Page 70 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

‘That doesn’t matter.’ Caro’s face was drawn and tense. ‘I can’t live with you and Ariane—’

‘I still don’t believe you.’ Her head jerked up and she looked him in the eye. ‘You want to be with us but you’re frightened.’

How he welcomed her spark of annoyance. Seeing her frightened made him desperate. ‘Has anyone ever told you you’re arrogant, Jake Maynard?’

As a diversion it might have worked, once, weeks ago before he’d got to know Caro. ‘Yes. You have, and it’s true. But I’m right. You can’t lie to me, Caro, you’re no good at it.’

It was true, despite her earlier masquerade. Deliberately, lifting his arms wide, he stepped back, giving her space, though it went against every instinct to release her rather than embrace her.

Jake needed her to trust him.

‘Tell me what he said, Caro. Playing by his rules hurts all of us.’

Finally she nodded. ‘He demanded I return. He wants me there, to marry someone he’s chosen.’

‘Or what?’ Jake kept his voice even despite his building fury.

‘Or he’ll destroy you. He means it, too,’ she said in a rush. ‘He hates me for repudiating him and you for taking my side. He’ll find a way to bring you down. He said he’d make it his mission, no matter how long it takes.’ Caro reached for Jake, grabbing his hands as if to convince him by sheer force. ‘He’ll bring trumped-up charges against you, get someone to testify you broke the law in your financial dealings—’

‘Is that all?’ Jake threaded his fingers through Caro’s, melding their hands.

‘All? Don’t you understand? He’ll destroy your reputation and then your business! You don’t know how devious he is, the lengths he’ll go to.’

‘Oh, I know.’ He should have been prepared for this, but he’d thought there was no way the King could worry Caro here. ‘What I don’t know is whether you’d stay with me if it weren’t for his threats.’

She shook her head, the picture of desperation. ‘Jake, please, listen. He’ll wreck everything you’ve worked for. I can’t let him—’

‘He won’t, Caro. Because he’s about to go under.’ Jake willed her to focus on his words, not her father’s threats. ‘He’s stolen funds and borrowed against assets that don’t belong to him. He’s dipped into the public purse on a huge scale.’

Finally she was taking it in. Her eyes grew huge.

‘He got careless and some of us in the finance sector have been doing our own investigating.’ Because he needed to protect Caro and Ariane. ‘He’s a spent force, Caro. Don’t believe his bluster. This is a last-ditch effort to save himself through you. My guess is he thinks I’ll call off the creditors if he has you in his clutches. Believe me, he can’t touch you. I promise.’

His pulse thundered through the silence and he watched as, gradually, the fear eased from Caro’s face. If Jake had had any doubts about her belief in him, the fact that she took his word now proved otherwise. It warmed him from the inside out in a way only Caro could.

‘Youdid all that? But why?’ She frowned. ‘You didn’t know he’d threatened you.’

Seeing her puzzlement, Jake realised how alone she must have felt all those years. Had there ever been anyone to stand beside her? He swallowed, his throat constricting painfully. Her stoicism and determination really were phenomenal.

‘You don’t know?’ Jake’s voice stretched. He’d hoped she’d understand. ‘For the same reason I hope you really want to marry me.’

His breath grew shallow, his lungs working overtime. No longer was he a savvy investor, a world-class businessman, secure in his success. Jake hovered on a knife edge between hope and disaster.

‘I fell in love with you, Caro. I want you, not for Ariane but for myself.’ He lifted her hand to his lips and allowed himself a fleeting kiss to her hand, taking courage from the throbbing pulse at her wrist. ‘I know it’s been a short time but I’ve never been more certain of anything.’

Jake watched emotions chase across her face, so fast he hadn’t a hope of deciphering them. Her fingers shook in his grip.

‘Caro?’ His confident words deserted him. It emerged as a croak.

‘You love me?’ She shook her head and he slipped his other hand up to cup her cheek, holding her steady so she could read the truth in his eyes. ‘It’s not possible.’

‘It is. That’s why I took it badly when you needed time to think about marriage.’

‘You said it was a marriage ofconvenience!’ Jake heard her outrage and hurt and understood how badly he’d blundered with that impulsive proposal. But he’d been so excited at the idea he’d been unable to wait.

Now he had to get it right.

‘It’s taken me a while to confront what I feel. I’m not used to loving.’

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