Page 33 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

Today would be the day.

She’d do it one piece at a time. First the revelation that she was Ariane’s mother. Then, after Jake had time to accept that, the rest. The full story would be a lot to absorb in one chunk.

Decision made, her tight shoulders dropped, the tension in her neck easing. Jake might react badly but the longer she delayed, the worse it would be.

Her relief lasted exactly fifty-five minutes. Till her phone rang while she was pinning up her hair, ready to find Jake. Few people had this number. Her lawyer, Zoe, and a couple of friends.

‘Hello?’

‘At last, she answers!’ The terse voice splintered shards of ice down her spine. Caro froze, dropping the last hairpin. It seemed the only part of her still working was her heart, beating double quick.

‘Father.’

‘You remember who I am now, Carolina? That surprises me.’ He thundered on. ‘How dare you make me call you personally? I don’t have time for this nonsense but my staff tell me you haven’t answered their messages. You haven’t said when you’ll arrive for your brother’s party. I’m forced to waste time doing the work of secretaries!’

His voice boomed so loud Caro lifted the phone from her ear. Remnants of old habits stirred. Habits of obedience and meekness. For years she’d let this man run her life and see where it had got her.

She wanted to scream that he’d stolen her child and let her spend years uselessly grieving. But she wouldn’t scream, wouldn’t respond to his bullying with emotion. Instead she’d be calm and in control, in contrast to his arrogant orders and malicious jibes.

When shedidconfront him it would be in person. She wanted to look him in those choleric blue eyes and let him see that he no longer had power over her. She wanted to see his reaction when the mouse of the family finally stood up to him.

‘Are you there? Why aren’t you answering?’ Even at this distance that voice, like a thunderstorm crashing over mountains, made her skin twitch.

‘I’m here, Father. And I did respond to the messages. I gave my apologies. I won’t be able to attend—’

‘Nonsense! Of course you’ll be here.’

‘Not this time.’ Caro was proud of her even tone.

The silence that followed resonated with foreboding. No one, ever, said no to her father. Not her stepmother or half-brothers, not the prime minister, not anyone among St Ancilla’s rich and powerful.

Caro almost wished she could see him, though the thought of being near him made her feel physically ill. Was there surprise as well as fury on that mottled face?

His voice when it came sent another polar freeze through her. ‘Your brother’s engagement is a major event. All the family will be there, you included.’ He paused as if hearing her silent protest that she wasn’t really part of the family. She hadn’t been since he remarried and fathered the sons he’d so wanted.

‘There’ll be photos tomorrow evening before the first informal celebration. You’ll be there and the rest of the week, doing your duty.’

Caro gathered her breath, storing it up in her lungs till she thought she’d burst. Her hands turned clammy and the butterflies in her stomach were the size of sea eagles.

‘I’m afraid that’s impossible. I—’

‘I’ll say this once, Carolina.’ He said her name like an insult. ‘It’s vital we present a united front for this engagement. The wedding is important. Whatever you’re doing in Switzerland you’ll drop it immediately and come home.’

Shocked, her breath hissed in.

‘Oh, yes, I know you’re in Switzerland. My security staff keep me informed. I haven’t asked them to dig deeper. I’m not interested. However...’ he paused and the air turned heavy as if anticipating the next lightning strike ‘...if within the next hour my secretary doesn’t receive details of your arrival time, I’ll instruct security to find you and bring you home. By force if necessary. They’re on standby. I’m told they can be with you within two hours.’

Caro opened her mouth to say kidnap was an offence when the line went dead.

The phone fell to her bed and she stared at it as if at a venomous snake.

Caro wrapped her arms around her ribcage where her heart thundered. She imagined the men in dark suits, driving vehicles with blacked-out windows. They gave her the creeps. They’d been the ones to spirit her back to St Ancilla when her father discovered her pregnancy, and to the isolated convent on the north of the island. They’d kept a discreet but not invisible watch on the convent and ensured she didn’t run away before the baby was born.

She told herself they had no jurisdiction here. She could appeal to Jake for help. He’d protect her.

Then she imagined how that would play out. Swiss police, official reports, maybe press interest from those reporters who still kept an eye on this valley because of its connections to the rich and powerful.

Worse, she imagined Jake’s reaction when he discovered not only that she was Ariane’s mother, but who her family was, all in one terrible sweep. Fear pounded through her, drying her throat and churning her stomach.

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