The Reluctant Wife: Chapter 29

‘You’re not ready for this meeting with Arthur.’ Tyler pours water into a glass and hands it to me. I toss it back, wishing it were something stronger. Not that I’m going to let myself drink on the job, especially when it’s her life on the line.

‘Thanks for pointing out the obvious,’ I growl.

Tyler merely tops up my glass with more water, then places the jug back on the counter.

We’re in the reception room. A space Arthur only uses when he has formal company, like that of the King of Verenza. Speaking of, ‘I haven’t seen Gramps since we arrived.’

‘He’s closeted with the king. No doubt, the two of them are involved in some kind of business negotiation.’ He takes a sip of water from his own glass.

A frisson of unease spirals up my spine. I push it aside, then glance about at the people milling around. As soon as we arrived, the princess disappeared into the guest room Arthur assigned her so she could freshen up.

The fiancé, too, was allocated a room, on the other end of the corridor from her. Members of my team are keeping guard at each of their doors. They have instructions to bring them both down when they’re ready.

I wanted to follow her to her room, but if I had, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from holding her in my arms and kissing her, after turning her over my lap and spanking her for that lie by omission. And that stopped me. I need to get over her, but the more I try not to think of her, the more she pervades my thoughts.

Connor, my youngest brother has chosen to make an appearance, now that he’s back from one of his many work-related trips. He insists it’s related to the research he must undertake on behalf of the Davenport group’s biotech company he heads up, but we, his siblings, suspect he’s a spook for the British government. Not that he’s ever confirmed it to us. He’s talking to Brody, my second youngest brother, who wears a dissatisfied expression on his features. Not that any of us are happy to be here. But when Arthur commands us to turn up, we can’t disobey him. It’s not that we’re afraid of him, but all of us respect the old bugger—enough to fall in line when he asks us to do something.

Not far from them, my oldest half-brother Edward and his wife Mira are talking with my Uncle Quentin and his very pregnant wife Vivian. Nathan and Skylar complete the group. It’s as if there’s an unspoken rule that all married couples are on that side of the room and the rest of us bachelors have been shunted to the far end. Or maybe, we decided to give them a wide berth. None of us are in a hurry to give up our single status.

In my case, it’s because I’m not the same person I was when I met Jane. In Tyler’s case, it’s because he’s focused on bringing up his daughter Serene. ‘Found a nanny yet?’ I can’t resist asking.

He groans and rubs a hand over his face. ‘Found one, and she’s left already.’

‘Whoa, that’s a record. This one lasted what, a month?’

‘A week. It’s not that Serene is a difficult child, but she doesn’t take very quickly to her nannies, and most of them seem to give up trying within a few days.’ He runs a hand down his face. ‘Good thing Sinclair’s wife Summer was happy to watch her while I’m away. Especially since she misses Michael and Karma’s kids.’

‘And Michael, any idea how he is?’ Michael’s wife Karma passed away six months ago. After that, he took his kids and moved back to his hometown in Sicily. No one has heard from him since. Summer was close to her niece and nephew. Given Karma & Michael used to live next door to them, it’s no surprise she misses them so much.

‘I spoke to him a month ago, and he didn’t sound good.’ Sinclair joins us. ‘I told him we’d come visit, but he wouldn’t hear of it. We haven’t seen him since…that day at the hospital.’

I wasn’t there myself, but by all accounts, it was heart-breaking. Michael refused to let anyone see Karma’s body. ‘I wish he’d, at least, agreed to have a funeral for her.’ Sinclair sighs. ‘It would have given Summer some closure. But not only did he not allow Summer to say her good-byes, he cut off all ties with us.” Sinclair walks behind the bar counter and pulls out a bottle of Macallan sixty-year-old whiskey.

‘That’s Gramps’ stash, which he happens to be very possessive about,’ I warn.

‘He told me I could help myself to any of it.’ Sinclair pours the whiskey into tumblers. As if it’s a signal, Connor and Brody stalk over and snatch up the glasses.

‘You know why Gramps decided to host the King of Verenza?’ Brody drawls.

Sinclair surveys his glass of whiskey, ‘They move in the same circles, and the King of Verenza trusts Arthur. At least, that’s the official line. Then again, it’s well known that everything Arthur does is with the goal of getting you lot married off.’ He looks at me meaningfully.

I roll my shoulders. The expression on Sinclair’s face says it all. He’s implying Gramps has set up this meeting in the hopes of hastening my getting hitched a second time.

I glower at Sinclair. “He’s aware I’m not ready to marry again.’

‘Have you known Gramps to let that stop him?’ Connor scoffs.

I rub the back of my neck. ‘There’s something strange about this entire evening. The fact that Arthur called me up and ordered me to bring the princess and her fiancé here, a day after I took her to the safe house—’ I shake my head. ‘I know he has something up his sleeve.’

‘There’s an electric fence around Arthur’s property. Our entire team has taken up position around it. There are cameras monitoring the perimeter around the clock,’ Tyler offers.

‘I’m tracking them via an app on my phone, remember?’ I snap.

‘My point is, the place is guarded with more security than the White House.’ He pops a shoulder. ‘Not that it means you can relax, but just saying, she’s safer here than anywhere else.’

He has a point. At the same time, I’m fairly sure Arthur’s going to spring a typical Arthuresque surprise on me. All the more reason to keep my wits about me. I step back from the counter. “I’d feel better if I checked in on the princess.’

Connor stares at me. Brody chuckles. The men look at me with expressions varying from surprise to disgust to a knowing grin.

‘What?’ I glare at them. ‘It’s my responsibility to ensure she’s safe.’

‘From her own fiancé?’ Connor smirks.

‘If need be, yes.’

Tyler chuckles, then turns it into a cough.

‘If you have something to say⁠—’

‘Just that it’s best you go and check in on her. Perhaps, you’ll be able to relax after that?’ Brody mutters with only a hint of sarcasm.

Fact is, my wanting to ensure she’s safe is an excuse. I’ve been with her nonstop since I took her to the safe house. I’ve gotten used to having her by my side, smelling her scent, hearing her voice, being in her presence. Not having her with me feels like I’m missing a part of myself. I need to lay eyes on her like I need to breathe.

“I think I’ll do just that.” I reach for my glass of water, empty it again, then place it on the counter with a snap.

I turn and, ignoring the jokes from the rest of my brothers, head out of the room.

I walk up the steps, to the second floor, then down the corridor to the room allocated to her. Cole is on guard outside her room.

“Her fiancé is in there with her,” Cole offers.

Fucking hell. That nitwit is in her room?

He’s her fiancé, he’s entitled to be there with her. Anger, and that hated jealousy I’ve felt so often since I found out about her status as an engaged woman, stabs it’s claws inside my chest.

“Uh, would you like to be on guard instead?” Cole asks without any change of expression on his face.

“What?” I stare, unable to make sense of his words.

“You’re here to relieve me, aren’t you? It’s time for my break.”

As his words sink in, I nod. He pulls his cigarettes from his pocket and brushes past me.

Oh, right. He’s giving me a chance to be alone to mourn the future I cannot have with my princess. He’s allowing me to save face, giving me a reason to skulk outside her door, wondering how my life has been turned inside-out all over again? Good man. There’s no better than a brother-in-arm who says so much without words. I feel lucky to call him my friend.

I pivot and stand to attention with my back to the door, scanning the area for any possible threats.

Voices emerge through the closed door. I recognize her feminine tone along with the fiancé’s whinier one. And because I don’t have an iota of decency in me, not when it comes to finding out more about their relationship, and because, of course, if I have more knowledge I can protect her—sure, keep telling yourself that—I press my ear to the door and listen in.