Page 71 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

‘Sorry? I don’t understand.’ It couldn’t be for the pregnancy, not while they waited to see if she miscarried.

‘On your engagement.’

‘Engagement?’ Aurélie frowned.

‘It’s in today’s paper.’ The woman beamed. ‘And so romantic. It’s good to think of the King finding happiness after so much loss. We’re all so excited for you both.’

Aurélie’s brain froze. An engagement, announced in the paper?

There’d been a terrible mistake. Lucien had agreed to wait until next week. Given the danger of a miscarriage, surely he’d wait even longer, because there mightbeno baby. Without a baby, there’d be no engagement, no marriage.

Again Aurélie had to blink back tears.

‘Now, now.’ The nurse took Aurélie’s hand, checking her pulse. ‘I know it’s scary, being here, but you’re doing well this morning. Truly. Rest and try not to worry.’

Aurélie conjured a wobbly smile. ‘Thank you.’

When the nurse left she curled up on her side and shut her eyes, though sleep would be impossible. How could she not worry when everything was going wrong? How had the press learned their secret? No one had known—

‘Aurélie?’

Her eyes snapped open and there was Lucien. Her heart gave a thump of joy and the cramping pain in her chest eased.

The lower part of his face was shadowed with beard growth, emphasising the masculine angles of chin and jaw. Even the concern etched around his eyes only made him look less like a fantasy hero and more like the man she loved.

Till she remembered his concern was all for the baby she carried, not her.

‘You’re here early.’ Her voice was husky. The sound undid him. He could bear most things, but Aurélie hurting...

Lucien crossed to her bedside and pulled up a chair, yet he didn’t reach for her. She looked so fragile.

Seeing the change in her made his chest ache. He wanted to haul her into his arms and reassure himself as much as her. He wanted to make things better for her but some things were beyond his control. He wasn’t even sure how to reach her when she wore that shuttered look.

But he had to try. More, he had tosucceed. He refused to consider the alternative, of her shunning him permanently.

‘I stayed the night.’ Seeing her stunned look he clarified. ‘The chairs in the waiting room are surprisingly comfortable.’ Or would be if you weren’t well over six feet. ‘I had someone bring clothes for us both this morning.’ He rubbed his stubbly chin. He’d forgotten to ask for a razor.

Her red-rimmed eyes rounded. ‘You could have gone to the palace. Someone would have rung if there was a change.’

Lucien shrugged. ‘I wanted to be here.’

Not wanted butneeded. He couldn’t stay away.

The staff had got used to him prowling the corridor through the night, checking on Aurélie through the window in the door and demanding updates whenever staff checked on her.

Fortunately the news this morning was more positive. He clung to that.

‘I hear you’re doing well today. You and the baby.’

Aurélie’s gaze slid away. The connection he’d felt from the moment she’d met his eyes frayed.

‘We’ve got a problem.’

‘The baby?’ He reached out and took her hand. To his horror she flinched.

What was that? He was used to Aurélie melting in his embrace, snuggling up to him, not shrinking away. His fingers tightened,willingher to accept his touch. Needing it.

She shook her head, her mouth a tight line.

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