Page 20 of Stolen Princess's Secret

‘You can expand your breeding programmes, take on seasonal apprentices, invite experts from all over the world to stay under your roof. Hatch plans that reflect your values and no one can stop you now. It’s freedom.’

‘It’s a cage.’

‘You’ve been bound since birth by your family’s service to the Crown. That’s a cage too. This cage is bigger,’ she snapped.

Patience, sister.

So much for sound advice.

She focused on her breathing, slowed it down, and tried not to push too hard and too fast.

All he had to do was give his new life a chance. Give her a chance. She was a woman of great confidence and clarity—everyone said so, and most of the time it was true.

She wouldn’t disappoint.

‘And, in addition, presenting you with the means to excel even more in your chosen field, as a nobleman, you and I are now on a far more level playing field.’ And if he still didn’t get it, ‘Meaning that if you want to, you’re now well placed to pursue me. Romantically. Openly.’ Because that was important too.

Had she really imagined the fire in his eyes all those times he’d looked at her before turning resolutely away? Had she misjudged the way he watched her when he thought no one was looking? Had he been unable to keep his eyes off her because she dazzled him or had he simply been keeping watch to make sure she wasn’t spirited away again by forces unknown?

‘I’m not written into your future. I wouldn’t do that,’ she assured him. ‘But I am a possibility. I always have been. I’ve just made things a bit easier for us, should you ever actually want me.’

He was like a big, silent wall. The resplendent King’s Falconer, with his iron will and magnificent body and eyes of deepest brown.

‘It goes against my nature having someone else call the shots the way you so very clearly do,’ he said finally.

Was that meant to be a warning?

‘You like being in control, yes, yes, I know. Probably in the bedroom too, am I right? I’ve heard rumours of your, um, prowess. I am here for you in that regard. I know what I like and I definitely like that. You be you. I’ll be me. I’m very fond of saying please.’

More silence greeted her earnest words. Startled, bemused silence, dripping incredulity all over the marble floor.

‘So would you like to see the map room now or would you rather take another decade or two to think about it?’

She’d had such good plans for them this evening. Was it too much to ask for a thimbleful of cooperation?

‘I’m going home.’

She could work with that. Privacy was all they needed.

‘I’m getting out of these stupid clothes.’

Yes, yes, exactly!

‘And then I’m going to do what I planned to do all along, and take a trip into the mountains for a couple of weeks and do my job, and fulfil the commitments I made before you so helpfully rearranged my world.’

He had no idea how badly she wanted to pull on her travelling furs and ride out there with him. The problem with that plan being that she had political commitments all next week, along with two royal luncheons and a trip to a neighbouring kingdom as her brother’s envoy.

‘If you can postpone your trip for a week, I could come with you.’

‘No.’

‘You are so infuriating.’

‘Me? You think I’m the infuriating one in this—’ he made a sharp gesture with his arm as if he couldn’t find the right word ‘—this...’

‘Relationship?’ she supplied hopefully.

‘Conversation! That’s all this is. A conversation.’

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