Even now, standing here, with the sun pouring down on them and the sound of cameras clicking, Abe couldfeelthe warmth and benevolence of the journalists and photographers in front of them.
This was a woman who deserved the best that life had to offer and he was not equipped to give that to her.
He might be able to give her fame and fortune, and he could shower her in jewels and grant her every material wish, but what about those other wishes? The ones she deserved? He couldn’t grant those. He was a man who had locked his heart away and thrown away the key and it was only fair that he did not allow her to harbour any illusions on that score.
He’d hurt her once, four years ago and he wasn’t going to hurt her again. This was a truth written on stone, as far as he was concerned.
However, uneasy with this train of thought, Abe focused on the here and now and on the crowd in front of them.
He would think things through, navigate a way forward that would be fair on Georgie. That look in her eyes as she had gazed up at him, that soft smile playing on her mouth, those things had told a story and he did not want that story to end in a place where she believed that promises were being made that he knew would never be delivered.
Their fingers were entwined and he squeezed her hand supportively before withdrawing his and was proud and pleased that she did what was expected. No woman bred for this very purpose, no woman with all the right credentials, could have done better.
After half an hour, he bowed and announced, in a good-natured voice, that that was it for the day.
Questions were posed and he answered a couple of them but was already turning away, hand moving to the small of her back, urging her back into the cool of the palace.
‘Was it as bad as you thought?’ was the first thing he asked when they were inside. ‘I should tell you that you acquitted yourself with aplomb.’
‘Thank you.’ Georgie reddened with pleasure. ‘I’d expected more of a scrum, to be honest.’ He was heading in the direction of one of the sitting areas, a room that was less chillingly formal than most of them, tucked away to the side and overlooking the gardens at the back. ‘What is the plan now? When will we leave to go and see your father?’
Fresh juice had been laid out ahead of their arrival and Abe poured them both a glass. It had been a good morning and a good photo shoot, and it would be criminal to spoil things now by launching into another heart-to-heart on marital expectations. Did he really have to spell things out for her again in black and white? Wasn’t that a bit crass? He’d been very open on the day she’d agreed to marry him, that love played no part in their future, and still she’d agreed to marry him. Could he have been mistaken about that look in her eyes when she had gazed up at him?
Actions, he decided, always spoke louder than words. If she were to be travelling in the direction of expecting love and all the complications associated with it, then wouldn’t it be more hurtful to give a long speech on what she shouldn’t expect? She was astute. Wouldn’t it be better toshowher what he meant by how he behaved instead? Wouldn’t that approach be more subtle? Less humiliating for her? Kinder?
When Abe thought about hurting her, the ache he felt deep, deep inside was almost physical, which only reinforced his decision that this was the right way forward.
‘I’ll change first.’ He grimaced. ‘These clothes feel restrictive even though they’re loose.’
‘Okay.’ Georgie smiled. He had offered her some juice, which was very refreshing, and then he had stepped back, away from her.
Was it her imagination or was there a certain polite remoteness to him now that the business of the photo shoot was over and done with?
He had kissed her, and she had lost herself in that kiss, but it hadn’t escaped her notice that he had let go of her hand immediately afterwards.
No matter. She was way too sensitive about...everything.
The bottom line was that the photo shoot had been fun. There had been no attacking questions and everyone had seemed delighted that their Prince was due to marry, that he was a father, that a love that had been lost had been miraculously restored. Serendipity. It was an assumption Abe had not denied.
‘And now that the cat’s out of the bag...life is going to get even more hectic, I am afraid.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Parties, events, social engagements...there is one the day after tomorrow. Nothing too fancy but it will be a good opportunity for you to meet some of the people we will be socialising with.’
Parties...events...social engagements...
The pace was stepping up, Georgie thought, but she smiled and relaxed. Why would she be scared? Wasn’t Abe going to be by her side?
CHAPTER NINE
TILLYWASWHIRLINGround and round the room, half dressed, pretending to be a pirate from one of the books Abe repeatedly read to her on a nightly basis. It had captured her imagination but unfortunately was a high energy game and right now Georgie needed to get her daughter dressed and ready to leave for the party Abe had told her about only a couple of days previously.
Since then she had seen little of him because he had been out of the country, but they had spoken and it seemed that the informal do was something of an official engagement party, which his father would be hosting.
It was clear that their idea of ‘informal’ differed greatly, because he had informed her, as a postscript, that there would be in the region of sixty people attending.
‘It was hurriedly arranged,’ he had explained the night before when he had called her, ‘but my father was excited after the photo shoot and there was curiosity all round, if I am honest. I did try to talk him into a less rushed time schedule, but he was having none of it.’
