‘Where would you go?’ he interrupted gently. ‘You have no passport, I’m assuming, and no money. And, even if you did, the courts would soon make sure you were sent back to your family.’
She took a soft breath and looked away, blinking hard. It was obvious she was trying hard not to cry. ‘Then,’ she said in a shaky voice, ‘I suppose I have no choice. I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’d better go.’
But Cassius had already made a decision. She was distressed and in danger, and she’d come to him for help. Not to his brother, the noble heir who could do no wrong, but to him.
To her he wasn’t the dissolute, no-good second son. To her he wasn’t a careless, self-centred playboy prince.
To her he was a hero...her potential saviour.
So that was who he’d be.
‘Wait,’ he said, his brain moving at lightning speed, sorting through all the most likely options and then discarding them.
There was only one way he could think of to become her guardian. Only way to save her from marriage to a monster and to keep her parents happy at the same time.
He’d marry her himself.
It was a shocking decision that would likely appal his parents, and there’d no doubt be a scandal. But that was too bad. He’d never be the kind of prince they wanted him to be and he’d long since given up trying.
He’d be a hero for this girl instead.
And as for her parents, well, they’d probably be delighted to have a prince for a son-in-law instead of some minor lord.
He’d offer her the protection of his name and, in essence, she’d be his ward. He’d look after her until she reached her legal majority.
Two years. That was all it would be. And then they’d divorce and she’d be out of her parents’ clutches for ever.
It was unorthodox, certainly, but the main thing was that she’d be safe. And he would be the one to save her.
She was looking at him with big eyes, as if her entire existence waited on his next word.
Which it did.
‘There is one way I can help you.’ He met her gaze very directly. ‘But I’m afraid you might not like it.’
‘It can’t be any worse than having to marry Stefano Castelli.’
‘That depends,’ Cassius said. ‘How do you feel about marrying me instead?’