Prince of Scandal

‘So, Your Highness. What can I do for you?’

For a moment longer he regarded her, then he leaned forward a fraction. ‘It’s not what you can do for me.’ His voice was deep, mellow and hypnotic, holding a promise to which she instinctively responded despite her wariness. ‘This is about what I can do for you.’

Beware of strangers promising gifts. The little voice inside sent a tremor of disquiet skidding through her.

Years before she’d received promises of wonderful gifts. The future had seemed a magical, glittering land. Yet it had all been a hollow sham. She’d learned distrust the hard way—not once but twice.

‘Really?’ Her face felt stiff and she found it hard to swallow.

He nodded. ‘First I need to confirm you’re the only child of Thomas Bevan Hardwicke and Margarite Luisa Carlotta Hardwicke.’

Luisa froze, alarm stirring. He sounded like a lawyer about to break bad news. The voice of warning in her head grew more strident. Surely her ties with Maritz had been completely severed years ago.

‘That’s right, though I can’t see—’

‘It pays to be sure. Tell me—’ he leaned back in his seat but his eyes never wavered from hers ‘—how much do you know about my country? About its government and states?’

Luisa fought to remain calm as painful memories surged. This meeting had a nightmare quality. She wanted to scream at him to get to the point before her stretched nerves gave way. But that glittering gaze was implacable. He’d do this his way. She’d known men like him before. She gritted her teeth.

‘Enough.’ More than she wanted. ‘It’s an alpine kingdom. A democracy with a parliament and a king.’

He nodded. ‘My father the king died recently. I will be crowned in a few months.’

‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ Luisa murmured, struggling to make sense of this. Why was he here, interrogating her? The question beat at her brain.

‘Thank you.’ He paused. ‘And Ardissia?’

Luisa’s fingers clenched as she fought impatience. She shot him a challenging look. He was like a charming bulldozer, with that polite smile barely cloaking his determination to get his own way.

‘It’s a province of Maritz, with its own hereditary prince who owes loyalty to the King of Maritz.’ Her mouth twisted. ‘My mother came from there, as I’m sure you know.’

She shivered, cold sweeping up from her toes and wrapping around her heart as bitter memories claimed her.

‘Now, my turn for a question.’ She planted her palms on the table and leaned forward, fixing him with a stare. ‘Why are you here?’

Luisa waited, her heart thudding hectically, watching him survey her beneath lowered brows. He shifted in his seat. Suddenly she wondered if he were uncomfortable too.

‘I came to find you.’ His expression made her heartbeat speed to a pounding gallop.

‘Why?’

‘The Prince of Ardissia is dead. I’m here to tell you you’re his heiress, Princess Luisa of Ardissia.’

CHAPTER TWO

RAUL watched her pale beneath her tan. Her eyes rounded and she swayed in her seat. Was she going to faint?

Great. A highly strung female!

He thrust aside the fact that anyone would be overcome. That his anger at this diabolical situation made him unreasonable.

She wasn’t the only one whose life had been turned on its head! For years Raul had steered his own course, making every decision. Being fettered like this was outrageous.

But the alternative—to turn his back on his people and the life to which he’d devoted himself—was unthinkable.

‘Are you all right?’

‘Of course.’ Her tone was sharp but her eyes were dazed.

They were surprisingly fine eyes, seen without that shadowing hat. Blue-grey a moment ago, now they sparkled brilliant azure. Like a clear summer sky in the Maritzian Alps. The sort of eyes a man could lose himself in.

She blinked and shifted her gaze and Raul was astonished to feel a pang of disappointment.

He watched her gnaw her lip. When she looked up and flushed to find him watching, he noticed the ripe contours of her mouth. With the grime washed away, her features were pleasant, regular and fairly attractive.

If you liked the artless, scrubbed bare style.

Raul preferred his women sophisticated and well groomed.

What sort of woman didn’t take the time to style her hair?

Pale and damply combed off her face, it even looked lopsided. Anyone less fitted for this—

‘I can’t be his heir!’ She sounded almost accusing.

His brows rose. As if he’d waste precious time here on a whim!

‘Believe me, it’s true.’

She blinked and he had the sense there was more going on behind her azure eyes than simple surprise.

‘How is it possible?’ She sounded as if she spoke to herself.

‘Here.’ Raul opened the briefcase Lukas had brought. ‘Here’s your grandfather’s will and your family tree.’

He’d planned for his secretary, Lukas, to take her through this. But he’d changed his mind the moment he saw Luisa Hardwicke and how unprepared she was for this role. Better do this himself. The fewer who dealt with her at this early stage the better.

Raul suppressed a grimace. What had begun as a delicate mission now had unlimited potential for disaster. Imagine the headlines if the press saw her as she was! He wouldn’t allow the Maritzian crown to be the focus of rabid media gossip again. Especially at this difficult time.

He strode round the table and spread the papers before her.

She shifted in her seat as if his presence contaminated her. Raul stiffened. Women were usually eager to get close.

‘Here’s your mother.’ He modulated his tone reassuringly. ‘Above her, your grandfather, the last prince.’

She lifted her head from examining the family tree. Again the impact of that bright gaze hit him. He’d swear he felt it like a rumbling echo inside his chest.

‘Why isn’t my uncle inheriting? Or my cousin, Marissa?’