Page 37 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

‘Are you all right, driving here?’

Briefly his eyes met hers and she felt a jangle of sensation in her midriff.

‘You know about Justin?’

Aurélie nodded. ‘I read about the accident.’

Lucien turned back to the road, manoeuvring the powerful car with ease. ‘It should never have happened. They knew that area needed attention. There’d been a small slip the month before. But I’m told he was distracted by my uncle’s failing health, even when warned of the danger, and didn’t order the necessary work.’ Aurélie heard strain in his tone and read tension in his powerful frame. ‘I’m having every mountain road in Vallort surveyed and upgraded where necessary.’

Aurélie’s heart wrung at the ache in his thickened voice. She reached out and lightly touched his upper arm. ‘I’m so sorry, Lucien. I know he meant a lot to you.’

She remembered his terrible blankness the night they’d met, as if, trapped in the depths of grief, the world no longer made sense.

‘Thank you.’ Then, before she had time to say more, they rounded another curve and pulled up in a wide levelled space with the valley on one side, the mountain on the other and dead ahead the most wondrous building she’d ever seen.

It looked like a castle from a storybook. She half expected to see some medieval princess or a knight in armour emerge from the entrance. Or a fairy godmother.

‘Youlivehere?’

From this angle the castle looked taller than it was wide. It was built of pale stone and sprouted a forest of towers with conical roofs. Curiously, the tops of some towers were whitewashed and half-timbered, softening the effect of grim stone. Afternoon sun shone on mullioned windows and on roof tiles of a deep, rich green that, in this moment of whimsy, made Aurélie think of dragon scales. From the tallest tower flew the royal green and white banner of Vallort.

She’d left the real world and entered a fairy story.

‘This is where I grew up.’

Aurélie shook her head. ‘I can’t imagine it.’ It was a far cry from the cramped rented home where she’d been raised. ‘You live here?’

She turned to see Lucien’s face grow mask-like.

‘I will now. It was time to leave the city.’

That was right. He’d said he hadn’t been living here. Aurélie surveyed his taut features and thought of that ugly slashing scar on the mountainside below. Was that why? Had there been too many memories here?

It was none of her business but she felt tenderness well up. Without stopping to think she touched his arm, feeling the rigid strength of his biceps.

‘Welcome home.’

He jerked his head around from contemplating the castle. Those remarkable eyes flared brighter as they captured hers and something tugged deep within. Not just the sexual tension that always simmered around this man, but something more profound. Her hand settled on his arm, fingers gently squeezing.

‘Thank you, Aurélie.’ He covered her hand with his.

Again it wasn’t a sexually charged gesture, though the warmth of his touch sent heat shimmering through her. This was about comfort given and acknowledged and it felt utterly natural.

Aurélie refused to consider whether she had the right to comfort him. Soon she’d be leaving. Time enough for regrets then. She sucked in a quick breath at the sudden ache filling her chest.

Lucien turned back towards the castle. ‘It was a good place to grow up. There are lots of happy memories.’ His lips curved. ‘Justin and I had a ball, playing here. It’s a paradise for kids.’

Aurélie flinched and pulled her hand away.

She guessed he hadn’t said it deliberately but Lucien’s words reminded her that she was depriving her child of so much, choosing to raise it alone, rather than here as part of the royal family.

‘You wanted to talk.’ Her voice sounded flat. Which she supposed was better than revealing the tumult of her conflicting emotions.

‘Yes, come inside.’

The building was everything she’d expected from the outer view, and more. Its ancient origins were clear to see but blended with modern comfort.

Built around a large central courtyard, the place was actually circular. They entered through a vaulted hall that looked as if it could host a banquet for a couple of hundred. The massive fireplaces were so big she could have stood up in them. Huge, beautiful tapestries lined the walls and above them was an incredible display of old weapons.

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