“I have a few things to sort out before tomorrow,” I told her, then watched as Raymond walked beside her up the steps to the first landing where they would turn right toward the guest wing.
Francis walked to stand beside me, also watching her go. “I was not expecting you home so early.”
Of course, he wasn’t. I’d told him it would be much later based on my expectation that mother nature would do her job and thus the airline would be able to do its job and I would be signing papers now, then delivering my guests to the hotels of their choice.
“Change of plans.” He’d dealt with the airline many a time in the past and he’d arranged these tickets. “Silas and Viktor’s flight was delayed until tomorrow, so I brought Erin back here for tonight. The other two can meet us here tomorrow to sign the papers, then it’s business as usual.” Which included marrying someone else. I rolled my eyes. This was ridiculous, but duty was birth right and the arranged marriage was my duty. It was a match beneficial to my country. Advantage. But to me, it felt as if I’d been sold to the highest bidder.
Francis frowned at me, and I knew what was coming. I’d heard it all before. It was why we’d decided to do it this way. “I’m not sure that’s the right choice, Your Highness. Once they find out who you are, there will be a demand for money for their signatures, and that’s assuming they sign at all and don’t attempt to extort you.” This was a man who was probably tired of this particular sermon. I’d heard it about ten times in the last two days. “Being married to you would be quite lucrative for them.”
My head ached behind my eyes, and I pinched the bridge of my nose. I didn’t know if there was correlation or if it helped—I don’t think it did—but it bought me a second. “I know, Francis. But the war cabinet meeting is in the morning, and I must attend.”
“I could have found accommodations for Miss Wright in the city,” Francis argued, stepping dangerously close to the invisible line we maintained as employer/employee, even when we were friendly. “I still can.”
I stared at him silently until he took a step back. “Yes, sir. Will you and Miss Wright be having dinner in the great hall?”
I glanced at my watch. Seven p.m. already. “Yes. Thank you, Francis.”
My steward bowed his head and walked off in the direction of the kitchen.
I retired to the study to unpack everything I’d taken to the city apartment and to take a minute to compose myself.
I wanted her, the American girl who’d grown into an American woman. Desire burned through me to kiss her until she moaned my name and fell into my bed. Being with her would be different from any experience I’d had before.
But it was impossible. I couldn’t sleep with her then divorce her.
I went to my room, showered and changed from my suit into a pair of jeans and a sweater. It took a minute for my heart to stop thumping. I couldn’t stop thinking of her. Couldn’t stop my body from responding to the thought of feeling her skin against mine, her hands on me, her mouth.
How had I let this happen?