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‘Colonel—’
‘It’s been so good to see you, dear Annalena. But I must get on. Business to see to, you know.’
He rose and she stood too. ‘Of course. It’s been lovely. I’ll pass on your regards to my grandmother.’
He leaned in and kissed her cheeks, the brush of his moustache and the scent of butterscotch taking her straight back to childhood.
Then he was gone, leaving her with the brooding man who ruled this place.
Suddenly she felt very alone.
Annalena straightened her spine after picking an imaginary piece of fluff off her skirt. ‘Are you at least convinced now that I am who I say?’
‘There seems little doubt.’ He moved nearer, not as close as the colonel had been, yet shefelthis presence as a physical weight pushing against her. She couldn’t quite get her breath, her breasts straining against fabric that suddenly felt too tight. He extended his arm and it took all her self-control not to flinch. ‘Your driver’s licence.’
‘Thank you.’ She took it, careful not to brush his fingers. ‘I assume you had it checked.’
‘Naturally. Proving your identity is the first necessary step.’ He gestured to her seat. ‘Won’t you sit?’
Annalena subsided onto the chair and watched him take the colonel’s seat. He looked completely composed and in control. She didn’t know what she’d anticipated but was annoyed at his equanimity. Especially since she felt anything but calm. ‘And the next step?’
He reached for a poppy-seed pastry, taking a large bite and chewing before answering. ‘Sorry, I didn’t have time for lunch.’
She folded her arms. ‘I know the feeling.’
His huff of laughter surprised her, sending a skittering sensation through her middle. His sombre eyes crinkled at the corners making him look…
Deliberately she turned towards the generous spread she’d been too keyed up to enjoy. A slice of chocolate gateau caught her eye. If ever there was a day for chocolate this was it. She helped herself, a welcome distraction from this man who so confused her.
She didn’t trust him, yet being with him made her feel energised and self-aware. The sharpness of her breathing. The cinch of fabric at her waist. The weight of her mother’s locket at her throat. The scrape of her nipples against her bra.
‘The next step?’ she asked as she slid a fork through dense chocolate and fluffy cake.
‘Proving your claim to the throne is false, of course.’
His absolute certainty surprised a laugh out of her. All the proof she’d given him and she hadn’t even created doubt in his mind. ‘Good luck with that.’
‘You find this amusing? You’re enjoying yourself?’
Nowshe heard it, not uncertainty but steely threat. He wasn’t as sanguine as he appeared.
Her grandmother had spoken in scathing terms about his father. Was the man before her just as callous? As ruthless? It was a chilling possibility. But nothing would happen to her under his roof. Too many people knew she was here.
Seeking distraction, Annalena popped a piece of cake into her mouth, focusing on the rich flavour and texture, rather than the scorching glare turned her way. She swallowed and licked her bottom lip.
‘If you think this is how I get my kicks you really are out of touch. No person in their right mind would do what I’ve done today for fun. I didn’twantto come. I didn’twantto reveal the truth about my parents. I’m happy with my life, thank you very much, and I’d rather get on with it.’ She put down the delicious but barely touched cake, the fork rattling on the plate. ‘If you’d done the right thing in the first place, none of this would be necessary.’
‘This? Your attempt at blackmail? You’re blaming me?’
Impossible man! ‘Blackmail implies I’m doing something wrong. But right and the law are on my side. The crown is mine by right. Building a dam that will destroy so much of Edelforst is wrong.’
‘Don’t be so simplistic.’ He shook his head and, in the first gesture she’d seen that revealed weakness or perhaps tiredness, he raked his fingers through his dark hair. Infuriatingly it fell perfectly back into place. ‘You can’t see the bigger picture. Some land will be inundated but the owners will be compensated handsomely. We’re seeking sustainable ways to create power. This hydroelectric project will bring huge benefits.’
‘You sound just like your father.’
His head jerked back, making her wonder what the relationship had been between the two men.
A muscle in his jaw worked. ‘You spoke to him about this?’