Cat Schield – Mum's The Word!: Royal Heirs Required (страница 23)
In addition to talking, there’d been a fair amount of kissing, as well. Lighthearted, romantic kisses that left Olivia breathless and giddy. He’d treated her with tender patience, not once letting passion get the better of him. Olivia had found his control both comforting and frustrating. Four days without him had aroused her appetite for his hands roaming over her skin and she cursed her cycle’s timing.
On the other hand, there would be nothing to get in the way of their magical wedding night. Unless there wasn’t going to be a wedding.
This was her first period since discontinuing the birth control pills that regulated her cycle. At first she’d been down because as amazing as her nights with Gabriel had been, she hadn’t gotten pregnant. Soon, however, she began to worry as old, familiar symptoms appeared. Assuring herself everything was going to be fine became harder each day as her period stretched out. For the past two days fear had begun to sink deep into bone and sinew. She began to confront the very real possibility that her surgery might not have cleared up her problem. She had to face that getting and staying pregnant might be more difficult than she’d assumed.
Then, after seeing Gabriel yesterday, it became clear what she had to do. She needed to tell him the truth. Despite the connection they shared, she wasn’t sure how he was going to react to her news. She could only hope he would act like his father and work with her to solve any issues that came up.
“Olivia?”
A soft voice roused her. With the paparazzi hungry for their first glimpse of Gabriel’s daughters, Olivia had requested that Noelle bring their flower-girl dresses to the palace to be fitted. Blinking, she refocused on the slim, dark-haired woman.
“Sorry, Noelle. With the wedding two weeks away my mind tends to jump around a great deal these days. What were you saying?”
“I asked if you wanted me to bring your dress here next week for the final fitting rather than have you come to my shop.”
“It would help me if you brought the dress by. I’m drowning in wedding preparations and that would save me time.”
“I’d be happy to.”
A moment later the twins appeared in their new finery. They looked like angels in their matching sleeveless white dresses with full lace skirts and wide satin sashes in pale yellow. Noelle’s assistant had pinned up their hair and attached wreaths wrapped in pale yellow ribbons.
“These are merely to demonstrate one possible look for the girls,” Noelle explained. “If you like it, I’m sure the florist could create beautiful wreaths with yellow roses.”
“The dresses are perfect,” Olivia breathed. “Thank you so much for making them on such short notice.”
“I’m happy you like them.”
While Noelle and her assistant made little adjustments to the dresses, Olivia distracted Bethany and Karina by explaining to them what their role in the wedding would be. They seemed to understand the seriousness of the event because they listened to her with wide eyes and their full attention.
An hour later, Noelle had left, taking the dresses with her, and Olivia was reading the twins a story when the door to her suite swung open without warning. Startled, Olivia swiveled on the sofa to face a very unhappy Gabriel.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s time for the twins to head back to the nursery,” he answered, his voice level and cool as he gestured to the nanny who jumped to her feet. “I think it’s time for their lunch.”
Olivia set the book aside and got to her feet to urge the girls over to their father for a kiss and a hug. His manner softened for them, but a minute later they were gone and Gabriel was back to scowling.
“Is it true?” he demanded.
Her stomach twisted at the hard suspicion in his eyes. “Is what true?”
“That you’re infertile?”
Of all the things that had raced through her mind, this was the last thing she’d expected. How had he found out? Libby was the only person who knew about her condition and Olivia knew her private secretary would never betray her.
“Where did you hear that?”
He stalked across the room toward the television and snatched up the remote. Dread filled Olivia as he cued the power button. She’d not imagined he could look so angry.
“Sources inside the palace confirm that the future princess has little to no chance of producing an heir for Sherdana’s throne. With her medical condition you have to wonder what the prince was thinking to propose.”
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