Page 43 of Prince She Shouldn't Crave
Gabe snorted. ‘No. Perhaps not. What do the headlines say today?’
He could read them himself with less trouble now his stress had seemed to ease, a revelation that gave him hope things would improve even further. Something else to thank Lena for. Still, this was a routine with Pieter he enjoyed, particularly the way his valet read the headlines with such delicious disdain.
‘I quite like this—’
A knock sounded at the door of his apartment, which immediately opened. His mother striding through. He gave her a quick bow, the visit unexpected.
She waved her hand at Pieter. ‘You may leave us.’
The fact she tried to dismiss his staff rankled.
‘Pieter was about to tell me what the headlines said.’
Pieter didn’t move.
His mother walked to the coffee table, picked up one tabloid. Whilst Lena laughed that it was ‘old school’ not looking at the papers online, these habits were old ones.
‘Ah, yes.“Sisters Marry. Is Prince Gabriel Next? Speculation Grows as Nation Waits!”’
‘Hyperbole,’ Gabe said. ‘Cilla isn’t married yet.’
‘Priscilla will be married soon enough,’ his mother said, ominously.
He was aware he’d need to marry some day. It was just that he never gave it much thought other than as a concept. He was thirty-two. There was no rush. His father was well. He had years to take the throne. Though a vision slammed into his consciousness, of Lena looking up at him, soft focus behind a veil… They were thoughts better had at another time. He filed them for later reference.
‘Too many royal weddings too soon seems excessive.’
‘Let’s read another headline, shall we?’
His mother’s tone was prickly, but then that tended to be her default, though she usually reserved her ire for her daughters, who had never lived up to her lofty expectations.
His mother’s lips pursed as if she’d tasted something unpleasant.‘“From Eligible to Engaged? Prince Gabriel’s New Look Fuels Bride Search Buzz!”’
Gabe looked around and noticed that Pieter had quietly and sensibly slid from the room.
‘Is there a point to your visit, Mother?’
‘It seems that your makeover’s working. Therefore, Miss Rosetti’s services are no longer required. The role can be absorbed by others, using her formula for success.’
No!
The word shouted in his head. It was all he could do to keep quiet and not to shout the wordathis mother. Lena’s formula for success? She understood him. No one else could achieve the same because no one knew him as Lena did.
‘Othershave tried in the past, and they’ve failed. Lena stays.’
His mother grabbed another paper. Read it. Fixed him with her cold blue gaze.
‘“All Eyes on Prince Gabriel’s Change: Is Love in the Air?”’
His heart skipped a beat. Stilled. Why were they talking about love?
‘The tabloid editors are being ridiculous. Royal weddings sell. Speculation about royal weddings sell even more.’
‘Your father seems happy enough to allow this to continue. I know better.’ His mother’s voice was as cold as the first slap of a winter’s wind across your face.
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘Save me the lies, Gabriel! You couldn’t fool me when you were a child, and you don’t fool me now. A dalliance is acceptable when the rules are followed.’
