It was the life he’d demanded so he could inherit.
Yes, Maritz needed a strong monarch to see it through difficult times and, with the support of a democratic government, steer it clear of civil war.
But wasn’t it also true he’d needed to be king? The monarchy had been his salvation as well as his burden as he’d worked to drag himself and his country out of the pit his father’s hasty marriage had plunged them into.
And for that he’d bullied Luisa into his world.
He’d wanted to believe she’d find a fulfilling life by his side. These last weeks he’d seen glimpses of a woman who could make the role of consort her own and make a huge difference to his people, even if her way was not the traditional one.
Could she be happy here?
If he’d thought she’d be eager, waiting at the grand staircase to greet him, he was mistaken. Instead it was Lukas, whom he’d sent to support Luisa.
‘Your Highness, welcome. And congratulations on the results of your recent negotiations.’
Raul smiled, allowing himself to enjoy anew a sense of relief. ‘Thank you, Lukas. Hopefully it will mean peace at last.’ He looked around but still no sign of Luisa.
‘Her Highness planned to be here. She’s delayed but shouldn’t be long.’ As he spoke he turned, walking with Raul inside the palace.
It was as grand and gloomy as Raul remembered.
He shuddered at the thought of Luisa here, a trusting, innocent teenager, at the mercy of the venomous old man who’d treated her and her mother so appallingly.
‘Sorry?’
‘I said the chamberlain has requested an audience.’
Raul stopped. ‘Surely his business is with my wife. This is her property.’
One look at Lukas’ face told Raul there was trouble ahead. He sighed. Days without sleep took their toll. All he wanted was his wife and a bed, in that order.
‘Raul!’ Luisa slammed to a stop in the doorway to her suite. She’d planned to be back earlier. Groomed and presentable, ready to greet him with calm courtesy.
One look at him, framed by the arched window, and her breath sawed out of control. Her heart kicked into a frantic rhythm. So much for calm. Just being in the same room with him shattered her composure.
She’d been so busy these last days. It was ridiculous she should miss him, but she had. More than she’d expected.
If things were different, if they were different, she’d run over and plant a kiss on his tense mouth until it softened in that sulky, sexy way it did when they were intimate. He’d put his arms around her and …
This was no fantasy. One look at his cool expression scotched that notion.
‘Luisa.’ He inclined his head but he didn’t approach. Something inside her sank. ‘How are you?’
‘Fine, thanks.’ She pushed back the hair that fell over her cheek and surreptitiously straightened her collar. She’d yanked her jacket on in a hurry. ‘How was your trip?’
‘Excellent.’ He paused and she felt tension vibrate between them. ‘Though as soon as I arrived your chamberlain came to me.’
Luisa frowned. Now she understood his disapproval. No doubt the official had poured out a litany of complaints. The man had been negative since she’d arrived.
‘I see.’ She breathed deep. She supposed she’d broken all sorts of rules. Now she had to face the music. But she refused to be intimidated. These were her decisions to make and she’d stick by them.
She closed the door and walked into the room. She gestured to an armchair. Raul ignored it.
‘He voiced a number of concerns.’
‘I’m sure he did. What did he start with? The proposal to open the state reception rooms for public functions?’
Raul shook his head, his saturnine eyebrows tilting down. ‘No. It was your plan to turn the Prince’s private apartments into a museum.’
Luisa’s chin jerked up. ‘I’m never going to use them so they might as well be put to some use.’ She swept out a hand that encompassed her bright modern room with its view to the Alps. ‘This is more suitable for when I visit.’ She shuddered.
‘All that overdecorated pomposity downstairs is too much for me.’ Besides, the thought of bunking in her grandsire’s bed curdled her blood.
‘For us.’ Raul paced closer.
‘Sorry?’
‘We’ll visit together in future.’
What? He didn’t trust her now to come here without him? She drew herself up to her full height.
‘What else did he object to?’ Might as well get it over, though it stuck in her craw to defend her plans.
Raul spread his arms in a gesture that drew her eyes to the expanse of his chest. She remembered his strength as he’d pulled her into his arms and taken her to heaven.
Despite her anger, heat snaked through her belly.
‘He had a list. He was concerned about the plans for a children’s playgroup in the eastern annexe.’
Luisa’s mouth tightened. ‘The premises are perfect and easily accessible from the main square. You might not know but in this part of the city there’s virtually no provision for community groups. It’s not like central Maritz where that’s well catered for.’
It seemed her grandfather had stymied local plans to support the community, especially young people. His mindset had been rooted in the past.
‘And the cooking school?’
She put her hands on her hips. ‘I found students visiting the old kitchens. Their premises had been damaged when the old wiring caused a fire. The palace chef offered temporary use of the kitchens here.’ Her lips firmed. ‘It’s a perfect match. The facilities are here, and the expertise for that matter. It’s not as if there are lots of state banquets since I’m not here permanently.’
‘And the same for the mechanics?’
She stared. ‘How do you know about that?’ She’d just come from a meeting of vocational teachers in what had been the stables but now housed an automotive workshop.
Raul stepped towards her and she read a flicker of something in his eyes that made the heat in her belly spread low and deep.
He raised a hand to her cheek. Luisa shuddered as delicious sensation stirred. She didn’t want this distraction, this sweet reminder of the magic he wrought!
‘It was a guess.’ He held up his hand so she saw a dark stain. ‘Motor oil?’
Her tongue thickened at his nearness. He was so close his body heat invaded her space.
‘We were checking the facilities and I got a little … involved.’
Raul’s eyes narrowed. ‘I see. Like you got involved when you were presented with that cow?’
Luisa clenched her hands rather than spread them in a pleading gesture. The press had had a field day with that and she’d avoided reading the paper for days since. One paper in particular delighted in portraying her as wilful and disrespectful, though most seemed positive.
The animal had been beautiful, with garlands of flowers round its neck and horns and a huge alpine bell.
‘It was part of the official welcome to Ardissia. Lukas explained it was a sign of great respect from the rural population. I couldn’t refuse it!’
‘But did you have to milk it?’ His mouth tightened till the strain showed at his jaw.
She shrugged, feeling hemmed in by his disapproval. ‘OK, so it wasn’t proper protocol. I know real princesses wouldn’t dream of it. But we got talking about dairy cattle and suddenly they offered me a milking stool and a bucket and …’ She threw up her hands. ‘So sue me! You insisted I do this. Don’t complain now that I’m unorthodox. I’m trying. And—’ she jabbed a finger into his pristine shirt ‘—while I’m happy to hear suggestions about these ideas for the palace, it’s ultimately my decision. No one else’s!’