Page 41 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

CHAPTER NINE

JAKEWASKNOWNfor his self-control. For an early responder in disaster zones it had been a quality almost as important as his skills at organisation and saving lives.

Yet tonight sorely tested him.

Shetested him. Waltzing by on the arm of the man who’d held her possessively in that photo.

The simmering heat in Jake’s gut rose in a seething flood of impatience. His plans to confront her in a quiet anteroom had been foiled by the press of people, all wanting to speak to her or him. Then there was the sheer formality of the proceedings. Her first dance had already been allocated and, short of hauling her away in front of a fascinated audience, he’d had no choice but to relinquish her.

He gritted his teeth, berating himself for the spurt of fury that had propelled him to the palace. He should have waited and chosen his venue better but his blood was up and for the first time in years he’d acted rashly. Goaded by the smiling redhead in the dark violet dress.

Simply watching her did excruciating things to his self-control. Jake told himself it was wrath but there was an edge to his anger that felt like more.

Like want.

Worse, like disappointment, because he’d felt something for her.

Except the person he’d begun to know was a mirage, constructed by the duplicitous woman now swanning around the dance floor. Her long skirt belled around her legs, calling attention to that tiny waist and acres of creamy skin bared by a dress that hung off both shoulders.

Jake’s blood pounded in counterpoint to the beat of the waltz. Colours blurred and faces flashed by but still he had no difficulty keeping her in focus. Caro Rivage aka Princess Carolina. She moved with a grace that despite his anger evoked raw hunger in the pit of his belly. Or maybe it was the smile she gave her partner, bending to murmur in her ear.

They swept past and for a second violet eyes caught Jake’s. Wide, impossibly beautiful and, if he didn’t know better, scared.

No, this woman wasn’t scared. Disconcerted perhaps but she’d brazened it out, introducing him to guests as if they really were simply acquaintances. Keeping up a flow of small talk that made him want to muffle her mouth with his till she was so breathless, speech was beyond her.

With difficulty Jake slowed his breathing, searching for calm. They needed to talk. He needed confirmation of what he’d learned. Needed her to admit it. Then he’d inform her she had no hope of getting Ariane.

Sanity resurfaced. He told himself to wait till tomorrow when he could see her alone.

Except that would give her time to regroup. He’d find her surrounded by lawyers and royal officials who’d try to deflect him. This was between the pair of them. He wasn’t in the mood to wait.

The music ended and her skirts spilled onto the gleaming floor as she curtseyed to her bowing partner. He was Prince of Tarentia, Jake had learned. Brother to the woman whose betrothal they were celebrating. How cosy. No doubt the two royal families were close. Maybe there was a second wedding in the pipeline?

Jake grimaced as acid stirred in his gut. Caro inhabited a privileged world where old family connections mattered and worth was measured by inherited wealth and titles.

But her privileged past didn’t give her the right to sail into Ariane’s life and disrupt it. To make the little girl believe her birth mother cared, only to be crushed when she discovered the woman who’d borne her had no staying power.

Jake knew how that felt.

He wouldn’t let it happen to Ariane.

Stalking forward, he cut through the milling crowd to Caro and her partner.

‘My dance, I believe.’

He didn’t wait for a response, ignored a protest from the Prince and slipped his arm around Caro’s waist. As he claimed her he felt her jolt of response. Satisfaction stirred. A second later the music started and Jake propelled her into the centre of the dance floor.

He hadn’t planned to dance, had decided merely to separate her from her partner, but this was the simplest way to do it.

It had nothing to do with the greedy way his fingers splayed over her narrow back. The surge of rampant triumph as he pulled her close. The way her eyes dilated and that glossy cupid’s bow mouth opened as if she couldn’t catch her breath. Or the sheer rightness of her slender form in his embrace.

She matched his steps as if they’d danced together before. As their bodies had aligned perfectly when they’d kissed and when he’d held her, sobbing in his arms.

Jake tasted disgust on his tongue. Those tears had been faked.Shewas fake.

He glanced at the fine golden wires studded with purple gems threading her auburn hair, the matching long earrings that swung with her every move. Heard the swish of her rich ball gown billowing around his legs. But the trappings of royalty meant nothing to him. Glamour couldn’t make up for a good heart. The fact his body still responded to her only made him more determined to wrest himself and his niece free of her pernicious influence.

‘So tell me, Princess Carolina. Since you’re the eldest in the family, why aren’t you married yet? No desire for a family and children of your own?’

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