‘He’s scored the opening try.’
‘That’s when he puts the ball down on the line—and that’s five points, right?’
Casper was absorbed in the game, but not too absorbed to make the occasional observation for her benefit. Gradually he explained the rules, until the game no longer looked like a playground fight fuelled by testosterone, and instead became an extremely exciting sporting challenge.
Towards the second half of the match Holly discovered that she was leaning forward too, her eyes on the pitch, equally absorbed by what was happening. ‘That was a brilliant run through the Italian defence.’ Turning to find Casper watching her, she blushed. ‘What? Did I say something stupid?’
‘No.’ His voice was husky and there was a strange light in his eyes. ‘You are quite right. It was a brilliant run by England. You are enjoying yourself?’
‘Very much.’ She gave a tentative smile, and turned back to the pitch. ‘That tackle was by the Italian hooker, is that right?’ Suddenly aware that the sun was shining down on them, and she was far too hot, she released a few buttons on her jacket. ‘I can’t believe they named a rugby position after a prostitute.’
‘They are called hookers because they use their feet to hook the ball in the scrum. They’re a key…’ His voice tailed off in the middle of the sentence, and all his attention was suddenly focused on the delicate lace of her camisole. ‘Sorry, what was the question?’ He dragged his gaze up to hers, his eyes suddenly blank, and she gave a feminine smile.
‘You were teaching me about rugby.’
‘If you really want to learn,’ he breathed, leaning closer to her, ‘Don’t start undressing in the middle of my answer.’
‘I was hot.’
He gave a wry smile. ‘So am I.’
Delighted by the effect she was having on him, her eyes sparkled. ‘Where were we? Oh yes—you were telling me about the hooker.’
He stroked a finger over her cheek. ‘Unless you want to find yourself participating in an indecent act in a public place,’ he purred, ‘I suggest you stop teasing. And the hooker is a key position in attacking and defensive play.’
Suddenly she wished they were somewhere more private. ‘So you played rugby at school and university, is that right?’ Swiftly she changed the subject. ‘That’s how you know the England captain?’
‘He has been a close friend of mine for years.’
And watching rugby was probably one of the few occasions when he could switch off and forget he was a prince, Holly thought to herself as they both settled down to watch the game again.
The match ended with an England victory, and Casper and Holly joined the players at the post-match reception.
Casper was guest of honour and gave a short, humorous speech that had everyone laughing. Watching him mingle with the players and guests afterwards, Holly was fascinated by the change in him. As he smoothly and skilfully dealt with all the people who wanted to speak to him, there was no sign of the icily reserved man she’d been living with, and in his place was the confident, charismatic prince who had seduced her.
But this was his public persona, she reminded herself.
He switched on the charm and gave them what they expected.
But at what personal sacrifice?
He’d buried his own needs for those of other people.
And now he was laughing with the England captain, his old friend, and Holly pushed aside darker thoughts as he introduced her.
‘You look different without the mud,’ she confessed naïvely, and the man lifted her hand to his lips with laughter in his eyes.
‘So you’re the woman who distracted me at Twickenham. There I was, focusing on the ball, trying to block out the world around me, and suddenly Royal Boy here is kissing this stunning woman.’
Holly blushed. ‘You’ve known each other a long time.’
‘I know all his secrets, but I wouldn’t dare tell.’ The man grinned. ‘He’s bigger and tougher than me.’
Holly’s eyes slid to Casper’s broad shoulders and she reflected on the fact that his physique was every bit as impressive as this man who was a sporting hero to millions. Her stomach squirmed with longing and she felt herself blushing as her eyes met his questioning gaze.
‘I really enjoyed the game,’ she said hastily. ‘Thanks for taking me.’
The England captain punched Casper on the arm. ‘I can understand why you married her. Any woman who thanks you for taking them to a game of rugby has got to be worth hanging onto.’ He winked. ‘And it helps that she looks gorgeous.’
‘All right, enough.’ Casper curved an arm around Holly’s shoulders in an unmistakeably possessive gesture. ‘Time for you to go and charm someone else.’
Finally they were escorted to the waiting limousine, and Holly slid inside. ‘I really envy the fact that when you speak all the words come out in the right order.’
Casper’s glance was amused. ‘And that’s surprising?’
‘Well, I’m all right with words generally, but in a tricky situation they never come out the way I want them too. I always think of the right thing to say about four days after the opportunity to say it has passed. And I’m hopeless at standing up for myself because I hate conflict. The moment anyone glares at me I just want them to stop being angry, and the words tie themselves in knots in my mouth.’
‘You stood up to me that day in your friend’s flat.’
‘That was an exception,’ she muttered. ‘You were saying awful things to me, none of them true. Generally if someone yells at me I turn into a mute.’ The car sped through the centre of Rome, negotiating the clog of traffic and tourists.
‘No matter how hard I try, I can’t imagine you as a mute,’ Casper said dryly, and Holly shrugged.
‘I envy your confidence. I’ve never had much of that.’ She studied his profile. ‘You must miss the days when you could just go to rugby matches and spend time with your friends. Was it hard for you—becoming the ruling prince? I mean, it wasn’t what you expected, was it?’
For a moment he didn’t answer, then his mouth tightened slightly. ‘The circumstances were hard.’
Had he just shut it away? she wondered. For eight years? If so, no wonder he seemed so cold and detached with her. He’d never given himself a chance to heal.
‘Have you ever talked about it?’ Concern for him made her bold. ‘Sorry, but bottling it up for ever can’t be a good thing.’
‘Holly—’
‘Sorry, sorry; OK, I won’t ask again,’ she said hastily. ‘But do you think you could at least give me some detail about how your work evolved? It’s just a bit embarrassing when people who have lived here all their lives say things to me and I have to look as though I know what they’re talking about, while I really don’t have a clue. Someone was praising you for your vision and courage—something to do with the way you transformed the way Santallia did things. I tried to look as though I knew what he was talking about, but obviously I didn’t. I just thought it might help if you told me a bit about—things. I don’t want to look thick.’ Retreating slightly in her seat as she saw Casper lift long bronzed fingers to his forehead, she braced herself for the explosion of Mediterranean volatility that was inevitably going to follow a gesture of frank exasperation.