‘Good. Because this is where it gets interesting. On my second night, the king proposed to me.’
He arched a brow.
She nodded sagely in response. ‘That was my reaction too. I only just stopped myself from laughing in his face, but I told him the truth, that I don’t want to get married. I was quite pleased with myself for not insulting him with my refusal.’
‘You weren’t tempted?’
‘Have you seen him? The man’s a pig.’
‘He’s also a king,’ he pointed out.
She gave a short rise of her shoulders. ‘So what? Doesn’t stop him being a pig. He even eats like a pig. It’s disgusting.’
Having suffered a number of functions where Dominic had been in attendance, Marcelo could only agree with this assessment of the man’s eating habits. ‘What was his reaction to your refusal?’
‘He was very understanding. All piggy sweetness and light.’ Her face darkened. ‘The next morning, he joined me for breakfast and referred to me as his fiancée. I told him again that I didn’t want to get married and he just laughed. When I went to collect my stuff to leave, my suitcase had been ransacked and my passport and purse stolen, and then King Pig came to my room and told me I was going to marry him whether I liked it or not and that I’d better get used to the idea or there would be consequences. The next day he brought Bob to my room and told me he was the first of many gifts I would receive if I was a good girl.’ Distaste dripped in every syllable.
‘Bob?’
She nodded at the puppy curled on her lap. ‘He knew how much I love animals and thought a dog would make me want to marry him. Seriously, the man’s on another planet.’
‘Why you? Did he ever say?’
‘Oh, yes,’ she said matter-of-factly. ‘He wants to marry me because I have royal blood in my veins—that it’s heavily diluted doesn’t matter apparently—and because I’m a virgin.’