‘Because I’m not there, I’m here and you’re not getting rid of me...’ He suddenly frowned. ‘Forgive me, I’ve forgotten your name.’
Seriously? He’d just suggested they get married and he didn’t even know her name?
‘I don’t think you ever knew it,’ she said wryly. ‘Hester Moss.’
‘Hester.’ He repeated her name a couple more times softly, turning it over in his mouth as if taking the time to decide on the flavour and then savouring it. ‘That’s very good.’ Another smile curved his mouth. ‘I’m Alek.’
‘I’m aware of who you are, Your Highness.’ And she was not going to let him try to seduce her into complying with his crazy scheme.
Except deep inside her something flipped. A miniscule seed long crushed by the weight of loss and bullying now sparked into a tiny wistful ache for adventure.
Prince Alek was studying her as if he were assessing a new filly for his famous stables. That damned smile flickered around his mouth again and the dimples danced—all teasing temptation. ‘I think this could work very well, Hester.’
His soft emphasis of her name whispered over her skin. He was so used to getting his way—so handsome, so charming, he was utterly spoilt. Had he not actually heard her say the word no or did he just not believe it was possible that she meant it?
‘I think you like a joke,’ she said almost hoarsely. ‘But I don’t want to be a joke.’
His expression tightened. ‘You wouldn’t be. But this could be fun.’
‘I don’t need fun.’
‘Don’t you? Then what do you need?’ He glanced back into her bedroom. ‘You need money.’
‘Do I?’ she asked idly.
‘Everyone normal needs money.’
Everyone normal? Did he mean not royal? ‘I don’t, I have sufficient,’ she lied.
He watched her unwaveringly and she saw the scepticism clearly in his eyes.
‘Besides,’ she added shakily, ‘I have a job.’
‘Working for my sister.’
‘Yes.’ She cocked her head, perceiving danger in his silken tones. ‘Or are you going to have me fired if I keep saying no to you?’
His smile vanished. ‘First thing to learn—and there will be a lot to learn—I’m not a total jerk. Why not listen to my proposition in full before jumping to conclusions?’
‘It didn’t cross my mind you were really serious about this.’
‘I really am,’ he said slowly, as if he didn’t quite believe it of himself either. ‘I want you to marry me. I’ll be crowned King. You’ll live a life of luxury in the palace.’ He glanced toward her room before turning back to her. ‘You’ll want for nothing.’
Did he think her sparse little bedroom was miserable? How dared he assume what she might want? She wanted for nothing now—not people or things. Not for herself. Except that wasn’t quite true—and that little seed stirred again, growing bigger already.
‘You don’t want to stop and think things through?’ she asked.
‘I’ve already thought all the things. This is a good plan.’
‘For you, perhaps. But I don’t like being told what to do,’ she said calmly. And she didn’t like vapid promises of luxury, or the prospect of being part of something that would involve being around so many people.
But the Prince just laughed. ‘My sister tells you what to do all the time.’
‘That’s different. She pays me.’
‘And I will pay you more. I will pay you very, very well.’
Somehow that just made this ‘proposal’ so much worse. But, of course, it was the only way this proposal would have ever happened. As a repellent job offer.
He looked amused as he studied her. ‘I am talking about a marriage in name only, Hester. We don’t need to have sex. I’m not asking you to prostitute yourself.’
His brutal honesty shocked her. So did the flood of heat that suddenly stormed along her veins—a torrent of confusion and...other things she didn’t wish to examine. She braced, struggling to stay her customary calm self. ‘An heir isn’t part of the expectation?’
He stiffened. ‘Thankfully that is not another onerous legal requirement. We can divorce after a period. I’ll then change the stupid law and marry again if I’m ever actually willing. I’ve years to figure that one out once I’m crowned.’
Hester swallowed. He was clearly not interested in having kids. Nor ever marrying anyone for real. He didn’t even try to hide the distaste in his eyes. Too bad for him because providing an heir was going to be part of his job at some point. But not hers.
‘We’ll marry for no more than a year,’ he said decisively. ‘Think of it as a secondment. Just a year and then back to normal.’
Back to normal? As the ex-wife of a king? There’d be nothing normal after that. Or of spending a year in his presence as his pretend wife. She was hardly coping with these last ten minutes.
He hadn’t even thought to ask if she was single. He’d taken one look at her and assumed everything. And he was right. Which made it worse. Another wave of bitterness swept over her even though she knew it was pathetic. Hester Moss, inconsequential nobody.
‘Can you use your country’s money to buy yourself a bride?’ she blurted bitterly.
‘This will be from my personal purse,’ he answered crisply. ‘Perhaps you aren’t aware I’m a successful man in my own right?’
She didn’t want to consider all that she knew about him. But it was there, in a blinding neon lights, the harsh reality of Prince Alek’s reputation. She couldn’t think past it—couldn’t believe he could either.
‘There’s a bigger problem,’ she said baldly.
‘And that is?’
‘You’ve a very active social life.’ She glanced down, unable to hold his gaze as she raised this. ‘Am I supposed to have just accepted that?’
‘I didn’t realise you’ve been reading my personal diary.’
‘I didn’t need to,’ she said acidly. ‘It’s all over the newspapers.’
‘And you believe everything you read?’
‘Are you saying it’s not true?’
There was a moment and she knew. It was all so true.
‘I’ve not been a monk,’ he admitted through gritted teeth. ‘But I didn’t take advantage of any woman any more than she took advantage of me.’ He gazed at her for a long moment and drew in an audible breath. ‘Perhaps you’ve held me at bay. Perhaps I’ve been hiding my broken heart.’
‘By sleeping with anyone willing?’ she asked softly, that anger burgeoning again.
‘Not all of them.’ He actually had the audacity t
o laugh. ‘Not even my stamina is that strong.’
Just most of them, then? ‘And can you go without that...intimacy for a whole year?’
He stilled completely and stared fixedly at her. ‘Plenty of people can and do,’ he said eventually. ‘Why assume I’m unable to control myself?’
That heat burned her cheeks even hotter. ‘It’s not the lifestyle you’re accustomed to.’
‘You’d be amazed what hardships I can handle,’ he retorted. ‘Will you be able to handle it?’
He was well within his rights to question her when she’d done the same to him. But she didn’t have to speak the truth. Provoked, she brazenly flung up her chin and snapped, ‘Never.’
But he suddenly laughed. ‘You’re so serene even when you lie.’ He laughed again. ‘Marry me. Make me the happiest man on earth.’
‘If I said yes, it would serve you right,’ she muttered.
‘Go on, then, Ms Moss,’ he dared her softly. ‘Put me in my place.’
A truly terrible temptation swirled within her and with it came a terribly seductive image. She shook her head to clear it. She couldn’t get mesmerised into madness just because he was unbearably handsome and had humour to boot. ‘It’s impossible.’
‘I think you could do it.’ His eyes gleamed and she grew wary of what he was plotting. ‘If you don’t need money...’ he trailed off, his voice lifting with imperceptible disbelief ‘...then give it to someone who does.’
Hester froze.
His gaze narrowed instantly. ‘What’s your favourite charity?’ He sounded smoothly practical, but she sensed he was circling like a shark, in ever-decreasing circles, having sensed weakness he was about to make his killer move.
‘I’ll make a massive donation,’ he offered. ‘Millions. Think of all those worthy causes you could help. All those people. Or is it animals—cats, of course. Perhaps the planet? Your pick. Divide it amongst them all, I don’t care.’
‘Because you’re cynical.’ But her heart thudded. Because she’d give the money to people who she knew desperately needed help.
‘Actually, I’m not at all,’ he denied with quiet conviction. ‘If we find ourselves in the position to be able to help others in any way, or to leave the place in a better condition than which we found it, then we should, shouldn’t we? It’s called being decent.’