Page 66 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

The sensation lasted only a second but it rocked Jake to the core.

So when Caro thanked him politely and said she needed to think about it he merely nodded and stood, forcing himself to rise and walk away on stiff legs.

The sun was warm on Caro’s face as she drank in the peaceful scene. White-topped mountains that now seemed like friendly guardians rather than sombre presences. The alpine meadow dotted with the season’s first flowers was tranquil, the only sound her daughter’s voice.

Caro inhaled the scent of meadow grass, listened to Ariane’s chatter as she played with Maxim, and willed herself to feel happy.

She had so much to be thankful for. They were safe, they were together and they were far from her father’s influence. He still sent irate messages but it seemed he had more on his mind than pursuing his errant daughter. Money troubles, said Jake, who’d made it his business to find out. Significant money troubles, which explained why her father hadn’t done more than bluster about her absence.

Caro and Ariane were building a real bond, which grew stronger daily. It was more than she’d once dared hope for.

She owed Jake so much. He made this possible. He could have prevented her seeing Ariane till the legalities were sorted out but he wasn’t that sort of man.

Unlike her domineering father, Jake didn’t play with people and their emotions for his own ends. He was decent, honest, reliable, and he cared for Ariane so much it was impossible not to love him for that alone.

As if Caro didn’t love him anyway.

Her chest tightened painfully. It shouldn’t be possible after so short a time but her feelings were clear. She loved him as surely as she loved her daughter.

How much longer would he wait for her answer?

How much longer could she pretend she didn’t know how to reply?

Last week he’d offered her a convenient marriage as a solution to their tangled situation. Ariane would acquire a family. Caro and Jake would get to be with her permanently.

It was simple and workable.

Except Caro wanted more. She wanted someone to loveherfor herself.

She reminded herself she’d have Ariane’s love. But she’d grown greedy. Having spent this time with Jake, she wanted it all. The physical intimacy and more besides. She wanted Jake to care for her, not as a co-parent but because she was unique, someone he didn’t want to live without.

Notbecause she might carry his child.

Caro looked at the tiny daisies in her hands, the flower chain she was making crushed.

When she’d asked for time to think Jake’s expression had turned wooden. She’d seen the shutters come down before he strolled away to dress. Since then there’d been a barrier between them. Even in bed, at the height of passion, when Caro was on the verge of blurting out her feelings as he drove her to peak after peak of pleasure, she was aware of something different in Jake. As if he held something of himself back.

Jake gave her everything except love.

She’d lived without love all her life. She could live without it now, especially as she had Ariane. Her daughter would grow to love her, Caro felt it in her bones.

In time, if she wanted, there’d be more children, and she’d love them too. She should take what she was offered and be content.

‘What’s wrong, Caro? You look sad.’

She turned to find Ariane regarding her solemnly. Though her daughter was brighter and more relaxed now, she was sensitive to negativity, still easily worried.

‘Nothing at all.’ Caro smiled. ‘I was thinking how peaceful it is here.’

‘Maxim likes it. He’s not sure he wants to live somewhere else.’

‘Somewhere else?’

The solemn little face nodded. ‘I heard Uncle Jake and Neil. We’re moving.’ The little girl swallowed. ‘Will you come too, Caro?’

And that, of course, put her personal woes into perspective. What was more important than Ariane?

Caro leaned in and cuddled her daughter. ‘That’s the plan, sweetie.’

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