Claiming His Christmas Consequence

‘So you did have to blackmail him.’

‘You thought he would want to marry you?’ He laughed. ‘He was only happy to agree once he’d been assured the marriage would only last a year.’

Before he could continue, a secretary appeared at the door, informing them Nathaniel had finished speaking with their father and was on his way to them.

Dominic cast Catalina his vindictive smile one last time. ‘He doesn’t want to marry you, pretty Catalina. He doesn’t care that you will remarry immediately after your marriage is dissolved. He has no interest in your baby. All he cares about are his business interests. You must think of it as a business arrangement too. Your end of the deal is to uphold the honour of the House of Fernandez.’

She held her brother’s gaze for long seconds before inclining her head sharply. ‘I will remember.’

‘Good. Now is your chance to begin your redemption.’ His gaze turned to the door. Catalina’s stomach performed a somersault to see Nathaniel stride in as if their private quarters were rooms he’d visited on many occasions.

‘Nice place you’ve got here,’ he said, looking around the luxurious living quarters with a distinctly mocking eye.

If she didn’t have so many contradictory emotions raging through her, Catalina would have found his irreverence funny. Gasps of appreciation were the usual response when people entered their private rooms for the first time.

Knots formed tight in her stomach as she gazed at the one man who had seen her naked. Her heart seemed to have gained a life of its own and the palms of her hands grew damp.

He didn’t look at her. His focus was on her brother, who he towered over. ‘You may leave us.’

If she hadn’t been trained from birth to never show inappropriate emotion, she might very well have given a hysterical laugh. The only person she had ever heard give an order to her brother was their father, who certainly didn’t use the lazy, almost dismissive tone Nathaniel had just used.

Dominic turned red. Very red. Catalina half expected steam to escape from his ears.

‘I wish to speak to your sister alone,’ Nathaniel said when Dominic made no attempt to leave. ‘We cannot speak freely without privacy.’

‘You can have five minutes.’

‘Ten.’

To her amazement, Dominic pursed his lips together and stormed out of the room.

Gripping tightly to the armrest, she tried to adopt the serene, half-vacant look that had served her so well throughout her life.

Green eyes fixed on her, Nathaniel sat on the uncomfortable armchair opposite. His irreverence had left the room with her brother. All she saw was cool contemplation, although it gave her fleeting gratification to judge that he looked like a man with a serious hangover.

‘So it is true. You are pregnant.’ He spoke quietly, unwittingly repeating the words her brother had used the day before.

Had it really only been yesterday? They had to count as the longest few days of her life, and it wasn’t over yet.

‘Can you tell?’

He gave a quick, rueful smile. ‘There is something different about you. If I didn’t know you were expecting I would assume you were ill.’ He blinked a couple of times and refocused on her. ‘Are you ill?’

‘Not particularly. A little sickness, that’s all.’

‘Is that why you missed Helios and Amy’s Coronation?’

‘I thought I had a stomach bug.’

He rocked his head forward and grimaced. ‘When is the baby due?’

‘The doctor thinks the end of August. A scan will determine it with more certainty.’

‘And you are happy to marry me?’

‘My happiness is irrelevant,’ she answered coolly. ‘Besides, it will only be for a year.’

‘And you are in agreement with your father’s plan for you to remarry once we’ve divorced?’

‘I will accept whatever is good for my family and the House of Fernandez.’

Nathaniel studied her carefully, looking for a chink in the elegantly worn armour. There was nothing to be found. The passionate woman who’d come out of her shell for one glorious night had gone. The Princess he had known from a distance for many years had returned, her mask back in place. This was a woman raised to do her duty and who fully believed in it too.

Whatever Catalina felt on a personal level about the pregnancy and their situation as a whole she was keeping to herself.

If he didn’t still have such vivid memories of the night they had created this mess he could believe she was a wind-up porcelain doll. But he knew there was so much more to her than this façade. He’d kissed her most intimate area and had felt the shudders that had taken her over. He could still feel her fingertips on his scalp.

He shook the memories away.

If this was the way she wanted to play things, then all to the good. This situation was beyond either of their control. Keeping things professional was the best way to proceed.

Resting his elbows on his thighs, he leaned forwards. For her part, Catalina, dressed in tight white trousers and a dusky pink silk blouse, was sitting straight with her legs gracefully crossed. Her thick raven hair had been tied into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. The last time he’d seen her it had been loose, falling almost to the base of her spine. He’d gathered it in his hands and buried his face in it...

As the day had gone on and the initial shock had dissolved with it, he’d come to the conclusion that, regardless of Dominic’s threats, marrying Catalina was the right thing to do. For a start, it would give him proper rights to their child. Meeting the King, Catalina’s father, had only confirmed these feelings.

The King was a formidable man whose only concern was the reputation of the House of Fernandez and as far as he was concerned this was an exercise in damage limitation. Nathaniel might be a hugely successful businessman with more money than he could ever spend, but the King ruled an entire country. Even with all the resources Nathaniel had at his disposal, the odds of him gaining any custody in this country without marriage would not be in his favour. Marrying Catalina guaranteed him cast-iron legal rights to their child.

‘When we part I will make it abundantly clear that you are blameless.’ That much he could do for her. ‘I will do everything in my power to ensure your reputation is not damaged. We can play our parting for all its worth so the whole world’s sympathy will be with you.’

‘That’s very kind of you,’ she said with a tight smile. ‘But what about your reputation?’

He shrugged. ‘My personal reputation is already ruined. And I’m not a princess. Our marriage will be as quick and as painless as possible.’ Although not quick enough for his liking.

He’d known from the age of seven that he had to look after himself. A decade later he’d been cast aside by his only living relative and he’d been on his own ever since. He liked it that way. He didn’t have to worry about hurting people, or worry what effect his actions would have on someone else.

He liked being single and never stayed with a woman long enough for emotional ties to form.

His marriage to Catalina would be like a business relationship. He would not allow it to be anything more.

She gave a stiff nod. ‘I’m sorry you’re being forced into this.’

He shrugged again. ‘We both are.’

‘I will be doing my duty,’ she pointed out, ‘but I understand Dominic threatened to expel you from the country unless you agreed, and threatened to confiscate your development. That’s very different.’

‘Your brother made his position very clear, just as I made mine.’ As Nathaniel spoke he watched her closely. Judging by her demeanour, there was nothing to suggest Catalina had any knowledge of her father and brother’s threat to cut her and the baby off. It was better she didn’t know, he decided. It was too cruel and too personal a threat from her own flesh and blood, and not something that would ever come to fruition, not now that he’d agreed to the marriage. Catalina and their baby would be safe.

A glimmer of a smile played on her pretty lips but the hint of sadness surrounding it negated any humour. ‘My brother takes his role as heir and protector of the House of Fernandez very seriously.’

He cleared his throat, biting back the retort on his lips. Whatever his personal feelings towards Dominic, he was her brother and her loyalty would lie with him. ‘Getting back to the business at hand, I want to be clear that you’re in agreement to everything your father’s demanding.’

‘Yes. I am in agreement.’

‘Then it is done.’ He got to his feet. ‘I need to make a move.’

Her remarkable chocolate eyes were fixed on him. ‘Already?’

He didn’t like the tinge of disappointment in her voice. ‘I have somewhere to be.’

Dominic chose that moment to come barrelling into the room. ‘You’ve had your ten minutes.’

Nathaniel noticed the way Catalina withdrew into herself at Dominic’s return, how her lips tightened in the most subtle of fashions.

He remembered the malice on Dominic’s face when he’d threatened to make Catalina homeless and penniless. The Prince was the least deserving person of his title he could think of.

‘This really is my cue to leave.’ He had no wish to spend another minute in the palace. This family room was as plush as anywhere he’d been, lavishly adorned with antique furniture and portraits dating back centuries. But there was nothing homely about it, not even with the enormous Christmas tree sitting in the corner. This room, as with the rest of the sprawling stone palace, was cold.

‘Father will be hosting a select party for you two on Saturday,’ Dominic said. ‘My people have made contact with La Belle magazine—’

Nathaniel cut him off before he could speak any further. ‘Tell your father he’s welcome to host a party but I will not be there and I will not be speaking with any magazine.’

‘He has already—’

‘Let me make this very clear—I will not be a part of the House of Fernandez circus. I will marry your sister to legitimise our child and formalise my legal rights to it, but that is the end of my obligation. I don’t want a title or anything else from your family.’ He nodded at Catalina, who appeared to be frozen in her seat. ‘I’ll see you at the wedding.’

CHAPTER THREE

‘TRY HIM AGAIN.’ Catalina dug her nails into the palms of her hands, the only outward display of her inward disquiet. ‘Ask him if he’s free on Thursday.’

She’d asked Aliana to call Nathaniel and request a dinner date for Wednesday. He had politely declined, citing a prior engagement.

Aliana disappeared into the adjoining small office, leaving Catalina alone with Marion, whose sharp little eyes were studying her with unabashed curiosity.

‘I would like you to take one of the palace cars and go to Madame Marcelle’s shop and bring me back a selection of her laces.’ She didn’t give a reason. She didn’t have a reason. All she wanted was to get rid of her cousin for a time.

‘I can call and have it brought to the palace.’

‘No. I wish for you to go personally. You know my tastes so I know you will choose wisely,’ she added, playing to Marion’s ego.

Unable to refuse, Marion nonetheless made a great show of searching for her handbag, which was at the foot of her chair.

As soon as she’d gone, Catalina breathed out and closed her eyes. Marion’s behaviour, including all those sly smiles and blatant eavesdropping, had become intolerable. Or was it that the limits of her own patience had finally been reached? The pregnancy hormones were certainly rampaging through her. It was becoming a struggle to keep the poise she’d held throughout her life.

Aliana reappeared, shaking her head. ‘He has a prior appointment Thursday night too.’

‘And probably Friday and Saturday night,’ Catalina muttered, thinking quickly. It had taken all of her courage to ask for Nathaniel’s private number from her father but he had surprised her by handing it over. He hadn’t looked at her though. He hadn’t looked her in the eye since he’d called the life growing inside her a bastard.

It had been five days since their worlds had imploded. Since Nathaniel’s visit to the palace and his agreement to the marriage, there had been only silence.

She’d spent the intervening days getting her head clear. She’d pushed aside the fleeting romantic notions she’d had, those few moments when she’d seen a future that could possibly be happy.

She didn’t even know where those notions had come from. She didn’t expect or want love. Love was a kind of witchcraft, a power strong enough to destroy the person suffering from it. A marriage built on mutual respect was the most she had ever hoped for, although hopes were an indulgence she rarely allowed herself.

Nathaniel was a commitment-shy womaniser of the highest order. Their brief marriage would be over before it had begun and she would remarry. Now all she cared about was the welfare of the tiny life she carried. She needed to protect it, but all she sensed was danger.

She took a long breath and straightened her spine. She would call him herself. Let him make his excuses not to see her personally.

Before she could move to her office, she rushed to the bathroom and brought up her breakfast.

* * *

Nathaniel’s phone vibrated noisily on the desk.

Swearing, he cursed himself for not turning the vibration facility off when he’d switched it to silent.

The same number from ten minutes ago flashed at him.

He snatched it up, pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear. ‘Tell the Princess I am unavailable until the day of our wedding and if she doesn’t like it she can—’

‘It’s Catalina.’

The unexpectedness of her voice and the coolness of her tone momentarily froze him.

‘Are you there?’ she asked. He could imagine her sitting at the round French mahogany table of the family room, legs crossed, back straight, as composed as she always was.

He cleared his throat. ‘Yes, I’m here. What can I do for you?’

‘I need to see you.’

‘As I explained to your companion, I don’t have any free time until the day of our wedding.’

‘I’m sure you can make the time.’

‘Is it important?’

‘Nathaniel, we’re having a baby together.’

‘I am aware of that. It’s the reason I’m marrying you.’

There was a slight pause before she said, ‘Our marriage might only be temporary but our child is for life. Unless Dominic was telling me the truth and you have no interest in our child?’

He sighed. It didn’t surprise him that Dominic would tell such a lie. ‘He must have his wires crossed. I will want to play an active part.’

‘Then show me the courtesy of meeting with me.’

There was something in her voice that gave him pause.

‘If I agree then I want it to be somewhere neutral and not in the palace,’ he said slowly. If he never had to set foot in that palace again he would die a happy man.

‘I was going to suggest the same thing.’ There was definite relief in her words. She went silent again before asking, ‘Do you like opera?’

‘No.’

‘Good. My family have a private box at the Monte Cleure Royal Theatre. There’s a production of La Bohème on this week. Our box is free on Friday so we can have it to ourselves.’

‘I just told you, I don’t like opera.’

‘Then you won’t find the singing a distraction when we talk.’

Rebuffing Catalina’s assistant was a lot easier than rebuffing his fiancée personally. It would be easier if she were issuing hysterical orders but her sheer calmness made him feel foolish for his previous avoidance.

He knew beyond doubt that the less interaction they had as a couple, the better it would be for them both. But especially for her.

‘Okay then, Friday,’ he agreed, before terminating the call.

He rubbed the nape of his neck and closed his eyes.

* * *

The theatre manager greeted her personally, hurrying Catalina through a private side door and up the red-carpeted staircase to the House of Fernandez’s private box before the general public had time to notice her appearance.

They’d arranged to meet in the royal box at eight p.m. She was fifteen minutes early.

To make the time pass quicker and in an attempt to smother the nerves swirling in her gut, she tucked herself into the corner and opened the programme. She had made it to the section describing the careers of the secondary players when Nathaniel slipped into the box, all six foot plus of him, looking dashingly handsome in a black tuxedo and bow tie, with a tumbler of Scotch in hand.

He was exactly on time.

Her heart battering against her ribcage, she got to her feet and gave him her hand. Dutifully, he put it to his mouth and razed his lips across her gloved knuckles. The heat from his breath sank through the satin.

‘You’re looking well,’ he said, stepping back and openly appraising her.

‘Thank you.’

‘No sickness?’

‘Not right now. It comes and goes.’

He gave a half-smile. ‘That must be difficult.’

‘I’ve been told it comes with the territory.’

Below them, the theatre was filling, the buzzing sound of pleasant chatter filling the air. The royal box had been specially designed for privacy, the curvature of the balcony allowing the occupants an unhindered view of the stage while protecting them, along with clever lighting, from prying eyes.

‘How long does this go on for?’ he asked as they took their seats.

‘About three hours including intervals.’

He didn’t bother hiding his grimace. ‘Have you seen this before?’

‘Oh, yes, it’s a beautiful story and perfect for the Christmas period.’ She looked at him and arched a brow, smothering the churn in her stomach at his obvious wish to be elsewhere. ‘Even if opera’s not your thing, I’m sure you can cope with my company for three hours. After all, you seemed happy with my company at Helios and Amy’s wedding. Or has the thrill gone now that you’ve slept with me?’

He ran his fingers through his hair, mussing it up in the same manner he had moments before he’d placed his lips against hers for the last time.

‘At this moment, the only thing I’m not happy about is spending three hours listening to ear-splitting wails being passed off as singing. I give you no guarantee I’ll stay until the end.’

‘So you don’t deny you have no interest in my company at all?’ She kept her voice even but the humiliation burned.

They were only supposed to have been for one night. They had both made that clear. No ties, no regrets. Catalina had imagined hugging their secret night close to her heart for the rest of her life and, as vain a hope as she now knew it to be, she’d imagined it would be the same for him too.

She’d thought—wished—that he would see the one positive of their marriage as being able to share a bed again.

She’d overestimated his boredom threshold.

‘You’re a beautiful, interesting woman. I doubt there’s a man alive who wouldn’t want to be in your company.’

‘But you’re not one of them.’

Nathaniel finally allowed himself to look at her properly. It was at moments like this that Catalina’s royal upbringing became transparent. There was a directness in her speech that, while not arrogant, was certainly assured. It was clear she was used to having direct questions answered. She was always beautiful, but tonight she looked stunning in a shoulderless figure-hugging long black satin dress with matching elbow-length gloves. Her raven hair had been curled and pulled into a chignon, long ringlets loosened to frame her porcelain face.

‘It was thinking with the anatomy below my waist and not my head that’s got us into this trouble. Now, why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?’

A range of emotions flickered over her sweet, heart-shaped face but she held his gaze.

He truly would have to be dead from the waist down not to desire her. There had hardly been a moment since he’d left her room in the Agon palace when he hadn’t thought of her.

When they’d made love that night, she’d been a virgin. He’d taken things slowly, gently coaxing her eager responses. As a married couple, even with the imposed time limit, they would have all the time in the world to explore each other’s desires. To imagine peeling that dress off and discovering all her secret, hedonistic fantasies...

He couldn’t act on it.

Catalina was a princess, and that shone through her every word and deed. He should never have seduced her in the first place.

He’d impregnated her and caused a potentially terminal rift in her family. Further proof, as if it were needed, that he was rotten to his core. He would not allow himself to cause any more damage.

‘I suggested we meet here because I needed to be sure that we can speak freely,’ she said.

‘You don’t think that’s possible in the palace?’

‘I know it isn’t. There’s not a telephone conversation within the palace walls that isn’t recorded. My father and Dominic have spies everywhere.’

‘What are you worried about them hearing?’

Before she could answer, the theatre lights dimmed and the orchestra, set low in the pit before the stage, struck up. Then the curtains were drawn back and the production began.

Catalina waited until it had started in earnest before answering. Nathaniel was forced to lean in close to hear her above the noise, inhaling that irresistible scent in the process.

It was her scent that had captured his attention to begin with.

When he’d first met Catalina at a society party in France a number of years ago, her choice of perfume when he’d leaned in for the polite kisses on the cheek had intrigued him. She was the quintessential Princess, always dressed impeccably, graceful and elegant in both speech and manner. He would have expected a light floral perfume, something girlish and rather innocent. Yet she wore a sultry scent that evoked thoughts of long hot nights and dusky mornings.

He’d made love to her knowing she was a virgin. Again, she had confounded his expectations. He’d assumed she would be shy. She had been the opposite.

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