Wedded for His Royal Duty by Susan Meier Read Free Book Online Page B

their hands. His were strong and hers were tiny compared to his. They looked right together. But they weren’t. This was all a ruse. A ruse to protect her life, but still a ruse.
    In spite of the confusion and fear, disappointment fluttered through her. The marriage to a prince from Xaviera that she’d been dreaming about her whole life wasn’t going to happen.
    “Or do we not have a deal?”
    Her head snapped up. She caught his gaze. She hid her disappointment that she and Alex wouldn’t marry because it wasn’t his fault, and he was protecting her. Her father wouldn’t abdicate and she wasn’t about to become a queen. She didn’t have to rescue the reputation of her royal family, as she’d thought. Instead, she was protecting herself and her dad, as Alex mended his reputation with his dad—
    And she could help him. She wouldn’t marry him. She’d never have his children. But this fake, probably-won’t-take-place marriage was more important than their real one would have ever been.
    “Of course, we have a deal.”
    He released her hand and turned to open his car door. “Good. Let’s go get some lunch and pretend we’re the happiest two people in the world.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    “I’ D LIKE TO hear how the princess feels about her dad running away with his mistress. It’s only a matter of time before he abdicates his throne and then she’ll be—what? The queen? Will she and Alex be moving to Grennady?”
    After five minutes of talking about his engagement and taking a ribbing about finally settling down, Prince Alex wasn’t surprised by the question. He also wasn’t surprised when his father nudged him and Eva away from the podium and took the mic.
    “You received the rules for this press conference yesterday and you know questions about the embarrassing situation with King Mason are off-limits.”
    Alex suppressed a smile. Leave it to his dad to tell the press what they could and couldn’t ask.
    “But for the record, let me state that Princess Eva should be allowed to enjoy her engagement and wedding without being reminded that she has a father who embarrassed her family, her country by quite openly taking a mistress on vacation—”
    “It’s our understanding this woman is more than a mistress, and that King Mason left a note for his wife saying their marriage was over. If he abdicates, which a divorce will force him to do, Eva will be Grennady’s new queen,” a member of the press shouted from the sea of reporters below them.
    Alex stole a quick glance at Karen, who straightened regally, as if to agree with his father. The actions of her husband would not put a damper on her daughter’s wedding.
    King Ronaldo’s eyebrows rose. “I said no questions or comments about this and I meant that. This wedding is a happy occasion and I intend to keep it that way.”
    “But he’s—”
    That was all Alex heard before being whisked out of the press room, Eva at his side.
    In the hall outside the press room, his father straightened regally. “All things considered, I’d say that went very well.”
    Eva nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
    Her congenial reply made the king’s expression go from proud to confused. Alex could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he realized she knew enough about the situation to thank him. And there was only one way she could know.
    The king snapped his gaze to Alex’s.
    Alex inclined his head toward Eva, a silent indicator that he’d told her. His father hadn’t said he couldn’t, though it was clear he’d counted on Alex’s discretion. But, in his opinion, Eva didn’t just have a right to know; Alex had had a responsibility to tell her.
    Getting the message, his father sighed. “Okay, then. I hope you two know what you’re doing.”
    Alex said, “We do,” at the same time that Eva said, “We do.”
    Alex stole a glance at her. He wouldn’t exactly call her stubborn but she was her own woman. A woman, the comment from the press had reminded all of