Page 27 of Crowned For The King's Secret

‘That’s terrible.’

‘In suspicious circumstances. She’d received a strange windfall of cash. Told her family it was a work bonus, but she wasneverpaid one by the palace. Webelieve my cousin eliminated the only other person who knew of Nic’s existence, whom he couldn’t control.’

Victoria’s skin paled. The warm spring breeze took on a cold chill.

‘What does that have to do with me?’

‘Whilst my cousin is free, you’re in danger.’

‘My brother—’

‘Is a duke. I know. He’s a man of means, and I’m aware of his resources.’

He hadn’t told Victoria that Lance had contacted the palace, perhaps not believing the ruse his staff repeated to him when he called, that Sandro, Victoria and Nicolai were holidaying together. The Queen and King of Lauritania, Santa Fiorina’s first fresh ally when he’d returned to the throne and friends of Victoria’s brother, had also made representations to the palace about her welfare.

‘Then you know he’ll keep us safe.’

Not the way I will, because Nicolai’s my son.

‘He’s not a king. He doesn’t have the weight of a country behind him. He’s also married. The moment he protects you, he and his wife are at risk too. Don’t ever underestimate the things my cousin might do to get to Nicolai.’

Her mouth opened. Closed. As if she had things to say and couldn’t get the words out.

‘He wouldn’t...would he? I mean, why now? I thought he’d left the throne by mutual agreement.’

When the country was falling apart around him, that man hadn’t had the courage to fight for it. He’d only thought of himself.

‘He had no interest in caring for Santa Fiorina. When people began to rise up in the cold of winter because they had no money to keep themselves warm, I suspect he believed it was too hard. He was happy to put down the occasional uprising; however, he was in a difficult position if he wanted a life of laziness and pleasure-seeking. And he had no heir. Even though he’d been married, his wife failed to produce a child.’

Victoria looked down at her lap. Toyed with her napkin sitting there.

‘He told me he couldn’t have children. I thought he was mentioning it because it was something he thought we had in common.’

For Sandro, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. They left him frozen to the marrow.

‘We extracted promises he would exile himself, with no further interference in the country. I believe we underestimated his cunning and desire to return to the throne. Did he ever try to get closer to you?’

‘He suggested we could go for lunch once.’ She shuddered, as if the memory was an unpleasant one.

He was now sure his cousin thought he could ingratiate himself. Marry the mother. Dispose of Sandro. Become Regent for a child he’d control, a child whose blood was royal.

The horror of that plan.

‘It must have been hard to let him go after what happened to your family,’ she said.

He’d wanted that man prosecuted and convicted with no hope of leaving whatever prison he’d been left to rot in. His advisers cautioned that Gregorio wasn’t responsible for the sins of his father, that the people of Santa Fiorina came before the desires of one man. Sandro chose to be the King his country needed, and swallowed the rest like poison.

‘In the end, there was little choice to make. We exchanged the reality of a protracted civil war where many in my country might have died, for the certainty of a peaceful transition. That was good for Santa Fiorina. But with a father like his, I should have realised, I ought to have fought harder.’

‘What do you mean?’

How could he admit his failings to her? That he might have worked tirelessly on the diplomatic front, making representations which would place financial pressure on his cousin, asking former allies of his father to impose travel bans, financial constraints, so his cousin’s life became unbearable. But he’d always been safe. Protected for ever because his loss was considered a loss for the country. He hadn’t fought beside his people, some of whom had died as they waited for his return like the prodigal son from the wilderness.Allof that felt like a failure, not a triumph.

‘You need to understand. My half-uncle seemed to be a loving family member. Would sit me on his knee, claimed to support my father. All the while he plotted against my family...he plotted foryearsbefore executing his plan. My parents were shown no grace, no mercy. That’s why you need to stay in Santa Fiorina. I can’t stress enough that I will protect Nic, I’ll protect you, with my life. I won’t let anything happen to either of you.’

She wrapped her arms round herself, her eyes gleaming in the low light, as if with unshed tears.

‘One of your own staff hid Nic’s birth from you. It feels like we’re surrounded by the enemy.’

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