Perhaps he had been rash to end his relationship with Sarah. Perhaps he should have considered marrying her regardless of his concerns. After all, he was far from perfect himself.
He understood his father’s push. His father had just turned sixty and wanted to appoint him prince regent and hand over the duties of ruling the country. His father would still remain head of state, but essentially, he wanted to retire from the many demanding responsibilities that came with being king.
However, he couldn’t retire if he didn’t know which son would take his place. Since Max was first in the line of succession, the choice was ultimately up to him. Whether he married or not, he could become the next king. Yet he alsounderstood the dilemma and difficulties that would arise if he didn’t marry and remained childless.
Max leaned his head back against the couch cushions. This was why he craved the solitude of this trip and why he’d agreed to come in place of Mr. Milton. He needed time to sort out all his options away from the constant pressure.
Suddenly feeling a swell of anxiety in his chest, he pushed to his feet. He’d been restless too oft of late, and he wanted to finally find peace and contentment. Yet even here in this rustic wilderness, peace and contentment seemed to be elusive, and the frustration inside was swirling faster.
He stalked across the room to the sliding glass door leading to the enclosed back porch. He opened it and stepped into a room that was filled with windows, allowing a panoramic view of the outdoors and the nearby river. A heater was blowing out warm air so that the room was pleasant. The furniture and decorations, like the rest of what he’d seen of the house, were also rustic-themed.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and peered out at the river, which was frozen over on the edges but still held rushing water in the center. The snow on the pine trees made them bow low as if paying homage to the river. It was a spectacular vista, especially with the mountain peaks rising in the distance beyond the river.
What was wrong with him that he couldn’t be happy here, even in this beautiful place?
“Max?” came a voice behind him.
He shifted to find that Emberly had joined him in the enclosed porch.
“Would you like to plan your schedule out here?” She started to close the door.
He actually didn’t want to do any planning. He just needed to get out of the cabin and forget about the pressures for a shortwhile. Maybe then he could settle his thoughts and plunge back into the mounds of work awaiting him. “Let us go for a hike.”
She studied her clipboard and tapped a pencil against it. “I have a guide available tomorrow at one o’clock. I’ll make sure you’re the only one—”
“I should like to go now.”
She shook her head. “The guide has already left with a group.”
“You can be my guide.”
“That’s not one of my duties.”
“I thought your duty was to ensure that my stay at the ranch is unforgettable?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then you shall take me on the hike yourself.” He liked the idea the more he proposed it. “I did make it clear that I would like privacy, and having you guide me would be about as private as I could ask for.”
Emberly lowered her clipboard and leveled a stern look at him. “Well, let me make something clear to you.” Her voice had an almost sassy note to it that surprised him. When had staff talked to him in such a tone? He couldn’t remember anyone, ever.
“My job is to arrange your activities,” she continued, “not to do them with you.” She cocked her head and braced one hand upon her hip as if daring him to defy her.
A strange thrill shot through him. Not only was this woman speaking freely with him, but she wasn’t trying to impress him or defer to him or even show him courtesy. She was simply being herself.
He liked the interaction. In fact, he liked it a great deal. Perhaps this was what it was like to be an average person. Could he be that this week?
Yes. Having a week of being a regular man was just what he required. “What if I insist on having my personal concierge accompany me during my activities this week?”
“You can insist, but that doesn’t change my duties.”
“I shall pay you double your salary for the week.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Triple?”
“This isn’t about the money.”
