Page 29 of Shock Heir for the Crown Prince

And then the devil rose up and he baited her some more. ‘I took it as a wedding proposal in and of itself. Your proposal to me.’

She still didn’t look back.

‘I said yes,’ he added helpfully, and at this Anastasia turned.

‘I want a DNA test for my daughter,’ she grated. ‘She can’t be yours. She’s too bright!’

‘You’re right. We are going to need a DNA test for Sophia in order to satisfy Byzenmaach. But I’m convinced.’

Her eyes narrowed with deadly intent, a subtle reminder never to put her in charge of a pitchfork.

‘Can’t talk now,’ he said. ‘I need to shower. I smell like…’ he sniffed at his shoulder ‘…you.’

‘I’m leaving. I’m going to bribe your helicopter pilot with good sex and get him to take us somewhere you can’t go.’

He sent her an angel’s smile. ‘Good luck with that. See you at noon.’

* * *

The garden terrace, Ana discovered, overlooked a walled garden full of espaliered fruit trees and whimsical flower beds. Surrounded by twelve-foot stone walls and divided by low internal walls that acted as heat banks, it overlooked the stables, and beyond that a narrow mountain pass. Apart from a few scattered outbuildings for animals there were no other dwellings here. Isolation ruled this fortress, no matter how many luxuries they tried to soften it with.

Sophia walked the garden with Lor, collecting hardy herbs and vegetables that grew at this altitude and the wolfhound, Jelly, walked with them, never venturing far. It was the dog’s first foray away from her puppies, and Ana had no idea how they’d coaxed her there or whether she walked with them willingly, trusting the safety of her offspring back in the kitchen. It was almost noon, and she’d been waiting for Casimir to arrive for the past ten minutes.

First he demanded she be somewhere and then he didn’t show. It was a sign, she decided grimly. How many more signs did she need before she got the message that on a list of his priorities she rated very low?

Marry him and have him run roughshod over her life for evermore? No, no and no.

He came up beside her, his footfall on bleak grey tiles unencumbered by greenery. It was two minutes to twelve and she couldn’t even fault him for being late.

‘I don’t know how you stand it here,’ she said by way of greeting.

‘What don’t you like about it?’

‘Apart from the isolation? My inability to leave at any time.’

‘It takes all day by horse to get over the mountain pass but it can be done,’ he said. ‘There’s a village on the other side. Or it’s half an hour by helicopter to the capital. No time at all, really.’

‘If you command the helicopter. Or the horse.’

‘Fair point.’

He scrubbed up well in dark trousers and a white collared shirt, open at the neck, and dark sunglasses. His version of informal wear, perhaps. And he smelled better than he looked.

‘Are you sniffing me?’ he asked with a tilt to his lips that said he didn’t mind at all.

‘No. It’s just…the soap here is good.’

‘I hadn’t noticed.’

‘All citrus and woodsy. You’re probably too used to it.’

‘You weren’t in my bed this morning when I woke.’

‘Well, I was in it when Lor requested my presence because my daughter was awake and wondering where I was,’ she said drily. Lor had been uncharacteristically subdued. Ana had been mortified.

‘Were you embarrassed?’

‘Yes. It wasn’t my finest moment. You bring out the worst in me.’

‘And the best,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what you bring out in me. The desire to live a more carefree life, perhaps. Rudolpho thinks I’ve gone mad. He’s never seen this side of me before.’

‘You should probably take that as a warning. I’m a bad influence.’

‘You might be right. I’ve scandalised Rudolpho. He’s reminding me I have a funeral and a coronation to attend before I can even start thinking about a royal wedding.’

‘He seems a sensible man. You should listen to him.’

‘He’s served my family for forty years.’

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