Santina's Scandalous Princess - Page 29

‘All young girls enjoy themselves,’ Zoe answered with a     gracious smile. ‘But the princess now needs a strong husband to guide her.’

Natalia nearly choked on her vichyssoise. She didn’t want a man     to guide her. Or even love her. She didn’t want to get married at all. The     thought of being auctioned off to some nameless autocratic royal made her     insides clench in a spasm of both fear and fury.

Even as she told herself that her parents couldn’t force her to marry anyone, she acknowledged that they     very well could. They could certainly make her life unpleasant or even     unbearable unless she agreed to whichever husband they had chosen for her. She     might as well live in the Middle Ages.

Perhaps she would have been better off with Prince Michel.

‘The princess is involving herself with some charity work,’ Zoe     continued. ‘For disadvantaged children.’ She turned to Natalia, acknowledging     her presence for the first time. ‘You find it very rewarding, don’t you, my     dear?’

Natalia thought of the hundreds of envelopes she’d stuffed and     sealed over the past few days. From somewhere she dredged up a small smile.     ‘Very.’

Zoe smiled at the men assembled, who looked satisfied by     Natalia’s meek answer. One of them gave her what she suspected he thought was a     benevolent look. ‘I’m glad to hear the princess is changing her ways.’

‘The princess,’ Natalia said before she could stop herself, ‘is     right here.’

The ensuing silence was like a thunderclap. Defiantly Natalia     reached for her wine glass and took a large sip. What could they do to her after     all? She was twenty-seven years old, a grown woman…

A woman who was dependent on her parents and their generosity     because there was no way she could ever support herself. No way she could ever     make it in this world.

After an icy pause her mother resumed the conversation,     steering it towards more innocuous matters. At the end of the meal Queen Zoe     rose to retire with Natalia to one of the smaller salons while the men discussed     politics—and her possible marriage—in another room.

As soon as they were alone, the staff dismissed, Zoe turned to     Natalia. ‘How dare you embarrass me,’ she hissed. ‘And yourself, and your     family. We have been very patient, Natalia. Very tolerant—’

Natalia flushed. ‘I didn’t like them talking about me as if I     wasn’t there.’

‘That is how it is done, Natalia! That is how these     negotiations take place. These men want to see you and how you comport yourself     so they can make a report to their sovereign. Is even this concept too difficult     for you?’

‘I am not,’ Natalia said through gritted teeth, ‘that     stupid.’

‘You could have fooled me tonight,’ Zoe snapped. ‘The way you     have carried on these past years, never mind your abysmal performance in school!     At least your sisters have learned how to behave themselves.’

That stung. ‘Oh, really? Carlotta is unmarried with a child and     Sophia eloped with—’

‘Their marriages are now settled,’ Zoe cut across her, ‘and so     must yours be.’

‘And if I don’t want to marry?’ Natalia flung out. ‘At     all?’

Zoe sighed, the anger seeming to drain out of her. ‘You are a     princess, Natalia. Princesses marry.’

‘This is the—’

‘Twenty-first century. Yes, I’m well aware.’ Her mother sat on     a little antique chair, her back ramrod straight as always, and yet for the     first time Natalia realised how old her mother looked. Living a life for duty’s     sake took its toll on you, she supposed. Had her mother ever been happy? Or was     happiness not even a consideration?

‘What other option do you have, Natalia?’ Zoe asked

wearily. ‘Would you prefer to live your whole life in your parents’     palazzo, and then with your brother and his bride, an object of pity and     scorn?’

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