LITMIR.BIZ

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to Ruby with the hint of a smile.

      ‘And I would very much like to hear my granddaughter speak.’

      Ruby straightened up and her knees gave an unexpected crack. She let out a nervous laugh—it certainly displaced any anxiety in the room.

      Queen Isabelle gave her a serene smile. ‘I’m tired. But if I retired for the evening now people would talk. We should return to the ballroom together. I’ll be able to leave after a while.’

      Ruby nodded. Of course. People had seen them leave the ballroom together and their tongues would wag if they didn’t return together.

      Then the Queen did something she didn’t expect. She held out her elbow towards Ruby. An invitation to take it. Before it had been polite and because they were in company. In the confines of this room, when it was just the two of them, it was something she didn’t have to do.

      Ruby didn’t hesitate. She slid her arm next to the Queen’s and joined her in walking towards the door.

      Isabelle’s smile had stayed on her face. ‘Beautiful earrings, Ms Wetherspoon. They seem familiar. Queen Marguerite had exquisite taste, didn’t she?’

      Ruby’s heart squeezed inside her chest. She knew. She knew Alex had given them to her to wear this evening.

      They walked through the door arm in arm.

      The glass doors from the ballroom leading out to the gardens were open, letting the cool fresh air sweep in. Ten years ago New Year’s Eve in Paris had been cold, but winter in Euronia was much warmer. People drifted in and out of the ballroom and the gardens as the music played.

      People were curious about her now. Alex appeared by her side every ten minutes or so, introducing her to diplomats and other royals. They shook her hand and gave her guarded smiles. The celebrity guests were much more up-front. Apart from her earlier encounter with Maria Cochette, everyone else seemed to want to be her new best friend. It was odd. Perhaps it was the fact that Alex had kissed her in front of everyone. His message had been clear.

      The scene that everyone had expected in front of Sophia’s parents hadn’t materialised. When she’d re-entered the ballroom on the arm of Queen Isabelle some mouths had dropped open. Even Alex had looked a bit shocked, but he’d covered it well.

      His hands had appeared at her waist a little later and his mouth at her ear. ‘What did you do?’ he whispered.

      ‘I told the truth,’ she said simply, and he’d twirled her around in the next dance.

      The evening passed by in a flash. She didn’t even notice when the King and Queen of Leruna slipped away—she was too busy focusing on Alex.

      He was more attentive than ever, leaving her in no doubt of his attentions. Every tiny brush of his fingertips on her skin ignited the fire within her. Every time he caught her eye, or gave her a smile from across the room, she felt as if she were the only person there.

      When finally the last person left her feet were throbbing and her jaw was aching from smiling so much.

      Alex appeared at her side and took the champagne glass from her hand. ‘Are you tired?’

      She shook her head. ‘No. I don’t want this night to end.’

      He took her hand in his and led her up the huge curved staircase and along the corridor towards his rooms. Their footsteps quickened as they walked, their anticipation building.

      He swung the door of his apartment wide. She’d never been in here before. Alex had always been around her and Annabelle in their rooms, or in the main parts of the palace. She’d had no reason to visit his rooms.

      The room was stark. Different from the other very ornate rooms in the palace.

      No antique furniture. No sumptuous furnishings. It was white and black—like a modern apartment in the middle of New York—certainly not what she expected to find in a pink palace.

      ‘Alex?’

      She turned to face him and her heart squeezed at the expression on his face. These were the rooms he’d shared with his wife. He didn’t need to say anything. Everything in this room had been stripped bare—just like his heart. She understood in a heartbeat.

      She closed the door quietly behind her and stepped over to him. ‘Oh, Alex...’

      She ran her fingers through his hair as he closed his eyes.

      Everything—all their conversations—had been about her being ready. But the truth was it was about him being ready too.

      Part of this was painful. Because after tonight she’d never been more sure about what she wanted. It was Alex. It had always been Alex. It would always be Alex.

      But did he really want her? Or was she just someone to plug the gap his wife had left?

      It should unsettle her that these were the rooms he’d shared with his wife. It should make her feel uncomfortable. But she had a feeling that there wasn’t a single part of Sophia left in here.

      Her fingers were still running through his hair—his hands were planted firmly on her hips. She stepped closer to him and placed a gentle kiss on the soft skin at the side of his neck.

      ‘Are you ready for this, Alex? Are you ready for us?’

      * * *

      Every knot inside him was beginning to unravel. He’d held himself in check all night. From the first second he’d seen Ruby in her red dress he’d wanted to have her in this position. She was everything to him. And now he was finally free to say it—finally free to let the world know.

      The arrival of Sophia’s parents had been more than unexpected. They were always invited to formal occasions at the palace. But since Sophia’s death they’d never attended.

      They saw Annabelle on regular occasions, but they were always private times.

      He’d been horrified when they’d arrived—horrified that their first view of Ruby was in his arms with his mouth on hers.

      With a few hours’ hindsight he realised that Queen Isabelle must have heard through the grapevine about Ruby. They’d attended with the sole reason of meeting the woman who might replace their daughter in his affections.

      Isabelle had always known the truth of their relationship and their marriage. But she’d supported them both every step of the way. She’d once told Alex that there were lots of forms of love. Some with fireworks, some with steady steps, and some with bonds of loyalty that would forsake all others.

      The King had mentioned nothing of Ruby at all. He’d spoken to Alex at length about business worries and difficult negotiations.

      When Alex had watched Ruby and Queen Isabelle leave the room together he’d felt sick. Should he intervene? But he’d been almost sure that Ruby wouldn’t want that.

      And when they’d returned some time later Queen Isabelle had been serenely graceful, as always, when she’d told Alex that Ruby seemed like ‘a nice girl’.

      His sense of relief had been enormous.

      And now here they were. In the one place he’d wanted to bring her all night.

      ‘I’ve been ready for ten years, Ruby,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I’ve waited a long time for this.’

      ‘Me too.’

      Her brown eyes were fixed on his. Just like that night in Paris. The only thing missing was the reflection of the fireworks.

      Ruby... Every bit as beautiful as she’d been ten years ago. Those brown eyes seemed to pull him right in, touching his heart and his soul. For the first time in ten years he was free to love exactly who he wanted to love. He had the strength and the power of his convictions and he knew what was right for him and what was right for his child. Who was right for him and who was right for Annabelle.

      Ruby

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