don’t have twenty kids,’ Rafael said. ‘I have a sheltered workshop which employs twenty disabled young men and women.’
‘Who are currently ready to hate the Princess Kellyn of Alp de Ciel,’ Anna said. ‘Because you’ve taken away their precious Rafael.’
‘Oh,’ Kelly said in a small voice.
‘He had to come away anyway,’ Laura said.
‘Not all the time, he didn’t,’ Anna said. ‘When Kass died he said he might have to spend a bit more time here. Not all the time.’
‘So it’s my fault,’ Kelly said.
‘Yes,’ Anna retorted. Kelly thought about it. Rafael was looking at her as if he was quite happy for her to take the blame. How unfair was that?
‘You’d think someone could have told me,’ she said bluntly and fixed him with a look that put the blame right back where it belonged.
He didn’t look the least bit guilty. He grinned. His grin made her feel warm from the toes up.
Ridiculous!
‘You didn’t tell her?’ Anna demanded, turning back to Rafael.
‘What was I supposed to tell her?’ Rafael asked.
‘How I’m dependent on you.’
‘I told Kelly I had a partner.’
‘Just not twenty kids.’
‘It seemed a bit over-dramatic.’
‘Rafael makes toys,’ Laura said, taking pity on Kelly’s confusion. ‘Rafael has the most wonderful sheltered workshop in the world. He’s built it up from one tiny idea, and now they export all over the world.’
‘Robo-Craft,’ Kelly said. ‘He did tell me that.’ She frowned. So what hadn’t he told her? Her ultimatum had real repercussions, not just for Rafael? She set down her knife and fork, her appetite suddenly gone.
‘It’s not like I’m closing down,’ Rafael told her quickly. ‘I’m just moving development here. Production will stay in Manhattan, overseen by Anna.’
‘Who keeps trying to run the business like a business,’ Anna said, sighing theatrically. ‘Only production’s dropped already, as everyone loves Rafael.’
‘And now they have to learn to love Anna,’ Rafael said. ‘And they will.’
‘So…’ Kelly swallowed. There was a lot here to think about and she didn’t know whether she had it right yet. ‘So when I said you had to stay here…’
‘Then I had to reorganize my business,’ Rafael said. ‘Which I’ve done.’
‘And Anna’s your…?’
‘Business partner,’ Anna said bluntly. ‘More fool me. I’m an accountant.’
‘Not your…partner-partner?’
‘No,’ Anna said, astonished. ‘Why would you think that? I’d have brained him ten years ago if he was my partner-partner. Any sane woman would. Now my Richard—who is my partner-partner—is threatening to brain him for me.’
‘Oh,’ Kelly said. She was starting to feel wobbly.
Last night had seemed fraught. Dangerous. But last night she’d thought Rafael was messing around, being a typical de Boutaine, because Rafael had a partner.
This morning she’d discovered that Anna was his business partner. And she’d discovered more. That Rafael had some truly noble motives in there among his de Boutaine blood.
Last night she’d thought Rafael was sexy but a de Boutaine.
Now…now she just thought he was sexy. Clever. Skilled. Kind.
Unattached.
Very, very sexy.
She suddenly felt really, really exposed. The kitchen was too warm. It was almost claustrophobic.
She pushed her pancakes away.
‘Is something wrong?’ Laura asked, watching her with concern.
‘I didn’t want to blackmail anyone to come here.’
‘If you did, we’re very grateful to you,’ Crater said, smiling on her with approval. ‘We need Rafael to run this principality. Someone has to take on the Crown.’
‘But that’s me,’ Matty piped up. ‘You said I’m the Crown Prince. This country is my res…responsibility.’
‘Which Rafael will take care of for you until you’re of age,’ Crater told him gravely.
‘You said I have to look after my people. I am the Prince.’
It silenced them all—this wisp of a child calmly accepting a burden that Rafael and Kelly would do anything to avoid.
Kelly stared down at her half-eaten pancakes, gulped and hauled the plate back in front of her. Maybe she couldn’t bolt to her garret quite yet. But the pancakes didn’t taste as good.
‘You’ve taught Matty his royal duties?’ Rafael asked Crater.
Crater nodded unhappily. ‘He’s had lessons.’
‘Not from his father.’
‘No. But Kass has hardly been here. I’ve taken it upon myself…’
‘To load Matty with the burden of the Crown.’
‘There was hardly a choice,’ Crater said. ‘I could never have predicted what’s happened. This country’s desperate for leadership. Thankfully, now it’s up to you.’
Oh, help, Kelly thought.
Until now she’d hardly seen Rafael, she thought bleakly. Or she had seen him but she’d seen a de Boutaine.
Now, he stood alone, a big man, loose-limbed, dressed in casual trousers, an open-necked shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a streak of grease on his forehead.
He looked vulnerable, she thought suddenly. He looked as if he were backed into a corner he hated.
She could retire to her garret when she wished. He couldn’t.
‘You don’t have to worry.’ Matty was clearly trying hard to understand what was going on. He came to his big cousin’s side and slipped his hand into Rafael’s before Rafael could guess what he intended. ‘You can make your toys and I’ll be the Prince. My mama will help me be the Prince.’
‘Your mama intends to stay in her attic and read her books.’
‘You might persuade her to come out a bit,’ Anna said, enthusiastic again. ‘For
