His Princess in the Making by Melissa James

Author:Melissa James [James, Melissa]
Format: epub
Tags: American Light Romantic Fiction, Romance: Modern, Contemporary, General, Romance, Romance - Contemporary, Fiction, Fiction - Romance, Fire fighters, Princesses
ISBN: 9780373175918
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2009-06-09T09:11:05.125000+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“COME here, boy.”

Toby stifled the urge to laugh. Even King Angelis had never spoken to him with such condescending force—then he realised the King was calling Puck. Despite the servants who walked the dog and fed him daily, despite Giulia’s daily visits, Puck had given his whole heart to the old man who held both their futures in his hands.

Puck slid to a stop from his headlong rush to jump on Toby, turned and rushed back to the King, sitting at his feet. King Angelis smiled and patted the dog’s head.

Toby grinned. He’d been an advocate of Pets as Therapy since he’d seen too many old folk burning down their homes when they became vague. A dog to bark its warning was a life-saving measure—but as far as this protected old monarch was concerned, Puck was perfect. There had never been a dog that needed ordering around more, and with King Angelis coming to terms with losing power, having any creature need his guidance was good for the soul.

“Come in and close the door. We have things to discuss, and I don’t care for outsiders listening in.” When Toby closed the door he barked, “Sit, boy. You’re built like a tree. I don’t want a crick in my neck every time I see you.”

The King wasn’t used to looking up to anyone. Keeping a straight face, Toby sat. This wasn’t the time to antagonise the old monarch, not when he’d finally made up his mind to break a fourteen-year-old trust…

Papou and Yiayia would understand. They always knew how I loved Giulia.

The King, oblivious to Toby’s inner turmoil, got straight to the point. “Princess Giulia’s maid informed security that she wasn’t in her room this morning. She’s using the secret passages to come to you.”

Toby went cold inside. Damn. Giulia had come to him in the night, after a horrendous day. After she’d rejected Orakis’s latest attempt to woo her, one of her refuges had mysteriously been blown up; four women had been killed. She’d come to him before dawn, white and shaking: Hold me, Toby; just hold me.

“She had a bad day,” Toby conceded quietly. “She needed comfort.”

“She needs to become stronger if she’s going to live here. She’s not a child, and she can’t go running to you when you’re gone.”

“As unpalatable as it is to you, sire, I’m not going anywhere as long as Giulia needs me,” Toby said bluntly. “She’s crushed beneath the workload of royal life and living in the public eye. She’ll end up back in hospital if you push her any further.”

“If you’re referring to her childhood bout of anorexia, it’s no such thing now. It’s natural for her to be a bit run down with her workload and new life.”

“That’s a common misconception.” Toby handed the King a card from his wallet. “I suggest you have an aide call her specialist. Anorexia nervosa doesn’t end. Vomiting and not eating are stress reactions very few anorexics overcome. She’s lost five kilos since she came here, and at her height that’s in the danger zone.

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