loved it. I love it still. Adam’s still there—and I want to go home.’
She gulped and dug her fingers into her palms and fought desperately for control while Andreas and Nikos and Sophia watched gravely on.
And then, as if coming to a decision right there, right then, Andreas lifted the little dog into his arms and he carried him across to Holly.
‘Sit,’ he ordered and she sat, for she couldn’t think of anything else to do, at the elegant table with the exquisite silverware and crystal and candles.
He put the pup on her knee and he lifted her hands and placed them on the pup’s collar.
‘This is my troth,’ he said gently.
‘Your troth,’ she said numbly.
‘My vow,’ he said, and then as Nikos and Sophia went to move away he made a curt hand signal for them to stay. ‘No. I want witnesses. This is not for public consumption but I know that you two can be discreet. You two of all our people will know what is happening. Holly, I’m asking you to marry me, for the sake of our people. For the sake of our country. But I’m saying that I’ll not hold you to this marriage for a moment longer than needs be. As soon as the fuss has died down—as soon as it’s seen that I’ve done the honourable thing by you and that my family can’t be called to account—we can’t be dispossessed by our past—then you can go home. Back to Munwannay.’
‘Back…’
‘Yesterday I offered to pay your father’s debts,’ he said. ‘But I watched you last night and I thought of what you faced alone and I thought it’s not enough. So what I’m offering is your life back. I give you Deefer Two.’ He smiled wryly at the pup. ‘Or whatever you wish to call him. And I give you Munwannay. I’ve arranged for my people to buy it outright at the price you’ve been asking. The deeds will be given to you on the day of our marriage. Plus a marriage settlement that will be generous enough to enable you to farm the place with everything you need and more—for the next fifty years if you like. This will be yours, Holly. I can’t take away my requirement that you marry me. You must. But this, I believe, is the honourable thing to do. All you need to do now is say you will and the thing is done.’
She gazed up at him, astounded beyond belief. Deefer Two wriggled in her arms and her fingers automatically started scratching behind his ears. He wriggled ecstatically, turned and gave her a long, slurping kiss from the chin to the forehead.
It had been years since she’d been kissed by a dog. And last night… she’d been kissed by a prince.
One thing at a time. Deeds to a farm. Marriage to a prince. Puppies were easier.
‘How did you find …?’
‘I worked,’ he said, his eyes crinkling into laughter. ‘All last night. I wanted a pure-bred collie dog that looked like Deefer. Right down to the white tip on the end of his tail. I put every available servant back at the palace onto it. From dawn I’ve had people ringing breeders across Europe.’ He shook his head. ‘You have no idea… I thought the Stefani diamond was priceless, but what we had to do to get you this pup…’
But he’d done it. Her prince. Her Andreas.
He was watching her closely, his dark eyes hooded, trying to conceal his emotions. But he was anxious. She could see a level of anxiety that couldn’t be suppressed.
Did he think she was still going to refuse?
Maybe she should. But.
But this man could order a small army to search for a dog for her.
And more. This man had said she could bring his country to ruin by refusing to marry him. He’d said his country’s future depended on their marriage.
Against all sense, she believed him.
And if she believed him, was there a choice? What was she but a failed farmer, a teacher who could easily be replaced? She was nothing against the fate of a country.
In the scheme of things, what price marriage? If it meant she could go home again…
Could she?
Of course she could, she thought, trying to make her dizzy mind focus. What was she doing, dithering? The Royal House of Karedes was wealthy beyond belief—she’d always known that. What Andreas was offering was nothing in the light of his vast wealth.
And he meant it, she thought, dazed. This was no clandestine promise. He was making this offer not in private but in public, witnessed by Sophia and Nikos. It was a business proposition, no more, no less.
So…
So all she had to do was put aside the ignominious way she’d been bundled here against her will and take it from here.
And all she had to do was put away the way just looking at Andreas made her feel. As if there were something else possible behind a curt business arrangement. As if there were a love that had blazoned forth ten years ago and hadn’t died.
Both things had to be ignored. Andreas was a prince of the blood. She knew that. She’d always known that. He took his pleasures where he willed. He’d just come from a marriage that Sophia had told her was tempestuous—a jealous hell from day one. He had a wardrobe full of exotic clothes on his exotic island, waiting for woman after woman after woman.
He wanted a new bride like a bad smell.
But this was a business proposition. She had to make herself see it as that. Business.
And in her arms… His troth.
The pup was a pretty funny troth, she thought, and she rose to her feet and hugged the little dog close. His troth. Better than any diamond.
Deefer made it personal. Deefer made it seem… almost right. Almost as if there were some desire.
‘You say… you’re inferring we can divorce later on,’ she said, trying to make herself think. ‘But your divorce to Christine…’
‘Was different. Christine used the occasion to bad-mouth me at a time she knew we were vulnerable. The timing was awful—scandal after scandal was rocking the palace. The lies she’s told about me are one of the main reasons why it’s imperative I’m seen as doing the right thing now. If you agree I’d ask that our marriage stay in place until Sebastian ascends to the throne. After that it doesn’t matter what the people think of me. But Holly, I need this marriage. Our country needs this marriage. You have to believe me.’
‘But if I believe you… there doesn’t seem much choice,’ she managed, and it was really hard to get even that much out. ‘I’d have to marry you.’
‘Is there anyone else?’ he asked suddenly. ‘I assumed…’
‘Your people didn’t find that out?’
‘They said they thought not. Are they right?’
‘Of course they’re right,’ she snapped before she could stop herself.
He smiled. ‘That’s a blessing.’
‘For who?’ she demanded.
