chin jerked up. ‘I’m never going to use them so they might as well be put to some use.’ She swept out a hand that encompassed her bright modern room with its view to the Alps. ‘This is more suitable for when I visit.’ She shuddered.
‘All that overdecorated pomposity downstairs is too much for me.’ Besides, the thought of bunking in her grandsire’s bed curdled her blood.
‘For us.’ Raul paced closer.
‘Sorry?’
‘We’ll visit together in future.’
What? He didn’t trust her now to come here without him? She drew herself up to her full height.
‘What else did he object to?’ Might as well get it over, though it stuck in her craw to defend her plans.
Raul spread his arms in a gesture that drew her eyes to the expanse of his chest. She remembered his strength as he’d pulled her into his arms and taken her to heaven.
Despite her anger, heat snaked through her belly.
‘He had a list. He was concerned about the plans for a children’s playgroup in the eastern annexe.’
Luisa’s mouth tightened. ‘The premises are perfect and easily accessible from the main square. You might not know but in this part of the city there’s virtually no provision for community groups. It’s not like central Maritz where that’s well catered for.’
It seemed her grandfather had stymied local plans to support the community, especially young people. His mindset had been rooted in the past.
‘And the cooking school?’
She put her hands on her hips. ‘I found students visiting the old kitchens. Their premises had been damaged when the old wiring caused a fire. The palace chef offered temporary use of the kitchens here.’ Her lips firmed. ‘It’s a perfect match. The facilities are here, and the expertise for that matter. It’s not as if there are lots of state banquets since I’m not here permanently.’
‘And the same for the mechanics?’
She stared. ‘How do you know about that?’ She’d just come from a meeting of vocational teachers in what had been the stables but now housed an automotive workshop.
Raul stepped towards her and she read a flicker of something in his eyes that made the heat in her belly spread low and deep.
He raised a hand to her cheek. Luisa shuddered as delicious sensation stirred. She didn’t want this distraction, this sweet reminder of the magic he wrought!
‘It was a guess.’ He held up his hand so she saw a dark stain. ‘Motor oil?’
Her tongue thickened at his nearness. He was so close his body heat invaded her space.
‘We were checking the facilities and I got a little … involved.’
Raul’s eyes narrowed. ‘I see. Like you got involved when you were presented with that cow?’
Luisa clenched her hands rather than spread them in a pleading gesture. The press had had a field day with that and she’d avoided reading the paper for days since. One paper in particular delighted in portraying her as wilful and disrespectful, though most seemed positive.
The animal had been beautiful, with garlands of flowers round its neck and horns and a huge alpine bell.
‘It was part of the official welcome to Ardissia. Lukas explained it was a sign of great respect from the rural population. I couldn’t refuse it!’
‘But did you have to milk it?’ His mouth tightened till the strain showed at his jaw.
She shrugged, feeling hemmed in by his disapproval. ‘OK, so it wasn’t proper protocol. I know real princesses wouldn’t dream of it. But we got talking about dairy cattle and suddenly they offered me a milking stool and a bucket and …’ She threw up her hands. ‘So sue me! You insisted I do this. Don’t complain now that I’m unorthodox. I’m trying. And—’ she jabbed a finger into his pristine shirt ‘—while I’m happy to hear suggestions about these ideas for the palace, it’s ultimately my decision. No one else’s!’
‘Exactly what I told your chamberlain.’
‘Sorry?’ Luisa was so dazed she barely noticed Raul had closed his hand around her prodding finger.
‘I told him to keep his thoughts to himself until he had a chance to share them with you.’
Luisa stared. ‘You don’t mind?’
His nostrils flared. ‘I mind very much being accosted by a jumped-up official who bad-mouths his employer behind her back. And I’m furious.’
Her shoulders sank. Here it came.
‘Furious I didn’t have the right to fire the troublemaker on the spot. He’s your employee but he’s more concerned about his own prestige than his job!’
‘Raul?’ Only now did she notice his other arm had slipped round to drag her close. She inhaled his intoxicating scent. It was like reliving those intense dreams that had haunted her ever since she’d come here.
‘It’s your decision, Luisa. But you need to consider finding someone better. Someone who can work with you on your plans rather than thwart them.’
She locked her knees against the trembling that started somewhere near her heart and spread to her limbs.
‘You don’t mind what I’ve been doing?’ She’d been so sure of his disapproval her brain struggled with any other explanation for his tight-lipped expression.
‘Why should I mind?’ He rubbed her back in a circling motion that eased muscles drawn to breaking point. ‘It’s good to see you getting involved and listening to your people. I’m proud of what you’ve tackled in such a short space of time. But you’re sensible enough to take advice and not rush into anything without due consideration.’
She blinked, staring up into dark green eyes that glimmered with warmth. The shock of it nearly undid her.
After the chamberlain’s starchy disapproval and the knowledge her grandfather would roll in his grave at her plans for his precious palace, she hadn’t been surprised to read criticism in Raul’s expression.
Except now she couldn’t find it.
A wave of warmth crashed over her that had nothing to do with Raul’s nearness. It stemmed from an inner glow, knowing he’d stood up for her with the chamberlain.
That he was ready to support her.
That he seemed to care.
She put out another trembling hand to his chest, spreading her fingers to capture the steady beat of his heart. His arm tightened around her and he leaned close.
‘But what I most want to know, wife, is what the mayor said when you presented him with a bucket of warm milk.’
Again she
