Affairs of State(40)
“He’s irritating but harmless. I try to ignore him.” Simon’s whispered words in her ear made her giggle. “One thing you learn to do as a royal is present a united front. We don’t need the public to know that behind closed doors sometimes we drive each other insane.”
“Quite understandable.” She admired his ability to play the role he’d been born to. Such responsibility and the strict code of conduct would be too much for a lot of people she knew. It almost invited rebellion and debauchery, but Simon handled his unique life with ease and good humor.
Which only made her adore him more.
There was a brief commotion as one of the players fell off and, unable to support weight on an injured ankle, was helped to a medical tent.
“Simon, we need you!” Two of the other players beckoned from their horses. “Hugh couldn’t come today and Rupert’s still down with the flu so we’re short. You know Dom would be happy for you to ride his horses.”
Simon glanced at Ariella, then back at them. “I can’t, I’m afraid. It would be rude to desert my guest.”
“Oh, that’s okay,” she protested. “I’m sure I can take care of myself for a few minutes.” The game had been going on forever, it seemed. It must be nearly over. “You go ahead.” She knew his side was winning and she didn’t want everyone blaming her if things went south because Simon couldn’t leave her side.
“You’re a brick.” He kissed her cheek softly, which made her gasp and glance around as he jogged off to change.
Great. Now she was adrift in unfamiliar waters. And her glass of Pimm’s was empty, mint leaves clinging limply to the remains of the ice cubes. She decided to go off in search of another, and hope someone scored the winning goal while she was at it.
“Ariella.” A voice startled her as she headed down the side of a marquee. She turned to find Simon’s uncle Derek right behind her. “A word, if you please.”
Actually, I don’t please. But she didn’t dare say it. She paused, still half turned toward the drinks tent.
“Simon’s young and impressionable.” Those frighteningly large salt-and-pepper brows waggled up and down. “Enthusiastic and charming but not terribly bright, I’m afraid.”
Her mouth fell open. “I find him highly intelligent.”
“I’m sure you do.” He swigged from a glass of clear liquid. “A coronet has that effect on women. The fact remains that a dalliance with you could destroy his future.”
“I hardly think that…” She didn’t know what she was about to say but it didn’t matter because Derek blazed ahead.
“We all know what happened the last time a member of the British royal family lost his head over an American. He abandoned his country and his duty in the name of love. Not because he wanted to, but because he knew it was an absolute requirement.” His emphasis on the last two words was underscored with a hiss.
“Why?” Now she was curious to hear his answer.
“Because he knew she could not possibly fit in.”
“I thought it was because the monarch can’t marry a divorcée. For starters, Simon’s not a monarch, or very likely to be one. And second, I’m not divorced.” Her own boldness shocked her. Pimm’s must be powerful stuff.
The monstrous brows shot up. “Times are different now, but not that different. Her Majesty holds very traditional views, and each of her grandchildren has been groomed from birth to follow a specific path. Simon will marry a member of the British nobility, and will raise his children here to be members of the British aristocracy. Lady Sophia Alnwick will be his future wife and the wedding invitations are all but printed. She’d be here with him today if she wasn’t holding vigil at her esteemed father’s deathbed. Within the next day or so she’ll inherit all his lands and wealth and be the richest woman in England.”
Ariella blinked. “I hardly think Simon needs to marry for money or prestige.”
“Those two things are never a negative.” Derek’s beady black gaze chilled her. “You are a…a nobody. The illegitimate daughter of an American upstart who’s clawed his way into a temporary position of power. Don’t delude yourself that you can compete with the thousand-year history of the Alnwick family. Like his brother’s, Simon’s life path has been planned since birth. The estate he lives in, the so-called charity he’s so enamored of, these are all part and parcel of his role. If you get your claws into him and cause him to do something foolish, he’ll lose both of them.”