Page 1 of Falling for the King

Chapter 1

‘I have received an offer for your hand in marriage,’ her brother-in-law, king Xavier of Maynet said. The tic at his jaw was the only clue that this conversation was not to his liking.

‘Have I time travelled back to ancient times? I didn’t think this kind of thing still happened.’ This was not the discussion Katerina had expected when summoned to his office on the top floor of the palace. ‘From whom?’ she quickly added.

‘King Edgar of Resleigh,’ Xavier answered, his jaw ticking again.

‘He’s …’— an old lech— ‘an important ally of Maynet. Is this something to do with the treaty that I didn’t know about?’ Her mind reeled while her outward composure remained intact … just.

An uncharacteristic flash of anger crossed his face.

‘No, it is not.’

Dread inched down her spine. ‘When did he make this offer?’

He hesitated. ‘Last spring.’

‘Last spring! Was Max even cold?’

‘He spoke to me a few weeks after the funeral, at the joint fundraiser. I told him I’d discuss it with you once the official mourning period had ended.’

‘Why didn’t he ask me directly?’ Although she barely knew the man, other than meeting him at official functions, it still didn’t make sense. Why would he ask Xavier and not her unless it was something to do with Maynet? A shiver of distaste ran down her spine, King Edgar had a reputation with women that wasn’t pretty. She hadn’t always paid heed to such things, but she wasn’t eighteen any longer. She was smarter now and the way her skin crawled when he directed all conversations to her chest wasn’t to be ignored.

‘That’s the way he does things.’

The creepy, weird way.

‘If not for strategic gain, then what are his reasons for the marriage?’ Never again would she be a pawn in a game where she didn’t know the rules, or even that she was a participant.

Another telling hesitation.

‘He mentioned your youth, beauty and … poise.’

Katerina sprang from the chair in front of his desk and walked over to the windows, her silk skirt swirling around her legs. Humiliation pounding through her, she raised a shaking hand to her throat, her round-necked collar suddenly feeling too tight. Her said poise nowhere in evidence. What King Edgar really meant was her ability to turn a blind eye. What no-one knew was how hard-won it had been and the pain she’d gone through to cultivate it.

From her vantage point she looked out over the palace gardens through to the old city and across the capital. Battling the memories that taunted, she took a deep breath, then another until the view worked its magic as it always did. She loved Maynet, she had from the moment she’d first arrived seven years ago. It was a feeling of belonging and purpose she’d never experienced before and the reason she’d endured more than she ever thought possible to remain here. But she didn’t want to think about that. Dropping her hand, she schooled her features and turned back to Xavier.

His eyes were trained on her, yet he remained behind the heirloom desk that dominated his vast office. Its size did nothing to diminish the impact of the man who sat behind it. Tall, broad and radiating authority he was the focal point of the room. Of every room.

‘Will it damage Maynet’s relationship with Resleigh if I refuse?’ she asked, relieved that her voice was even and reflected none of her turmoil.

‘Not in the long term.’

Katerina’s stomach dropped. She’d hate any decision of hers to affect the treaty that existed between the two countries and knew Xavier’s integrity would never allow him to lie, unlike his brother who’d been a master at it. Max. She shivered thinking about her late husband before pushing away all such thoughts.

‘And in the short term?’

‘Possibly. But that’s no reason to coerce you into something you don’t want.’

‘What could he do? What has he said?’ Fear for her adopted country added a hateful tremor to her voice.

‘Nothing that I can’t manage. Threats veiled or not have never held any sway with me. The real question is whether you wish to marry him.’

Never. She didn’t want to marry him. She didn’t want to marry anyone. Although the thought of the country that she’d made home being in any kind of danger because of her was as sickening as the thought of being manipulated by another bridegroom.

‘I could never do anything that would harm Maynet, the people …’ You, she almost added.

‘I know that, so let me be very clear. This offer has nothing to do with the treaty, nor is it in any way arranged. This is up to you. Do you want to marry him?’