LITMIR.BIZ

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had been betrayed by people she had mistakenly considered her friends. But even she put her best foot forward and welcomed Melissa warmly. She, like everyone else, knew how important it was that this visit go smoothly.

      The introductions complete, Chris gestured to the maid who would tend to Melissa for the duration of her trip.

      “Elise, would you please show our guest to her quarters?” Then he asked Melissa, “How much time do you need to settle in?”

      “Not long,” she said, a light of excitement flashing in the dark depths of her eyes. “I’m anxious to see the gardens. They looked decadent from the air.”

      “Then that’s where we’ll begin,” he told her. “Will an hour suffice?”

      She nodded. “I’ll expect you in an hour.”

      Elise stepped forward, curtsied, and said, “This way, Your Highness.”

      When they disappeared inside the castle and out of earshot, and the staff was dismissed to resume their duties, everyone seemed to let out a collective breath of relief.

      “I think that went quite well,” his mother said.

      And from his father, “Have you discussed it with her?”

      Chris refrained from rolling his eyes and struggled to keep the exasperation from his voice. “Of course not, Father. We’ve only just met.”

      His mother shot her husband a sharp look. “Give it time, James.” Then she told Chris, “Take all the time you need, dear. A decision like this shouldn’t be rushed. But I do have to say, I think she’s lovely.”

      “Although illegitimate,” the king reminded her.

      “That’s hardly her fault,” she snapped back. “Besides, what family doesn’t have its share of scandal? And secrets.”

      “Just some more than others,” Aaron quipped, receiving a stern look from the his mother.

      “Well, I like her,” Louisa bubbled.

      Anne shot her an exasperated look. “You like everyone.”

      “Not everyone. But I really like Melissa, and I’m an excellent judge of character.”

      Actually, Louisa was a rotten judge of character, but Chris hoped in this case she was right.

      “We all have to remember to be on our best behavior,” their mother said firmly. “Make her feel welcome.” She took Chris’s hands in hers and gave them a squeeze. “I think this might be the one, dear.”

      Though at first he had resisted, now Chris was inclined to agree.

      He was quite sure already that Melissa would make a suitable wife.

      “We need to talk,” Aaron said quietly to Chris as the rest of the family dispersed.

      Chris nodded and followed his brother away from the castle, where they could speak in private. “Is there a problem?”

      “There might be,” Aaron said, brow wrinkled with concern, which wasn’t at all like him. It took a lot to put a frown on his face.

      “Something about Melissa?”

      Aaron shook his head. “No, no, nothing like that. I had an urgent message from the foreman of the east fields, saying he needed to see me as soon as possible. So I drove down there this morning.”

      The east fields, which made up close to a third of the royal family’s vast acreage, was used primarily to grow soy and housed the largest of their research and greenhouse facilities. “What did he want?”

      “There’s some sort of disease causing a blight on the crops. A strain he doesn’t recognize.”

      Due to the organic nature of their business, disease and insect infestations were at times a concern. “Is it treatable?”

      “He’s tried several methods, but so far it appears resistant. He called in a botanist from the university who he believes will be able to help. But at the rate it’s spreading, we could lose half of the crop. Maybe more.”

      Which would be unfortunate, but not a devastating loss. Unless it spread. “You say it’s confined to the east fields?”

      “So far, yes.”

      “And there have been no problems reported from local farmers?”

      “None that I’ve heard.”

      “Good. Lets try to keep it that way. The last thing we need right now is an epidemic. Or the fear of one.” Which could be just as damaging. The timing couldn’t be worse. “And we shouldn’t burden Father with this. Not until it’s absolutely necessary.”

      “I’ll see that the situation is handled discreetly,” Aaron assured him. “Although if it begins to spread we’ll have no choice but to post a countrywide bulletin.”

      “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” This alliance with the royal family of Morgan Isle depended on a stable economy and strong leadership. Their father’s health issues were a closely guarded secret known only to the family and the king’s personal physician. And Chris intended to keep it that way. If he was to become king, sooner rather than later as the case might be, he needed a strong base on which to build.

      “Try not to worry about it. Concentrate on your princess.” Aaron flashed Chris a sly grin. “Not that it will be much of a hardship. She’s very attractive.”

      “And just think, once I’m married off, you’ll be next.”

      Aaron snorted out a rueful laugh. “I wouldn’t hold your breath. Only the crown prince is required to marry and have an heir.”

      “That won’t stop Mother from setting you up with every eligible female on the island.”

      “She knows better.”

      Chris laughed and said, “You keep telling yourself that. But mark my words, the instant I’m spoken for, you’ll be next.”

      Aaron glared at him. “Don’t you have a princess to seduce?”

      He did, and seduce her was exactly what he planned to do.

      The interior of the castle was even more magnificent than the exterior.

      As the maid led Melissa up to the room she would occupy for the duration of her visit, she took in with sheer wonder the high, ornately scribed ceilings and tall stained-glass windows, the authentic period furniture, magnificent tapestries and rich oriental rugs over gleaming polished wood and inlaid marble floors. On the walls hung amazing works of art, landscapes and portraits and even a few abstracts.

      In New Orleans she’d seen many magnificent residences—her own estate had been highlighted in its share of newspaper and magazine articles—and the palace on Morgan Isle was the pinnacle of luxury and style. Yet none could compare to the grandeur of Sparrowfax Castle. Though she had anticipated a dark, dank atmosphere—it was after all built of stone and mortar—it was surprisingly bright and airy, her own room included.

      While her things were unpacked, she took some time to change and freshen her makeup, then investigate her chamber. It wasn’t a terribly large room, maybe only a third the size of her suite at the palace. But what it lacked in size, it made up for in luxury. The furnishings were rich and traditional, authentic to the period and meticulously preserved.

      The bathroom was enormous and updated with all the modern amenities, including a whirlpool tub and three-headed shower. The stall, she noticed, was big enough for two. And she was sure that as good as Chris looked in his clothes, he probably looked better out of them.

       Don’t get ahead of yourself, Mel.

      She unpacked her laptop, booted it up, and typed in her password, scanning for a wireless signal. Her family expected daily updates on her visit and trusted encrypted e-mails over a cellular

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