CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Saturday, 11.06 a.m.
SEEKINGONLYONETHING, Felipe swept past the guards, through the guest wing, straight to Elsie’s suite. He opened the door without knocking and slammed it behind him. She was there and he was so relieved he had to put his hand on the wall to brace himself.
‘Felipe?’ Elsie stifled a scream of surprise.
She was wearing the white and blue billowy dress from that day at the café months ago. Demure yet sexy with that scooped neckline that drew his eye to her lovely neck. Her hair was swept into a messy topknot. Those chunky boots gave her an extra inch in height but not enough for her to be able to look him directly in the eye. That didn’t stop her trying.
‘You shouldn’t be here.’ A frantic whisper. ‘This is the guest wing. Other people might see you.’
He didn’t answer. He couldn’t even remember to count to calm down.
‘I was getting ready to leave.’ Her chest rose and fell as she stared at him. ‘Look at you...’
Her gaze brushed over his body. He felt it as if her fingers really were fluttering over his skin. He’d forgotten he was in his uniform—all gold buttons and braid and starch. He stalked towards her—unable to maintain his distance, unable to deny the urge to reach for her and pull her close to ease the ache. Oh, God, he was sorry. He was so, so sorry.
But she stepped to the side. ‘Did you do this?’ She gestured to the mandolin case open on the writing table behind her. Her voice was husky and sweet and she smiled at him tremulously.
His thundering heart raced faster and faster. Because that look?
Her eyes shimmered with emotion. ‘You got a new case so I don’t have to strap my old one together every time I want to go somewhere.’ She touched the velvet lining gently. ‘How did you get the right size so quickly? It’s an old instrument—most modern cases aren’t the right size.’
‘I ordered it a while back.’ His voice barely worked.
She blinked. ‘A while back?’
‘That night you came to the palace.’
‘That night?’ She licked her lips as if they were parched. ‘You ordered this after you’d told me to leave?’
‘I didn’t want you to leave for good.’ Not then. His shoulders lifted and he moved to stand beside her. ‘I don’t want you awkwardly lugging it round in a broken case. It’s precious to you and needs better protection.’
Her fingers curled in the soft cloth used to wrap the instrument in. ‘How did you get the right size?’
‘While we were at dinner—I got my man to measure up.’
‘And had it made specially.’ Her eyes glistened. ‘That was really thoughtful.’
‘So this is a gift you can accept?’ Unlike the bracelet that was still in his pocket.
‘It’s the nicest thing anyone’s done for me in a really long time,’ she said softly.
Silence fell. He knew she was wondering why he was here. He didn’t want to tell her. He didn’t want to see her expression change. He liked her like this, beautiful and glowing, and he couldn’t bear to move.
‘You should go.’ She cupped his cheek.
He drew a breath in shock and caught the lingering scent of his oil on her skin. His temperature skyrocketed.
‘You should be on the way to the procession already.’ She swallowed.
He grabbed her wrist, holding her palm to his jaw. ‘I’m fully aware of what I should do. It’s just that I don’t want to do it.’
She gazed into his soul, emotional but unwavering. ‘What do you want to do, then?’
Elsie waited for his response, but he was too silent, too rigid—which meant something was wrong.
He was in full regalia for the coronation. The navy fabric hugged his powerful thighs while the braid emphasised his broad shoulders. He looked as if he’d stepped out of a poem from the past—a glorious, vital, virile king. In his prime—powerful and intense, he’d let nothing stand in the way of what he wanted.