* * *
Rico glanced across at Halina’s thoughtful profile, wishing he could see into her mind, even as he acknowledged that he most likely didn’t want to know what thoughts lingered there.
He’d planned for the ring—and the kiss—to seal the deal between them and bring her pleasure. What woman didn’t like a nice piece of jewellery? And the ring he’d chosen was magnificent. But since the moment he’d slid it onto her finger Halina had cradled her hand as if it was too heavy, as if the ring were a burden or even a wound rather than a symbol of their forthcoming union.
His stomach cramped as he remembered how she’d asked about the nature of their marriage, about whether he would ever come to love her. He’d been postponing such a conversation while Halina regained her strength; her health along with their child’s was his main priority. But when asked so directly, he’d had to tell her the truth. He just hoped she could learn to live with it.
‘So what is this party for?’ she asked as the limo slid through Rome’s traffic, the buildings blurring outside the car. She turned to him, looking so achingly lovely he longed to draw her towards him and kiss her lush, plump mouth. He could kiss away all her concerns and worries about the nature of their marriage; he was sure of it. What they would have together in bed would be far better than any tedious notions of love or affection.
He’d waited to reignite their physical relationship because he’d wanted her to feel better physically with her nausea and also because he’d wanted to gain her trust. But now he wondered if kissing away her concerns would be the most expedient option.
‘Rico...?’ Halina prompted, a frown crinkling her brow. Her eyes still looked sad, just as they had when she’d asked him earlier about their marriage.
‘It’s a charity event,’ he replied. ‘For street orphans.’
‘Is that a charity you support?’
‘Yes.’ To the tune of millions of pounds, not that he would tell her as much. It was a charity that cut far too close to the bone, so he kept the amount of his giving secret. Few people knew the nature of his childhood, and no one knew about his father’s rejection of him. He did not want to advertise his private shame, or cause people to pity him.
‘And what will people there expect of me?’ Halina asked, sounding nervous.
‘The usual thing at parties. To chat and socialise.’ He smiled, wanting to lighten the mood and lift that sadness from her eyes. ‘You surely know which fork to use with which course and other such matters?’
‘Yes,’ Halina allowed. ‘But the socialising bit might be beyond me.’ Rico looked at her in surprise and she let out a shaky laugh. ‘Sometimes I think you have a completely skewed view of my life.’
‘Oh?’ He frowned, curious and a bit discomfited. He’d assumed, as she was a princess, she’d gone to plenty of parties, dozens of social occasions. ‘Enlighten me, then.’
Halina shrugged. ‘Before I met you, I’d been to exactly two parties, and they weren’t parties the way you probably think of parties. They were diplomatic events at the palace—all I had to do was show up, bow my head and appear modest and subservient. I’ve never socialised beyond the schoolroom, and before the night I met you I’d never even worn a cocktail dress. This...’ she gestured to the gorgeous gown that encased her lush body in a satiny sheath ‘...is the first evening gown I’ve ever worn.’
Rico’s frown deepened as his wife-to-be surprised him yet again. Yes, he’d known Halina had had a sheltered and even restricted life behind the palace walls, but more and more she showed him just how small it had really been. And he wanted to make it bigger. ‘What did you wear to the diplomatic events if not evening gowns?’ he asked.
‘Traditional dress. Very conservative.’
Something else he hadn’t actively considered. ‘Is this...these clothes, this lifestyle...difficult for you?’
She laughed, the sound crystalline and musical. ‘Difficult? No, definitely not. I love these clothes. I love the freedom of going out to a party.’ For a second something sad flickered across her face. ‘Believe it or not, I have more freedom here with you in Rome than I did before in Abkar.’ But that’s not saying all that much. Rico could practically see the thought bubble appearing over her head.
‘Then I hope you enjoy tonight,’ he said sincerely. ‘It’s your chance to shine.’
And shine she did as they stepped into the elegant ballroom of one of the city’s best hotels. Halina was easily the most gorgeous woman in the room, looking like a brilliant green flame in her emerald evening gown. Rico steeled himself not to mind the curious and lustful looks slid her way by just about every male guest. The women looked too, just as intrigued by the woman on his arm. Rico waited until they’d attracted a decent-sized crowd before delivering the bombshell he knew would explode in the entire room.
‘Please let me introduce Princess Halina of Abkar,’ he said smoothly,
his arm linked with Halina’s. ‘My fiancée.’
Murmurs of shock and surprise rippled through the room as Halina stiffened beside him. Rico pulled her a little closer, determined to stake his claim in every way possible. ‘We will be married next month.’
‘So soon?’ a woman asked with acid sweetness. Rico didn’t recognise her, but he certainly knew the tone. He held her gaze, putting iron into his own.
‘Yes. Neither of us wish to wait.’
The woman’s eyes narrowed and her mouth curved into a speculative smile. Halina put a protective hand over her belly and, from the ensuing ripple of murmurs that spread out through the crowd, Rico knew that just about everyone had seen that revealing action and judged it accurately.
‘Let me get you some champagne,’ he told Halina, and she gave him a wan smile.
‘You mean sparkling water.’
Several people heard, adding fuel to the fires of speculation. Rico knew by the time the evening was at an end everyone there would know Halina was pregnant. Well, so be it. Halina’s pregnancy would be physically apparent soon enough, and he would never be ashamed to claim his child.