A Ring To Secure His Crown

‘Don’t look so gloomy. I know many women who would pay to get chucked into the back seat by Sebastian Zorzi, and you were wearing nice undies.’

Sabrina’s eyes widened. ‘You couldn’t...?’

Chloe chuckled at the shocked reaction. ‘No, just a lot of leg.’ Her expression sobered. ‘Seriously, though...?’

Sabrina angled an enquiring look at her sister’s face.

The grin re-emerged. ‘He is seriously gorgeous! How about a double wedding? I’m up for it if you are!’

‘What, and share my day in the spotlight?’ Sabrina said, struggling to reply in kind because the image of her sister, dressed in white, standing beside a tall, lean, handsome figure made her feel a little queasy.

‘Because we all know how much you love that.’ Chloe’s smile vanished. ‘Brina, are you all right? I’m just trying to lighten the mood, you know. Are you really going to do it?’

‘Do what?’

‘Go through with this crazy medieval marriage of convenience? You can’t let yourself be used this way, Brina. It’s so wrong.’

‘I don’t have a choice.’

‘There is always a choice, Brina.’

Sabrina shook her head and veiled her eyes with her lashes. It was true, but now the time was here she wished she believed it. ‘I want to marry Luis. He’s a nice guy.’

Chloe’s expression grew serious as she took her sister’s hands in hers and said gravely, ‘Don’t you think you deserve better than nice? A husband who thinks you are more important than anything?’

After a shocked moment Sabrina brought her lashes down in a protective sweep as she swallowed the emotional lump in her throat. Chloe had voiced the thoughts she didn’t dare even allow herself to think.

‘Since when did you become a paid-up member of the soppy romantic club?’

Chloe’s smile was back as she jumped to her feet. ‘I hide it well. So how about I do wear this tonight?’ She moved her hand down the tiny skirt she wore. ‘And flirt with the sexy Sebastian?’

Sabrina struggled to respond to her sister’s teasing smile, managing some sickly approximation of an answering smile despite the tight feeling of rejection in her stomach.

‘Chloe, be careful. Sebastian Zorzi, he isn’t the sort of man you play with.’

She thought of eyes so blue they took your breath away and felt a little shiver trace a sinuous path down her spine as the memory surfaced, both terrifying and seductive. She didn’t want Chloe to be exposed to the danger he represented.

Or maybe you don’t want her to be kissed.

‘He’s dangerous.’

Chloe laughed. ‘He sounds better and better. Now how about a glass of wine to get us in the mood, or to at least prepare me for the undoubted cold shower that awaits me when I go to my room? Perhaps when you’ve sold your body for the good of the country we can get the plumbing fixed?’ She grinned and produced a bottle from the capacious handbag she had dumped by the door. ‘Glasses?’

CHAPTER THREE (#u3b5b09f7-8bd3-559b-b8b8-f8bdf5b4fd57)

HER MOTHER ENTERED her bedroom with dramatic abruptness just as Sabrina was fitting the last hair in the smooth twist she had wound her hair into.

‘There has been a disaster with the meal. Don’t ask!’

Sabrina didn’t but the harassed Duchess told her anyway. ‘I found out an hour ago that the Queen is gluten and lactose intolerant. Half the menu had to be revised. The chef is not happy.’

‘I’m sure it will be fine,’ Sabrina soothed, getting to her feet. Focusing on her mother’s panic made it somehow easier to deal with her own nerves. ‘Just breathe, Mum.’ She laid a hand on her parent’s arm.

The Duchess took a deep breath. ‘Yes, I’m sure you’re right, but I’m running terribly late. I haven’t even started getting ready, not that it really matters. The Queen—’ she lowered her voice and glanced over her shoulder, as though someone might be listening, before adding in a note of mingled envy and despair ‘—always makes me feel inadequate. I swear the woman gets younger every year!’

‘Mum, you always look lovely!’ Sabrina protested.

Her mother smiled. ‘You’re a good girl, Brina. And you’re right, of course, at my age it’s silly to worry about what I look like.’

‘I didn’t say that,’ Sabrina protested. ‘There’s plenty of time for you to go and get ready.’

‘I can’t. I promised Walter that I’d run through the final details with him and speak to the staff.’

‘Leave it to me,’ Sabrina said, pretty sure she would regret the offer. The major-domo, Walter, always made her feel as though she were ten again and he’d just caught her trying to glue together a piece of porcelain she had broken. ‘You go and get ready.’

‘Really?’

Sabrina nodded.

The Duchess gave her daughter a gentle hug. ‘You’re an angel. I really don’t know what I’ll do without you when you’re married.’

‘Pretty much what you’ve been doing for the past seven years while I’ve been living in London, except from now on I’ll be closer.

‘Of course. You’re such a sensible girl. You’ve never given us a moment’s worry, unlike your sister! Speaking of Chloe, I’m going to check what she’s wearing.’ Reaching the door, she stopped and turned back. ‘You look very beautiful tonight.’

Sabrina grinned and smoothed the full skirt of the calf-length fifties-style pale blue silk dress she wore. ‘Oh, this old thing?’

‘And you’re wearing your grandmother’s pearls,’ the Duchess said, an emotional crack in her voice, as Sabrina touched the string of antique pearls wound around her slender neck. ‘You do know we are both very proud of you, don’t you? I wish there was another way. That you could—’

‘Nobody is forcing me to do anything. Luis is a lovely guy and I plan on being very happy.’ She took her mother by the shoulders and propelled her out of the door. It was only when the door had closed again that her forced smile faded. Happiness, she reminded herself, was not a right; in her case it was more a hope.