Page 65 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

She sighed. ‘So I’m learning. Though, believe it or not, I don’t want notoriety. Or riches. Or even a palatial nest.’ She clamped her mouth shut, realising it was pointless. The Grand Duchess wasn’t disposed to like her.

‘But you do want Lucien, don’t you?’

Aurélie met those bright eyes and denial died on her tongue. To her chagrin she felt heat flood her cheeks.

‘You’ll have to try camouflaging that high colour of yours or everyone will know when you’re lying.’

Aurélie shook her head. ‘I don’t lie.’

‘You’re saying you care for him? Do you love him?’ she snapped out, leaning across the table.

‘Yes, I do,’ Aurélie snapped back.

Her eyes rounded as she realised what she’d admitted. She swivelled her head towards the stairs where Lucien had disappeared but there was no sign of him.

‘Ah, now that makes it interesting. Does he know?’

Mutely Aurélie shook her head.

‘And yet he wants to marry you.’ At Aurélie’s stunned look she nodded. ‘He told me of his plans. To be honest I couldn’t work out why he was so set on marriage. Unless...’ Her gaze dropped to Aurélie’s waist and Aurélie felt her cheeks burn. Nevertheless she kept her chin up and her mouth closed.

Finally the Grand Duchess spoke. ‘You’re not as I’d feared, Ms Balland.’

‘It would be nice to think that was a good thing. But the way my day’s going, that would be too much to expect.’

To her amazement, the old lady gave a sharp crack of laughter that echoed across the room. In her peripheral vision Aurélie registered heads turning.

‘It’s definitely a good thing. I like you, Ms Balland. I hadn’t expected to, but you’re everything Lucien said and more.’

Aurélie frowned, wondering what he’d said, and how she’d managed to sway her interrogator.

‘I hope you’ll forgive my rudeness, my dear. But I have a soft spot for my great-nephew and I’d hate to see him caught by a conniving gold-digger.’

‘I’m not—’

‘Yes, I can see you’re not.’

And to Aurélie’s astonishment the Grand Duchess gave her a smile every bit as charming as Lucien’s. It transformed her expression from stern to welcoming.

‘You were testing me?’

‘Someone has to look out for him. He’s so busy taking on a burden that was never supposed to be his, I couldn’t be sure he was thinking clearly.’

Those amber eyes flickered and for a moment Aurélie thought she read terrible sadness there. Until the old lady seemed to gather herself.

‘It’s been a terrible time for your family. I’m sorry for your losses.’

The Grand Duchess nodded abruptly. ‘Harder for Lucien though. Much harder. But now he has you. If you can stay the course.’ Her eyes narrowed and Aurélie felt she was being sized up. ‘Being King is no job for a single man. Lucien needs someone who’ll support him. Can you do that?’

‘I...’ She hadn’t thought of Lucien needing support. He’d been the one making everything happen. Managing problems. Protecting her. But she remembered his weariness as he’d dealt with the fallout of his broken engagement and it would only get worse. ‘The media doesn’t like me.’

‘The media? Pish! We don’t let those hounds rule our lives. This fuss will eventually pass. I’m talking about someone who’ll give him stability, companionship, support.’

‘I’d like to help him.’ If he’d let her. ‘But there’s so much I don’t know. Rules, politics, etiquette.’ Aurélie gathered her courage. ‘For instance, should I have curtsied to you?’

‘Only if you wanted me to think you were toadying. You’ve got a good firm handshake, excellent posture and a pleasant smile. More than that, you can think for yourself and you’ve got courage.’ She nodded. ‘You’ll do. And you can come to me for advice. Good to see you have an eye for colour too.’ She gestured to Aurélie’s dress. ‘Clever of you to wear Vallort green. The press will lap it up and locals will see it as a sign of respect for our country.’

Aurélie didn’t have the heart to admit she hadn’t realised the significance of the shade. But looking down the boulevard to the palace she saw the national flag flying proudly, white and the very same green.

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