“What about Nic? He’s been in America for ten years trying to build his damned rocket ship. Why does he get to keep doing what he wants?” Christian immediately regretted his petulant tone, but the resentment he’d kept bottled up for the past three months had a mind of its own.
“If you hadn’t played the third-in-line-to-the-throne card like you always do, expecting me or Nic to be the responsible ones, you might have been able to marry the woman of your dreams, suitable or not. Then Nic would be the one ranting and raving about the unfairness of doing his duty to Sherdana.”
Duty.
Christian was getting awfully sick of that word. Until four months ago, the only feeling Christian had about matrimony was utter relief that he’d never be forced down the aisle because the country required it. Producing an heir was Gabriel’s obligation as firstborn. Christian enjoyed all the perks of a princely title without any of the demands. And he wasn’t beleaguered by guilt over his freedom. If it was selfish of him, so be it.
“We all know I’m not marriage material,” Christian grumbled, casting a glance toward the doorway for the hundredth time. “I wonder what’s keeping them.”
He was eager to start bonding with his son. And convincing the child’s mother that her life would be so much better as his princess. Princess Noelle had a nice ring to it. She might be resistant to the idea of marrying Christian the man, but once she saw how fast doors opened for her as his royal consort, she would realize that Christian the prince was a magnificent catch.
“They’ll be here shortly,” Gabriel said.
“Do you have some sort of tracking app on your phone that notifies you when guests arrive?” Christian’s words were meant to irritate his brother, but the grim, uptight Gabriel of a year ago had been replaced by a relaxed, charming prince of the realm who was impossible to rile.
“No.” Gabriel’s lips curved in a private smile. “I’m texting with Olivia. She said Marc has finished his third cookie and Mother’s ten-thirty appointment has arrived.”
Adrenaline zinged through Christian. “Noelle and Marc are already here? How long?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“Is that why you’re in here with me? To keep me occupied while Olivia introduced Marc to our mother? Did it ever occur to you that I wanted to get to know my son a little before I sprang him on the family?”
“If that’s the case, you shouldn’t have arranged for him to come here today.”
“Noelle suggested it. She didn’t want me showing up at her home and bringing media attention with me, and I certainly couldn’t spend time with them in public. The palace made sense, since she’s been here several times.” Christian massaged the back of his neck to ease the stiffness brought on by the stress of his brother’s interference. “I thought we could have a quiet couple hours...”
Dammit.
He liked keeping his personal life as far from the palace as possible. While he didn’t mind his romantic escapades making a splash in tabloids all over Europe, he’d never once gone out of his way to introduce any of the jet-setters to his family. His friends liked to party. So did he. End of story. Not one of them could have captured the heart of a nation the way Olivia and Brooke had. His women were flashy, spoiled and selfish. Not one wanted a deeper connection. That suited him just fine.
Noelle was the complete opposite. A timeless beauty, her meteoric rise in the world of bridal fashion had captured the media’s attention. Every single article Christian had read about her in the past week had praised her vision and talent. They loved how she’d started as an assistant designer at Matteo Pizarro Designs and been mentored by the great man himself. Of course, Christian wasn’t surprised by her success. He’d known five years ago that her gift for design would take her a long way. It was her lack of confidence that had held her back.
And her love for him.
“Did Olivia say anything about how the meeting with Mother went?”
With two royal weddings taking place within a couple months of each other, Christian had made himself scarce around the palace, but he was certain Noelle had met the queen during one of her dress fittings with Gabriel’s twin girls who’d acted as flower girls for both Olivia and Brooke. Of course, on those occasions she’d been the talented fashion designer who’d crafted the fairy-tale wedding gowns worn by his brothers’ brides. As the mother of what might just be the future monarch of Sherdana, she would undergo a vastly different scrutiny. What if the queen decided Noelle wasn’t suitable to become a member of the royal family?
And what had the queen thought of her grandson? Would the child pass muster? Christian couldn’t rein in his concern. “Did mother like Marc?”
From the way Gabriel’s keen gaze rested on him, Christian had failed to sound casual.
“I’m sure Noelle will tell you all about it when she arrives. Olivia is bringing them now.”
Christian would have preferred a briefing from an impartial third party like his brother’s clever wife, but clamped down on his agitation. Instead, he focused on what he could recall of the boy. Their brief encounter had left him with little more than a series of impressions. Fierce Alessandro eyes. Protective stance. Disapproval of the man his mother had introduced as Prince Christian.
Had Noelle already explained to Marc who Christian truly was? Or did she plan to do so today with Christian at her side? It was a question he probably should have asked his former flame days ago, but Christian hadn’t been thinking about how the news might rock the four-year-old’s world. He’d been too caught up in how the discovery had impacted him.
“Do you and Olivia plan to stick around for a bit?”
Gabriel eyed him, his expression thoughtful. “We hadn’t planned to.”
“Would you?” Christian suspected the strain would be muted if he, Noelle and Marc weren’t left alone right away. “Just for a bit. Marc might be a bit overwhelmed.”
“Yes,” Gabriel drawled. “I’m sure it’s Marc that we need to worry about.”
“If you’re implying that I’m anxious...”
It wasn’t like Christian to let anyone see him sweat, but maybe just this once it would be okay. If anyone would understand how he felt, it would be Gabriel. Several months ago, Sherdana’s crown prince had been surprised in the same way when twin toddlers, Karina and Bethany, had arrived on his doorstep after their mother died. Christian had been impressed how well his brother had adapted to fatherhood. Of course, the girls were two years younger than Marc and probably hadn’t yet missed having a father. But a boy was different. He needed a male influence in his life. Someone to look up to.
“I have a four-year-old son I’ve barely met,” Christian murmured, overwhelmed with awe and dismay.
“It’s terrifying.” Gabriel clapped him on the back, the solid blow knocking Christian away from the brink of panic. “Can’t wait to meet him.”
As if on cue, a dark-haired boy streaked through the doorway and dodged around several carefully arranged chairs, making a beeline for the enormous fireplace at the opposite end of the room.
“Look, I can fit in this one, too.” Dressed in navy pants and a pale blue shirt, Marc stood framed in the white marble surround, arms outstretched and wearing a precocious grin.
The boy’s compelling enthusiasm drew and held every adult eye in the room. Christian was the first to look away. Noelle had entered on Olivia’s heels, and he stole a moment to drink in her quiet beauty.
In manner and appearance, Noelle was more like Gabriel’s graceful, elegant wife than Nic’s bohemian spitfire. Today Noelle wore a textured brown sheath with black side panels that accentuated her slender curves. A two-inch ruffled flounce at the hemline boosted the design from simple to striking.
“Marc, come out of there,” Noelle scolded with a quick apologetic glance to where Gabriel stood with his arm wrapped around Olivia’s waist.
After four months Christian still wasn’t accustomed to his brother’s easy affection with his new wife. Even as a child Gabriel had been somber and formal most of the time, as if his future crown already weighed heavily on his head. Christian marveled to see him now, relaxed and smiling as he kissed Olivia on the cheek and whispered something in her ear that brought rosy delight to her cheeks.
Christian tore his gaze from the happy couple in time to catch the wistfulness that softened Noelle’s expression as she too regarded the royal pair. A realization tore at him: he wanted the same intimate connection with Noelle that Gabriel had with Olivia. A partnership that sizzled in the bedroom and worked everywhere else.
