LITMIR.BIZ

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has grown up wanting to know his father, so in desperation she used the ring to try to find me.”

      His mother’s expression twisted in agony. “Well, she certainly did that, didn’t she.”

      The dogs moaned at the harsh tone in her voice.

      “Every day since your father died, I’ve asked why he was taken from us so prematurely. Now I can see it was to spare him this grief.” She took a shallow breath. “You’ve always been so wise, Alex. Whatever possessed you to fly them here, and allow them to stay at the castle?”

      “Because he’s my son and deserves the very best, despite my irresponsible behavior. He needs love. Isabella understands this and realizes why I refuse to keep him hidden like some bastard child. She knows everything. She had dinner with him last night. We’re going to work this out.”

      Visibly shaken, she got to her feet. “You think for one minute Ernesto and Tatia are going to stand for this?”

      His brows furrowed. “Isabella’s parents don’t have a choice any more than I did.”

      Her gaze bore into his. “Oh, yes, you did. You could have kept this private, and dealt with him and his mother behind the scene.” Leo had suggested the same thing.

      “I could have.” He folded his arms. “But when you meet Phillip, you’ll understand why I didn’t.”

      She shook her head in bewilderment. “Bringing your former lover into our home is political suicide, and so cruel to Isabella I can’t imagine what you’re thinking.”

      Though he tried to control it, his temper flared. “Darrell Collier is Phillip’s mother, the only parent he’s ever known. Would you have me tear him apart from her because of the way it will look to everyone else?”

      “You didn’t need to bring them here,” she reiterated. “It was a grave mistake on your part.”

      “He’s my son, Mother. He needs me, and I…need him.”

      She shook her head. “I can’t believe this has happened.”

      “I had trouble believing it myself until I met him. He’s wonderful. You’re going to love him.”

      His mother looked away. She was trembling.

      He moved closer. “The second Darrell came to the castle asking for an audience with me, Leo did everything he could to keep it quiet, but the rumors began flying anyway. You know as well as I do the best way to handle a situation of this magnitude is to expose it immediately.”

      “With what results?” Her voice throbbed.

      “I don’t have the answer to that yet. In this scenario no one set out to hurt anyone, least of all Phillip, who’s an innocent. But I do know this much. I already love him and want him with me always.”

      “At the cost of the monarchy?” Her voice rang out. “He can never be your legitimate heir.”

      Alex struggled to tamp down his anger. “For the sake of argument, why not?”

      She let out a cry of alarm. “Because no child of a commoner can inherit the title. It’s the law and you know it.”

      “Laws can be changed.”

      “Then you’d be the first Valleder king in over a thousand years to do away with it.”

      “You have to admit it’s archaic.”

      Their eyes held while she digested his blunt honesty. “But you wouldn’t change it.”

      He took a fortifying breath. “No, Mother. I wouldn’t.”

      Until he saw that steely look enter her eyes, he thought his answer had satisfied her. She stared at him like she’d never seen him before.

      “This isn’t as much about your son as the woman who gave birth to him. Something tells me you never got over her. Why else would you give her a ring that could be traced? It explains your irrational decision to put her in the Saxony apartment. No wonder you’ve kept putting off your marriage to Isabella.”

      “Stop, Mother. You’re wrong you know.”

      She shook her head. “No, I’m not. The maid told me she’s blond and enchantingly beautiful in that special American way. She wears no wedding ring.

      “How shrewd of her to come forward weeks before your wedding and present you with the fruit of your passion, knowing the twelve-year-old son of her body would blind you to your royal duty.”

      “Mother—There are things you don’t know.”

      “I’m not blind, deaf and dumb, Alex.” Her voice trembled.

      “I know you’re not in love with Isabella and never have been. But I thought—I hoped that with marriage and children, love would come the way it did with your father and me.”

      “I’m hoping for that, too,” he declared. At least he’d always held that hope, but Darrell’s sudden advent into his life had knocked him sideways. The more he was around her, the more he wanted to be around her all the time. If the truth be known, he wanted her. It was a fact he could no longer deny.

      She shook her head. “What you’ve done is make it almost impossible for that to happen now. Not with that woman back in your life!”

      His mother was right. No one knew that better than Alex.

      “Ms. Collier has no shame, no decency. To think you lost your heart to such a person pains me as much as your father’s death.”

      Alex ground his teeth. “Before you jump to any more erroneous conclusions, I’m going to ask a favor of you. This is important.” He checked his watch.

      “I’m due to take Phillip riding right now. During your walk with the dogs, why don’t you pass by the stables in say three hours. That way your first meeting with him will be informal and spontaneous, putting him at ease. Later on in the day you and I will have another private talk.”

      Her expression remained wooden. “Are you asking as the king, or as my son?”

      “Both. I swear on father’s grave that if you’ll do this, certain things will become clear and help you get through this without completely despising me.”

      At the mention of his father, she lowered her head. That was the way he left her as he slipped out of the apartment. At their next meeting he would tell her about Melissa. By that time she would have come face-to-face with her grandson.

      Knowing his mother as he did, her heart would soften. She’d want Phillip to stay in Bris and become an intrinsic part of the family. Once that happened, she wouldn’t be able to dismiss Phillip’s second mother so easily…

      A steep hill rose beyond the lake bordering the back of the royal estate. It led to vineyards and ultimately the forested slopes of the mountains overlooking the magnificent Rhine Valley.

      By the time the three of them dismounted to rest and take in the view, euphoria had overtaken Darrell.

      During the climb, Alex had put Phillip to work checking the riverbank for signs of dead fish, which he explained was a problem in the lower Ungadine called Whirling disease. His minister of fisheries was working with some biologists to eradicate it.

      Phillip thought the term “whirling” was too funny, but he took his father’s suggestion seriously. Already Alex was making his son feel important. He managed him without dictating. Phillip had never been more pleasant or well behaved.

      While she wandered around stretching her legs, Alex tied up the horses. She hadn’t ridden one in years. At the end of the day she would be sore, but the glorious ride had been worth it.

      Phillip didn’t seem to have the same problem, lucky boy.

      “Dad? Have you ever climbed up to that ridge?”

      “Many

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