The Prince's Scandalous Wedding Vow

He swallowed hard at that thought because he had failed her, and she was the one who deserved his love and loyalty the most.

Alexander returned to the palace to find Josephine, but when he reached her room, she was gone. One of her ladies said that Josephine might be in the garden as she liked the garden, especially in the latter part of the afternoon. He hadn’t known that. He thought he should have known it.

He walked through the rose garden and then the orangery, ending up in the kitchen garden where he found her sitting on a bench beneath a peach tree.

She looked up at him without a smile. She looked at him as if he were a stranger. His gut tightened. They’d become strangers since the wedding.

“Can I help you with something?” she asked coolly, formally.

He wanted to kiss her, touch her, love her, make her his again. Instead he stood there stiffly, aware of the staff probably watching, aware of the security cameras in every corner. He wanted her desperately, but life in the palace was not for intimacy. It was a stifling world, filled with rules and formalities and never-ending protocol.

“I wanted to tell you,” he said gruffly, “that Claudia came to see me this afternoon.” He frowned, uncertain how to explain everything Claudia had told him. “She said she suspected I didn’t remember what happened on the yacht and thought I should know.”

“What happened on the yacht?”

“There was a fight, but it was between Damian and Claudia.”

“So why were you the one in the water?”

“Claudia said I intervened, saving her from Damian when he became physical.” He felt Josephine’s gaze bore through him. Did she doubt him? Or did she doubt Claudia? He wished he knew. “Damian grabbed a lantern and struck me with it. Claudia ran away, afraid, and she’s said nothing about the incident because she’s afraid Damian might turn on her.”

“That must be a relief for you to know.”

Alexander hesitated, flashing back to how they were on Khronos. How simple life had been and how happy he’d felt with her. Happy and free. She’d been happy, too.

He struggled with the words. “I also just want to tell you I’m sorry. I’m sorry for dragging you into all of this. I’m sorry for forcing you into a marriage you clearly didn’t want—”

“Good. You should be sorry,” she said, rising. “You did force me into this marriage, and yes, you can be incredibly selfish, but I’m not surprised you went to Claudia’s aid. It’s what you would do. You understand responsibility. You never fail to do your duty.” And then she walked past him, her skirt brushing him as she headed back to her suite.

* * *

Josephine entered her bedroom and carefully closed the bedroom door. She lay on her bed trembling. She had no fight left in her, no fight at all. It was time for her to go. Time to leave. Thank goodness King Bruno’s funeral was in the morning. She’d pack tonight and be ready to go as soon as they returned from the service.

* * *

The funeral was held in the same cathedral as their wedding. The cathedral was packed with kings and princes, and political leaders from all over the world. The service was long, with prayers and songs from the choir, and two speakers—Alexander and his cousin Damian.

Alexander spoke first and was eloquent about his father’s virtues and his passion for his country, while Damian spoke of his uncle Bruno’s vigor and strength and reminisced about the trips they’d taken, the sporting matches they’d played, and how close they’d been, more like father and son than uncle and nephew.

Josephine could see Alexander’s jaw tighten and his fist clench as Damian spoke. She found herself watching Alexander’s hand and the way his fingers curled and then unfurled. She kept her gaze fixed on Alexander’s hand because it was far better than seeing the pain in his face.

Two hours later, Josephine gave her suite of rooms a last glance before lifting her small suitcase and heading for the corridor.

She’d written Alexander a note and she intended to put it on his bed. But as she approached his suite, she heard voices, and she hesitated outside the door to his living room, not wanting to interrupt.

But one of the voices grew louder, the tone menacing. “You think because your father is gone I won’t tell the Parliament what you’ve done? You think I’m going to protect you when you’re a violent, unpredictable man, not fit to lead this country or wear the crown?”

Josephine shivered a little, recognizing the voice as belonging to Damian. But that’s not why she shivered. She shivered because she was remembering the yacht and the voices she’d heard the night she’d saved him.

It was the same voice. The same anger. The same delivery, the same inflection.

It was Damian who’d fought with Alexander. Damian who’d struck him.

Fear swamped her, not fear for herself but fear for Alexander, and just like that night on the beach, she couldn’t move. She couldn’t leave him.

She slowly twisted the doorknob and opened the door just enough to get a look inside. Alexander was sitting in a chair, calm and composed, while Damian paced back and forth.

“I will tell them everything,” Damian said. “I will destroy you. I will make sure everyone knows who you really are, and when I’m finished, you will be finished because no one will believe you or trust you, not when they find out you have mental problems and lapses in your memory—”

“Whatever are you talking about?” Josephine interrupted, pushing the door open and entering with a faint smile. “You sound almost...crazy, Damian. I’m surprised because you gave the most moving tribute to King Bruno earlier. Was it all an act? Or is this an act now?”

Alexander was immediately on his feet. “Josephine,” he said, a warning in his voice.

She walked toward Damian. “Please explain something,” she said, still smiling. “Why do you think people will believe you? What makes you think they won’t believe him?”

“Because he’s brain damaged. He’s lost his memory—”

“Yes, he lost it. But it’s back. He’s told me everything. I know everything. Shall I fill you in?”

“Josephine,” Alexander growled.

She ignored him again, her arms crossed over her chest. “You despise him because he’s the heir and you’re not. During your trip, you were seething with jealousy because Alexander would soon be king. Not you. Never you. Not as long as he lived. And so you provoked him, hurting Claudia, knowing Alexander would go to her aid. Once Alexander was where you wanted him, you took a lantern—very handy, I might add—and bashed him over the head, and then while he was reeling, you pushed him overboard.”

She stood now just in front of him and she practically vibrated with fury. “You thought you’d gotten away with it, too,” she added. “You thought you were going to be Aargau’s next king. But then Alexander returned, and you lost your big opportunity. You must have been devastated. I can only imagine your pain. I almost—almost—feel sorry for you.”

Damian stared down at her for long moments before he stepped back and barked a laugh. “That was good. I almost believed you. But you have no proof, he doesn’t remember—”

“But he does. He told me everything. How else do you think I know?”

Damian stopped laughing. He glanced from her to Alexander and back. “If he knew, why hasn’t he said something? Done something? It’s because he’s still brain damaged—”

“I’m not brain damaged,” Alexander said mildly. “I object to that. But Josephine is right. I told her everything, and she has told her staff everything, and they in turn told security.” He walked to Josephine’s side and slipped his arm around her waist, holding her tight. “The palace guard has been instructed to arrest you should they find you anywhere near the palace or any member of the royal family again.”

“You’re lying. You’re bluffing,” Damian choked, furious. “You can’t arrest me because you h

ad no proof, and you’ll never have any—”

“The palace guard is here, Your Highness,” a voice said from the doorway.

They all turned as Gerard entered with the palace security. “We’ve heard everything and there is more than enough evidence to convict you,” Gerard said shortly.

“But I did nothing! This is all hearsay!” Damian cried.

Gerard shrugged. “I was able to recover the missing security footage. It’s all on camera. Every word Josephine said was true.”

“But there was no security camera,” Damian protested. “I know. I checked her room and balcony carefully.”

Silence followed. Gerard gestured for the guards to take him. Panicked, Damien put his hands out. “Wait. I’ll leave. I’ll leave Roche. I won’t come back. I promise—”

“Not just Roche, but Aargau,” Alexander said flatly. “You’re not welcome here, and should you be found trying to enter Aargau, you will be arrested and charged with crimes against the state. Understood?”

* * *

It had been a very long, difficult day, but Alexander was finally alone with Josephine in his bedroom, which was just where he wanted her.