His Princess in the Making by Melissa James Read Free Book Online Page B

gentleness with the King. She knew him well by now, he was so much like Papou, and Charlie for that matter. He needed the illusion of control to feel safe. It was a rare source of fun watching him trying to lock horns with Toby, who needed no such illusion, had no ego: he just saw what needed to be done and did it with a minimum of fuss.
    “You might find what he has to say is interesting, Theo Angelis. He’s been touring the cities and villages the past week with Charlie and Jazmine and I.”
    “You’ve been alone with him?” Theo Angelis growled.
    It was a strain, but she smiled as she assured him, “I’ve been alone with him for years, and it’s never been a problem.”
    “The boy’s shown his hand. He wants to take you back with him.”
    It was more of a struggle for her to remain calm than she’d show, but she shrugged. “Of course he does. He’s been estranged from his own family for a long time.” She met the King’s eyes. “He is our family, Theo Angelis, and if we care about Hellenia, so does he.”
    The King grunted, but his gaze was sharp on her. “He’s going to do whatever it takes to make you return with him. Especially if you show a moment of weakness.”
    It was getting harder each day to remain wrapped in the shell of serenity she’d been using since she’d been in theclinic. Not only was the King suspicious, but spending time with Toby these days was like handling a live grenade. Without warning, he’d give her that look, that smile, and all her strong resolutions and good sense would vanish. Half the time he had to remind her what she’d been saying, or what he’d been saying.
    And she spent far too much time wondering why he hadn’t kissed her again.
    “What time shall I tell him we’ll meet?” she asked briskly.
     
    “I’m not going to soothe you all. Hellenia’s split in two—the Orakis and Marandis camps. The problem is, the ordinary people are the Marandis power base, and they’re tired of fighting. The Orakis faction seems to thrive on it.” Toby didn’t bother to look around for reactions. “You all know this. What I’m saying is just a prelude. Charlie and Jazmine are clearly on track with what’s needed. Their plans are helping villages and towns to be self-sufficient. Giulia’s plans for widows, divorced women and orphans are falling into place.” He smiled at Giulia, striving for friendliness, but knew he failed: his old self-control, once slipped, was like a broken mask he could no longer fit to his face.
    “The last thing the nation needs is more war—but if Orakis doesn’t get what he wants he’ll bring it on. His people are more reactionary than those who love the Marandis royal family—or so it seems. So what the country needs is defences. ”
    As one they all stared at him. He could see the doubt, the confusion in all eyes, except in Giulia’s. The little smile told him she knew what he was going to say, and in her manner of quiet wisdom was willing to wait until last.
    “You call a meeting to waste my time giving me unusable solutions?” The King leaned forward in the tapestry-covered wingback chair; his tea cup rattled as he thunked it down on the exquisitely carved chess-table. “I won’t waste money set aside for roads, housing, hospitals and schools on guns!”
    “No, Your Majesty, of course not. I’m talking about the appearance of defences.” Still standing, as if he felt as much a supplicant as the old man wanted him to feel, Toby smiled at King Angelis. The King stared back, his rheumy eyes hard behind his glasses. “I’ve only been here two weeks. I’m an outsider, an Australian, and not a lord. I’m ignorant of the more important decisions in running a European nation. But Charlie will tell you that one of the first things we learn as firefighters is defence—how to protect ourselves and those we find in fires. And we learn how to teach people how to create defences for the future.” He smiled at his oldest friend. “The