Page 16 of Pregnant In The King's Palace

‘You mean he rides like he has something to prove?’ She was enjoying the way her favourite mare shone beneath his guidance. No one could deny Valentine’s expertise, his skill, his fairness. He looked good out there. Not sick or struggling or anything less than overwhelmingly virile. ‘He thinks I pity him.’

‘You have to admit it’s quite a blow for a king to be sterile. If it’s true.’

‘It’s true. I just asked him.’

Lucia grimaced. ‘Poor man.’

‘He’s not poor! Or suddenly incompetent or incapable of ruling his country. Look at him!’

‘I’m looking.’ The slightest hint of indulgence had crept into Lucia’s voice. ‘Great seat, strong legs, very nice goal. Your “tough love” approach seems to be working for him. We should clap again.’

‘He infuriates me.’ In all fairness, he was playing exceptionally well. ‘I don’t know what to do with him.’

Lucia turned her attention from the polo match to Angelique. ‘Last night you wanted nothing to do with him.’

And today it was different.

‘You still want him. That’s just fact.’ Lucia didn’t wait for any comment. ‘And now he’s no longer obliged to marry a Thallasian noblewoman and provide children for his throne you think you can have him? Is that what you think?’

‘I—’ She knew it was crazy and unhealthy and wrong, but, ‘Yes.’

‘What about children?’ Her sister never had been one to mince words, and these ones were designed to provoke, to make her think. Maybe even to make her hurt.

Because she did hurt at the thought of missing out on being part of a traditional family one day. Did she really want to forgo the chance to hold her son or daughter in her arms, to love beyond measure and watch her children grow? And for what? A man who might never even acknowledge a relationship with her, let alone her sacrifice?

And yet...

If she came to love Valentine, truly love him, and he loved and valued her too, and children weren’t for him... ‘What about them?’

CHAPTER FIVE

KING VALENTINE OF THALLASIA played four consecutive chukkas, rode two more of her horses, and then the mare Armonía again at the last, and secured his team six goals and the competition win. It had been a masterful performance and everyone knew it. He weathered Theo’s ribbing and the congratulations of his teammates with a shrug and a faintly pleased grin. Arrogance personified, she might have once said. Right up until he caught her eye and let the briefest glimpse of vulnerability show in his flashing black eyes.

Have I pleased you? Did I ride well?

And then the bright flare of relief when she responded by inclining her head in a wordless gesture of approval.

And then it was time for her to take the mare and for him to disappear, only he somehow stayed behind when the others moved on.

‘You do realise everyone’s watching us,’ she murmured.

‘I’m aware.’

‘But you don’t care? Still in self-destruct mode, then? Planning on going out with a bang?’

‘I’ll give you four million euros for the mare,’ he countered, at which point Angelique all but tripped over her own feet. At best, the mare would fetch eight hundred thousand euros and that was assuming the buyer had no common sense and money to burn. An offer of four million was ridiculous.

‘How much?’

‘Four million euros. But there’s a catch.’

‘And I can’t wait to hear it, but you should probably cool down before you make any rash offers.’ Valentine was fresh off the field and flush with the endorphins that came with riding an animal that had catered to his every whim. It wouldn’t be fair to take advantage of him.

Unfair, yet still altogether tempting.

She took the mare’s reins and let Valentine fall into step beside her as they walked along the sidelines to cool the horse down.

‘Four million for the mare and the catch is I want one month of your time. One month, and you’ll live in my palace, rejuvenate Thallasia’s royal horse-breeding programme and breakfast with me daily.’

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