Giselle's Choice by Penny Jordan Read Free Book Online Page A

me?’
    How could all his plans have gone so badly wrong?
    â€˜I’ve already explained. I thought you’d guessed…realised… I believed, and I still believe now, that you would see the potential to do good in what fate has handed us, and that you’d want to respond to that challenge, to that demand on everything we have and are together, for the good of others.’
    â€˜What about the good we are already doing through our charity, our plans? You can’t rule this country and still give the time and the commitment we give to that.’
    â€˜The charity has reached a stage where a committee and trustees appointed by us can run it in our place. You know that’s true.’
    Giselle did, but she didn’t want to admit it.
    â€˜Can’t you see, Giselle? This is a new challenge for us—a new call on all that we know we can give and all that we’ve already learned about that giving. You are the one who gave me the encouragement and inspiration to begin the children’s charity projects. I need that support from you here and now, more than ever. We are soul mates, you and I. We both know that.’
    The pain inside her was unbearable—because all of what he had said was true. Just as it was equally true that she could not go with him into the future he wasplanning. If he went ahead and stepped into Aldo’s shoes then he would have to do so without her.
    â€˜You talk about us, ’ she told him sadly, ‘but it is your intention to take Aldo’s place no matter how I feel, or what I say, or what promises you made to me, isn’t it?’
    Saul ached to take her in his arms and beg her to understand—but he had a meeting to attend, and once she was in his arms their intimacy would not end with a single kiss. It never did. The magical cord that linked them together meant that to touch one another was to want one another, and to prove their need and love for one another in the most intimate way possible. Perhaps it was their mutual lack of physical affection from their parents that meant that the physical intimacy they shared was so very special to them, so cherished by them. Saul didn’t know. He only knew that to hold Giselle in his arms was to want to go on holding her.
    â€˜I have to, Giselle,’ was all he could say to her. ‘I didn’t want to at first—everything you’ve said, I felt too. But perhaps there is more to my ancestry than I’ve ever previously allowed for. Aldo was right; it is my duty to do the best I can for the people of this country.’
    With every word Saul spoke Giselle’s heart sank further and her panic increased—until she felt that her fear was threatening to choke her.
    â€˜I can see that I’ve shocked you,’ Saul admitted. ‘But please, darling, try to think how much we can do here together, how much we can improve the lot of the people. Please try to understand that this is where my duty lies, where our future together lies.’
    â€˜What about your duty to me? To us? You say you promised Aldo you would take his place, but what about your promise to me before we got married? What you’re going to do changes everything between us. It threatens everything that matters most to me and all that I believed mattered most to you as well.’
    â€˜Oh, sweetheart.’ Saul was remorseful as he heard the anxiety in her voice, guessing that what was worrying her was the personal freedom she felt they would lose to their shared royal duty. Saul had no intention of allowing that to happen. ‘My taking Aldo’s place here doesn’t affect us or our relationship. I would never allow anything to do that,’ he assured her. ‘I know that this change in our plans must seem daunting, but we shall still be us, Giselle. Our love for one another won’t change. I would never let it.’
    Giselle’s reaction to his news was not the one he had hoped for,