to be based, Nathaniel liked to surround himself in comfort. He owned property all over the world. He wanted for nothing. He need not work another day in his life and still he would never want for anything.
Catalina, though, was a princess. She had been raised in a palace of one of the oldest, most famous families in the world. Luxury was nothing new to her. The luxury Nathaniel lived in was of a very different, more modern kind.
‘This is not what I expected,’ she said as she trailed him into the main living area of the large, open space. Nathaniel’s apartment, with its high ceilings and tall windows, covered the entire top floor. She stared with definite interest at the expensive furniture and adornments.
‘What were you expecting?’
One elegant shoulder raised into a shrug. ‘Something showy. It’s bigger than I thought it would be. It reminds me of those loft conversions you see in New York.’
‘You’ve been to New York?’
A wistful smile. ‘No. La Belle often interviews famous New Yorkers in their homes. I like to look at pictures of other people’s homes.’
‘You have travelled though,’ he stated casually, not liking the tug her wistfulness had evoked in him.
‘Extensively. After my mother died I became my father’s official consort and accompanied him on many of his overseas state visits. We always stayed in official residences, never informal homes.’ Both her shoulders rose this time. ‘Living somewhere like this...it will be new for me.’
Like pulling a swan out of its lake and placing it in a pond.
Another tug pulled at his guts.
‘I’ll introduce you to Frederic,’ he said. ‘He will make the transition easier for you.’
Seconds later, his butler appeared. Frederic took Catalina’s hand and bowed. ‘It is an honour to have you here, Your Highness.’
She gave Frederic her first genuine smile of the day. ‘If I’m going to be living here, you must call me Catalina.’
He looked almost offended. ‘I could never be so informal.’
‘Only in private,’ she said kindly. ‘When there are guests you can be as formal as you wish.’
‘Nicely done,’ Nathaniel said when Frederic had disappeared to the staff quarters. ‘You had him eating out of your hand in thirty seconds flat.’
In one short conversation, Catalina had dispelled the notion that she was some kind of mythical creature from a fairy tale and had put Frederic at his ease too.
‘People are always scared when they meet me,’ she replied. ‘They don’t think I’m human.’
‘When they get to know you their preconceptions will change.’
She nodded, before asking quietly, ‘Can I ask when my companions will be joining me?’
‘Didn’t your father tell you? Your companions are to stay at the palace.’
Her eyes widened a fraction.
‘It’s to minimise disruption,’ he lied. ‘When our marriage is over and you return to the palace, they will be ready to resume their duties. In the meantime, I have staff here who will take care of your every need.’
In actual fact, her father’s words had been, ‘She can live with you in your apartment but her personal staff belong to the House of Fernandez. They’re not going anywhere.’ Another thing Nathaniel would not be sharing with her.
‘That is very kind of you.’ Her voice sounded hoarse.
‘You must be tired,’ he said. ‘Let me show you to your room. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the staff in the morning.’
‘I look forward to it.’ Her smile didn’t meet her eyes.
He extended an arm to her. ‘The sleeping quarters are this way.’
Far too aware of her following in his steps, Nathaniel focused his attention on the door at the other side of the living space. Lights came on automatically when he opened it, bathing the large square hallway in warmth.
He opened the door to the right. ‘This is your room. The staff have unpacked your clothes for you in your dressing room. The bathroom is fully stocked but if there’s anything amiss then press the green button by the side of your bed. Frederic has agreed to stay on call for the night. If there’s anything you need, anything at all, press the button and he will come.’ Nathaniel deliberately kept the smooth flow of information going, far too aware that Catalina seemed to have shrunk into herself.
‘Do you have everything you need?’ he asked when he had shown her everything.
Her eyes darted around the room and she nodded.
He headed to the door. ‘In that case, I will say goodnight.’
‘Where are you going?’ They were the first words she’d uttered since she’d entered the room.
‘To bed. It’s been a long day.’
‘But...’ For the first time in all the years he’d known her, real colour heightened her cheeks. ‘Aren’t we going to share a bed?’
‘No.’ The word came out much sharper than he’d intended. He dragged a hand across his jaw. ‘Sleeping together would be asking for trouble.’
‘But no one will believe our child was conceived within marriage if we don’t share a bed.’
‘The whole world already believes this was a shotgun marriage.’ Seeing her eyes cloud over, he added, ‘No one will know of our sleeping arrangements.’
‘Your staff will.’
‘They won’t say a word.’
‘How can you be sure?’
‘They’re loyal to me.’
‘You trust them not to sell us out?’
‘I trust them implicitly,’ he stated firmly. ‘As I said, they’re loyal to me.’
‘You must pay them a fortune for such loyalty.’
‘Loyalty doesn’t have a price.’
‘It does in my world,’ she said with a touch of sadness.
‘This will be your home for the foreseeable future. You don’t have to worry about spies reporting back to your father or Dominic. My staff are discreet and they will take good care of you.’ He opened the door. ‘Goodnight, Catalina.’
‘Goodnight,’ she whispered to the closing door.
HOW
