A Royal Wedding(108)
“Young? Naive? Silly?”
Actually, he’d been thinking more along the lines of adorable, charming, refreshing, delectable … And now he had to stop, before he said something he would really wish he hadn’t—even in his own head.
“Never mind,” she said, waving him away. “Go make your phone calls. I’ll be here, having fun.”
He hesitated. “You won’t make another run for it?” he asked softly.
She flashed him a quick smile. “Not right now. I’ve got too much to do right here.”
He grinned and retreated to the bedroom, though he left the door open so that he could keep an eye on her. And when he came back out ten minutes later he found the mood had changed drastically.
No longer sorting through the rack, she was sitting on the couch, arms folded across her chest.
“What’s the matter?” he said, startled by the transformation.
She looked up at him, her gaze cloudy. “I can’t take any of these clothes.”
“What are you talking about?”
She shrugged—all tragedy, all the time. “For one thing, you’re trying to bribe me with them.”
He stopped in his tracks, looking outraged. “Bribe you? What are you talking about?”
She looked at him accusingly. “That’s what this has all been about, hasn’t it? The meal, the dessert, the clothes.”
She seemed to have a unique gift of finding the exact wording that would make him the angriest. He had to work hard at keeping his fury at bay. Bribe her, indeed!
“How much of a clothing allowance have I given you over the years?” he asked her carefully.
“Clothing allowance?” She looked blank. “I never saw any clothing allowance. I just took what you had Mathilda, the housekeeper, get for me. She would go on shopping trips and come back with the ugliest clothes you’ve ever seen.”
He stared at her, feeling a well of regret growing in the pit of his stomach. She really did have a point, didn’t she?
“Julienne,” he said softly, “I’m so sorry. I never paid enough attention….”
“No, no, it was fine.” She shook her head so hard her hair slapped her cheeks. “I had plenty of clothes. And the few times I really needed something special Mathilda found something for me at the Saturday market. Like for Christmas or my birthday.”
That wasn’t really good enough. She should have had the best. What kind of a jerk was he, anyway?
“You’ve been the perfect ward,” he said, really angry with himself. “And I’ve been the worst as a guardian. Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugged. “Remember those emails I sent you?” she pointed out. “And the letters?”
He shook his head. “You deserve some clothes. I owe you.”
She began to put things back on hangers. “No thank you,” she said softly.
He watched her, frustrated and annoyed—but mostly at himself, not at her. And he wanted her to take some of the clothes. Actually, he wanted a lot of things, but at least that was doable.
“Are you going to wear your sundress to bed?” he asked archly.
She looked up at him and made a face. “No.”
“Then you’re going to have to take something, aren’t you?”
“No,” she said stoutly, though she was beginning to see his point.
He was about to make a response, but his mobile rang and he flipped it open impatiently. “Yes?” he said.
She went on putting the clothes away.
“Good,” he said to his phone companion. “Okay, I’ll tell her.”
She stopped, looking at him questioningly as he closed the phone and turned her way.
He looked at her with a faint, hopeful smile. “I take it you understand you’re going to have to stay here tonight? But don’t worry. In the morning I’ll take you back.”
She frowned and faced him bravely. “No. I won’t go.”
His smile faded. “You will go.”
She shook her head. He searched her eyes.
“I can read the thoughts whirring in your clever little mind, Julienne. You have plans. But I’m afraid I’m still a step ahead of you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Rolfo found your driver. I’ve sent him back to the convent.” He was smiling again. “So I’m afraid any run for the border you might have had in mind will have to be postponed.”