Page 30 of Pregnant at the Palace Altar

“I do,” Diamandis said firmly, and this was Katerina’s cue to pay attention. To respond to the bishop with the correct words so he could declare them husband and wife.

King and queen.

Forever.

And she didn’t want to run away. The fear that had lived deep inside her when she’d found out she was pregnant was fully gone now. No matter what happened, he had promised himself to her. He would never break that promise. Maybe he could not be the husband or father she wanted him to be, but he would not abandon her.

He pulled her forward by the shoulders and pressed a very chaste kiss to her lips. Then he turned her to face the guests.

She was officially his queen. And this was not a punishment. It wasn’t even ajob. Here, surrounded by his family, his court, his people, she realized this was just life.

Her life.

Their life.

She would have to make the best of it.

CHAPTER TEN

THEPROCESSIONANDdinner were interminable. This did not surprise Diamandis. He had little patience for grand events at the best of times, and this was not the best of times.

Katerina looked a vision. The white of her fanciful gown seemed to make the golden tones of her skin glow, and the sparkle of it all continued to catch his eye so that he seemed to be forever looking around the room for her when they were not side by side. She smiled at everyone she talked to. She ate and whispered and laughed with Zandra.

She looked happy.

And something deep inside ached to be a part of that happiness, even as he had to focus on anything else to keep the evidence of his arousal from announcing itself.

But every time he caught her eye, or turned to find her gaze on him, he saw something...different. As though she’d said “I do” and things had changed. She looked at him with...somethingin her gaze. A warmth that made him feel...

Like he was on a very dangerous precipice. One he could not allow himself to fall off.

When at last the dinner ended, and they could make their escape, he could not find Katerina at first. After asking far too many people if they’d seen her, he finally located her himself. She was huddled in a corner with Zandra and a second or third cousin on their mother’s side. Zandra held a baby that must be Monika’s, while Katerina stroked the baby’s chubby cheek.

“It is time to leave, Your Highness,” Diamandis said stiffly and awkwardly. He wanted to do so immediately, but instead found himself drawn into a conversation about his distant relative and her brood of children. Talk of solid foods and diapers seemed to delight Katerina, but he did not wish to hear any of it and finally extricated her from the conversation.

“The plane is waiting for us,” he said, leading her away from the dwindling party. His staff would take care of everything else, while Zandra and Lysias made the remaining formal goodbyes.

“I would think the plane could wait for the king and queen if we so desire it,” Katerina said, still with that look in her eye.

“But I do not desire it,” he returned. As was custom—or was now expected because of his parents’ wedding—they did not have to give a grand goodbye. They were allowed to sneak out, as lovebirds might.

He hurried his pace, eager to be away from baby talk and thoughts of lovebirds.

“In all the years I worked for you, I don’t think you ever went to Anavolí,” Katerina said conversationally. She was so relaxed. So calm. All the while wearing a complicated gown and being largely pregnant after a long, exhausting day she hadn’t wanted in the first place.

She made no sense to him anymore. He’d always understood her as his assistant, but she’d changed the game. She seemed to have her own vision of what her new role was in his life and he didn’t share it. Know it. Understand it.

And still she kept talking about Anavolí, the royal holiday castle.

“I would have thought it made-up if I had not had to handle the arrangements when your political allies wanted to use it,” she continued.

“I have not been in quite some time. The demands of the throne are significant. I’m rather loath to leave now, but the kingdom expects such displays of...”

“Romance?” she supplied.

He fought the impulse to look at her. “If you wish.” He led her outside. Christos offered a nod as they emerged and he led them to the car. He drove them to the airport, then personally saw to all the security measures. He even sat with the pilot while Diamandis and Katerina took seats in the cabin.

She chattered away the whole flight. About the people she’d met for the first time today, or people she’d worked with who had given her gifts and kind words. This was not any Katerina he knew, and it left him feeling oddly imbalanced.

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