Chapter 22 #3
“My mother was the daughter of a duke, a choice your father approved, so you married within the nobility,” Raul pointed out.
His father sighed. “I married Sofia because the woman I loved had chosen another man, and my father was dying. I was under tremendous pressure to marry quickly, and I felt as though it didn’t matter who my wife was since my heart was already broken.” His mouth twisted. “I was young and dramatic.”
Now he leaned forward. “I cannot regret my marriage, because you came from it, and you have brought me such profound joy. However, neither your mother nor I were happy in our union.” Luis locked his blue eyes on Raul. “I would never wish that for you.”
Raul had known that about his parents’ relationship, but it was still hard to hear from his father.
His father’s face softened as he continued. “You might have noticed that I am now married to a woman with no title. Even worse, she’s an American.”
His eyes were lit with love and indulgence, a sharp contrast to the emotions evoked by the memories of his first marriage.
“Eve is your second wife and not the mother of the heir to the crown,” Raul said, thrown off-balance. “You had more latitude to follow your heart.”
“I admit that I fought my attraction to Eve at first…for many reasons,” Luis said. “But those reasons did not include her lack of title.”
“But every woman you have introduced me to has been from the aristocracy,” Raul said, trying to wrap his mind around this shocking shift in his world view.
“I don’t meet many single young women,” his father said with a faint smile. “The ones I am familiar with tend to either work for me or to be the children of those in our usual social circles. How would I come to know someone like your Erica?”
Your Erica. If only she were mine.
“Also, the only young women you ever talked about dating were from the aristocracy,” Luis added.
“Because I didn’t think you’d approve of anyone outside it.” Raul rubbed his hands over his face, struggling with these revelations as a flicker of hope came to life in his heart.
“Twenty years ago, I might have felt that way, and perhaps I even indicated my preference without realizing it,” his father said with a sigh.
“However, I have not been of that mind for a long time.” His father’s expression filled with concern and regret.
“My apologies, hijo mío . We have been misunderstanding each other about a very important matter. I should have told you plainly that you may marry whomever you wish.”
Stunned, Raul shook his head in disbelief.
“After all,” his father continued, smiling again, “Gabriel just married an American with a criminal record. And I walked her down the aisle.”
“But he’s not the—” Raul stopped himself. He had been given a tremendous gift, and he would be stupid to question it.
“The heir to the throne?” His father nodded. “But before Grace’s arrival, he was in line directly after you. Once I got to know Quinn better, I did not stand in the way of his marriage.”
Raul’s stomach lurched as though the floor had just dropped out from under his chair. Yet the light in the room suddenly seemed brighter.
“I can marry anyone I want to?” he asked because he couldn’t believe it.
“Well, our lives would be easier if she didn’t have a checkered past, but yes.” Once again, his father held Raul’s gaze, regret in his eyes. “I am very sorry I have caused you pain. I hope my neglect has not stood in the way of your happiness.”
“I…I just…” Raul’s brain was spinning while his heart did cartwheels. He pulled himself back to the conversation. “I need to talk to Erica.”
“My advice is to do it soon,” his father said. “She sounds like a woman you want to hold on to.”
All the things Raul wanted to get done before he talked to Erica made him shift restlessly in his chair. “She is one in a million, and I pushed her away.”
“Perhaps you will value her even more for having nearly lost her.”
“I could not possibly value her more than I already do,” Raul said, remembering the feel of her in his arms before they parted. “It was tearing my guts out to say goodbye to her.”
“And she feels the same way?” Luis asked, rising from his chair.
Raul sprang to his feet as well, while his father’s question clanged hollowly in his chest. “I don’t know. She never said so, but I am hoping that her actions spoke what her words didn’t.”
“Find out, hijo mío, ” Luis said before he gripped Raul’s shoulder. “And if she agrees, bring her to dinner so I can know her better.”
Raul remembered something Erica had said to him. “I have a question for you, Pater. Did you secretly think it was funny when I changed your ringtone to ‘SexyBack’ before your meeting with the ministro? ”
His father frowned. “‘SexyBack’?” Then the corners of his mouth began to twitch. “You should have seen his face. The hardest thing I’ve ever done was not laugh. I felt terrible reprimanding you for that.”
This time, Raul hugged his father. “Erica was right again.”
“Stop wasting time with me and go get her,” his father said with a smile.