A Royal Shade of Blue (Modern Royals Series Book 1) by Aven Ellis

Author:Aven Ellis [Ellis, Aven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

A Private Waltz

King Arthur leads me to the entrance of the grand ballroom. One of his aides, butlers, valets—I still have no idea who all these different people are—but someone on his staff told us Christian was waiting there.

“I think our walk is done,” he says, smiling as he stops in front of the closed doors. “I have no doubt my son is eager to see you.”

“I enjoyed getting to know you, Arthur,” I say, smiling up at him. “Thank you for spending that time with me.”

“It was my pleasure,” he says. “Enjoy the rest of your stay in Cambridge. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you in London soon.”

My heart races from his words as he walks away. Christian and I haven’t spoken that far ahead, but I can see that as my future, too.

I push that thought aside and open the doors to the ballroom. I gasp as I enter the majestic room. I’ve stepped back in time, with a glorious red, patterned antique rug over the hardwood floor, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and weapons and armor displayed on the walls.

Christian is leaning against a piano, his suit jacket off, watching me as I step across the floor.

“This is spectacular,” I say, staring up at the ornate ceiling as I move across the room.

“I had to show you this ballroom; I knew you’d love it,” Christian says.

“I do.”

“The weapons on the walls might distract a bit from the romance, however,” Christian teases.

I stop in front of him, and he draws me into his arms.

“How was your walk with Father?” he asks, fiddling with a strand of my hair.

“Your father—Arthur—is lovely,” I say, sliding my hands around his back, feeling the luxurious fabric from his dress shirt against my fingertips, followed by the warmth radiating from his skin. “I did address him as that, Christian.”

He flinches from my words, and I know he knows where I’m going.

“I’m sorry I was such an arse at lunch,” Christian says, continuing to stroke my hair. “I heard this strange formal speak coming out of your mouth, and it flipped a switch in me. I love you as you are, and I don’t want you to change for the family business.”

I take one of my hands and place it over his heart. “There will be moments when I feel I need to act to suit the occasion, but that doesn’t mean I’m changing. Please remember that.”

“I’ve had people come into my life and change because of who we are and what we are supposed to be,” Christian says. “I don’t want to lose you to them, Clementine. The monarchy changes people, and I can’t bear the thought of it changing anything about you. I know it sounds crazy, but that’s how I feel.”

I see fear in his eyes. I don’t know who he is talking about, but my gut tells me this has happened to him before. Maybe a former love changed once she was in the presence of the family business, as Christian likes to call the monarchy.

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