the reason was an unpleasant one.
Sophie only smiled. “If that’s the way you want to play this, I’d be happy to quote a list of each and every one of your mistakes and transgressions, Phillip.”
Phillip glared silently at her, and Ethan actually smiled. No doubt about it, Sophie was the driving force in this family. She pulled the strings.
“Here’s the thing,” Sophie told Phillip, leaning toward him to emphasize her point. “I want this. But I can’t do it without you.”
“So, what’s in it for me?” Phillip asked.
“Besides the money? You’ve complained incessantly, for as long as I can remember, that I need to embrace my position in this family. Well, if you agree to this partnership, you’ll never hear a complaint from me again.”
She definitely had Phillip’s attention. “How do I know you’ll live up to that?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
Hannah could see by his expression that she hadn’t.
“Well?” she asked. “Are you in or out?”
“I need time to think about it.”
“No. You’ve had months to think about it. I want an answer tonight.” She turned to Hannah. “I think the boys need a few minutes to talk. How about that tour I promised you?”
Sophie led Hannah to the study, where she poured herself a tumbler of scotch. She offered Hannah a glass, but she shook her head.
Sophie took a long sip. Then she took a deep breath and asked, “So, how did I do in there?”
Hannah realized that, although Sophie seemed to be in complete control, the experience had really taken a toll on her. “You were great. It was impressive how you kept them both in line.”
“Years of practice, believe me. I’ve never known two more stubborn men in my life. Though they would die before acknowledging it, they’re so much alike.”
“I noticed that.”
“And I love them both to death, even though they don’t always make it easy.”
“Tell me if I’m overstepping my bounds, but what did Phillip mean when he asked why Ethan needs a new partner?”
“Ethan’s former business partner recently embezzled several million then disappeared. He risks losing everything. And it’s not like any of that money was handed to him either. He started with nothing and built his empire from the ground up, one brick at a time.”
Hannah shook her head. “How awful.”
“I was the one who suggested the partnership. At first he wouldn’t hear about it. He was too proud to accept what he considered a handout. But as it stands now, he doesn’t have much choice. When our lawyers came up with a business proposal, and it was clear that it was a partnership and not charity, he finally gave in.” She took another sip of her drink. “Phillip, I wasn’t so sure about. We’ve been going back and forth with this for months.”
“I think he’ll go for it.”
Sophie smiled. “I like you, Hannah. I think you’ll be good for Phillip. I just hope you realize what you’re getting yourself into, marrying my brother.”
“I’ve been preparing for this for eight years.”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
She nodded. “I had tutors and coaches and advisors.”
Sophie shook her head in disbelief. “Wow. And you think you’re ready?”
She sure hope so. “I guess we’ll see.”
“The ’rents tried to handpick a spouse for me, too. He was a duke. Not bad looking, but he had the personality of a brick.”
“I take it that didn’t go over well.”
She shook her head. “If I ever get married, it will be to someone I love. Not that I’m knocking what you and Phillip are doing,” she quickly added.
“You wouldn’t be the first. My friends thought it was really cool at first. I mean, who wouldn’t want to marry a prince and live in a palace? It’s every girl’s fantasy. Then they saw me spending my weekends in the dorm studying while they went out and had fun. They all had boyfriends, and I was always alone. When they realized how much work it really was, they all thought I was crazy.”
“It’s kind of ironic. You spent years training for a life that I couldn’t get far enough away from.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t forced into this life. It was my choice.”
“Was it?”
She nodded. Though raised in the U.S., her father was born on Morgan Isle. A cousin to a cousin of the royal family. It was the only reason she was chosen to be Phillip’s wife. Something about maintaining the royal bloodlines.
“There is one thing I never learned,” she told Sophie. “Cooking.”
“You don’t cook at all?”
“The most complicated thing I’ve ever made was boxed macaroni and cheese.”
Sophie made a sour face. “That sounds dreadful.”
“But I’ve always wanted to learn.”
“I could teach you,” Sophie said.
“Would you really?”
“Of course! I would love to.”
“Okay,” Hannah said, feeling suddenly and inexplicably happy. Not only would she have a sister, something she had yearned for as long as she could remember, but it looked as though she had made a friend.
“Now, how about that tour I promised?” Sophie said.
Though Hannah’s life here started out a bit rocky, it seemed that things were taking a turn for the better.
Nine
It was after eleven o’clock when Phillip and Hannah returned to the palace. And most of that time he and Ethan spent holed up in the dining room discussing the proposed partnership. On the ride back, Hannah asked how it had gone and got a noncommittal shrug, but something must have gone right. When all was said and done, Phillip agreed to the proposal. Already plans were being made for him to tour several of the resort sites.
In fact, he would leave Sunday morning and wouldn’t return until Thursday evening, less than twenty-four hours before their nuptials.
“Does that upset you?” Phillip had asked her as they walked up to her suite.
She shook her head. It was business. And important. Besides, it was bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other right before the wedding. This would remove any temptation.
“It
