Page 21 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

‘You need somewhere to stay. The palace has hundreds of rooms so it makes sense to stay here. Your luggage is in your room.’ He gestured towards an open door which she assumed led to a bedroom.

Stay under Lucien’s roof? In the palace?

His fiancée won’t like this.

Aurélie felt sorry for the woman. For all of them. What a mess!

‘Tomorrow we’ll talk again, discuss some options.’

Slowly she nodded.

‘I’ve organised a doctor to visit you tomorrow too. I know you’ve had someone confirm the pregnancy, but you should get that morning sickness checked. You seem very fragile.’

Aurélie didn’t know whether to be warmed by his concern or worried that she looked so bad.

‘Okay.’ Truth be told, she’d be glad to talk to someone about the sudden nausea. She knew lots of women suffered with it but hadn’t realised how debilitating it could be.

No doubt the doctor would talk to her about a paternity test and how safe it would be for the foetus. She could be sure it would all be very discreet. Presumably that was why Lucien had arranged for her to stay here.

The warmth she’d felt at his thoughtfulness faded.

‘Excellent. I’ll leave you to rest. A maid will be here soon to draw a bath or do whatever else you need. Tell her what you’d like and dinner will be brought.’

Aurélie nodded, fully understanding, at last, Lucien’s generosity. She’d stay in the palace, where she’d have no chance to talk to anyone or arouse curiosity about her reason for visiting Vallort.

Because if that became known there would be a huge scandal.

CHAPTER SIX

‘ILSA, INEEDto talk with you about the woman at the cathedral.’

His fiancée’s blue gaze met his across the coffee table. ‘Is she your girlfriend?’

‘No.’ Why did it feel like a betrayal to Aurélie to discuss that night? Ilsa was his fiancée. He owed her the truth. ‘But we spent a night together.’

She showed no shock. Had she guessed? He’d seen her curious gaze on Aurélie this afternoon.

‘Recently?’ In other words—after their betrothal?

‘Two months ago. The day I heard about Justin.’ He paused, scraping his voice from where it stuck to the back of his throat. He’d stepped into his cousin’s life, his home and duties, even his engagement, but sometimes even now the pang of loss threatened to undo Lucien. ‘I was on my way back here when she and I met. Before our engagement. I didn’t set out to betray you.’

Slowly Ilsa nodded. ‘I didn’t think you would, but this is a dynastic marriage, not a love match.’ Her gaze didn’t waver. ‘So you’re not in love with her?’

The word caught him by surprise.

He enjoyed the company of women but he’d never been in love.

His only experience of love wasn’t romantic. It was what he’d shared with his aunt and uncle, who’d been like parents, and Justin, as close as any brother could be.

Now he’d discovered how much love cost. An outsider might envy him, inheriting a kingdom and a glamorous bride. Yet Lucien had lived in shadow and pain since the news had broken.

Except once, he realised in shock. One bright spot when the pain hadn’t gone away, but receded enough to be bearable.

With Aurélie...

‘You can’t fall in love in a night.’ He swallowed hard. ‘But you can make a baby.’

‘Ah.’ Ilsa put down her teacup and leaned back against the seat. ‘I see. That...complicates things.’

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