Page 21

For a long stretch he studied her, almost dispassionately. ‘You’re the first to receive a proposal of marriage from me. But you’ll also recall that I have said this is entirely for the sake of my son’s destiny as heir to the throne.’
She noticed starkly that he didn’t address the subject of not liking her, and chose not to examine why it left a dark hollow in her belly.
‘Ourson. He’s not just yours—no matter how much you wish it so.’
A flare of colour stained his cheekbones at her speaking look at the way he clutched Max to his chest.
‘I’m not going to pretend I don’t feel possessive over the son I didn’t know existed until three hours ago,’ he bit out, redirecting his gaze to glide with open possession over Max.
That hollow in her stomach widened, intensifying that feeling of being left out in the cold that had been a far too familiar sensation since childhood. Because her father’s treatment of them hadn’t forged a bond between her and her mother. It had done the opposite, stripping her mother of every last ounce of self-esteem and sending her looking for love and affection in all the wrong places. The end result of which was that Eden had been abandoned to find her own way in life.
As much as she wanted to deny it, she knew wounds like those festered. Scarred. Left hearts and emotions intensely wary.
Striving to suppress the echoes of anguish, she opened her mouth, but he beat her to a response.
‘As for your profession…it’s nothing we can’t spin to suit the circumstances. It’s not common, but it’s not rare either.’
‘A prince plucking a downtrodden single mother from destitution into untold luxury and status?’
She’d meant it to sound caustic. Cynical in the extreme. But it emerged a touch breathless, wrapped in undeniable echoes of that dream of an unrealistic happily-ever-after that made her cringe.
‘Exactly so,’ he concurred, ignoring her abrasive tone. ‘Provided you play your cards right.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ She almost snorted as she said the words she seemed unable to stop parroting. ‘If you think I’m going to jump through hoops for—’
‘It means there’s a mountain of protocol and a strict code of behaviour you’ll need to adhere to as my wife and princess. You’ll need to be guided through it.’
The title was too nerve-shredding to contemplate just then, so she brushed it aside in favour of his other statement. ‘“Code of behaviour”? It’s almost as if—’ It was her turn to narrow her eyes as her insides shrivelled. ‘You don’t think very highly of me, do you?’ she murmured, then inhaled sharply. ‘Something happened three years ago, didn’t it? Something you’re judging me for?’
The tightening of his face told her she’d hit the bullseye.
‘Tell me what I did,’ she demanded.
‘Even if I was inclined to rehash your past, your doctor was at pains to advise otherwise. I may be many things, but I’m not a monster who’d blithely risk your health for my own purposes,’ he bit out.
That confused her. Surely he wasn’t looking out for her? That would make him almost…considerate…
‘Mama!’
Max choosing that moment to demand her attention was both frustrating and mollifying. Azar handed him over, reluctantly, then crouched before her. She grew far too aware of the arms he rested on either side of her thighs. Hands that had touched her, caressed her when they made a child together…
‘What does he need?’ he enquired when Max continued to fret.
Switching into ‘mom mode’ took effort. ‘He’s tired,’ she said. ‘His morning has been overwhelming. A snack and some warm milk usually do the trick.’
Azar nodded, and she watched—with that punch of surprise she’d experienced a minute ago—as he rose and went to the phone. Minutes later, a butler wheeled in a sterling silver trolley with tiny bowls of everything a toddler might want to snack on, and a jug filled with warm milk on its own silver platter.
Under any other circumstances Eden would have joked at the sheer over-the-top-ness of it all. But she knew she was getting a tiny glimpse of what the future held for her son. Possibly for her.
A life surrounded by people who thought nothing of using their wealth and influence to buckle people to their will—like her father.
A life far removed from the simplistic one she’d secretly dreamed of.
Could she do it?
Even for Max’s sake?
Near silence reigned as Eden placed Max in the sleek-looking highchair that had appeared. It was only broken by his enthusiasm for his snacks.