Page 58 of Stranded with His Runaway Bride

The corner of his mouth lifted but his eyes were filled with loss. She wanted to weep for the unfairness of it all.

Could she love this man any harder? Could he want her love any less?

‘Very kind of them both when you think we never even got to meet Hildegard.’

‘But she was there, somewhere. Willing us on. Hoping we would find our path in life.’

She looked into his eyes. Desperate to see something, anything, that could let her stay.

‘I’m not sure we have,’ she said, in a small voice.

‘It’s the right choice.’

‘But we—’

‘It’s the right choice, Violetta.’ He took her hands and squeezed them. ‘Trust me.’

There it was again, that trust thing. But should she trust him on this?

Inside the box was an exquisite opal-and emerald-encrusted brooch. In the shape of a spider.

‘Oh, it’s beautiful,’ she said, gently stroking its little opal body. ‘I love it. Thank you.’

Her farewells had been said. Notes of thanks written to the castle staff. The car stood waiting and there was really nothing else keeping her here. When she knew the thing she wanted above anything was denied her.

This man, and his heart.

Doomed to friendship and respect. She couldn’t bear the thought of it.

She waved the little box at him. ‘Tell them thank you for this.’

He gave her a tight smile and took her hand to lead her to the waiting car. Almost pushing her in. As it pulled away she couldn’t stop herself from taking a last look back. Hoping he was at least watching her depart.

But he’d already turned away and was striding back to his castle, getting on with his life.

Trust him, he’d said. Perhaps in the end that was all there was left to do. Give him time and trust that somehow he’d overcome all the hurt and pain that had so ravaged his heart. And wait for him to come and claim the love she was offering.

Violetta clutched the box with her spider brooch and for now let Grimentz, and the man she loved, fall away behind her.

She turned her face to the future, to San Nicolo and all that awaited her there.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THEPALACECORRIDORSrang to the delighted shrieks of a toddler. A little boy being chased by a roaring lion, otherwise known as Aunt Violetta.

Maids patiently scrubbed sticky hand prints off antique furniture, footmen gathered up scattered toy animals and crouched to admire, for the umpteenth time, a beloved tractor held up for their inspection by a small, chubby fist.

But for a staff, starved for so long of the laughter of happy little ones, he was a priceless treasure who went a long way to restoring both his parents’ reputations in the eyes of everyone in the palace.

Violetta had reached out to her estranged sister and invited her to visit. How could she blame her for running away from her wedding to Leo when she’d done the exact same thing?

Francesca had instantly accepted the invite. At their first meeting she’d crossed the room and gathered Violetta up in an unrestrained hug.

It felt as though she’d regained a sibling she’d never really had in the first place. She restored her sister’s royal title, stripped from her when she’d eloped, and made a tiny princeling of her gorgeous little nephew. She patiently drew out her stern and taciturn brother-in-law, who had refused any honorary title of his own. He also refused to call her anything but ‘Your Serene Highness’ or ‘ma’am’, despite Violetta’s efforts. She understood what had made Francesca give up everything for him.

Her sister’s warrior husband was a good man.

He made no effort to curry favour or forgiveness, yet he earned it all the same as soon as anyone witnessed his behaviour around his wife and young son. His devotion melted the hardest heart.

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