Damn his brother, he wanted another couple of days before they broached the topic. “Armand and Anna have invited us to Los Angeles to stay at the tower for a few days. He really does want to meet you.”
“All right.” She nodded slowly and began to fidget with the collar of his shirt. “I’d very much like to meet them. I take it they’re very busy if we have to wait a few months?” The uncertainty in her question crushed him.
“Not exactly. In a few days—two, exactly—I have to head to Eastern Europe. I have a series of appearances scheduled. We’d initially intended to do them in a few weeks, but they’ve been moved up.”How much to tell her?He wanted honesty between them, but the trip—this particular trip—was fraught with a danger which would only make her worry.
“Because of the attack on the island?” They hadn’t discussed it since their first night onboard. A series of lines tightened the area between her eyes.
“Yes.” He wouldn’t lie about it. “We scheduled appearance in Belaria…”
“Wait a minute. Isn’t Belaria the country that wants your brother to resume the throne?” The looseness left her posture as she straightened to face him. Thankfully, she didn’t try to slide off his lap. The need to touch her was a fierce ache whenever she was near.
“A faction there does, yes, but—” He held up a finger, asking for her patience before continuing. “It is only a faction. The notoriety we’ve gained again over the last few months, with Alyx’s discovery and Armand and Anna’s wedding, has kept us in the forefront of the people’s minds. Other factions in Belaria donot want us to return at all. To be fair, Armand has no intentions of honoring what the royalists want. So, to curb the rumors, I am going to a series of dinners and personal appearances designed to show our…let’s say our dilettante lifestyle and disinterest in relocating to Belaria permanently.”
“What if those are the same people who’ve been trying to kill you?” She was not a fool. “Going there is insane. You’d be walking into the lion’s den.”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.” He needed to downplay the possibilities immediately. “But it’s absolutely no different than any other event I’ve done. We go with the support of our allies in the British, Canadian and Norwegian governments. They are all sending delegations, and I am attending as their guest.”
“Why?” Horror stamped across her face. “So they can have an easier time of killing you?”
“No.” He smiled, wanting to ease her fear. “Because they need to know we’re not afraid. No matter what their course of action, our family perseveres. We do not want the throne, we do not want to be figureheads for a royalist party, but we will not bow to suppression, nor will we allow a dictator to use fear to intimidate us.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
“Absolutely not. Right now, the world views you as only a professor, and you have no firm ties to our family. The news of Alyx’s pregnancy is out and the speculation about Anna and Armand will begin in earnest. For the next few months, it’s crucial we present an enduring front and no other disruptions. That means I have to be free to be the face the world sees?—”
“That makes no damn sense.” She jerked back to her feet. He followed her as she paced across his office. “I thought we planned to get engaged. Weren’t we discussing an engagement over the last few days? Why can’t I go with you?”
Because it isn’t safe. He exhaled a breath, knowing bloody well the argument wouldn’t work. “Because I don’t want you there. This isn’t open for negotiation. We’ll be arriving in an Italian port in the morning. Kate will meet you at the dock. She and Gencome will see you back to the States. A security team is already in place. We’ll make an announcement in a few months. Until then, we’ll take all due precautions.”
Mutiny flared in her eyes. “Oh, we will, will we? Made all these plans, have you?”
“Yes, Meredith. I’ve been working on this since before your phone call. The family has to see this through?—”
“Wait a minute.” She backed up a step. “So, the trick Meredith into coming to see you, the soul-searching, and the arguments and the difficult truths—you even told me you loved me and wanted to marry me—but the whole time, you’ve known you were going to do this?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry if it disappoints you. By now, you have to know I don’t have the luxury of putting my life on hold for anyone. I’ve delayed everything as long as I could until we could reach some kind of accord between us.” The words came out harsher than he intended, but the censure in her eyes stung. He’d all but bent over backwards for her. Why couldn’t she meet him halfway? “Meredith, I understand this is difficult. If we had a more equitable solution, we would employ it. The best thing for everyone is for you to go home. I will call you every night and, in a few weeks at most, we will be together again. When we are free to announce it, we never have to be apart again.”
“Just like old times.” There was something brittle in her statement. He stepped toward her and she retreated, one hand held up to ward him off. “I get it. I need to go home. You’ve decided and you’ve made all the arrangements. Do me a favor? Why don’t you have your secretary send me a calendar so I know when I’m allowed to care again? You know, since you’ve made allthe decisions already. I certainly wouldn’t want to mess up your plans.”
She whirled and stomped out.
“Meredith,” he called, exasperated.Dammit.He wanted her safe. Why was she being so unreasonable? Gencome slid to the side so he could see her halted in the passageway.
Turning sharply, she faced him. “I’m sorry, didn’t you plan to excuse me? I thought you wanted me to go home.”
“That is not what I said.”
“No, what you said is you don’t want me there. What you said is you made all these plans and arrangements. I’m not a chess piece for you to move at your whim. We’re either together or we’re not. Apparently, we’re not because the man I marry doesn’t make decisionsforme. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Your Highness? I apparently have a plane to catch, so I’m going to pack.” Then she was gone, striding away with Gencome in attendance.
Sebastian wanted to hit something, and he looked at Vidal. “Not a word.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, sir.”
Chapter 11
Meredith
In their stateroom, Meredith stared at the clothes in the closet and realized she didn’t have her bag. Hell, she didn’t even have her purse. All of it was back on the island, along with her passport, wallet, keys, everything. Perching on the edge of the bed, she drummed her fingers restlessly against her leg and then bounced up to walk again.
