Playing the Royal Game Carol Marinelli by Carol Marinelli

Author:Carol Marinelli [Marinelli, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-03-04T20:22:10+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

‘WHAT the hell were you thinking?’ So angry was he that for a while he said nothing else. The people watched as the couple got into the car, expecting him to turn around and speed back to the palace, sharing smiles instead when his silver car headed for the hills.

They saw it often when Alessandro was here, the low silver vehicle hugging the bends in the road—and they knew, too, that he used to ride there for hours in the rugged woods. It just hadn’t happened in a long time—but now their prince was back, sharing the land he loved with his future bride.

‘What were you thinking?’ he demanded again.

‘That I am being ignored, that I’m stuck locked away and that I wanted a few hours—’

‘You are engaged to me,’ Alessandro roared. ‘I told you this morning that you do not just pop out, you do not go walking….’ He halted then; it was safer for now to concentrate on the road, which he did, and when he heard her rapid inhale at a couple of sharper bends, he turned briefly and saw she was scared. ‘I am not driving in anger,’ he explained. ‘I know this road well.’

So well.

He had taken it often when he had lived here, heading for the one place on Santina that soothed him. Even as a child and later as an angry teenager, before he could drive, he would ride for the day, just to get to this place. When he could not stand the confines of the palace, when he could not bear to breathe the stifling air, when all he felt was oppression, it was here he would come, to a place he could breathe, could shout if he chose, could think….

He knew how she felt, for he had felt it once too.

He pressed a button and the roof slid away. When it was safe to do so he glanced over again and saw her more relaxed now, eyes closed enjoying the sun and the wind and air that was fresh. For Allegra the silence from him was golden; she knew he wasn’t so angry now, knew that though she slept beside him every night and joined him at dinner, spoke with him each day, really they had not been alone, had not been themselves, since London.

She opened her eyes as the car slowed down; it was cooler and shaded. When they came to a stop, they both got out without a word, and she let Alex lead her to the place he had once come to.

‘I do know what it’s like.’ He was not shouting; he didn’t even seem cross. She was so glad for the drive, for the distance from the palace. She could see it still though, there beneath them in the distance, but she was glad for the expanse of land in between.

‘Before I could drive, I used to ride here. I used to stand here and swear I would not go back, though of course I

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