Chapter Four
CHAPTER FOUR
‘Are you threatening me ?’ Annalena hoped the quiver in her voice was anger.
He looked different, as if beneath his control lurked something untamed. His sharp smile contrasted with that heavy-lidded, almost lazy stare that she knew was anything but indolent. His tall frame almost hummed with energy.
‘Of course not. Threat implies something unreasonable.’ He folded his arms, making her even more aware of his height and the impressive breadth of his chest. ‘I’m sure you’ll agree I’ve been remarkably fair-minded in the circumstances.’
She considered reminding him it was his fault they’d got to this stage, by refusing to heed the information sent to him about the hydroelectric project. But a glance at that rigid jaw told her recriminations were pointless.
‘Once the confusion about your arrival was cleared up, you’ve been treated courteously. I listened to your story. I set in motion enquiries to verify or disprove it.’
So he had taken action to confirm it. Annalena didn’t know whether to be relieved or worried. Would his agents try to steal the original documents? Would they harass her grandmother?
‘Meanwhile you’ve enjoyed my hospitality and the company of an old friend.’
‘Only because you wanted to verify my identity.’
‘That too.’ He paused, his lowered eyebrows giving him a brooding look. Yet to her dismay even that didn’t mar his dark charisma, a charisma she didn’t want to notice. ‘Given your allegations about my father, my behaviour has been remarkably restrained.’
A micro expression flitted across his features. Repudiation? Who would want to believe their father was a murderer? For a moment she felt a surge of sympathy.
Automatically she opened her mouth to apologise for any distress caused, then realised how absurd that was. The truth wasn’t her fault and she wasn’t broadcasting it publicly. She was giving him the opportunity to deal with this behind closed doors.
‘Thank you for the meeting,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘And the refreshments. But it’s time I left. We can speak when you’ve completed your enquiries.’
She was turning away when he spoke. He didn’t raise his voice. It was smooth, almost soft. ‘You really think that’s reasonable behaviour, Annalena?’
Something tickled her spine as he said her name. It felt like the caress of a feather, drawing her flesh tight and making her insides quiver.
Her hands fisted. ‘You’re accusing me of being unreasonable?’
That brooding stare locked on hers and she had the strangest sensation that she couldn’t step away. Those intense eyes pinioned her. His gaze flicked to her mouth then her eyes and tension notched higher, a sense of anticipation unlike anything she’d experienced.
‘You’ve spent a long time angry with my family, fixated on our apparent crimes.
But consider this from my perspective. I was unaware of the issues you raised until today.
’ A muscle jerked in his jaw, making the harsh set of his features suddenly more human.
‘The allegations are serious and I’ll get to the bottom of them. ’
‘But—’
‘If true, they have the potential to cause alarm, if not panic in a country already reeling from the unexpected death of its king. If true, they’d cause a constitutional crisis. In the circumstances, it’s sensible for you to stay while we sort it out.’
She shook her head. ‘I’ve already provided the documentation you need. But I don’t need to stay here.’
She’d hated the palace, or what it represented, all her life. It had been home to the scheming criminal who’d killed her father and, she was convinced, her mother too. Oma had insisted her daughter had died from grief for her husband.
Annalena’s nemesis went on, his voice implacable. ‘If you’re really the Queen, you’ll need to get used to living and working here.’
The idea shot a bolt of cold steel through her ribs.
No, that wouldn’t happen.
She’d sign over her rights to the crown once the dam was stopped. She had no desire to be Queen. Her life was fulfilling. She had no aptitude for court politics and no desire to learn.
‘Meanwhile, having you here will be more efficient. I want this sorted quickly, don’t you?’
‘Naturally. But I can stay elsewhere in the city while you do that.’
That had been her plan, to visit the university and spend a few days catching up with colleagues.
‘What are you afraid of, Princess?’
She wanted to tell him she didn’t use her title and preferred he didn’t, since he made it sound like a challenge. As if he thought her unworthy of it.
More, she wanted to scoff at the suggestion she was afraid. She was a competent professional, respected by her peers and the people of Edelforst.
Yet coming here into the lion’s den was more daunting than she wanted to admit.
This was a world she’d avoided. Where his poisonous father had ruled, backed up by cronies who either couldn’t see or didn’t care how flawed he was. She’d rather be safely back home, surrounded by her work and her friends.
Annalena sucked in a shocked breath. Maybe she and her beloved Oma had more in common than she’d suspected.
The old lady was as sharp and indefatigable as ever, but her physical world had gradually narrowed so she found it hard to leave home.
That was why Annalena had come alone today.
The Grand Duchess rarely left her castle and then only to visit familiar, nearby places.
‘Princess?’
How she detested that casually raised eyebrow and mocking tone. As if this stranger sensed the trepidation she’d barely been aware of herself.
He didn’t know the first thing about her. He was prodding, pushing her into agreeing.
It was infuriating that it worked. If she stayed she could negotiate the deal Edelforst needed and it would be finished all the sooner.
Besides, reading the glint in his eyes, she suspected if she didn’t accept his hospitality he’d lock her in. He could make her his prisoner rather than a guest. Would he dare?
Despite his courtesy, she sensed his deep-seated implacability. Did she want to test it when, in the end, they’d have to negotiate?
She exhaled, forcing out the tension behind her ribs. Slowly she lifted her chin to meet his stare.
‘Very well. I’ll accept your gracious invitation.’
Her voice dripped disdain. They both knew there’d been nothing gracious about his words nor had there been an invitation, merely an ultimatum.
For a second she thought she saw the hint of a flush across his cheekbones but of course it was imagination.
Benedikt strode down the corridors towards his office. He knew he was scowling, jaw clenched, yet couldn’t yet mask his discontent. The few staff members he met scurried out of his way.
Great. They probably thought the honeymoon period with their new monarch was over and he was reverting to type. His father’s type. King Karl had been renowned for his bad temper when things didn’t go his way.
That was enough for Benedikt to rein in his anger. In his darker moments he’d recognised his father’s influence, his early years learning about the world and relationships from a ruthless narcissist.
He was lucky the old man had grown bored with parenthood so increasingly Benedikt had been raised by his mother.
Karl had mainly intervened to interrogate his son on his learning, set impossible goals, and chastise his failures.
Or use him as a hostage to the Queen’s compliance, ensuring she acted the devoted consort even when their marriage broke down.
Eventually Benedikt had been allowed to summer each year in the US when his mother vacationed there, visiting her father. Without that Benedikt might have grown as monstrous as Karl.
Away from the palace he’d learned right from wrong and how to control his impulses rather than reach out and take. But it hadn’t been easy and even now he sometimes had to step back and consider his decisions.
Benedikt slowed, doing his best at least to look unperturbed.
Technically he’d got what he needed. Annalena was here where he could keep an eye on her. Where she couldn’t get up to more mischief before this crisis was resolved.
But the woman had an uncanny ability to make him lose his cool. He’d had a lifetime to learn to mask his thoughts and feelings because his father had always played on emotions and weakness to his advantage.
With this one woman Benedikt felt too much.
He couldn’t pin her down, alternately thinking her a liar or deluded. Surely her allegation about his father was untrue. As for the secret marriage, that must be a romantic fable concocted by her grandmother.
Yet something about the Princess Annalena had an authentic ring. A reluctant laugh huffed out. Even dressed like a milkmaid, she had more imperiousness in her little finger than some monarchs he’d met.
And charm too, when she chose to use it. He’d seen her with Colonel Ditmar and felt jealous of the old man. That smile…
Despite her wince when he called her Princess, she had the hauteur that came from a blue-blooded pedigree. She’d made him feel like an oaf though he’d been raised as Crown Prince.
She’d reminded him that he hadn’t invited her to stay, but ordered it. As if he were his father’s son in the worst possible way.
She was right. In that moment you’d happily have ordered security to stop her leaving.
Because they needed secrecy until this was sorted.
Or did the need to make her stay say something about his disturbing reaction to her?
Benedikt raked his hand across his scalp. He didn’t have time for reactions to any woman.
Having her here was necessary. He needed to control the spread of her preposterous story until he could disprove it.
Yet you didn’t confiscate her phone. It would only take one call from her to the press.
No matter how tempting that had been, he was determined to prove himself different to his father. He was a fair-minded man, not a tyrant, even if he was determined to take control of this situation. Besides, if she’d planned to wreak immediate chaos, she’d have done that already.