A Royal Baby Surprise (The Sherdana 2)

“I don’t have all the details worked out yet.”

“You’re not planning to marry her.”

“It would take both of us to be on board for that to happen and at this point she’s determined to return to California alone.”

“You must let her,” his mother said. “We will make sure she and the child are well taken of, but news of this must not get out. You need to marry and produce children that can one day succeed Gabriel.”

The press of duty had never felt more overwhelming. Nic wanted to struggle free of the smothering net of responsibility that his parents cast over him.

“And what about Christian?” Nic asked, his heart burning with bitterness. “Will he not be expected to do the same?”

“Of course.” The king nodded. “We are calling on both of you.”

And with that, Nic accepted that one decision had been made for him.

* * *

Embarrassment and remorse kept Brooke from venturing out of her room the rest of the day. She put her pajamas back on, pulled the curtains closed and huddled in bed. A maid brought her lunch, which she barely touched, and when Ariana poked her head in the room sometime in the late afternoon, Brooke pretended to be sleeping.

She couldn’t hide like this forever. For one thing it wasn’t her style to avoid problems, and she really wouldn’t shake the despair gnawing at her until she apologized

to the queen for her outburst.

Around five she roused and phoned Theresa, needing to pour her heart out to someone who was 100 percent on her side. Unfortunately, the call rolled to voice mail and Brooke hung up without leaving a message. This was her problem to solve and the sooner she faced the music, the better.

A maid came by around six and found Brooke dressed in her tribal print maxi dress and sandals. Wearing her own clothes was like wrapping herself in a little piece of home. She didn’t fit into Nic’s world and trying to appear as if she did had been silly. Better to face the queen’s displeasure as her authentic self, a woman who knew her own mind and was determined to do what was best for her and for Nic.

“Princess Olivia sent me to ask if you felt well enough to have dinner with her in half an hour,” the maid said.

“Tell her yes.”

When Brooke entered Prince Gabriel and Princess

Olivia’s private suite thirty minutes later, she wasn’t surprised to discover Olivia had heard all about the morning’s events. Up until now the princess had seemed like an ally, but would that continue? Brooke regarded Olivia warily as the princess indicated a spot on the gold couch. Brooke sat down while Olivia poured a cup of something that smelled like peppermint from a silver tea set.

The princess’s kindness brought tears to Brooke’s eyes. “How badly have I messed everything up?”

Olivia’s eyes grew thoughtful. “Your pregnancy has created quite a stir as you can imagine, but you shouldn’t feel responsible. I doubt either you or Nic planned this.”

“I don’t mean that. I mean how mad is the queen that I yelled at her?”

“I didn’t hear anything about that.” Olivia’s lips twitched and her eyes glinted with merriment. “What happened?”

“It’s a bit of a blur. She said something dismissive about Nic needing to forget about the rocket and I straight up lost it.” Brooke cradled the teacup, hoping the warmth would penetrate her icy fingers. “I started ranting about how he worked so hard because he wanted to justify his being away from his country for so long.” Brooke shook her head as her heart contracted in shame. “It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“You were defending the man you love. I think the queen understands.”

“You didn’t see her face.” Brooke squinted and tried to summon a memory of the queen’s reaction, but all she recalled was the garden pitching around her and the descent into darkness. “I was so rude.”

“You are being too hard on yourself,” Olivia said. “No wonder you and Nic get along so well. You’re both such honorable people.”

“I don’t feel very honorable at the moment. But I’d like to change that. I made arrangements for a flight leaving the day after tomorrow at nine in the morning. I could use some help getting to the airport.”

“You can’t really mean to leave.”

“You can’t possibly think it’s a good idea for me to stay. The longer I’m here the more likely it will leak that I’m pregnant. Better if I disappear from Sherdana so Nic can move forward with his life.”

“What makes you think he’s just going to let you go? When faced with the same choice, Gabriel fought for me. Nic is no less an Alessandro and I don’t think he’s any less in love.”