Page 36 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

Lucien had never been indifferent to Aurélie, though he’d tried for Ilsa’s sake. Last night any thought of dissembling had been ripped away.

Even now, after a sleepless night and hours fraught with diplomatic difficulties, Lucien was glad.

‘Nevertheless, I should talk to her.’

‘She’s gone.’

‘Gone?’

Lucien felt Aurélie’s gaze as he swung the car round a curve at the end of a tranquil lake and took a turn that headed into deep forest.

‘She left for Altbourg this morning. I drove her to the airport.’

They’d parted amicably. Remarkably so, in the circumstances. But he suspected Ilsa had her own reasons for supporting him as he faced this watershed moment.

‘Oh.’

Lucien’s mouth twisted wryly. He’d been told Aurélie hadn’t heard today’s news. He suspected she’d have a lot more to say when she did.

‘I’d hate to think I hurt her. I like her. She’s very nice.’

‘She is.’

Aurélie said no more. Which was good as Lucien had other matters on his mind as he guided the car around a hairpin bend then accelerated on the upward climb. His whole being, body and mind, tensed and the skin between his shoulder blades prickled.

It was the first time he’d driven this way since his return to Vallort.

He knew this road like the back of his hand.

But then so had Justin.

Aurélie subsided into silence. She felt terrible about last night. No matter what she tried to convince herself, shehadwanted to kiss Lucien. She’d wanted to melt into his embrace and feel his mouth on hers.

Heat scored her cheeks as she thought of Princess Ilsa and how Aurélie had wronged her, trying to seduce her fiancé.

Mouth compressing, she focused on her surroundings. How far were they travelling? She should have asked but had been too caught up in their conversation.

She tried to summon annoyance that Lucien was taking her out of the city when she had a bus to catch. But they needed to talk about future arrangements. She had no doubt he’d have someone help get her on a bus when they’d finished. Besides, she was curious to see Lucien’s home.

And, the dangerous thought hovered, maybe despite her determination, she wasn’t eager to say her final goodbyes.

Aurélie watched the rock wall of a cutting slide by as the low-slung car purred around another bend then surged forward on the straight. The view was spectacular. She looked out of the far window to a perfect vista of green valley dotted with traditional wooden farm buildings and beyond that the foothills of snow-capped mountains. But what caught her eye was Lucien’s profile. His expression was grim, his brow furrowed and jaw locked.

‘Is everything all right?’ she asked as they rounded another curve and a couple of workmen came into view. A truck was parked in a layby and they seemed to be inspecting a retaining wall.

Lucien expelled his breath in a sigh. He slowed the car and lowered the window. One of the men raised an arm in greeting. Lucien responded, calling out something in a language she didn’t know. The workers nodded. Then the car inched forward.

Aurélie saw an ugly bare patch above the new retaining wall, barren of vegetation. Turning, she noticed a break in the treetops below them on the other side of the road.

‘Has there been an avalanche?’

‘It’s okay.’ Lucien’s voice held an unfamiliar rough note. ‘The whole mountainside has been surveyed and the necessary work completed.’

Aurélie nodded. ‘That’s good. You wouldn’t want to have an...’ Her words stopped as she recalled the press report about his cousin. A rockfall after storms and heavy rain on the road from his residence.

She gasped as the implication sank in.

Lucien’s hands tightened on the wheel. ‘It’s safe now. I wouldn’t risk you or the baby.’ Still that deep voice didn’t sound like his. Her heart squeezed as she recognised pain.

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