‘I’m being realistic,’ Luca argued, starting to pace the room. ‘Which is what Madlena needs. My brother lived in an ivory tower, where he was aloof and untouchable but adored, because his life was so closely guarded he never appeared to make a mistake. Iwantto get my hands dirty. I want to take risks for the good of my people, and through it all I’m going to be on full view with my bride at my side, taking part in life as a citizen of Madlena. I’ll make mistakes. I’m bound to, but I’ll do everything I can to put them right, and it’s my hope you’ll buy into that, because I know you’ll be a great asset to the throne.’
‘That’s a rather cold-blooded assessment.’
‘Yes, it is,’ Luca admitted frankly. He stopped pacing in front of her. ‘I expect the services of a loyal bride with all that that entails, while you get guaranteed safety, along with a life that, I can tell you now, will take all your energy, but that will fully repay you, by fulfilling your every need.’
Every need?She had no expectations of that where the marriage bed was concerned, and even less when it came to some small sign from Luca that one day they might mean more to each other than two parties entering a contractthat made perfect sense. She was falling for this man, while he’d practically admitted he was incapable of love. This could be her worst dream come true. Perhaps her ex was right. Perhaps she would never be worthy of love. At least, not the type of love she longed for, both to give and receive. She dreamed of a love that had no boundaries, and that spread its light far and wide, and her greatest hope had always been to make that dream a reality.
She had another major niggle too. ‘I’m not sure about theservicesof a loyal bride. I would need to know what these services entail.’
Luca’s gaze sharpened. ‘Before you agree?’
‘I haven’t decided anything yet.’
‘You want me to understand that you bow your head to no man?’ Luca suggested.
‘Never again,’ she confirmed. Her mouth twisted ruefully. ‘I tried it once, and look where that got me.’
‘Some would say, into a very good place.’
‘But not me,’ she assured him.
‘Let me make this clear. ByservicesI mean no scoops in the press, no sudden surprises. I would never stop you writing. I can see the benefits to Madlena. And I would never stop you doing anything you want to do, unless it posed a risk to our country.’
In spite of her doubts, Luca using the phrase ‘ourcountry’ gave her pause for thought, and a thrill of anticipation ran through her mind as she considered all the possibilities that weren’t connected to wealth or status. If she didn’t at least consider his argument, she was being as closed off as her mother. She had to listen and weigh the facts. Only then could she give him her answer.
‘Would you want to read everything I wrote and approve it first?’ she asked, remembering past shackles.And then change it?The words bounced around in her mind. That was her biggest fear. If Luca turned out to be anything like her ex, she really was leaping from the frying pan into the fire.
‘If you become Princess of Madlena, I would expect you to have the country’s best interests at heart.’
‘I would. Don’t take that as my answer,’ she warned when a flame sparked in Luca’s eyes.
‘It goes without saying that your ex will never trouble you again,’ he added, as set as she was on getting his point across. ‘When your father leaves prison—and we have every reason to believe that will be sooner, rather than later—I’ll ensure he receives all the help he needs to get back on his feet, as well as a plan going forward. So long as he does nothing to hurt you, he’ll always be a welcome guest in our home.’
These offers were wonderful and generous, but Luca had made not one single mention of romance. His suggestion remained a cold-blooded arrangement to benefit both of them. It was hard to argue with a single word he’d said, but that didn’t stop her heart aching for something it couldn’t have.Something I obviously don’t deserve.He’d been wholly objective when he laid out the details of their contract, which made his promise to ‘sort out her problem’ more terrifying than exciting. Could he do that? Could anyone? What if she failed utterly in bed, or recoiled as she had in the past?
Worse. What if she proved to be frigid, as her ex had insisted she was?
And yet... And yet...
Family was everything, and how could she help her father if she didn’t have a job, or even a home to go back to? He’d always been weak and easily influenced. Wouldn’t it be better for him to be influenced by strong people with good intentions? Could she deny him that chance? She could provide him with all the love in the world when he came out of prison, but nights were cold, and his belly would be empty without the practical support Luca had offered. Wasn’t this one thing she could do for her mother, who must have loved her father at some point? Shouldn’t she do everything she could to set her father back on his feet?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SHEQUICKLYGATHEREDher wits. Helping her father was the one unselfish act she could accept as a reason for marrying Luca.
Hadn’t she done that once before?What made him different?
She’d learned from past mistakes, and would put safeguards in place. Luca wasn’t her ex-husband, but a man of principle. His reputation might be colourful, but she’d seen first-hand his determination to change. Marriage was all part of that long road to redemption, and, though theirs would be a cold-blooded marriage, he was right in saying they both had something to gain from it. But when they went to the lawyers she would not remain silent. There was more than money at stake. There was her father’s future, and her dreams at stake.
So I’ve made my decision?
Her mind was still in turmoil. She might be able to do some good as Princess of Madlena... She’d have a platform, if nothing else... But first, Luca had to hear her conditions. ‘I can’t take this further until you hear my requests.’
She had thought he might object, but now realised she should have expected the flare of triumph in his eyes. ‘I’m keen to hear your views,’ he said.
‘I’ll continue writing, and you can’t censor my work in any way.’
‘That’s easy to agree,’ he confirmed.
