Page 16 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

Caro’s knees folded but she caught at a chair and collapsed on its cushioned seat. Ariane half lifted her head, looking for her, then, satisfied she was nearby, turned to Jake Maynard, pointing out something on the puzzle spread across the floor. Fortunately he was turned away from her. She hated to think of that intense scrutiny on her now.

Caro breathed through the pain, telling herself it wasn’t real. There could be no physical pain now. It was well over four years since she’d gone through labour and an excruciatingly difficult childbirth.

But though her rampaging pulse slowed, the pain persisted.

It was the ache of loss, familiar because she’d endured it so long. Strange to feel it now when for the first time she had hope for the future.

She breathed deep, absorbing the fact that she’d found her daughter.

It was a miracle.

Caro had never let herself believe it possible. The idea that her baby was alive somewhere without her had been the fraught stuff of nightmares, taunting her till she awoke tearful and distressed, to the real world where such things couldn’t happen.

Except it had.

Her jaw clenched and pain spiked from her grinding molars. She knew who was to blame.

Her hands curled into fists that trembled with the force of her emotion. Slowly, each joint aching with effort, she smoothed her hands on her thighs, feeling the bunch of stressed muscles beneath the fabric.

One day there’d be time to think of confronting the person responsible. Not today.

Her gaze slewed to the bright head bent over the puzzle and her heart lurched.

All that mattered was that she’d found her baby. That she was with her. She’d do whatever it took to stay at her side. And she wouldn’t let anything, including Jake Maynard, stand in her way.

Jake forked his fingers through his hair, leaning back in his chair and rolling his shoulders. He’d had enough for tonight.

Trying to make progress with this new scheme was like wading through treacle in cement boots. He’d thought it easier to do business in Switzerland where he could access the principals in person, and he’d been right, to some extent.

He swivelled his chair, surveying the tapestries on the thick castle walls. His lips twisted. A medieval castle was a far cry from his usual surroundings.

The exclusive location meant he’d been able to entice some of the key players to this ultra-private retreat after the international summit in the next valley. That had provided impetus to his plans, but not as much as he’d like. There was a lot of work to do.

He wanted to stay in Europe to see how Ariane went. He’d thought of taking her back to St Ancilla for a visit. He was torn between thinking it could ease her pain and fearing it might send her back into the blank state of shock she’d been in at the hospital.

She needed time and he needed expert advice. Meanwhile, they’d stay here. This castle, rented from an acquaintance, was as good a place as any to keep Ariane from the media limelight. If any more intruding journalists turned up he’d simply drop the portcullis.

Jake turned and noticed a scrap of wool on the floor. It must have fallen when Ariane’s bear was mended.

His thoughts zipped from his niece to the woman he’d invited to stay overnight.

He couldn’t quite believe he’d done that when he hadn’t offered the better qualified applicants such a chance.

He got to his feet, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Caro Rivage had no criminal record and her references checked out. She was what she seemed, a woman who liked kids and had some experience with them. A woman well-regarded by her employers.

Yet something about Ms Rivage gave him pause. If only he could put his finger on it.

But how could he send her away after seeing Ariane’s smile? The way she chattered with the woman, eager to be with her.

Jake stretched and looked at his watch. Almost midnight. He switched off the child monitor, knowing from the silence that Ariane was sound asleep. But he always checked on her before turning in.

Minutes later he reached Ariane’s room. In the dim illumination from a nightlight he saw her curled up, thumb in mouth and her other hand hooked around her teddy. Jake’s heart tugged.

She might not have been born Connie’s daughter but Ariane was as much his niece as if his sister had carried her for nine months. Seeing the love in his sister’s eyes for the tiny red-headed bundle, Jake had loved her from the first too.

He vowed he’d do better for her from now on. The first four and a half years of her life he’d been so focused on his projects that he hadn’t spent enough time with his family, stopping by for quick visits and relying on long-distance calls to keep up to date.

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