“I know I’m a stranger,” the older woman said tentatively, “but I’m concerned about some dynamics in your little threesome.Before you tell me to keep out of your business, you need to understand that I was married to a brutal man before I moved here.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”Quinn was glad the woman was married to such a gentle man now.
“Something Viktor said has me troubled.”
“I’m guessing you overheard his tasteless comment.”
“That’s part of it, but I also spoke with Heath this morning.He said you’re struggling with something you’d normally take to your mother—but can’t, for whatever reason.”
Quinn debated with herself for only a few seconds.She wassotired of this burden.
“Let me explain that Viktor is a viscount and is the heir to a dukedom from the country of Glenloria in Europe.”Quinn then went into the sad story of her mother’s first marriage and the recent magazine article.
“Oh, I remember reading that.I still pay particular attention to things happening in Seattle.Your mother’s a sculptor, and there was a photo of your family.No wonder I kept thinking you looked familiar.”
“Yes, and the article is how my bio dad found out about me.”
“Your mother never told him she was pregnant?”Disapproval flashed across Sara’s face, but it was gone quickly.“Was your mother afraid he’d try to take you from her?”
“We’ve never talked about why.It made her too emotional.I assume that must have been part of her motivation, but mostly I thought it was because… Well, if he hadn’t wanted my mother, why would he be interested in a child from her?”Quinn sighed.“Now that he’s trying to contact me, I guess I should talk with her about it again.”
“And you haven’t responded to him.Oh, my dear, whatever transpired between him and your mother, that’s their business.Your relationship with him—or lack of one—should be between the two of you and not based on what’s happened in the past.”
Quinn shook her head, feeling immature but also misjudged.“Would you say that about your ex-husband and your children?”
Pain crossed Sara’s face, and Quinn wished back the words, but the older woman gave a sad smile.“Do you believe your birth father is a danger to you?My ex-husband was.”
“My mother never said he was abusive, but there are different kinds of abuse.Manipulation, for one.”Quinn placed her mug on the side table.“When I didn’t reply to his emails, he sent Viktor here towoome.That was the actual term he used when I got him to fess up.As for the king, I can’t abide a man who throws away his wife, like he did my mother.”
“Wait.King?”Sara asked, her eyes wide.“Is your father thekingof Glenloria?”
“My bio dad is.And Viktor won’t tell me what pressure the king’s putting on him to get me to marry him.He just says both his father and the king want it.Once I told Viktor I was engaged, he backed off.”Quinn rubbed her temples against a growing headache.“I wish they’d all just leave me alone.I refuse to be a pawn in someone’s game.”
Sara still looked a little stunned, but there was a twinkle in her eyes.“So, you’re a reluctant princess?”
Quinn made a sound of disgust.“I think the king wants me to be a princess, but why should I?I have more connection to Ireland, where my mom’s from, than I do to Glenloria.At least I’ve been to Ireland once.”
“And you haven’t talked with your mother about this?”
Emotion overwhelmed Quinn, and her voice turned shaky.“I’ll never forget how she sobbed when she told me about him.I was only sixteen, but it broke my heart that anyone who expected to rule a country could claim he loved her and then treat her like that.”
Sara nodded, looking thoughtful.“Can I ask why Viktor is traveling with you, then?”
“Because it turns out he’s a decent guy, and they put pressure on him to come after me.”His comment about pursuit came back to Quinn’s mind.“I’m wondering if he suspects the engagement is fake.”
“Oh, my dear.”Sara pinched her lips, looking for a second like she wanted to say something but was unsure if she should.“I don’t believe Heath is pretending.”
“He’s not.He said so.”Quinn started to cry.“And now I’ve ruined our friendship.It’s too much, and I’m sick of it all.I wish I could just leave and not worry about it anymore.”
“Well, I’m not sure you’d be happy away from him.I’ve seen how you look at him too.”
“It doesn’t matter.”Quinn jumped up from her chair and paced the large room.“Our life goals don’t match.We can never be more than friends.”She explained about her career plans as a photographer.“And you already know how firm he is about staying at the Citadel.”
“People’s ambitions change all the time.”
“Not Heath.”Quinn paused to stare into the fireplace.“There’s a story about the Citadel once having a ghost, an old Irish baron who was so tied to the castle that he came to America with it.Heath’s as bound to his family and Wildstone as that ghost.”
“It takes a leap of faith to step into a relationship,” Sara said slowly, as though she were choosing her words carefully.“And it requires compromise and flexibility.Sometimes it’s important for us to reshape our dreams to fit our reality.I hope you’ll take the tour of the facility here.”
