Page 20 of Pregnant In The King's Palace

‘And what makes you think we could ever afford a lease on such an estate?’

‘A hundred thousand Euros per annum and Cordova consultancy services when it comes to reinvigorating the bloodlines of the royal horses of Thallasia says you probably can.’ It was barely enough to cover the cost of the people already in place and who would stay in place to serve Angelique.

‘And what’s in it for you?’

‘A chance to get to know Angelique on her terms. Nothing more, nothing less.’

‘Not exactly a salesman, are you?’

‘No, I’m a king.’

‘You realise that my blessing is not all you need for your endeavour to succeed? You need my daughter’s agreement as well.’

‘I already have it.’

‘Oh, do you?’

‘More or less.’ Possibly less.

The older man finally picked up his coffee and set it to his lips. Weathered, lean and wiry, he somehow managed to project a far bigger presence than his small stature afforded him. ‘So, assuming you do manage to persuade my daughter within reach, what then? Do you intend to marry her?’

‘No.’

‘And children are not for you either, so I’m given to understand.’

‘True.’

‘You don’t have much to offer her, do you?’

Valentine leaned towards his coffee cup, taking his time to add two cubes of sugar and stir well before lifting the fragrant brew to his lips. He had no arguments to counter the other man’s observations. He knew Angelique deserved more and yet here he was. ‘I have the arrogance of kings. That and the sure belief that if your daughter had wanted marriage to a man who loved her and children to complete that pretty picture, she would have had that by now.’

‘She’s young. She can still have all that.’

Although not if she takes up with you.

Those words sat there between them, unspoken but present. ‘True. But not with me. She knows that.’ The coffee was good. Best he’d ever tasted. Perhaps it was the pure mountain air and lack of bull. The fact that Angelique’s father was giving him no quarter at all.

‘My children have a tendency to love as they will,’ the older man said at last. ‘My son loves a man. Damn near broke my heart but here I am, heart-whole and thriving and my son is the happiest I’ve ever seen him. He loves without reservation and is loved just as much in return, and I am content. Love is love, isn’t that the phrase?’ He nodded to himself. ‘If my daughter decides she loves you, with all the complexities involved, do you have the heart to love her in return?’

Not for a moment did he hesitate, and it wasn’t just the arrogance of kings. ‘I will cut out my heart before I hurt her again.’

Three weeks later, Angelique and thirty-six of the Cordova family’s finest horses moved into Valentine’s spare estate. Valentine had made his offer the day after he’d visited her father, and what they had spoken of neither would say, but her father had backed her decision to take on the lease, and the property really was perfect for their needs. Less travel for the polo ponies. Beautiful facilities. She could even repurpose part of the huge expanse of manicured lawn as a polo field, although the gardener would likely need resuscitating.

She’d searched her heart and decided to take a chance on this new chapter in her life. No marriage or babies on her horizon but an eventful and privileged future no less. She’d said yes to the lease. Yes to whatever might eventuate between her and Valentine. Yes to the crazy bad portrayal of her in the press, just as soon as they got wind of the transaction between the Thallasian monarchy and the Cordova horsemasters. Just yes.

Her whole family descended on the day she moved in. Her brother, Carlos, and Benedict, Luciana, and her parents. Even Queen Consort Moriana, along with Moriana’s favourite lady-in-waiting and one extremely good-looking guardsman of Liesendaach, had snuck in to help Angelique take possession. Never had Angelique imagined the immaculately put-together Moriana tucking into three different kinds of paella, plus salads, and then plain old natillas—or custard—for dessert, elbow to elbow with Angelique’s family and her employees. Never underestimate the woman, that was the take home.

Angelique had yet to understand why Moriana was even there.

‘But this is wonderful.’ Moriana sighed her contentment. ‘Theo will be so sad to have missed this.’

‘The slumming?’ Angelique teased, and waited to see how the other woman would take it.

‘Hardly.’ Moriana waved her hand towards the rest of the hall with its fourteen bedrooms and umpteen sitting rooms and dining areas. ‘The freedom to be with you all and not be on our best royal behaviour. I dripped paella on my napkin. I have opened up rooms for airing. Directed a hay truck down to the stables.’

‘Raided Valentine’s wine cellar,’ murmured Benedict with a benevolent smile.

‘You suggested it,’ Angelique reminded him dryly. ‘And I swear, you will be replacing it, because I’m damn sure I haven’t a hope of buying any of these bottles again. This one’s twenty years old and comes from a monastery I’ve never heard of.’

---