LITMIR.BIZ

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Darrell understood exactly what he meant by that, she didn’t misconstrue his words. “He loves you so much, he obviously didn’t dare do anything you could fault.”

      “Isabella wasn’t exactly herself, either, though she tried.”

      “So all in all the evening turned into a disaster,” Darrell finished for him.

      “That’s one way of putting it.” But he said it with a chuckle, which in turn caused her to do the same.

      “I know it isn’t a laughing matter,” she said when she’d sobered. “Do you think they liked each other?”

      “I think they will once the shock wears off. It’s one thing to have intellectual knowledge of each other, and quite another to sit across a table from each other face-to-face for the first time. Everything became real tonight.”

      Darrell could second that!

      She sat up a little straighter. “I’m sure you’re thankful this initial meeting is over. Tomorrow it will be easier.”

      “She’s leaving first thing in the morning.”

      Uh-oh. “Is Phillip upset you’re going back to San Ravino with her? If he is, I’ll have a talk with him.”

      “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. She wants to speak to her parents alone, and will send for me when the time is right.”

      Alarmed, Darrell said, “They don’t know yet?”

      “She thought it would be better to meet Phillip first.”

      Darrell put her hands to her face. “It’s going to be horrible, isn’t it.”

      “That remains to be seen.”

      “I feel terrible for her, Alex.”

      “So do I. Her parents are very decent people. But even decent people have their limits.”

      Tears trickled out of her eyes. “Do you think Phillip has any idea how important tonight was?”

      “Yes.” His voice grated. “That’s why we talked so long. I heard all about Steve and his divorced parents. We discussed what it was like for his friend to live in two different households with two moms. Our son is much more prepared to deal with this situation than I’d given him credit for.”

      “He’s devoted a lot of thought to it. Too much,” Darrell murmured.

      “Our son is terrific, but you already know that.”

      “I do.” She wiped the moisture off her cheeks. “We just have to hope Isabella and her parents will be able to work through their pain. Is there any way of putting off the wedding another week or two? Just to give them a little more time to get used to the idea?”

      “We talked about that possibility, among others.”

      “What others?”

      “Her parents will probably be able to deal with it as long as Phillip is never allowed to succeed me as king.”

      “King—” she blurted incredulously. “Phillip?”

      Until Alex had brought up the subject just now, the thought had never entered her head. “Did you assure her Phillip is the last person in the world who would want that job one day, let alone be qualified?”

      The silence lengthened before he said, “Who knows what’s in store for our son.” Alex sounded so serious, she started to get nervous.

      “I can tell you right now it won’t be that!” she cried.

      He shifted his weight. “Did I mention his asking me if he was a prince now?”

      She made a protesting sound in her throat. “He was just kidding around, Alex. You know how he is. Isabella has nothing to fear from him. When you two have children, they’ll be royals from birth. I hope you explained that to him. After I get him alone I’ll explain to him.”

      “Let’s not worry about that right now. How would you like to go horseback riding after breakfast in the morning?”

      He’d changed the subject too fast.

      “I’m sure Phillip will love it.”

      “Surely you realize I’m including you in the invitation,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

      “Isabella wouldn’t approve of it no matter how hard she’s trying to be brave about this, so—”

      “Be ready at nine,” he cut in on her abruptly. “Sleep well.”

      Within seconds he’d disappeared from the suite.

      Shivering with apprehension because the situation was growing more complicated by the minute, she burrowed under the covers. Five minutes later she was still wide-awake.

      Not only their conversation but his presence had given her a serious case of insomnia. The time for gut-wrenching honesty had come.

      She hadn’t wanted him to leave just now…

      Frightened by her feelings for him, which were intensifying beyond her control, she pounded her pillow in an effort to get more comfortable so sleep would come. This insanity had to stop.

      One way to cure it would be to leave Switzerland immediately. But how could she do that when nothing had been resolved regarding visitation arrangements?

      Just saying the word “visitation” made her cringe.

      The thought of leaving her son for any length of time was unbearable.

      Yet he’d feel the same way when he had to leave his father.

      She wept into her pillow.

      What had she done?

      Alex had just seen a sober Isabella off at the helipad when his mother phoned, asking him to come by her apartment.

      He grimaced. The castle grapevine was alive and doing well.

      “Is it true?” she questioned the moment he entered the day room of her suite.

      This morning his mother wore a casual dress in a melon tone that suited her light brunette hair. She appeared ready for her daily walk with the two dogs she’d raised from puppies. Since his father’s death, they’d brought her a lot of comfort.

      He studied her for a long moment. One day soon he intended to tell her the whole truth. But for now the preservation of their family’s happiness necessitated his holding back certain information.

      “That depends on what you’ve heard.” He kissed her cheek.

      “If I could have told you sooner, I would have, but Isabella deserved to hear the news before anyone else. She’s on her way back to San Ravino as we speak.”

      Her dark gray eyes looked at him in anguish. “Then it is true.”

      “That I have a twelve-year-old son named Phillip?” He met her gaze head-on. “Yes.”

      She sank down on the couch, rubbing the dogs’ heads absently. “How long have you known?”

      “Three days ago Leo came to me with a story about a woman and a ring.”

      She moaned. “I could expect this from almost anyone else in the world, but not my only son.” Her voice shook. “To do this to Isabella…”

      Her eyes filled with tears. “How did this happen, Alex? You know what I mean.”

      He moved toward her. Though he’d braced himself for this inevitable confrontation, it was still difficult to see his mother in pain.

      “Chaz and I went to a bar with a couple of girls while we were on vacation in the States. We all drank too much. I only spent one night with her before Chaz and I got word that Uncle Vittorio was in that accident and we had to fly home.

      “I

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