Page 83 of Duty and Desire

“Didhesend you here to tell me that?”

She expelled a sigh. “He doesn’t know I’m here. I’ve taken a leave of absence from my job.”

“Then how can you say?—”

“Gio,” she interjected. “Can we not do this out here? I’ve traveled a long way to see you, and right now I could really use a drink.” Her gaze grew warmer. “I promise, I’ll tell you all I know.”

I opened the gate, then the door. “Come in.” I followed her into the bungalow, and headed for the kitchen. “Will a glass of wine do?”

“Perfect.” Claudia placed her purse on the dining table.

It was then I noticed the carry-on bag. “Do you always pack this light?”

“I wasn’t intending staying long on the island.” She took the glass I proffered. “Thanks.”

I gestured to the living room, and we went over to the couch.

“When did you find out about Nick?”

I took a sip to ease my tight throat. “Two days ago. A friend saw Nick’s photo on a news item, then called me.” I cocked my head. “So Franz was Nick’s bodyguard?”

She nodded. “He works for the Royal Family, assigned to protect Nick here.”

I put the glass down. “Nick didn’t want to be part of the monarchy, did he?”

Claudia stared at me. “Did he tell you that?”

“Not the monarchy part, obviously, but I knew he was running away from something. I thought it was his family.”

She stared into her glass. “He had many reasons for trying to escape his destiny. Internal struggles, fears… But I won’t talk about those. I can’t. It isn’t my story to tell.” She straightened. “I’m here to take you to Eisenland.”

I snorted. “I’m way ahead of you. My flights are already booked.” I frowned. “You said Nick needs me, but he doesn’t know you’re here. He hasn’t contacted me. If he wanted to see me, he’d?—”

“Gio…” Claudia set her glass on the coffee table. “Look, this is way more complicated than you imagine.”

I arched my eyebrows. “How much more complicated could it be?”

She laced her fingers, her gaze locked onto them. “He’s going to be married. To Princess Karoline von Mussner-Rheinberger.”

I froze. “But… his father’s dead. He arranged the marriage when Nick was only a kid. Doesn’t it die with him? Can’t Nick refuse?”

She shook her head.

“But he’s the freakingking!”

Claudia gave me an inquiring glance. “Doesn’t your President have advisers? Statesmen who surround him? Maybe the ones who truly run the country?”

“Sure he does, but as for whether they’re the ones pulling the strings…” Then again, what did I know?

She picked up her glass and drank half its contents. “Well, in Eisenland, now that King Johannes is no more, the ministers are the power behind the throne. Nick’s brother, Prince Rudolf, married Princess Gabriele because that was what had been agreed between the families when Rudolf was just a boy. It was the same with Nick and Princess Karoline. Nick wasn’t about to marry a woman, so?—”

“So he left,” I finished for her.

Claudia nodded. “But now he’s back, and his late father’s ministers see no reason why the marriage shouldn’t take place. First a wedding, then the coronation…”

Cold trickled down my spine, inching its way to my extremities.

“He’s trapped, isn’t he?”

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