would not like to be that person,’ Signora Gravano said, her black eyes suddenly very direct. ‘They have been responsible for a terrible crime for which they have never been charged.’
Amelia forced her shoulders to relax. ‘It is surely a better outcome than the original verdict of murder…I mean, if the prince is in fact still alive…somewhere…’
‘Yes, indeed, but how will the prince feel once he finds out his true identity? His biological parents are dead. He will never have the chance to meet them in person. And what of Prince Marco, who for all this time has grieved the loss of his twin?’
‘I am sure the prince can’t even remember his twin brother,’ Amelia said, recalling her conversation with Alex. ‘He was far too young.’
The old woman grunted. ‘He has lived with his parents’ grief, which would have no doubt affected him and his sisters.’
‘Is Alex Hunter aware of any of this…er…speculation?’
‘I am not sure. He is going to the palace this evening to meet the king. Perhaps the subject will be raised then,’ Signora Gravano said.
‘Someone should prepare him.’ Amelia got to her feet, testing her legs, which still felt watery. ‘It would be unfair to surprise him with this information without some sort of lead up.’
Signora Gravano smiled sagely. ‘That is why I asked you to come, Amelia. You will understand much better than the palace staff about the sensitive nature of this. Dr Hunter should be home by now. Why not go around and talk to him now before he leaves for his meeting with the king?’
Amelia ignored the short cut and made her way past Alex’s hire car to his front door, her hand visibly shaking as she lifted it to the brass knocker.
There was no answer.
She frowned as she looked back at the car parked in the shade. He must be somewhere about. He had finished at the hospital at least two hours ago.
‘Are you looking for me?’ Alex asked from the other side of the front step.
She swung around to face him, her throat closing up at the sight of him dressed in running shorts and T-shirt, the perspiration from his workout plastering the material to his toned body. ‘Er…yes…'she said. ‘I was hoping to catch you before you left for the palace.’
One of his dark brows rose in an arc above his right eye. ‘Why?’
She shifted from foot to foot. ‘I wanted to speak to you—privately.’
Alex held her anxious gaze for a lengthy moment. She looked tired and he felt a little ashamed of his attitude earlier. He blew out a breath and motioned for her to go inside. ‘Come on, I’ve got something I need to say to you too.’
He waited until she was seated and with a cold drink in front of her before he took the chair opposite, giving his face a quick rub with a hand towel. ‘So who’s going to go first?’ he asked.
‘I don’t mind.’ She chewed her bottom lip momentarily and added, ‘You can if you like.’
‘Right,’ he said as he pushed the towel to one side. ‘I have an apology to make. I was an idiot last night. Simple as that. No wonder you gave me the heave-o.’ He sent his fingers through the damp thickness of his hair, a small frown beetling his brows. ‘I don’t know why I came on so strong,’ he continued. ‘I know you’re not going to believe this, but it’s really not my style at all.’ He gave her a sheepish look and added, ‘I guess it’s been too long between relationships or something.’
She twisted her mouth wryly. ‘I bet it wasn’t as long as eleven years.’
‘No.’ He laughed lightly. ‘More like eleven months, but long enough to make me a bit trigger-happy.’
‘It’s all right. I understand.’
‘I wish you did.’
‘I do,’ she insisted.
‘Believe me, you don’t.’
‘How do you know what I feel?’ she asked.
He smiled at her then. ‘Yep, that vow of silence would never have worked.’
She started to purse her mouth but thought better of it. ‘I didn’t come here to argue with you,’ she said.
‘Where do you usually go?’
‘Must you make a joke of everything?’ she asked in frustration. ‘I’m trying to be serious here.’
‘So am I, Amelia.’ He reached for the towel once more. ‘Now what did you come all this way to tell me?’
Amelia stared at his right arm as he lifted it to his face to wipe the moisture from his brow, her breath coming to a stumbling halt in her chest.
There was absolutely no sign of a birthmark.
CHAPTER NINE
ALEX put the towel back down and caught her staring at him. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘No…no, nothing.’ Amelia lowered her gaze and focussed on the table separating them. She’d checked his left arm while he’d changed hands to dry off, but it too was clear of any distinctive birthmarks.
‘What did you come here to tell me?’ he asked into the suddenly crackling silence.
‘It was nothing important.’ She got to her feet and pushed in the chair. ‘I should get going. The last bus leaves at six-thirty.’
‘Wait.’ He came around to her side and stalled her with a hand on her arm. ‘Listen, I know this is going to sound really dumb, but would you consider doing me a favour tonight?’
Amelia met his dark gaze, her heart and stomach still both feeling as if they had just performed a complicated gymnastics routine. ‘W-what is it?’
His hand fell away from her arm, his expression turning awkward again. ‘To tell you the truth I’m a bit nervous about going to the palace tonight. I know it’s a lot to ask, but, since you go there all the time, would you consider coming with me tonight sort of as moral support?’
She stared at him for a beat or two, wondering if he was genuine or whether this was another ploy to get her to go out with him. ‘I don’t go there all the time,’ she corrected him.
‘But at least you’ve met the king and the staff and are more or less familiar with the layout of the place.’
‘If you think I believe for even one second that you are intimidated in any way by royalty, you must think me even more gullible than I thought,’ she said. ‘Besides, the royal aides will escort you in and escort you out. Don’t worry—you won’t get lost and end up in a dungeon with chains around your ankles.’
‘What if I strike up a deal with you?’ he said with a little glint in his eyes. ‘If you come with me to the palace I will give you a ride home and visit your father, free of charge. Will he be home tonight?’
Five
