Page 25 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

She didn’t want his touch. Yesterday had proved that she was anything but immune to him. He’d taken her hand and ignited a longing that she couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow herself to feel. Her only hope was to keep her distance.

Warily she watched him frown then sink back into his seat. His jaw clenched and a tiny muscle worked there as if tension rode him hard. Aurélie wanted to reach for him, feel the clasp of his hand. Instead she stiffened her spine.

‘Ilsa is reasonable. Fortunately she’s not prone to panic or outrage.’

His mouth curved in a tight smile and Aurélie felt pain jab her ribs. Surely that wasn’t a stab of jealousy?

‘You mean she doesn’tmindthat you’ve got a pregnant ex-lover?’ The words emerged sharply, like an accusation, and she pressed her lips together. She shook her head. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound—’

‘Ilsa is a remarkable woman,’ he said stonily and Aurélie felt about an inch tall.

What was wrong with her? The Princess hadn’t done anything to her. Aurélie had never expected a permanent relationship with Lucien, even before she’d realised his royal status.

‘I’m sure she is.’ That spike of discomfort jabbed again. Aurélie told herself indigestion was a well-known symptom of pregnancy. She wasnotenvious. She wasn’t looking for Prince Charming.

Lucien scrutinised her and Aurélie once more felt that prickly sensation sweep across her skin. Like an electrical charge that made the hairs on her arms stand up. She had the uncomfortable idea that he read her jumbled emotions whereas she had no idea what went on in his head. His expression was unreadable.

‘Ours isn’t a love match.’

Aurélie opened her mouth to ask if that meant they wouldn’t be faithful, then, horrified, snapped it shut. It was no business of hers.

So why did she feel a rush of relief?

‘I explained we’d been together before she and I became engaged.’

Aurélie nodded. When she’d discovered who Lucien was she’d been horrified to learn he was engaged, wondering if she’d been a passing amusement for a man already tied to another woman.

It hadn’t fitted with what she knew of him but she wouldn’t have been the first woman fooled by a guy. It had been a relief when she’d discovered their engagement happened after he’d returned to Vallort.

‘The engagement still stands? She hasn’t been frightened off?’ Aurélie watched for some clue to his feelings.

Lucien shook his head and Aurélie felt something within her dip.

‘Too much rides on our marriage for us to back out. Negotiations between our countries have taken years.’

That didn’t sound like a good basis for a marriage but what did she know? When she was little she’d had a romantic view of love and marriage, inherited from her mother. Watching her father marry a scant six months after her mother’s death, and to a woman like her stepmother, had dashed Aurélie’s illusions. Her cosy belief that her father had unwaveringly loved his first wife was long gone.

Reality had cured Aurélie of romantic dreams.

‘I see.’ She nodded as if she really did understand how two people could marry for reasons that had nothing to do with personal preference. But perhaps thatwasa factor. Princess Ilsa was beautiful. Maybe Lucienwantedto marry her. Maybe they were lovers.

That sick feeling stirred anew in her stomach.

‘Meanwhile we need to decide what to do about the baby.’

As if it were an item to be ticked off an agenda.

Aurélie’s hackles rose and she bit down a retort. She was being too sensitive.

Her hand slipped across her stomach in a gesture that was as much about comfort as protectiveness. Silently she vowed, again, to do the very best for her child.

‘You’ve had an idea about that, have you, Lucien?’ It felt bold and a little provocative, using his first name now that he was a monarch, but it made her feel more in control.

He shrugged, but the set of those wide shoulders betrayed tension.

‘There are several options.’ Their eyes met and she felt he tried to gauge her mood. ‘Especially since you said you weren’t thrilled at the prospect of being a mother.’

‘I...’ She shook her head. There was no point feeling defensive or guilty. It was true.

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