myself a little time somehow. I haven’t got it all figured out yet, but the cloud has lifted, and I’m thinking more clearly now that I’ve shared my awful secret with Oscar.
I even have a little bit of freedom. Marge is keeping to her room so she doesn’t spread germs, and Vaughn determined that the danger to me here is low, with the palace guards, so he’s backed off completely. Of course, if I were to step outside the palace walls, I’d have Vaughn and a chaperone immediately attached to me, but I’m happy to remain here.
There’s a knock at the door.
“Come in,” I call.
The door opens to my maid, Lina, who drops into a deep curtsy. “Your Highness, Queen Anna would like you to join the family for dinner in the formal dining room in an hour. Drinks are in the salon, if you’d like one.”
“Thank you.”
“Ma’am, may I speak to you of a private matter?”
“Of course!”
She shuts the door behind her and approaches me. “Ma’am, I thank you again for including me on your trip.”
I smile. She already thanked me on the flight back and while helping me unpack. “You were a fantastic travel companion.”
She fishes in her pocket and pulls out some cash. “I don’t feel right taking your money. I’ve gained far more than I could ever repay on this trip, and you needn’t worry that I would ever breathe a word about our time there.”
I put my hands behind my back so she can’t hand me the money. “No, we had a deal. That’s yours to keep. Maybe spend it on some sexy lingerie for Louis.”
She blushes. “I never would’ve gotten to know him if we hadn’t been outside the palace. He has his work, and I have mine. We rarely crossed paths before, but now—” she beams “—I’m in love.”
My throat tightens. She looks so happy. “That’s wonderful.”
She nods. “It is. He intends to marry me as soon as he can save enough for a cottage on the island.”
A cottage. I have a palace, yet somehow she seems the more fortunate.
I give her arm a squeeze. “Then you must use the money toward your wedding gown. It will be my wedding gift to you both.”
“Thank you, ma’am! Bless you.”
I wave that away. “It’s nothing. Enjoy.”
She bobs another curtsy and takes her leave.
My shoulders droop, my chest hollow. There’s no sense in longing for what I can’t have. I’m not a free woman who can marry for love. I was born into royalty, and I should not wish it any different.
I blow out a breath and square my shoulders. I’ll go to the salon and see who’s around for a drink. I’m not in my veil, but I’ve returned to my usual modest wardrobe, knowing Marge would instantly become suspicious if I wore some of my more revealing clothes from Monte Carlo. I’m in a white blouse with a lavender skirt and beige flats. It’s fine, just boring. I have the strangest urge to toss my entire wardrobe in the sea and start fresh.
When I get to the salon, it’s just Adrian sitting on the burgundy leather sofa, looking at his phone. A small espresso cup is on the table in front of him.
“Hello,” I say, fighting for a casual tone. I felt his eyes on me on the flight back and feared he wasn’t happy about Oscar bringing me on as a partner.
