Читать книгу The Royal House of Niroli: Innocent Mistresses: Expecting His Royal Baby / The Prince's Forbidden Virgin - Robyn Donald - Страница 13

CLOSING the door to his private apartment, Nico watched as Carrie took in her surroundings. She had liked it the first time, and now she wanted to have a closer look at things. Many of the pieces he kept in Niroli belonged in a museum, but he had grown up with them. That was the trouble with extreme wealth—you took everything for granted—and he hardly noticed the trappings now. But seeing the room through Carrie’s eyes made him appreciate things he’d hardly noticed before.

She was impressed, though not by the value of his possessions, she was genuinely interested. He watched her dip her head to examine a jade ornament more closely.

‘Do you like it?’ She was trailing her forefinger across the back of a Ming-dynasty horse. It was priceless, but, of course, she couldn’t know that. It had a finely carved saddle with elaborate fringing, and was an outstanding example of some ancient artisan’s skill. There was no chance he could give it to her, but he’d seen pictures of it in the palace gift store. ‘I’m sure we can find you a postcard in the shop.’

The look she gave him was pure ice. A postcard in exchange for sex—was that what she thought? He brought the shutters down. He couldn’t risk antagonising her until he found out what she was doing in Niroli.

She didn’t want a trip to the gift shop as a reward for being a good girl, and she felt like telling Nico to get over himself. She wanted to tell him that his fabulous wealth would pale in the face of her news, but when he eased his collar and moved restlessly she knew he was uncomfortable in a room with overdressed windows and silk-draped walls, and felt some sympathy for him. Her first impression of the décor had been good, but on closer inspection Carrie thought it cloying and could see why it wouldn’t suit Nico. The palace might be his family home, but Nico was a free spirit. Niroli was too small an island to contain him, and his decision to leave the country as a youth to make his way in London was certainly no mystery to her now. She was beginning to understand him, which gave her courage. ‘This isn’t easy for me, Nico.’

‘Try me,’ he prompted.

‘When I left the office, I had no idea that …’ He nodded encouragement. ‘I had no idea that I was pregnant.’

‘What?’

He sounded and looked incredulous. ‘I’m pregnant,’ she said again, telling him the news in a soft, happy voice. The idea was still new to her, still surrounded by its own little aura of light.

It took her a moment to realise how quiet the room had become, and then Nico said evenly, ‘What’s that got to do with me?’

Her tongue froze, and at the very moment when she should have been at her most eloquent she saw his mouth begin to curve with contempt. ‘E-everything,’ she managed to stutter, feeling in that moment as if she had been sucked into outer space where there was no warmth, no air, no comfort for her anywhere.

‘What do you mean, Carrie? “Everything?”’

‘I mean, you’re the father of my baby, Nico—’

‘What?’ he exploded. His voice had gone instantly cold and, shaking his head, he turned away.

‘Nico, I swear—’

‘You swear?’ He turned back, head down, eyes full of a terrifying emotion she’d never seen before. She reached out to him, but he pulled away.

She was a liar. Carrie was a liar. She had reminded him in the cruellest way possible that he was infertile and could never have the family he longed for. Emotion swirled inside him, threatening to erupt. It escaped in words, harsh, ugly words: ‘I’m not the father of your baby, Carrie.’

He wasn’t prepared for the pain he felt saying that—the pain of knowing the child she carried couldn’t be his. It was unbearable, excruciating; he couldn’t bear to think of her with some other man. ‘We had sex,’ he said cruelly, instinct driving him to hurt as much as she had hurt him. ‘We had sex, and that was all—’

‘It wasn’t just sex to me, Nico.’

How could she think him so gullible? She asked too much. The travesty of wanting something so badly only to have it delivered to him twisted and spoiled …’If it wasn’t sex what was it?’ The ferocity in his voice shocked him and he didn’t know if he could control the rage building inside him. If he couldn’t then he must end this now. ‘Did you think I would go down on bended knee the next morning and propose marriage to you?’ His eyes, his voice couldn’t have been harder.

‘Please, Nico—’

‘Don’t touch me!’ He shook her off. ‘You wanted sex every bit as much as I did and we both knew what we were doing. You hadn’t been drinking; I’d been watching you, so don’t go down that road. Sex that night had nothing to do with love, or long-term commitment, and I never let you think that once, did I?’

She couldn’t argue with him. She was too stunned, too sick inside to know how to answer him.

‘I’ll write you a cheque now if that’s what it takes to get you off my back.’

Nico’s cruel words forced Carrie to face the truth. Her child had been conceived in a ferment of lust, and her baby’s father couldn’t stand the sight of her. But she loved him. She still loved him. She always would.

‘Let’s stop playing games, Carrie.’

Something was nagging at her, something wasn’t right. Nico was so sure of himself, so very sure …

‘I don’t know who you’ve been with, or why he won’t support you, but if you’ve come here out of desperation just tell me how much you want.’

Carrie was stunned. She couldn’t believe what Nico was thinking. ‘I don’t want your money.’

‘Then, what do you want?’

‘I want nothing for myself. All I ask is that you acknowledge our child—’

‘Our child? I don’t have a child! And as for you?’ His stare lingered on her still-flat stomach. ‘How do I know you’re even pregnant?’ His gaze flashed up, demanding an answer.

‘Do you think I’d lie about something like this?’

‘How do I know what to think? You sneak into the palace like a thief—’

‘Don’t turn this into something squalid!’

‘Don’t you!’ Nico warned softly. ‘The Carrie Evans I knew wouldn’t use a child as a bargaining counter.’

‘And I’m not doing that now. Nico, how can you be so sure you’re not the father of my child?’

‘I know I’m not.’ His mouth flattened, telling her that was his final answer.

‘But there’s been no one else,’ Carrie said in confusion. ‘The baby is yours—’

‘No one else?’ Nico cut across her.

His silence now reminded Carrie of the frivolous underwear she had bought on the market, the underwear she had helped him to remove. Surely, he didn’t think …’Nico, please believe me, I was a virgin that night—’

‘A virgin?’ He shook his head grimly. ‘This lie of yours has gone far enough.’ Taking hold of her, he tried to lead her from the room, but she had more strength than he knew.

‘I suggest you leave before I do something I might regret, Carrie.’

‘Like what?’ She refused to move another inch. ‘What would you do, Nico? Would you hit me? Would you force me out of here? Would you strike a pregnant woman?’

The blood drained from his face. ‘I wouldn’t touch anyone in mindless anger.’

‘Just as I wouldn’t lie to you,’ she assured him, holding his gaze, willing him to believe her.

‘You’ve just proved that you would,’ Nico said. Walking to the door, he opened it wide. ‘Now, please leave.’

‘Nico—’

He turned his face away from her as if he couldn’t bear the sight of her a moment longer and his voice when he spoke next was the voice of a stranger. ‘I feel as if I’ve been with a very different woman to the sweet girl I employed. You’re a better actress than I thought, Carrie Evans, and a crueller one, but don’t think you can lay your mistakes at my door.’

‘My baby isn’t a mistake,’ she assured him tensely. ‘The only mistake I made was getting involved with you.’

‘It’s time to accept I’m not the father of your baby.’

‘Nico, you must believe—’

‘I can assure you I’m not. Your plan has badly misfired.’

‘My plan?’ She looked at him in bewilderment, but there was no chance to press him because in her worst nightmare come true Princess Anastasia was bearing down on them.

Wearing a slinky black dress with earrings so long the diamonds glittered on her shoulders like drops of sweat, the princess came straight to Nico’s side and linked arms with him.

‘Darling, what’s taking you so long?’ she purred into his ear.

‘Forgive me, Anastasia,’ he said smoothly, moving away. Thrusting Carrie behind him, Nico planted himself in front of her.

Carrie blenched as she viewed her rival through the small space left between Nico and the door frame. She might as well retire gracefully now. She was nothing but a little drab compared to the princess.

‘I heard raised voices, darling.’ Peering round Nico, Anastasia tried to get a better view of Carrie. ‘You don’t have a problem, I hope?’

‘No problem,’ Nico said evenly.

For a moment Carrie was surprised that Nico was troubling to protect her, but then she realised he was protecting his flawless reputation. Nico was used to sailing above the trivial embarrassments that afflicted the rest of mankind, and she guessed finding himself on the back foot was something new for him.

‘Is there a problem, Nico?’ Anastasia pressed. ‘They told me you had been detained.’ She gave a pretty pout. ‘But they also promised me that you would be joining us for coffee. Is this girl bothering you?’ Craning her elegant neck, she stared down her perfect ski-slope nose at Carrie.

Nico stood to one side, leaving the two women in full sight of each other. ‘Carrie Evans used to work for me.’

‘I see …’ Finely plucked eyebrows soared at an acute angle as the princess evaluated her opponent.

‘Carrie’s in Niroli on holiday, aren’t you, Carrie?’

Nico was prompting her? Carrie chose to remain silent.

‘Carrie, may I present Princess Anastasia….’

As Nico introduced her to the princess she stood stiffly, hoping Anastasia didn’t expect her to curtsy; the princess’s haughty gaze had instantly labelled her an inferior.

‘Why, Anastasia … nothing to say?’ Nico pressed. ‘Is there a reason Ms Evans shouldn’t visit the palace while she’s holidaying in Niroli?’ His voice was like a velvet threat, and as he spoke a quiver of response ran across Carrie’s shoulders.

‘No reason at all,’ Princess Anastasia said quickly, opening her eyes very wide to signal her absolute agreement with anything Nico chose to say about the matter.

He was playing them off against each other, Carrie realised. This might be providing Nico with an amusing interlude, but she wasn’t going to play. On the other hand, who knew what lengths Anastasia would go to in order to ingratiate herself with Nico? Any and all, Carrie concluded, watching the princess moisten her lips with the tip of her tongue.

‘I hope you will accept my apologies, Principessa?’

As Nico spoke Carrie had to hide her feelings, for, overriding the desire to scratch out Anastasia’s eyes was the desire to laugh. The role of penitent was completely beyond Nico’s acting capabilities. The princess didn’t seem to realise this and her soft exhalation of breath assured Carrie that Anastasia would take Nico on any terms.

‘I do hope we’re not too late for the last dance?’ Nico added, bowing low to Anastasia.

As his sardonic glance brushed her face Carrie knew she had been relegated to the position of silent servant. Nico and his princess were conducting a conversation that excluded her. Could he have found a crueller way to put her in her place?

‘Of course we’re not too late for the last dance, caro,’ Anastasia assured him, and this time she did include Carrie in the conversation, if only to shoot her a look of triumph.

‘Shall we go?’ Nico offered with yet another bow.

How charming he could be when it suited him, Carrie thought, narrowing her eyes as Nico deigned to acknowledge her with a slight tilt of his head.

‘I’ll have one of the palace drivers take you back to your hotel,’ he said to her, pausing mid-stride as if she were an afterthought. ‘Wait in the courtyard and I’ll have them come and find you—’

‘I can make my own way back to the hotel, thank you,’ she told him with composure.

Carrie’s defiant pose lasted only until the regal pair was out of sight. To hear them chatting so easily together was sheer torture. She was forced to admit they did look stunning together, but as Anastasia’s laugh rang out she thought again that Nico had it all. Having enjoyed his entertainment on the side he could relax and escort his beautiful princess to the ball. While she remained in the shadows listening to the rustle of Anastasia’s silk gown brush against the wall like a mocking reproach.

Carrie waited until she was sure the coast was clear and then hurried in the same direction as Nico and Anastasia. Before she reached the grand staircase she slipped through the doorway that led to the back stairs used by the servants.

The cool stone soothed her sore feet, but did nothing to help her aching heart. Nico didn’t believe her. Nico thought she was lying. Nico thought she’d been with another man. She didn’t know what else she could say to him. And in a horrible reminder of just how low she’d sunk every part of her was still throbbing from his heated possession. Once again he’d been hungry for sex, and once again she’d been willing. They were tinder and fire, verbally, physically. She might be strong in many areas of her life, but where Nico was concerned she could never find the strength to resist him.

The moment the sun hit her face Carrie looked for cover. If she was stopped now it would be hard to explain what she was doing in the palace—impossible if she wanted to avoid speculation and gossip. She could see a stone-roofed walkway that offered some protection, but if she took that route there was a point where she would be in full view of anyone standing on the balcony….

It was a risk she would have to take.

Hurrying along the passage, she fought the impulse to look up. But she had to, and then she saw Nico sipping champagne with the royal family.

It only emphasised his elevated status, and reminded her of the distance between them. And yet he stood apart from the rest, Carrie noticed.

She was deeply conscious of her bedraggled state and her bare feet as she reached the end of the walkway and stepped into the light, but she did so with her head held high. It was then Carrie noticed Princess Anastasia, and the princess noticed her. Walking up to Nico, Anastasia threw her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth.

She couldn’t bear to see Nico’s reaction, but the pain of not knowing if she would ever see him again made her look up in time to see him wiping his mouth discreetly on the back of his hand. It was a small triumph, but inwardly she smiled.

Filled with renewed purpose, Carrie hurried to the gate. She could feel Nico’s gaze burning into her back every step of the way, but she didn’t notice the shadow of an older woman watching her from an upstairs window.