Cat Schield – Mum's The Word!: Royal Heirs Required (страница 22)

“I’ll bet you hated it.”

Gabriel shot Christian a quelling look. “I can’t expect to enjoy every aspect of my position. Some things must be done no matter how painful. This was one of them.”

“Is your future wife another?”

This time Christian laughed out loud at his brother’s sharp look.

“How I feel about my future bride is none of your business.”

“Come on, you’ve got to be a lot happier about having to get married these days. From what I hear, you two have been acting like a couple kids in love.”

Gabriel growled in displeasure, but couldn’t ignore the electric charge that surged through him at the mere thought of seeing Olivia again and feeling her soft lips yield beneath his. Each of the past four nights he’d gone to bed alone and found himself unable to sleep. Plagued by memories of Olivia’s smiles and her sassy sensuality, he’d lain with his hands behind his head, staring up at the blank ceiling and doing his best to ignore his erection.

Cold showers had become his 2:00 a.m. ritual. How had she bewitched him in such a short time?

“Neither one of us is in love,” Gabriel muttered. “But I won’t deny we’re compatible.” He leveled a hard gaze at his brother, warning him to drop the matter.

“Not in love?” Christian cocked his head. “Maybe you’re not. But are you sure about her?”

Christian’s question roused a memory of the last evening before his trip. He’d almost succumbed to Olivia’s plea to spend the night. She’d seemed so vulnerable, her characteristic confidence lacking. But that didn’t mean she was in love with him.

“Ridiculous,” he said. “We’ve only spent a couple weeks in each other’s company.”

“You don’t believe in love at first sight?”

Gabriel regarded his brother’s serious expression with curiosity. “Do you?”

“Absolutely.”

“Is that why you do your best to chase every woman away who gets too close?” Gabriel wondered if his brother was taunting him or if he was offering Gabriel a rare glimpse into his psyche. “Have none of them made you feel as if you were clobbered by something beyond your understanding or control?”

Something flared in Christian’s gaze but was quickly gone. His mocking smile returned. “Who wants to settle down with one woman when there’s a banquet of lovelies to sample?”

“One of these days someone will appeal to your palate and you’ll find that you can’t get enough of that particular delicacy.”

“Is that what happened to you?”

“I’m getting married because I have to.” Gabriel was well aware that he’d dodged the question and not with any finesse.

Christian’s eyes narrowed. “And if you didn’t have to?”

“Since that’s never been an option, I’ve never really thought about it.”

And he didn’t want to think about it now because it opened old wounds. Would he have stayed with Marissa if marriage to her had been possible? Had he loved her or had he inflated his feelings for her because circumstances made it impossible for them to have a future?

“Well, I certainly stirred you up,” Christian taunted.

“Wasn’t that your intention?” Gabriel countered, staring past the hedge that bordered the driveway to the palace. For a moment he glimpsed a pair of ponies and the two little girls riding them. Despite his tumultuous thoughts, he couldn’t help but feel joy at the appearance of his daughters and feel sorry for Christian. His cynical attitude would undoubtedly prevent him from experiencing the wonder of holding his own children in his arms and feeling their enthusiastic kisses all over his cheek.

“God,” Christian exclaimed, “you are smitten.”

“I caught a glimpse of my angels out riding.”

Christian snorted. “They’re not exactly angels. In fact, they’ve been turning the palace upside down with their version of hide-and-seek, which entails them finding some tiny nook and not coming out until every servant is called upon to look for them. It’s been worse these last few days with Olivia feeling unwell.”

Gabriel frowned. “What did you say about Olivia? She’s ill?”

“Didn’t you know?”

“I spoke with her last night. She said nothing.” Gabriel rubbed at the back of his neck. “How bad is it?”

“I don’t know. She hasn’t been out of her suite for the last two days.”

“Has she been in bed that whole time?”

“I don’t know,” Christian sounded amused. “But if you’d hinted that you’d like me to check on your English flower in her bedroom, you should have said something.”

Gabriel didn’t even look at his brother as he exited the car and strode into the palace. Tension rode his shoulders as he entered the foyer, barely hearing the greetings from the staff on duty. Why hadn’t Olivia told him she wasn’t doing well? He took the stairs two at a time and turned in the direction of his fiancée’s suite. His knock was answered by a maid.

“I’m here to see Lady Darcy,” he told her, his scowl compelling the young woman to step back.

Three women occupied the room. Olivia sat on the couch with her feet up, her back to him while Ariana sat opposite her facing the door. Olivia’s private secretary was by the desk. His sister’s lilting laugh broke off as he entered.

“Good afternoon, ladies.” He forced himself to approach Ariana first. His sister looked splendid as always in an evening-blue dress. The color flattered her golden skin and dark brown hair. She wore a simple gold bangle at her wrist and gold hoop earrings.

“Welcome back, Gabriel,” she said, standing as he drew near and making her cheek available for a kiss.

“We missed you,” Olivia echoed, turning to gaze up at him. Her normally pale complexion lacked its customary healthy glow and there were shadows purpling the skin beneath her eyes.

Concern flared. He sat beside her on the sofa and touched her cheek with his fingertips. “Last night on the phone, why didn’t you tell me you’ve been ill?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You’re too pale. I demand to know what’s wrong.”

Olivia sighed and cast her gaze toward Ariana. Her eyes widened, causing Gabriel to turn his head. Ariana had vanished. The door to the bedroom was shut. They were alone.

Gabriel refocused on Olivia. “Answer me,” he growled.

Red patches appeared on her formerly dull cheeks. “I’ve been having a particularly difficult period,” she murmured.

Relief flooded him. She was embarrassed to discuss her body’s natural process? Was that why she’d kept silent the night before? Amused, Gabriel dipped a finger beneath her chin and raised it.

“I’m going to be your husband. You better prepare to discuss all sorts of things like this with me.”

“Be careful or you may live to regret those words,” she muttered, but her lips were soft and eager beneath his. “Welcome home.”

An endearment hung between them, unspoken. She’d promised not to call him Prince Gabriel or Your Highness as they made love, but she had yet to find a pet name for him. What would it be? Darling? Dearest? Sweetheart?

My love?

“Did you have a successful trip?” she asked.

“It was very long.” He leaned forward and kissed her neck below her ear, smiling as she trembled. “And lonely.”

She framed his face with her hands. “I missed you so much. In fact—”

A knock sounded on the door, interrupting her. Heaving a weary sigh, Gabriel kissed Olivia on the nose and then raised his voice to be heard in the hall. “Come.”

Stewart poked his head around the door. “The king wondered if you’d gotten lost on your way to the meeting with the prime minister.”

Gabriel stood and bent over Olivia’s hand. “Duty calls.”

“Of course.” The bright smile she gave him didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Perhaps we can have dinner together?”

Regret pinched him. “I’m afraid I can’t tonight. I already have an appointment.”

“Of course.”

He’d grown familiar with the micro expressions that belied her thoughts and could see she was disappointed. He hated being the one who robbed her eyes of their sparkle, and the intensity of his desire to see her smile caught him off guard. Falling in love with his fiancée wasn’t what he’d had in mind when he decided to marry Olivia.

“I’ll stop back to check on you later,” he said.

Her gaze clung to his face. “I’ll be waiting.”

* * *

The morning after Gabriel returned from his business trip, Olivia caught herself smiling almost as often as she yawned. True to his word, he’d returned after his dinner to check on her and they’d snuggled on the sofa until almost three in the morning while Olivia filled him in on the twins and he spoke of what he’d seen in Switzerland and Belgium.