Escaping A Royal Wedding (11 page)

“Because you haven’t been around to take his calls all week, apparently,” her mother pointed out.

Ana cringed as her father heard that fact. She saw the curiosity come over his features and knew she would have to explain her mother’s statement. “Where have you been? We’ve been under the impression you’ve been with Prince Erik, getting to know him and finding out about your future husband. This is interesting information so please don’t tell me that our assumptions have been incorrect.”

Ana shrugged one slim shoulder. “I haven’t been with Prince Erik,” she said honestly. “I’ve been bored, so occasionally I went out on my own.”

The anger was instantaneous. “You’ve been out in Washington, D.C. on your own? What about your responsibilities? What about your obligations? Have you completely lost your mind?”

Ana wasn’t having any of that. Her anger surfaced and she stood up to him again, not willing to take what she considered an unfair accusation. “Yes, father. I’ve lost my mind. I’ve lost it because I’m tired of being cooped up in a gilded prison just waiting to become a portable womb to some man’s heir. A man who, I might add, doesn’t particularly act like he is in love with the idea of his upcoming nuptials either which is a huge insult to me as well as this family. I want more from life than this.”

King Stephan was still angry but he listened to her. Walking over to the table, he poured himself a cup of coffee while asking, “And what exactly do you want? Why do you think you’re so unimportant? I didn’t raise any children to think this way. You have more to your life and future than just bearing children.”

Ana didn’t point out that he didn’t really raise any of his children, or at least his daughters. She knew that he loved them, but she and Marabeth were raised by nannies and tutors, and their mother. This intimidating man would occasionally read stories to them, but his contribution to their upbringing was reading reports on their progress and discussing those results over dinner occasionally.

She raised her chin, not agreeing with his assessment. “What father? What could I possibly become other than Prince Erik’s wife? His chattel? Because I’ll have no more rights under him than I do under you!” she shouted, fed up with the idiocy of facing an arranged marriage. With those words, she turned on her heel and walked out on her father and mother, something no one had ever done before in their lives. She passed by Marabeth on the way who was watching from the doorway in astonishment.

Ana didn’t say anything nor did she turn when her father demanded that she stop immediately. Ana knew she would pay for her outburst but she just couldn’t face any of it anymore. She wanted to run and hide from this whole scenario. She wanted to talk to Marcus. For the past week, it was amazing how much she had come to rely upon him to cheer her up and put things into perspective. Without revealing the whole situation, she talked to him about what had happened during the day and how things were so awful and frustrating in her life. He rarely spoke of his frustrations, but she could tell that he had some. If she had more time, would he come to trust her as much as she trusted him?

That raised the question that, if she trusted him so much, why didn’t she tell him who she was and what her current predicament was? The answer was simple. There was no way to get out of the arranged marriage to a man she didn’t know. She knew she was fighting against centuries of tradition. Perhaps she could make a difference in her children’s lives, but Ana’s future was set in stone and gilded with iron, she thought with a grimace.

Staring out the window of her suite as angry tears streamed down her cheeks, she watched the world walk by. It was Thursday morning and the rest of the world was rushing to work. Everyone had a purpose, it seemed. Everyone but her. She reminded herself of her conversation with Marabeth that their purpose was to raise more empathetic leaders but that just didn’t seem like enough right at the moment. Ana wanted to be more. She wanted to mean something to someone. Obviously she didn’t mean very much to her fiancé since he was out with other women.

A thought reminded her not to judge him too harshly since she had been out with another man. But he didn’t know that. And in her case, it hadn’t been innocent so why should she assume that his had been? Besides, what she’d said to her mother about the lack of any contact had been a valid point. The man had been unforgivably rude for not calling her in the last five days. For all he knew, she was here simply to be with him prior to their marriage. Shouldn’t he call her and explain the article? Why did she have to call and ask for an explanation? It was humiliating.

But if she didn’t call, would Prince Erik think he could do this throughout their entire marriage? Would she be simply a figure head? Perhaps she should assert herself now and make him understand that she wanted this to be a real marriage where respect between the two of them was foremost?

Ana knew that would be the sensible thing to do. But she was too angry to be sensible right now. It just wasn’t fair!

Ana thought about her plans for the day. She was scheduled to attend several functions, none of which were especially important to her. But she knew the amount of trouble others went through when she was scheduled to attend something. Security was set up several days in advance, including a team that would scout the building and the surrounding areas, planning for any eventuality.

She sighed and went to her closet, reviewing her options for the day. It was going to be a relatively warm day for early spring, at least one thing she could be happy about, she thought. She chose a pretty spring dress with flowers covering the skirt and bodice with a matching solid, yellow cardigan for the cool breezes that sometimes sprung up during the day. Pretty matching yellow pumps completed the outfit. Ana pulled her hair back into a simple pony tail with a clip and surveyed her appearance. Did she look like a princess? When people looked at her, what did they really see? Was there a human being beneath her image to the world? When people looked at her picture in the papers, did they see the woman beneath the title? Did they guess at her inner feelings? Could they see what she was feeling?

What did Marcus see? Ana realized that that question was the most important to her. She hoped that he saw something more than a princess. But really, she couldn’t allow that question to haunt her. This was a temporary relationship. It couldn’t even be a relationship, she reminded herself. She was scheduled to leave tomorrow to head back to Montbain and that would be the end of her freedom, and Marcus. That realization pained her so much that tears sprung to her eyes.

She wiped them away angrily. There was no time for sadness. She had a short time with him and she had to make every moment count. She was having dinner with him tonight and perhaps more.

That thought stopped her cold. Perhaps more? What more could there be?

Ana knew the answer. She wanted to make love with Marcus tonight. It was so forbidden that the thought sent shivers down her body. She had been told her whole life that she would be saving her virginity for her husband. But was he also coming to their marriage a virgin? The article in this morning’s paper would indicate that he had definitely not saved himself for her. He was thirty six years old. It was unrealistic to think that the man had not had sex with another female in thirty six years. Here she was, twenty six contemplating the act for the first time in her life. But what did she care? The man obviously didn’t care a fig for her or her feelings so why should she save herself for a man who was an obnoxious, conceited womanizer?

The idea of making love with Marcus was delicious. Could she do it, she thought as she ducked into the limousine that would take her to her appointments for the day?

“What are you thinking about?” Marabeth asked as she ducked into the limousine behind Ana.

Ana was startled out of her thoughts. “Nothing, really,” she said, smiling for her sister’s benefit.

“Uh huh,” she said, obviously not believing her older sister. “Sure. Now tell me the truth. And tell me what happened this morning after breakfast. I’ve never seen father so shocked or so livid.”

“What happened after I left the room?” Ana asked, the quiver in her voice revealing her nervousness over the incident.

“I wouldn’t know,” she smiled impishly, her green eyes glowing with mischief. “I was told to leave immediately.”

“I’m sorry,” she said sadly and stared out the window. She hated the way she kept crying lately. It was ridiculous and all because of two men; one she wanted to be with forever and another that she would be with but hated without ever having met him.

Marabeth broke into Ana’s depressing thoughts. “Are you going to share where you’ve been going all these past few days? The only part I heard this morning was the fact that you’ve been leaving the hotel to be on your own. I admit I’m a little jealous that you’ve obviously been on several adventures and haven’t been sharing with me.”

Ana wanted very much to share her happiness with her sister but that would make her an accomplice and she couldn’t do that to Marabeth who never broke the rules. Neither did Ana until a few days ago.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “And it really isn’t very dramatic,” she lied, feeling awful for doing that with her sister who was also her best friend.

Marabeth watched her sister for a long moment, contemplating whether or not to push further. Finally, she nodded, accepting that her sister wasn’t ready to share with her just yet. “Well, when you feel like you need to talk, please feel free to discuss whatever is bothering you. I promise not to tell mother or father,” she said.

Ana smiled gratefully at her younger sister. “Thanks, Mara.”

Marabeth bit her lip and Ana saw the worried look in her eye. Ana smiled, encouraging her sister to speak her mind despite Ana’s emotional turmoil. “By the way, I saw a picture of Prince Erik. He’s very handsome.”

Ana nodded, not really interested in the man. “That’s good to know,” she replied, turning to look out the window. She was making plans for the evening and wondering if she had the courage to follow through on what she really wanted to do.

They rode the rest of the way in silence. Once they arrived at the museum opening, Ana and Marabeth smiled and nodded in all the appropriate places. Ana had a speech that had been prepared for the occasion and she read it, realizing it wasn’t very inspiring. In fact, it sounded like so many of the other speeches she’d read over the years.

By the end of the day, Ana’s face hurt from smiling at all the benign comments and listening to the conversations of people she didn’t know and would never see again. All she wanted to do was be with Marcus and laugh with him, have him make her forget about all the inane things she had done during the day.

Back at the hotel, Ana changed into a daring, dark green satin dress with a flaring skirt, black thigh high stockings and black, velvet shoes. She added a black shawl and looked at herself in the mirror. There was a heightened color to her cheeks and her eyes were brighter than normal. At some point during the day, she’d made a monumental decision and it was exciting her just to think about it. Ana was going to make love to Marcus tonight and it showed in her appearance. At least she could see it. She wondered if Marcus would understand her intent tonight. She wasn’t sure where they were going, but she was fairly sure she could get her intent across to him.

She walked out and again asked the doorman to call her a cab. Within moments, she was being helped into a cab which then drove her to the Weston Hotel. She was stepping out of the cab just as Marcus’s limousine arrived. She ducked into the back seat and sat down across from Marcus who immediately pulled her into his arms, kissing her until she was breathless and trembling in his arms.

“Hello,” she gasped when he lifted his head slightly from hers.

“Hello,” he said gruffly, studying her face. “Sorry for not following the rules I set out a few days ago.”

“What do you mean?” she asked breathlessly, her fingers still playing with the hair on the back of his head.

His hand rested lightly on her thigh and he looked at her flawless skin and the brightness in her eyes. “I promised you that I wouldn’t do that. But when you stepped into the car, you just looked too beautiful to not touch.”

Ana smiled, feeling warm all over. “Well, that’s okay. I didn’t mind at all.” She looked down at her leg and was fascinated by his large hand resting casually on her thigh. Would she ever get used to this man? She certainly hoped not. “Where are you taking me tonight?” she asked.

He didn’t answer immediately. “How about if I cook you dinner tonight?” he asked.

Ana looked at his eyes, knowing if she said yes, that he would understand that she was ready to move their brief relationship to the next level. Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head.

Erik watched her face, wondering if she understood what he was asking her. Just to be clear so he didn’t get any false hopes due to her inexperience, he said, “This means I’m going to make love with you tonight.” It was not a question, it was a statement of fact.

Ana smiled and put her hand on the side of his face, then touched her lips gently to his. “I know,” she whispered against his mouth.

Erik groaned and shifted her body so it was draped across his lap. “Finally. I thought you’d never come to my way of thinking,” he said, groaning as she wiggled her hips so she was more comfortable on his lap. That action only made him painfully uncomfortable and he had to hold her still or take her right there. And making love for the first time with this woman was not going to happen in the back of a car.