Page 14 of Claimed By the Crown Prince
‘Your mother, Queen Isabel, had links to almost every royal family in Europe.’
Laia looked at Dax. He sat in a louche sprawl on the other side of the table. Supremely at ease. Not ranting and raving about being incarcerated. She didn’t trust it for a minute.
She took a sip of coffee and nodded. ‘As do we all.’
‘True.’
In fact he was being polite. Civil. Laia could play him at his own game and be polite too. ‘Have you been to Malaysia before?’
Dax nodded his head. ‘Yes, but only to Kuala Lumpur. I am grateful for an opportunity to explore more of this beautiful country.’
Laia looked at Dax suspiciously. He had an innocent expression, as if to say,What?She felt a little disconcerted. She wasn’t sure how to handle this sanguine man who appeared to hold no grudge for her having removed him from his life for an extended period.
Her conscience forced her to say, ‘Look, I’m sorry that it had to happen like this. I’m sure you’re missing lots of...engagements. I hope nothing too important?’
Dax took a sip of coffee and put the cup down. He said, ‘I’d already carved time out of my schedule because my brother asked me to track you down. And that’s what I’ve done. But I won’t consider the job done until you are delivered to him in Santanger.’
Laia scowled. ‘Like a parcel.’
Dax shook his head. ‘Like the wife you agreed to be.’
Now Laia shook her head. ‘I never agreed to it. I was never given a chance. It was afait accomplifrom the day I was born and born a girl. How archaic is that?’
His eyes narrowed on her. ‘It’s the way it’s done in our world. You do know that there are far more arranged marriages than so-called love matches globally?’
‘You’re not a fan of a love match, then?’
Now he was the one who looked slightly uncomfortable, avoiding her eye. Laia felt it like a small triumph.
He said, ‘Not for people like us, no.’
‘But normal people can indulge?’
He looked at her. ‘The stakes are lower.’
That was one way of putting it. The stakes were definitely lower when you didn’t have a duty to a nation of people and the responsibility of continuing a royal line.
Laia felt a dart of guilt before she realised that this was probably Dax’s plan—to undermine her resolve.
As if reading her mind, he asked congenially, ‘Why are you so against the marriage? Ari isn’t a bad person. I’m told he’s considered to be quite attractive.’ Dax made a self-deprecating face. ‘Not as much as me, of course, but he can’t have everything—the kingdomandincredible sex appeal.’
Laia had to curb the urge to roll her eyes and smile at his confidence.
He’s a charmer, reminded a little voice.This is how he’s spent his dissolute life. This is how he’s trying to get to you, any way possible.
Laia sobered. ‘I’m not against marriage. I’m just against this one. Your brother has no interest in me. He expects a convenient royal wife to slot into his world and doesn’t want to discuss it further.’
‘So what is it that you want, if not a perfectly reasonable match with one of the world’s wealthiest and most eligible men? Call me old-fashioned, but I can’t see many women turning that opportunity down.’
‘You’re cynical.’
He looked surprised. ‘And you’re not?’
Laia shook her head. How had they got into this territory? ‘I try not to be. I want a deeper partnership with my husband.’
A smile spread across Dax’s face and Laia’s breath got stuck in her throat for a second. When he smiled it was like being caught in the sun’s rays...magnetic and—
He declared, ‘You’re a romantic.’