Was that how he thought of her? That she was a possession? She’d known they didn’t have a close relationship, but she’d always believed in some small corner of his heart he did love her, in his own way. That as she’d come of age, it had just been the fear of another scandal like the one her mother had caused that had made him behave like an increasingly autocratic despot instead of a father…
But now, she wasn’t so sure.
‘Enter!’ her father yelled.
One of his envoys rushed into the room, his face ashen. ‘Your Royal Highness, I have some difficult news.’ He glanced at Freya, sympathy in his eyes… Had he heard what her father had said to her? Humiliation joined the riot of sensations in her belly.
‘What news?’ her father barked, vibrating with fury.
‘Alexander Caras was photographed last night taking a restaurant waitress to his superyacht. The woman was visibly pregnant. Photos of them together appeared on a French website last night, but they have since been picked up by several other outlets.’
The knot in Freya’s stomach butted her tonsils. Caras had a mistress. Apregnantmistress? Who he’d been photographed with in public?
Her father swore. ‘Contact Caras, find out what the hell is going on.’
‘I’m afraid we can’t, Your Highness. His yacht left Galicos Bay last night and we haven’t been able to establish a connection with it.’
Freya collapsed into one of the armchairs.
Surely the marriage with Caras was off. Because if there was one thing her father hated more than a disobedient daughter, it was any kind of scandal.
Whoever the woman was, Freya wanted to hug her. Because she had thrown Freya a lifeline…
Her father’s face flushed with fury as he continued to shout orders at the envoy.
Freya eased out of the chair, intending to slip from the room—her legs still shaking but resolve forming—when her father’s mobile phone rang. He grabbed it off his desk, checked the caller, then pointed a finger at her.
‘Sit. This is Caras’ brother and business partner. He better have an explanation.’
She sat, her heart smacking her ribs.
Who cared what Caras’ brother had to say? The arranged marriage could not go ahead, surely?
She listened to her father’s end of the conversation—from his tone, the call was not good news for his precious land deal—but that was still fabulous news for Freya.
Saved by the pregnant mistress!
When the prince finally threw the phone onto his desk, he looked as if he were about to explode.
‘The engagement is off,’ he said. ‘Because Caras has got some nobody pregnant, according to his brother.’
She nodded, biting her lip to contain the huge sigh of relief. Apparently, Alexander Caras had more principles than she would have given him credit for. Hooray for him.
‘Okay, Papa,’ she said, trying to sound contrite and not as if she’d just dodged a bullet. No easy feat as the anxiety she had been holding onto for months released in a rush.
But then, he spoke again. ‘We will still be attending the engagement event at the Grande Hotel on Saturday.’
‘We… We will?’But why? If there’s no engagement now?
‘Caras won’t be there. But his younger brother is hosting it…’ His expression twisted with disgust. ‘I expect the man believes he can persuade me to agree the land deal without a marriage.’ His gaze narrowed with contempt. ‘He cannot. I refuse to sell land to anyone not linked by marriage to the Gelacois family.’
‘Right,’ Freya said, struggling to follow her father’s logic.
So why are we going to the engagement party that isn’t one, then?
She didn’t question him though. After losing her cool before, she didn’t want to ignite his temper again.
‘I will have the stylist informed of the significance when she dresses you for the event,’ her father continued, confusing her even more. ‘We will go to Plan B.’
