Promoted to His Princess by Jackie Ashenden

Author:Jackie Ashenden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-05-08T17:36:27+00:00

* * *

Calista sat on the edge of the wooden chair, her back ramrod straight, one hand on the arm of the chair, one resting protectively over her stomach. She still looked pale and she couldn’t have slept well because those dark circles under her eyes seemed as heavy as they had been the day before. She needed rest and good food, and a little cosseting wouldn’t go amiss.

He wouldn’t mind cosseting her. Especially if that cosseting involved a bed and being naked. Except it was clear she wasn’t ready for that, which meant he’d have to take things slowly. That was fine. All of this had come as a shock; she’d need some time to come to terms with it.

But come to terms with it she must. No other choice was permissible and especially not now. Last night he’d seen Eleni and broken the news to her, which meant his course was now set. Eleni had taken it well and had been more than happy that his offer of military support would still stand. She’d also agreed to still provide Axios with political support, as long as she was seen to be the one ending the engagement. It was what he’d been planning to offer anyway, and so she’d rushed off to talk with her PR people.

The interview with his brother, however, had been less satisfying.

Adonis had been furious with him, especially about the pregnancy, and had had a few choice words to say about Xerxes’ reputation, his position, and how he’d promised to uphold Axian values, et cetera, ad nauseam. It wasn’t anything Xerxes hadn’t either heard before or expected to have thrown at him, and because strategy had always been his strong point, that was when he’d told Adonis that he would marry Calista.

Adonis still hadn’t been happy, but he’d had no choice but to approve the marriage after that.

Once that had been dealt with, Xerxes had decided a period of absence would be best while the news of his broken engagement to Eleni circulated, mainly to give time for the scandal to die down. Then another announcement would be made concerning Calista. He’d told Adonis in no uncertain terms that the pregnancy would need to stay a secret until after he and Calista were married, as he wanted no hint of scandal to touch her. His brother had been scathing, muttering something about horses and barn doors, but Xerxes had been adamant. This had to be managed and managed carefully.

Scandal would happen—there was no avoiding it—but he wanted the wedding to take place with the minimum of gossip if he could possibly help it.

Both of them being absent from the palace and official duties would help, as well as giving Calista some time to come to terms with the idea of marrying into the family.

The expression on Calista’s face now, however, was anything but accommodating. ‘What if I don’t want to say yes?’

‘This is not a debate, Calista.’ He reached for the coffee pot and poured himself a mug.

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