Affairs of State(26)
“Just like you happen to have been born to one.”
She hesitated. “I guess you’re right. He’s not at all like you’d expect. Very unpretentious and genuine.”
“And dead sexy.”
“Yes. That, too.” He seemed to grow more handsome every time she saw him. Or was that just because she was falling in love with him?
Her thoughts screeched to a halt. She was absolutely not allowed to fall in love with anyone on such short notice. Love was a big, long, lifetime thing that had to be carefully planned so that no one’s heart got broken. She and Simon both agreed they didn’t know where their…thing was going, and that they’d take it one step at a time.
“Didn’t you realize the photographers would see you together?”
They had. In fact the photo opportunity was planned. They wanted to get it over with so they could stop meeting only in dark private corners surrounded by armed guards. “Photographers see everything I do lately. They’re always lurking about somewhere.” It was a relief to shed the cloak of secrecy, but also alarming to give people one more thing to gossip about.
“Well, I’m so impressed with how you seem to take everything in stride. Anyone would think you’d been born in the public eye and handling it all your life.”
“I suppose I’m like a duck where everything looks calm and smooth above the water, but underneath I’m paddling like mad.” She needed to get to the gym so she could run off some energy on a machine. Otherwise she might explode.
“No way you’re a duck, Ari. You’re a swan. A royal swan.”
She paced back into the kitchen and poured herself a cool glass of water. “There’s nothing royal about me. I hope Simon’s family aren’t having a cow now that the story’s broken in the press over there.”
“How could they possibly not like you?”
* * *
Simon flew into Cardiff so he could drive directly to Dysart Castle in the Welsh Marches. The estate was the seat of his uncle Derek, the Duke of Aylesbury. It was Derek who had insisted in the strongest terms that he return to England and confront the “noxious” rumors about his affair with an American commoner.
Derek strode into the drawing room in his shooting jacket shortly before the usual lunch hour. He was damp from the mist of rain and had probably been out killing things since dawn. “Ah, you’re here.”
Master of the bleeding obvious, as usual. “You said it was urgent.”
Derek peered at him from beneath his bushy salt-and-pepper brows. “Her Majesty is beside herself at the ugly stories splashed all over yesterday’s papers. Your visit to the States has obviously grown overextended if the American press has the time and energy to invent silly stories about you.”
“It’s not a story. Ariella and I have grown close.” And he looked forward to growing a lot closer. It had taken all his self-control to stop at kissing her. He’d managed because he knew there was something special about her, and he didn’t want to do anything to endanger their budding relationship.
“Well, you’d better grow distant, immediately. You’re second in line to the throne, man. You can’t kiss any girl with a pretty smile who happens to cross your path.”
Simon stiffened. “Ariella is not just anyone. She’s intelligent, charming and has more poise than most of us royals put together.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s American. You remember what happened last time one of our family got involved with an American. He gave up the throne of England! Madness.” Derek shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it over a gilded chair. “Break it off with her immediately and pray that she doesn’t make a big fuss in the media.”
“Ariella would never do such a thing. And I most certainly am not going to break it off with her.”
Derek’s already bilious face reddened further. “I thought your irresponsible and reckless days were behind you. Your older brother is married to a delightful and entirely suitable woman. Look upon him as an example.”
“I honor and respect my brother and look forward to saluting him as my monarch. I feel confident that he will enjoy Ariella’s company as much as I do.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. And she’s the daughter of the president. We have enough trouble negotiating the maelstrom of American politics without you allying yourself with the daughter of one party’s leader.”