‘Hypothetically speaking, what sort of woman would tempt you to change your stance?’
‘That woman doesn’t exist—in reality or in La-La Land.’
‘How about you pretend that your life depends upon it and describe your ideal woman?’
‘I can’t. I’m not trying to be difficult—’
‘Much...’ April muttered.
‘But I can’t describe someone I can’t imagine. I like my own company. I don’t have a template for an “ideal woman”. In truth, I can’t imagine living with anyone, sharing my space...’ A small shudder rippled through his body. ‘I told you—I can barely make it through a dinner date.’
‘You must be able to come up with something.’
‘It’s not that easy. You try it—do you have an ideal man? A tick list of attributes?’
The question took her by surprise; none of her interviewees had ever showed any interest in her. ‘This isn’t about me.’
‘I know that, but you want me to do something that is a lot harder than you make it sound.’
‘No. Because I know you are quite capable of coming up with an ideal woman template. Isn’t that what you did for Frederick? Before he met Sunita you believed that Lady Kaitlin Derwent was the ideal woman for Frederick, and presumably you believed that they could make a go of marriage.’
Ha! Her turn to wrong-foot him. But not for long.
He smiled in acknowledgement. ‘The Prince’s relationships are his own concern.’
‘But it is true, isn’t it, that you believed he should make an alliance based on politics, not love?’
‘I agreed with the Prince that as ruler of Lycander he should get married, but I didn’t dictate his choice of bride. The choice has always been Frederick’s to make, as it is he who will be travelling to the altar with her. Though of course in my role as advisor I can offer advice on the political ramifications of his marriage.’
‘And Frederick has chosen to marry Sunita, the woman he loves, rather than a princess or an aristocrat or someone with good connections.’
‘Yes, he has.’
‘If you were Lycander’s ruler would you do the same? Marry for love? Or would you marry for duty?’
‘Well, seeing as I am not in love, and see little prospect of that, I would take the latter course.’
‘You would sacrifice your single life for the sake of duty?’
‘Yes. I suppose I would. But I would make an attempt to minimise the sacrifice—I’d marry someone I liked, who hopefully liked me, and I’d make sure we both had our own space—perhaps even separate houses—and—’
‘Good to know romance isn’t dead.’
‘I’m not romantic.’
‘What about love? Do you believe in love?’
‘Of course. I just don’t believe in it for me. That doesn’t mean I don’t wish happiness for other people. Look at Frederick and Sunita. You interviewed Frederick before he was reunited with Sunita.’
‘Yes, back then he was...shut down, cold, reserved. And now...’
‘Now he is a man transformed by love. For his fiancée and his son. And of course I wish him happiness.’
‘Then why don’t you want that happiness for yourself?’ It didn’t make sense.
‘Because it wouldn’t work for me. My route to happiness is different. In the same way that some people like to play the ukulele and other people wouldn’t know which way up to hold one.’
‘You’re comparing love to playing the ukulele?’