Page 10 of Prince She Shouldn't Crave
‘As for your “doodling”,’ Gabriel said, taking the offending paper between his fingers, ‘I can’t have anything that will cause an internal incident coming from my office.’
He stood and turned his back to her, his shoulders broad and strong. Enough to hold up the weight of his job, the weight of an entire country’s needs. Then Prince Gabriel dropped the paper into a machine behind his desk. It buzzed, shredding the document.
‘A few scribbles would cause a problem?’
‘I’m not willing to take the chance. It seems everyone wants a piece of my family. Our special advisor is a man with an agenda. There’s a small but strange push for a republic. Criticism now, where there was none before. It doesn’t feel organic or authentic.’
‘And if your people wanted a republic?’
Prince Gabriel sat behind his desk again, hands clasped on the gleaming wooden tabletop. ‘Then they could have it.’
Lena gave a shaky kind of laugh. Surely he couldn’t mean it?
‘What? Give up? Just like that?’
‘If I were King, my duty would be to honour and defend my people. If they didn’t want my family ruling them and I couldn’t convince them otherwise, then it would be my duty to stand aside.’
The way he said those words, with such strength and conviction, told her what he really thought. There was so much at stake here. If she failed… Then she’d be potentially responsible for the downfall of this man sitting in front of her, of a royal family. Lena wondered if her own shoulders were strong enough to carry the weight of her personal role here.
‘But you don’t want to. Stand aside, I mean.’
Gabriel shook his head. ‘I’ll never capitulate to this…propaganda. My family, me,weare the best choice.’
The morning sun streamed through the windows behind Prince Gabriel. He was lit up, magical and golden. How could anyone doubt he was the perfect prince? The king in waiting, who loved his country and would even set aside his own interests if his people wanted him to. Put a gleaming crown on his head and she could see it all laid out before her. Lena’s heart quickened with excitement. She had no doubt. Gabriel MontroywasHalrovia’s glorious future.
She just had to figure out how to show it.
CHAPTER THREE
Lena sat atan outdoor dining setting on a terrace, sipping a deliciously hot coffee as she overlooked the still, deep inkblot of Lake Morenberg in front of her. The snow-capped Alps soaring behind, white peaks gleaming in the early morning sunshine. They’d arrived in Lauritania’s capital the night before and she hadn’t had a real chance to admire the beauty of the landscape until now. The home they were staying in was one of King Rafe’s former private residences. An elegant, secure modern masterpiece with expanses of glass overlooking the water on one side of the house and, on the other, views into the old town and towering Morenberg Palace they’d be visiting today.
She felt as though she’d had a kind of breakthrough with Prince Gabriel, small though it was. Their discussion over the real reasons why she’d been hired had given her more to work with. She liked to think it was some evidence of a growing trust that he’d disclosed those things to her, sensitive as they were. Giving her an insight into the true importance of her role. The challenge.
And that gave her ideas…
‘Good morning, Lena.’
She startled at the deep, low voice of her employer behind her. Almost spilling her drink all over herself. She placed the mug carefully on the table and stood to curtsey and address him properly. As she did, he waved her away.
‘Please. No formality, not here.’
He might have suggested no formality but even this morning he was dressed in suit trousers and a blue and white striped business shirt, which made his eyes seem even brighter. Though his hair was still slightly damp from a shower. Lena didn’t know why that realisation ignited something warm in her belly.
It was likely just the coffee. She’d make a cooler cup next time.
‘You talk about no formality yet here you are looking way too formal for this early in the morning.’
He took a long swig from the cup he held. ‘I had a video call.’
‘It’s very rude of someone to organise something so early, before caffeination,’ Lena said, sitting and taking another sip of her own delicious beverage.
‘It was with my father.’
Lena choked, almost spitting out the mouthful. She coughed a few times, her eyes watering. ‘My apologies, to His Majesty.’
‘He’s not here to see you, and…’ Gabriel tapped the side of his nose, looking amused ‘…I’ll never tell.’
She liked that. Someone seeing fit to protect her when no one really had. Gabriel stood for a few more seconds, staring out at the view as if lost in his own thoughts. A light breeze drifted over the terrace. She caught a scent on that breeze. Something so enticing that she wanted to simply breathe in a lungful. His aftershave, she guessed. Green, fresh, sweet, like she supposed the high alpine regions smelled. Coming from sea level and an island, she wasn’t sure. Then he pulled out a chair from the table and sat down. Notexactlyat the table itself, almost as though he was holding himself a little apart, when what he should be doing was trying to get closer to people.
