Affairs of State(32)
“Wait!” She couldn’t just let him go. Damn it. Angry as she was, she wanted to see him too badly. She turned to Eleanor. “This is my…boyfriend.” She dared Simon to argue with her word choice. “Is it okay if I introduce you?”
Eleanor gulped, but nodded shyly.
“Simon Worth, this is Eleanor Daly. My mother.” Her throat swelled with emotion as she said the word mother.
Eleanor stared. “Prince Simon Worth?”
Simon bowed. “At your service. It’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Daly.” He swept forward, took her hand and shook it warmly, while she gazed at him in shock. “I know Ariella’s been looking forward to this for a long time.”
“Goodness.” She stared from one of them to the other, as if she wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.
A feeling shared by her daughter. “Simon encouraged me to meet you. I wasn’t sure you’d want to.”
“I’m so glad the two of you are finally getting together.” Simon glowed with confidence and good cheer, as usual. “It seems a wonderful thing to come out of the wiretapping scandal.”
Eleanor still looked shell-shocked. “I saw a headline about the two of you at the newsagent and I just assumed it was more made-up rubbish.”
“Sometimes there’s a grain of truth in the wild stories the press invent.” Simon smiled. “I’m happy to confirm that this is one of them.”
“So you two are actually…dating?” Eleanor stared from Simon to Ariella.
“We’re not quite sure what we’re doing.” Ariella jumped in, not wanting Simon to be put on the spot. She couldn’t even imagine how the royal family might be reacting to news of their romance. Simon hadn’t mentioned the topic, which wasn’t too encouraging. “We enjoy each other’s company.”
“Oh.” Eleanor’s brow furrowed with concern. Ariella got the sense that she’d love to issue some stern warnings, but was too polite. She probably wasn’t happy that her newfound daughter was embarking on a relationship that wasn’t likely to end in a glorious happy-ever-after.
Because really, did she expect Simon to marry her?
The whole idea was ridiculously premature. They hadn’t even done more than kiss yet. She glanced at Simon, whose eyes met hers and sent a zap of heat straight to her core. It would have been so much easier if she could have avoided him. This week was hectic enough already.
“I’ll leave the two of you in peace.” Simon must have read her thoughts. He nodded nobly to Eleanor, and squeezed Ariella’s hand, then turned and disappeared out the door. Ariella couldn’t manage to think of anything polite to say, so they both stared after him in silence until the door closed behind him.
“Goodness.” Eleanor looked dazed.
“Life has been pretty intense this year.” They both sat back down on the sofa. “Sometimes I wonder what else could possibly happen.”
“Don’t tempt fate.” Her mother patted her hand. “But I do hope you get to meet your father soon. I’m so proud of him for being elected president, and I know he’s going to do a wonderful job running the country. He’s off to a great start already. Almost makes me think I should move back.”
Adrenaline surged through Ariella. “You should. It would be so wonderful to have you near. Come live in D.C.! Georgetown, where I live, is quite peaceful really. Lots of trees and lovely old buildings.”
“You make it sound very inviting. Perhaps I have been living in the back of beyond for too long. Hiding away, I suppose.”
“You don’t have to hide from anyone now.”
Eleanor looked doubtful. “I don’t think I could face all those reporters the way you and Ted have. I’d be tongue-tied and embarrass both of you.”
“You couldn’t possibly embarrass either of us. I bet it would be a huge relief to come forward and get it over with. Why don’t you come back to the States with me at the end of the week? I’m leaving on Friday and I can probably get you a ticket on the same plane if I call in a favor or two.”
Eleanor’s hand stiffened. “I…I’m not ready for that.” Once again she felt her mother shrinking away from her. “But I’d very much like to stay in touch with you by phone, and maybe I’ll gradually pluck up the courage to at least come visit you there. And maybe take a trip up to Montana to see all the old friends I’ve avoided for so long. I never told a single soul there about my pregnancy and I’m sure they all wondered what happened when I just disappeared. I stayed in a special home for unwed mothers way outside of town until I was due, and then I took all my saved pennies and left for Chicago after the birth. I couldn’t face any of them knowing I’d given away my own child. Ted’s child. I met Greg there. He’d come from Ireland for the summer to work as a roofer and he swept me off my feet.” Her sad eyes sparkled a little when she spoke about him. “With him I started a new chapter of my life. I never looked back. I felt that if I did I’d fall off some cliff and get swallowed by all the emotion I tried so hard not to feel during that time.” Her pale eyes grew glassy with tears again.