Page 30 of Mistaken as His Royal Bride

He nodded. ‘They were under the radar, not official. Usually to attend financial conferences. The President has extended to me an open invitation for a state visit. Maybe I’ll go some day...with my Queen.’

For some reason, the thought of King Aristedes visiting Ireland with Laia at his side pricked Maddi painfully.

She forced a smile. ‘You should go at the earliest opportunity. The hospitality is second to none.’

Their main courses were delivered—delicate parcels of pasta filled with ricotta cheese in a light sauce. They ate in a surprisingly companionable silence, but once the plates were cleared Aristedes said, ‘I need to apologise.’

She was surprised. ‘You need to apologise to me? Shouldn’t I be apologising to you every day, because I’m here and you’re trying to track down Princess Laia?’

His face darkened and she regretted opening her mouth. She always said too much.

‘Sorry, please, go on.’

‘Yesterday...what I said to you was not necessary and it was rude. You are obviously close to Princess Laia—close enough to carry out this stunt on her behalf—’

‘It was my idea,’ Maddi blurted out, even as she registered a soothing of the hurt he’d caused yesterday.

Aristedes stopped. ‘What?’

She nodded, hating it that he was now going to retract his apology. But she couldn’t let him believe this had been Laia’s doing.

‘I told her to run. I told her I would try and pass myself off as her.’

There was a taut moment of silence, and then he said, ‘She had her chance to do the right thing, but she did as you suggested. She made her choice. This doesn’t change anything, really. Except maybe to demonstrate that you’re not entirely without integrity.’

A waiter brought coffee and small pastries.

Aristedes went on. ‘As I was saying, you’re obviously close to Princess Laia, and she trusts you. She will undoubtedly choose to retain you as her lady-in-waiting once she is Queen here, and that will be her choice, of course.’

Maddi was filled with so many conflicting thoughts that she felt a little dizzy. His apology was a surprise, and mollified her somewhat. His arrogant assumption that in spite of all evidence to the contrary Laia would still agree to be his wife was enraging. But worse than all that, and most exposing, was the way she felt to hear him declare so magnanimously that she could remain as Laia’s lady-in-waiting. That he would be happy to see her every day and tolerate her presence, even though this...this current of awareness throbbed between them.

And that was when Maddi had to realise that she was being a prize idiot. Because all this awareness was obviously only on her side. This man looked at her and saw nothing but a nuisance. An obstacle between him and his Queen.

She had developed a crush on him on sight, but the only thing she aroused in him was serious irritation. He’d been pretending there was something between them to mock her.

And one thing she knew already. It would be intolerable to be in close proximity to this man every day and not behis.

The strength of that conviction shook Maddi.

How much he affected her!

She put down her napkin. ‘I’m feeling a little light-headed, actually. Would you mind if we went back to the palace?’

CHAPTER SIX

ARILOOKEDATMaddi across the back of the vehicle as they drove up the mountain towards the palace. She looked pale. He knew he shouldn’t be feeling concerned. This woman had severely disrupted his life. And yet he couldn’t help wondering if he’d said something...

Maybe it was throwing her into the deep end of Princess Laia’s schedule that was overwhelming her...and it would be just punishment if it was. Except right now Ari didn’t have any appetite for revenge or punishment.

What he felt was much more ambiguous. And beneath that was the ever-present thrum of desire.

Her arms were bare in the jumpsuit, and they looked slim, but strong. Her waist was encircled with a gold belt. The jewellery—those pearl earrings—were the essence of understated glamour. Perfect for a queen-to-be. Except he found himself looking for that diamond stud she’d worn high in her ear, like some sort of...free spirit.

But he’d told her to take it out...like a censorious parent. Was that who he was now? Staid and conservative? Stern?

‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

Maddi nodded and glanced at him. ‘I’m fine... I just...needed a little air, maybe.’