His father’s dark eyes held bleakness. “It is no pretense. You are my flesh and blood. My son. The day of your birth was the proudest moment of my life. Even if you do not succeed me, I want badly to know you better.” Prince Raoul hesitated. “You need not decide yet to accept the throne, but I would be grateful if you would remain in Navartania to permit us time to become a little acquainted. Please, will you not stay with me awhile longer? Think on it,” the prince urged when Jack declined to answer.
Using his cane then, he rose slowly and turned his attention to Sophie. “I thank you, Miss Fortin. You were indeed correct. I needed to speak with my son.” After sketching a bow, he left her alone with Jack in the sunlit gardens.
After a moment, Jack slanted her a frowning glance. “What did he mean about you being correct?”
Sophie replied without hesitation. “Last night after you left the dinner table, I gave him a piece of my mind. I demanded to know if he only wanted to secure the throne or if he wanted more. He vowed he cared about you and not merely the succession, so I advised him to be honest with you and said that if he had regrets, he should tell you so.”
“You expect me to forgive him, don’t you?”
“Not at all,” Sophie said evenly. “You must decide for yourself, Jack.”
“But you have an opinion.”
“Certainly, but my opinion is irrelevant to your conflict with your father, as is the dilemma with my parents. You should only reconcile with Prince Raoul for your own sake. I will say that if you don’t, the anger will continue to fester inside you.”
Her advice was perfectly reasonable, Jack knew, but logic was not enough to overcome his natural resistance to reuniting with his detested father.
“Prince Raoul does seem sincere in his remorse and his deep love for your mother,” Sophie pointed out. “I don’t know if a reconciliation between you is possible, but his desire to know you better is understandable. And you might remember that he may be dying, Jack. It would be kind of you to grant this one wish of his.”
“There is your tender heart again,” Jack muttered in a humorless drawl.
“True. He may not have much time left, though. Perhaps you should take this opportunity to know him better. You might later regret letting it pass by. Family is important, Jack. A father’s love can be a precious thing. Blood should be thicker than past grievances.”
Jack snorted. “There is no chance in hell of my ever loving him.”
“What would your mother have wanted?” Sophie asked suddenly.
The question caught Jack off guard. He’d never considered his mother’s perspective before. He was not surprised by Sophie’s gentle persistence, however. Moreover, she wasn’t asking him to excuse his father for the past, merely to look to the future.
“You don’t have to accept the title and duties that come with it,” she said in that same calm, sympathetic tone.
Something in his chest eased. The rage inside him was fading, just as Sophie wanted.
Knowing he would do her bidding, Jack felt his mouth twist ironically. “Very well, I will stay another few days.”
Her resultant smile held its usual glowing warmth. “I am glad. I should ask Prince Raoul to send a message to my aunt, informing her that I am well and mean to remain here with you for a while longer.”
“No, I will see to it,” he replied, draping an arm around Sophie’s shoulders and steering her toward the palace.
An hour later, Jack sought out Prince Raoul to inform him of his decision. “Miss Fortin has convinced me to remain in Navartania for a few days more.”
His father’s expression was one of profound relief and gratitude. “I am in her debt.”
“You should not raise your expectations,” Jack warned. “You must understand I have no desire to rule your country, particularly if it means leaving my home. My life is in England.”
“I do understand. But I am curious, why did you come here if not to claim your inheritance?”
“Solely to save Miss Fortin from being forced to marry an English duke. Her parents hunger for a title and are compelling her to wed him to improve their station.”
The prince’s raised eyebrow showed a hint of confusion. “But you are betrothed to her, are you not?”
“Not yet. Her parents don’t look favorably on my suit, and she is determined to honor their wishes. Our families have long had bad blood between us, in addition to the issue of my baseborn origins. If I were royalty, they might perhaps reconsider their opposition. Otherwise, my only course would be to persuade Sophie to disavow her parents.”
“I expect you will succeed. You have your mother’s passion.”
Jack thought it best not to be drawn into any further discussion of his mother or of his difficult courtship of Sophie.
“I can well comprehend why you would want to wed Miss Fortin yourself. She is very beautiful.”