A Royal Wager: Persuading the Playboy King / Unmasking the Maverick Prince / Daring the Dynamic Sheikh

“Hello, dear.” Mary’s gaze roamed over Kate from head to toe. “Have you seen my son?”

Oh, she’d seen him all right, and he had definitely seen her. “He left his office a few minutes ago. How’s Cecile?”

“She’s an angel and down for her afternoon nap.”

Searching for a quick escape, Kate pointed toward the back staircase leading to the nursery. “I think I’ll go check on her now.”

“I would prefer you take a walk with me.”

Oh, boy. “Any place in particular?”

“The gardens. It’s a beautiful day and a good opportunity for us to have a little talk.”

Kate assumed her face probably flashed guilt like a billboard, triggering the queen mother’s request. Mary most likely suspected something was brewing between Kate and the king. Kate saw no way out aside from running away, but that would further encourage the queen mother’s suspicions.

When Kate said, “Lead the way,” surprisingly Mary linked her arm with Kate’s and guided her down the gilt and marble corridor, then through a pair of double French doors that led to the rear palace grounds.

They remained silent as they strolled along a rock path lined with rose bushes and neatly trimmed hedges. When they reached a stone bench, Mary sat and patted the place next to her. “Join me, Kate.”

Kate complied, keeping her gaze trained on a tree where a bluebird flitted along the branches, wishing she could sprout some wings and fly away.

Mary’s sigh floated over the gentle breeze. “I suppose you now have the results of Cecile’s blood test.”

At least she hadn’t quizzed her about Marc, Kate thought. But she wasn’t sure it was her place to deliver the news that would most likely be a reality jolt. However, she couldn’t lie to this woman who had been nothing but kind to her since the beginning. “Yes, I have the results.”

“Well?”

Kate shifted until she faced Mary, taking the woman’s hand into hers. “Cecile has Philippe’s and Marc’s blood type.”

Mary drew in a long breath and released it on a weary sigh. “Then she is most likely my grandchild.”

“Unless there is someone else in the family that could be a possibility.”

Mary shook her head. “No. The line ends with Marcel. His father had only one niece, his deceased sister’s child, and she is in Canada, happily married with two children. I have no one else in my family.”

Kate ached at the loneliness in Mary’s voice and grasped for words that might ease her pain. “And now you have Cecile. And Marc.”

Mary studied their joined hands. “Marcel has been a stranger to me for the past few years. He’s always been searching for something, although heaven only knows what.”

“Respect,” Kate said with certainty.

“I suppose you’re right about that.” Mary lifted her gaze to Kate. “Do you believe Cecile is his child?”

“He’s adamant that she isn’t.”

“But do you believe him?”

Kate wanted to, honestly she did. “What I think doesn’t matter,” she said, the same thing she’d told Marc earlier. “Cecile’s well-being is important, though. She needs your love.”

“She will have it,” Mary stated. “I am more concerned with my son. He has much to bear as a king.”

“I know, but he has broad shoulders.” In both a literal and figurative sense.

“He also needs the love of a good woman.”

Kate shrugged. “I’m sure there’s a princess somewhere who would be more than willing to give him that.”

Mary patted Kate’s hand. “My dear, we are running relatively low on monarchs in this day and time. Marcel needs someone who understands him. Someone who can settle him down. A nice, educated woman would fit the bill.”

The expectant look on Mary’s face took Kate aback. “Again, I’m sure someone will turn his head.”

“Someone already has, and that someone is you.”

Kate’s breath hitched hard in her chest. “Mary, I really don’t think—”

“You need not think, Kate. You only need to be there for him. The rest will take care of itself. Unless you do not care for him.”

Kate looked away, knowing the guilt had returned. “I’m very fond of Marc. I have been since the day I met him nine years ago.”

“But can you love him?”

In many ways, Kate already did. In many ways, she always had. “Right now, Marc needs a friend, and I’m willing to be that to him.”

“Friendship is a good place to begin.” Mary stared off into space while the afternoon sun washed the gardens in a soft golden glow. “Marcel’s father was my friend and my confidant. My lover. The love of my life, even though it was ordained that we marry.”

“You mean some sort of arrangement?”

Mary smiled. “I know that must sound archaic to a modern young woman such as yourself. But I tend to believe that fate had a hand in our union. If only fate had not been so cruel as to take him from me much too soon.”

The sorrow in Mary’s voice, the mist of unshed tears in her eyes, caused a lump to lodge in Kate’s throat. After fighting back her own tears, Kate said, “You’re still young, Mary. You could find someone else.”

“There is no one else for me, my dear. I’ve loved only one man in my life, a wonderful man, and he has no equal.” She drew Kate into an unexpected embrace. “I wish for you that kind of rare and precious love, my dear Kate.”

Kate desperately wanted to believe in its existence, but with Marc? Only if he was willing to return that love.

Once they parted, she told Mary, “Thank you. Your story inspires me.”

Mary squeezed Kate’s hands. “And your presence here is very welcome, which leads me to a request.”

“Anything.”

“I would like you to move into the palace, or I should say onto the palace grounds.” She gestured beyond the path to a break in the hedge. “Over there, you will see a small cottage. Philippe used it as his own private retreat. We’ve removed his possessions, but it’s still nicely furnished. It would afford you some seclusion.”

Being so close to Marc both thrilled and concerned Kate. If he decided not pursue a relationship, then she would have to face him on a daily basis, and that could be very detrimental to her heart. “I’ll think about it,” she promised Mary, and she would think about it, probably most of the night. “In the meantime, I’ll be happy to remain here for the next few days to help take care of Cecile.”

“That’s not necessary, Kate. Beatrice will serve as her nanny. Besides, you will have enough on your plate when you begin your work tomorrow.”

“I don’t mind missing some sleep where Cecile is involved,” Kate insisted. Or where Marc was concerned. “She’s such a joy to be around.”