Invitation to the Prince's Palace / The Prince's Second Chance: Invitation to the Prince's Palace / The Prince's Second Chance

They were seated with her on the swivel chair, and him leaning back against the corner of the desk in his office. It wasn’t a large room, and as she let herself register the cosiness, his closeness, Mel suddenly became breathless. ‘I cooked for them for years. Cakes and desserts were my speciality, but I cooked all the meals, including for dinner parties. They liked to schmooze wealthy—’

She coughed and turned her attention back to the books. ‘These are wonderful resources. It’s an intricate industry. You’ve done well to get the black truffles growing commercially here.’

‘Not so well in the past two years.’ Rik glanced up and towards the windows.

The frown that came to his face made Mel follow his glance.

She hadn’t noticed the change in atmosphere, but now she saw it. ‘I didn’t know it had started snowing.’

‘Yes.’ He got up from the desk. ‘Why don’t you select what books you’d like to bring back to the palace when we return, while I see what’s in the kitchen that we can have for our lunch?’

Not that Mel minded either way and it wasn’t as though Rik were trying to trap her into spending time with him here. He’d probably enjoy the time away from the palace while he could, but would have been just as content to be up here by himself.

Something in his expression still made her ask. ‘How long do you think it will snow?’

CHAPTER SIX

IT SNOWED all that day. When darkness fell, Rik closed the curtains throughout his chalet home and turned to face Mel.

While Rik appeared completely calm Mel couldn’t say the same. She stood rather uncertainly in the middle of the living room.

With the prince. Up here in his chalet where he’d just made the decision that they wouldn’t be leaving until morning. So they would be here. All alone. Together. For all that time.

‘It won’t matter too much?’ She asked the question in a deliberately businesslike tone that somehow managed to emerge sounding chatty and confiding and breathless all at once. Mel forged on. ‘That you can’t get back tonight,I mean?’

Even despite the tone, Mel would have said she did well, that the question was at least focused on whether he might have problems because he couldn’t attend to duties at the palace tonight.

Yes. That was a good way to put it. ‘Your duties—?’ Really, she felt quite relaxed about this whole situation.

After all they were just staying in a different location for a night. She’d slept in a bedroom within Rik’s suite of rooms last night, which was rather intimate when you thought about it, and that hadn’t bothered her.

Not even when you leapt out of bed the next morning because you could hear him speaking just outside your closed door? Because you wanted to get through the shower and look your best for him before he saw you? Because you hadn’t been entirely certain whether he’d pulled the covers over you the night before when you might not have looked your best?

‘It won’t matter at all. I gave Dominico another quick call while I was outside checking the snowfall. He’ll take care of anything urgent until I get back tomorrow morning.’ His cheek creased as he gave a lopsided and quite devastating smile. He didn’t seem at all concerned or put out by their circumstances.

Which was great, of course.

That was exactly how Mel would feel in a moment when she finished pushing away these silly thoughts about being up here alone with him and how that might impact on the rest of the evening. It must be because he had kissed her on the mountainside earlier. Or because they’d spent the afternoon poring over truffle books and photo albums that showed many shots of Rufusina being trained by Rik and Rik laughing in some of the shots.

Perhaps it was also because she would be pretending to be engaged and then married to him.

‘We’ll end up holding hands and kissing …‘ Somehow the words were attached to the blood vessels in her face. Heat swept upwards from her neck and rushed into her cheeks.

‘Yes,’ Rik said in a deep voice. ‘At times we … will.’

Rikardo. Prince Rikardo. You’ll end up holding hands and kissing Prince Rikardo.

Oh, as though putting it in the correct words made it any better!

Even the reminder didn’t hold the weight it should have, and Mel just didn’t know what to do about that. Something had happened when he took her hand and got her out of the car and brought her inside and made her a hot drink and set to work to help her get past the ridiculous fear she’d experienced.

He acted just like your dream idea of a very ordinary man, showing a sensitive side while still being very, very strong and being wonderful and appealing and all the things you might want—

But Mel didn’t want a man. Well, not for a long time. Not like that in the way of settling down together and falling in love so she ended up vulnerable. She wasn’t ready for that! The thought burst through, and was somehow linked to her earlier panic while trapped in the speeding car with Rik.

Maybe she just felt panicky at the moment, full stop.

Maybe she needed to focus on right now because this was enough of a challenge, thanks very much!

Rikardo wasn’t an ordinary man anyway. Mel couldn’t afford to forget that.

Not while reading truffle books and smiling over Rufusina photos. Not while kissing him on a mountainside because that had been a kiss to seal a bargain. It might have blown her away, but he’d just kissed her and that had been that. Probably checking to make sure he could make it look believable any time they had to repeat the exercise over the next month and the months after that.

How many times might they … ?

Mel’s heart tripped.

She contemplated turning into a contortionist so she could kick herself for being so silly. The next months would be businesslike as often as possible. That was what they would be. Now what had they been saying? ‘Evening in. Yes. That’ll be fine. The only thing that matters is that it doesn’t interfere with other plans of yours. The treatment in the truffle groves—has that been done today or do you need to be there to supervise it? That’s the one thing I didn’t ask about while we studied those books.’

‘Winnow has supervised the treatment today. He knows what to do, and Dominico organised payment to cover it.’ He brushed this aside as though it were irrelevant.

Not the treatment part, the money part. Was it? Mel hadn’t got the impression that the money would come out of some endless royal coffer. If that could happen then Rik wouldn’t be stressing over getting the people out of financial trouble to the degree that he was. He’d said that there needed to be reform.

Her eyes narrowed. Had he paid for that treatment himself somehow? Out of money that perhaps shouldn’t be invested in that direction because it was for his personal use or he’d earned it himself? She knew so little about him and she wanted to know … everything?

Purely because Mel preferred to understand the people she dealt with!

‘We’ll treat tonight as an evening off,’ he declared. ‘If the remainder of this month is very busy, we can remember that we at least had a few hours to—how do you say it? “Veg out and do nothing.”‘

‘Why, yes.’ A delighted laugh escaped Mel. She couldn’t help it. The sound just flew out. Mel also couldn’t drag her gaze from that crease in his cheek, or from the sparkle in his deep blue eyes.

So she gave in and let herself enjoy the moment. It wasn’t as though Rik would want to spend the entire night kissing her senseless just because they were alone.

Just because he’d kissed her once already. Just because he was the best kisser she’d ever been kissed by and there would be times in the public eye, at least, when he would kiss her again. Just because he made her want to don sparkly shoes and leap into a rabbit hole.

‘If we’re having a night in,’ a night of not kissing each other, ‘then I guess we just need to work out how we want to spend our time.’

‘Not reading about truffles.’ This too was said with a smile.

Oh, she could fall heavily for that smile. She wouldn’t, though. Not when she’d reminded herself that she was doing this to help him, and help the people of Braston, and because she’d ended up here by mistake and there weren’t a lot of other options for him now, like none at all really, and she could afford the time and effort to help. Did it really make any difference whether she started her new life in Sydney this week or four months from now?

‘I think I’ve taken in as much information about truffles as I can manage for one day, but I’m pleased to know more about the industry. It’s obviously really important—to—to people here.’ She’d almost said that it was important to Rik, and that was why she’d wanted to understand.

That wouldn’t be the key reason, of course. She wanted to be supportive of Rik’s efforts. She’d made the commitment to marry him for that reason. But she wasn’t obsessing over learning all about his life and work or anything like that.

Are you sure about that, Melanie? Because you seem mightily interested in him, really.

Yes, she was sure! And no she was not ridiculously interested! She was helping to fix a problem that she was partially responsible for creating in the first place. She was no more interested than she should be.

‘It’s a fascinating industry,’ she said in the most dampening tone she could muster. ‘The truffle industry. But perhaps we could pass the time this evening some other way?’

Like snuggling on the sofa?

No. Like … well, she didn’t know. Cooking? Playing on the Internet?

‘How do you feel about television?’ Rik indicated the large screen in the corner of the room. ‘I have a selection of DVDs I’ve not yet got around to watching.’

‘Watching DVDs would be …‘ Smart. Sensible. Safe? Better than thinking about kissing the whole night? ‘A good idea. I don’t mind a good comedy, but I’ll watch most things.’

They sat on the floor in front of the DVD cabinet going through choices until she found episodes of an Australian comedy show she hadn’t yet watched. ‘Oh, you have this series! I’ve only ever seen a few episodes but it’s supposed to be brilliant!’

So they sat side by side on the sofa with popcorn that Rik made in the microwave, and sodas from his fridge, and watched comedy episodes until Mel had giggled so many times that she’d forgotten to feel self-conscious at all in Rik’s presence. Instead she had become totally enamoured of the rich, deep rumble that accounted for his laughter.

And she forgot to guard against letting herself be aware of him as an attractive appealing man and not a prince who should be held at arm’s length because she was only here for a few months and he was marrying her so he could avoid any kind of commitment to a woman, even if Mel didn’t know why he seemed to need to do that as much as he needed to. They were almost through the evening, anyway.

So why are you almost holding your breath, Mel, as though waiting for something to happen?

‘Goodnight, Mel.’ Rik walked Melanie to the opened doorway of her bedroom.

They’d watched their comedy episodes. Mel had paid more attention than he had. Did she feel it the way that he did? This compulsion that ate at him to draw closer, know her, use every avenue and every moment to learn more of her and to let her learn more of him? And a coinciding physical consciousness that seemed to fill the air around them with a charge of electricity just waiting for one small spark to set it ablaze?

Why did this woman make him feel this way more than any other had? Rik didn’t want to admit that to himself, but he forced the acknowledgement.

Then admit that you desire her, and that the desire is as much about her personality as it is about her physical appeal.

He’d spent this evening with her and he’d thought about how different their lives were and mad thoughts had come through his mind about bridging the gaps.

Look how well longevity and sticking together had worked for his father and mother. The queen had walked out, had done the one thing Rik and his brothers had never expected. She had turned her back on what she had treated as the core of her duty. And now neither parent would discuss the matter with their sons.

Rik turned his thoughts back to the present.

At times today Mel seemed to have almost forgotten that Rik was a prince. He’d … liked that. But now was not a good time for him to forget the arrangement they’d made. He needed this to work. To be distracted by her beauty and appeal was not the right thing for him to do, to be distracted mentally and in liking her so much, even less smart because it spoke of an emotional awareness that couldn’t happen. Rik could never trust …

‘Good—goodnight, Rik.’ She said the words quietly, almost tentatively.

With a question in their depths?

Her small hand came to rest on his forearm and she reached up and briefly kissed his cheek. ‘I’ll see you in the morning and I’ll be ready for whatever needs to be done to help get your temporary marriage plans started, or just to keep out of the way if you need to work in the truffle groves tomorrow.’

Rik searched her face and saw the determination to do the right thing, to dismiss him and her awareness of him at one and the same time. To remain Melanie here and Rikardo there and never the two should cross over their lines.

He saw all that, and he felt what was inside her. A very different compulsion that he felt, too, that made him want to lean in and replace that pseudo-kiss with the real thing. To know for himself if the last kiss had been some kind of strange fluke. If her lips would taste as good a second time.

‘Sleep well.’ He turned and started for his room at the end of the short corridor. ‘I will see you in the morning. Thank you for your company this evening. I … really enjoyed it.’

And with that, Prince Rikardo Eduard Ettonbierre of Braston went to his room, stepped inside and shut the door firmly behind him.

Only then did he lift his hand to allow his fingertips to lightly trace where her lips had pressed to his cheek.

It was perfectly fine for him to find Melanie likeable, and to still marry her, end the marriage short months later, and get on with the single life that he wanted, and needed to maintain.

He would not be marrying for real.

Rik sighed and dropped his hand. For now he needed to prepare for bed.

Tomorrow was a new day and no doubt a new set of challenges.

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘I WOULD like to present to you my fiancée, Nicole Melanie Watson.’ Rik spoke the words to King Georgio formally, and as though the other impromptu meeting had never occurred. ‘My fiancée is known by her middle name of Melanie.’

If the occasion had been less formal, Mel might have smiled at Rik’s tweaking of history to suit himself. But this was not that kind of moment. Mel curtsied.

‘I am pleased to meet you, Melanie.’ Georgio took her hand and air-kissed above the fingers and, while doing so, searched her face. After a moment he gave a slight nod and indicated a setting of leather lounges and chairs to the left.

They were in what Rik referred to as one of the ‘great rooms’. It was a large area, and could have felt intimidating if Mel hadn’t walked in here determined not to be intimidated.

Mel and Rik had made their way down the mountain this morning. He’d driven at a gentler pace and Mel had remained calm until they were almost at the palace. Nervous anticipation had set in then but Mel felt that was justified.

‘Let us get to know one another a little, Melanie,’ Georgio said as they all took their seats.

Rik sat on one of the sofas beside Mel. He seemed deeply resolved this morning. Last night, when she’d thought he would kiss her at her door, kiss her properly, Melanie had thought he might feel as confused and tempted and aware of her as she did of him. But of course that was quite silly. He might have wanted to kiss her. But that didn’t mean his emotions were engaged.

Not that Mel’s were!

Concentrate on the king, Mel. This is not the time for anything else.

‘Melanie and I first met through a cousin of hers.’ Rik added a few details.

When the king nodded, Mel bit back the urge to heave a sigh of relief. But she also had to handle her share of the conversation. ‘I admire Rikardo, and the work that he does for the people of Braston. I want to be as supportive of that as I possibly can.’

‘That is good.’ Georgio’s glance shifted from Mel to Rik and back to Mel again. ‘And what did you do before you agreed to marry my son?’

‘I worked as a cook.’ It might not have been a glamorous job. It would probably sound even less glamorous if she admitted she had done that for little money, working for her relatives to earn her right to a sense of belonging.

Note to self, Mel. You never did earn that right and you waited too long to get yourself out of that situation.

A similar set of rites was being played out in this room between Rik and his father.

She turned the highest wattage smile she could muster towards King Georgio. ‘My history is humble, I suppose, but there’s nothing to be ashamed of in coming from everyday stock.’

‘If that “stock” has an appropriate history attached to it.’ Georgio’s eyes narrowed. ‘My son will run a check. I will see this report for myself.’

Like a police-record check or something?

No, Mel, it will be a lot more detailed even than that.

She tried not to bristle at the thought, and at the king’s emotionless declaration. As though he did this all the time and would have no hesitation in eliminating her like a blot from Rik’s radar screen if she didn’t come up to standard.

It didn’t actually matter whether Georgio liked her or approved of her or not, provided she could marry Rik so that Rik could carry out his plans.

I still don’t like it. My family history is my business. I don’t want it exposed to all and sundry.

‘Dominico already ran the check.’ Rik clipped the words off. ‘You may take Melanie at her word, Father. There is nothing in her history to justify the need for you to view the report.’

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