Page 22 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

Lucien felt a surge of relief that his fiancée wasn’t the sort to indulge in recriminations.

‘It does.’ With Aurélie’s news, everything had altered.Again. Once more his world rocked on its axis.

He tried once more to imagine his child, maybe with dark hair, or his height. But his brain refused to cooperate.

Yet he had no difficulty picturing Aurélie round with his child, glowing and maternal. He could even imagine her holding a swaddled baby, but further than that his imagination wouldn’t go.

‘And she...?’

‘Aurélie.’

‘Aurélie is going to have the baby?’ Ilsa’s tone was even, but Lucien saw her tension.

‘She is, though she’s not sure she’s ready to be a mother.’ As he didn’t feel ready to be a father.

‘And you want to be involved? Do you want to marry her?’

Lucien’s mouth tightened. He didn’t want to marry anyone. But he couldn’t say that to Ilsa.

He’d been forced into their engagement by the weight of expectation. The match between the Princess of Altbourg and the King of Vallort had been long planned. The fact that there was a new king hadn’t altered those plans.

As for marrying Aurélie... Lucien barely knew her.

Yet the moment he’d seen her today he’d felt that whump of sensation in his chest. The flare of heat he remembered from their night together. It was still there.

But it wasn’t love. That was impossible on such a short acquaintance. It was physical attraction.

Lucien unclenched his hands and spread his fingers over his thighs.

The fact that he didn’t feel any such reaction to his attractive fiancée told its own story. This royal marriage wasn’t about sexual compatibility but duty.

Yet surely he had an obligation to his child? And if he were to imagine spending long winter nights sharing a bed with anyone, his thoughts strayed to—

Lucien pulled himself up. He didn’t have the luxury of acting like a private citizen.

‘I’m an engaged man and there’s no easy way out of our wedding, is there, Ilsa?’

He watched her closely, alert to any sign that she too felt discomfort at what was expected of them. But Ilsa said nothing, silently reinforcing his words. They were both trapped. Lucien’s mouth tightened.

‘Aurélie and I have nothing in common except the baby she’s going to have in seven months.’

Ilsa leaned forward. ‘But you want to be involved with the child?’

He inclined his head. ‘I’m sorry, Ilsa. I know I’m bringing trouble your way. There’ll be gossip and scandal. But I can’t walk away from my child.’

Lucien drew a deep breath and felt his tight lungs ease. Despite the consequences, this was one thing he knew for sure. One thing that feltright.

‘The baby is my responsibility. I have a duty to be involved. Iwantto be involved.’

Lucien knew how important family was. His aunt and uncle had welcomed him into theirs when he was orphaned. He wouldn’t be the man he was today but for them. His life could have been so different if he’d been fostered by someone unable to love him like a son.

‘I could never shun my own child.’

‘I understand.’ Perhaps she did. Ilsa knew his history. Besides, she seemed a compassionate woman.

He reached for his coffee and took a sip, to discover it was cold. He put it down, remembering Aurélie’s reaction when she’d smelled coffee.

Lucien stiffened, aware his thoughts had strayed. Though Ilsa seemed lost in her own thoughts too.

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