Page 23 of Mistaken as His Royal Bride

‘What is it? I ask too many questions...is that it?’

Maddi’s voice broke Ari out of the past. He looked at her and was surprised at the concern on her face. It made something shift inside him. What was he doing, sitting here having a surprisingly easy conversation with this woman who, together with Princess Laia, had thrown the marriage pact between Santanger and Isla’Rosa into complete disarray?

Today she looked...less wild. But no less beautiful. Because shewasbeautiful. More beautiful than he had initially given her credit for. Her bone structure was that of a classic beauty. High cheekbones. Firm jaw. Straight nose. Big eyes, beautifully framed by dark, arching brows and long, luxurious lashes.

She was also now wearing clothes thatfitted, and in a colour that made her skin look golden and silky. The dress enhanced her curves without being provocative. Yet she was still provocative to him. Even though she wasn’t wearing a shirt that strained over her very obviously braless breasts. Even though she wasn’t barefoot.

He shook his head. ‘It’s fine. You didn’t say anything that hasn’t already been said a million times.’

She shrugged minutely. ‘Okay.’

She dunked a biscuit into her coffee and popped it into her mouth, between those lush lips. He caught a glimpse of that maddening gap between her teeth. Everything about her seemed designed to get under his skin like a thorn anditch.

She pushed her hair behind her ear at that moment, and Ari caught a glimpse of something twinkling high on her ear.

He leaned forward. ‘What is that?’

She looked at him, eyes amber and gold. ‘What is what?’

He pointed. ‘In your ear.’

Maddi touched it. ‘It’s a diamond stud.’

‘It’ll have to go.’

She looked crestfallen. ‘It was a gift from someone...special.’

Ari immediately felt hot all over—and not with desire. With something far more volatile. ‘A lover?’

She shook her head, making her glossy hair slip over her shoulders. It looked like burnished brown silk.

‘No, just a friend.’

The volatility in Ari calmed a little. ‘Like I said, you’ll have to remove it. It’s too...unconventional.’

She lifted her chin. ‘Maybe a little unconventionality wouldn’t be such a bad thing?’

The volatility was back. No one spoke like that to Ari. Yet, as much as it angered him, he hated to admit that he also found it...refreshing.

He said, ‘Ifyou were Princess Laia I would be happy to pursue a conversation about the merits of unconventionality within the parameters of a royal marriage, but you’re not. We have a function to attend this evening. Remove the stud.’

Now Maddi went pale. ‘This evening? What event?’

He almost felt sorry for her.Almost. ‘A garden party here at the palace. Relatively informal. To introduce you to some staff and members of parliament. Important people in Santanger society.’

A few hours after lunch Maddi was standing in front of a mirror in her bedroom, nerves coiling in her belly like restless snakes. She’d got used to dressing formally when working as Laia’s lady-in-waiting, but she’d always been dressed to fade into the background, in muted colours.

Now she was dressed to stand out. It was a royal blue silk dress, loosely fitted and mid-length. Sleeveless. Deceptively simple, yet so elegant it took Maddi’s breath away. It flowed and moved like air around her body.

She wore matching high heels, and her hair was pulled back into a low bun. Some wild tendrils fought to get loose—the hairstylist had given up trying to tame them. Her make-up was minimal, yet effective.

She was wearing a string of pearls around her neck and simple pearl drop earrings. A matching bracelet. The diamond stud high in her ear twinkled at her. She had a rebellious urge to leave it there and see how Aristedes would react. But the fact that Maddi wanted to provoke him made her take it out quickly, placing it onto a little tray.

When Laia had noticed her numerous ear piercings, she’d given the stud to Maddi, saying, ‘I always wanted to have loads of piercings, but I wasn’t allowed. Wear this for me and I’ll get to enjoy it through you.’

So that was why it was special to her. It was one half of a pair owned by Laia.

She hadn’t expected Aristedes to be so incensed by a fairly conservative piercing, but when he’d asked her earlier if a lover had given it to her he’d looked as if he might explode.

---