Page 25 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

‘Give me a minute.’ She drew another quick breath, pressing the heel of her hand to her sternum, trying to force her lungs into action. ‘I’m just winded.’ Or too euphoric to feel pain. ‘You’re sure you’re okay, Ariane? You didn’t hit your head?’

Her daughter shook her head as tears filled her bright eyes. ‘I’m sorry, Caro. I didn’t mean to hit you.’

As if that wasn’t exactly what Caro had aimed for. Better her than a tree.

‘Why did you disobey Caro and climb right up the hill?’ Jake’s voice was low but steely and Ariane flinched. Caro told herself it was the voice of a man reacting to fear. They were lucky Ariane had escaped serious injury.

Seeing Ariane’s tears spill, Caro found the energy to sit up, curling her legs under her and pulling Ariane to her. Her daughter burrowed close, her arms creeping around Caro’s neck. Caro had never experienced anything like the burst of glorious happiness that exploded inside her.

This. This was what she’d missed all these years.

For so long Caro had been tempted to fantasise that her child hadn’t been stillborn. But the fantasy was too dangerous and she’d forced herself to put it aside and face reality. Then, discovering Arianewasalive, Caro had been so focused on tracking her down that she hadn’t allowed herself to imagine this moment. It had seemed like tempting fate into stealing away her daughter again.

She rocked Ariane, breathing in the scent of snow, pine trees and little girl. It was a perfume she’d remember for the rest of her days.

‘Shh...it’s okay, sweetie. No one’s hurt.’

‘Are you sure?’ Jake Maynard frowned down at her, apparently still concerned about her. But Caro couldn’t feel anything but the precious bundle in her arms.

‘I’m fine.’

Ariane lifted her head. ‘I won’t do it again, Caro, I promise. I just wanted...’ Her gaze flicked towards her uncle.

Suddenly Caro understood. ‘You wanted to show Uncle Jake how well you could slide?’

Her ribs squeezed her heart. She’d seen Ariane’s shy regard for the big man who was so concerned about her.

Ariane nodded. ‘But I hurt you.’

‘You must never do that again, Ariane,’ Jake interjected, his voice gravelly. ‘It’s dangerous to go so high.’

Her little girl’s head drooped lower and Caro rushed into speech.

‘Ariane’s promised never to do it again, haven’t you, sweetie?’ She watched her daughter’s silent nod. ‘And we’re both okay.’ Though Caro was beginning to feel an ache slide around her ribs and her shoulder throbbed. ‘So why don’t you show Uncle Jake how good you are at tobogganing? You could go together.’

Jake looked at her as if she’d sprouted another head and she hurried on. ‘They say that if you come off a horse you should get on again straight away.’ She met his stare, willing him to understand. There were enough scary things in Ariane’s world without adding to them. ‘I can vouch that it works.’

Caro had taken a toss off a pony as a kid and her father had insisted she get back on. It had stopped her developing a fear of horses, though they discovered later she’d fractured her wrist in the fall. She’d been more afraid of disappointing her disapproving father than of the pain.

But watching Ariane jump to her feet when Jake finally agreed there was time foroneslide, Caro knew she was okay.

He pressed Caro again about injuries, but finally he was satisfied and she had time to gather herself, watching Jake and Ariane share the toboggan.

One slide turned into three, though at the end of each Jake strode across to check on her, his concern warming a part of her that had been frozen for a long time. Caro couldn’t recall the last time any man had been genuinely concerned for her well-being. Not her father or brothers. Definitely not her ex-boyfriend who’d sold her out for personal gain.

By the time Jake announced it was time to go back, that he didn’t want Caro waiting in the chill air any longer, Ariane was gleeful and her uncle’s eyes had lost that stormy light.

Caro hoped that within a few days Ariane might forget how close to disaster they’d come. But her own spirits, after that initial burst of euphoria, plummeted.

It was clear Jake Maynard didn’t merely feel obligated to look after his niece. Hecaredfor her. And little Ariane beamed with pride and delight in his company.

What would happen when Caro claimed her daughter?

She had every right to do so. She’d been denied so much it hurt to think about the years of Ariane’s life she’d missed. Even her name wasn’t one Caro had chosen!

Once more she was tempted to come clean about her identity. Except Ariane was fragile and bewildered after losing her adoptive parents and Caro didn’t want to add to her stress. She’d wait at least till she and Ariane had a good, strong relationship.

Plus there was another reason to delay. Jake Maynard was wealthy and powerful. If she went in assuming that because she had right on her side everything would be okay, things could go horribly wrong. Caro had been victim to the machinations of manipulative men. First Mike then her father. She’d be a fool to think Jake was any less dangerous.

He’d move heaven and earth to stop her claiming her daughter. Caro had little money of her own and her father would never support her in a court case. He’d do everything in his power to avoid scandal.

But that wasn’t all. She drew a shuddering breath as she watched Jake, powerfully built and agile, utterly, fascinatingly masculine as he climbed the slope hand in hand with her daughter.

No, the worst of it was that Jake Maynard awoke something within her, a longing, that she’d never expected to experience again after years of numbness.

Desire. Not some vague sweet yearning but a piercing stab of need for his touch, his powerful body.

She sank her head in her hands. Was there any way out of this tangle?

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