Read Online Her Prince's Secret Son by Linda Goodnight - Free Book Online
Authors: Linda Goodnight
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their reasons for avoidance differed greatly.
Relenting, she said, “I’m not a good sailor, Nico.” A lie. “Perhaps you and your father should take the picnic alone.”
“No!” The little prince was growing agitated. “I want you.”
Those simple words meant more than the child could ever know. He was growing attached to her. She was both glad and afraid. How would he react when Aleks decided her time in Carvainia was over and she had to leave? Worse, what would he think of her someday in the future when he discovered the name of his birth mother, because as sure as his father had the power to adopt him, the son would have the power to ferret out the truth of his birth.
“I want Sara, Papa. And you and me.”
Aleksandre’s mouth flattened into a tight line. He glared at Sara as he placed a hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Do not upset yourself. I’ll see what I can arrange.”
With that, he spun on his heel and left.
Bright and early the next morning as the first members of the castle staff began to stir, Sara slipped from her bed to shower and dress. While she showered, someone—Antonia, no doubt—had delivered a silver coffee carafe, pastry and fruit. Hair still damp, Sara poured a cup of the fragrant French brew and stepped out on the balcony.
Greeted by the sound of the rushing sea and the pale pinks and grays of dawn, she sipped at her coffee and breathed in the peaceful morning. Last night, she’d talked to Penny by telephone for over an hour. Her friend thought she was crazy to remain in Carvainia in the company of powerful peoplewho clearly despised her. And yet, Penny had also understood. The son she’d mourned for was here.
“What about Aleks?” Penny had asked.
“What about him?”
“Do you still feel—you know—attracted to him?”
“I’d be lying if I said no.”
“Oh, girl. I feel so bad that I talked you into this trip.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“You’re going to get hurt.”
“Nothing could hurt more than four years of not knowing where my son was.”
But this morning, Sara realized the statement hadn’t been true. Losing him a second time was going to be worse. Before, she hadn’t known him. This time, she did. She knew what made him giggle in that cute little boy way, with his head tilted back and his eyes scrunched shut. She knew how bright he was and his favorite color and the sound of voice and the smell of his hair. She knew too much.
In another ten minutes, the sun would pop over the horizon. Down below, along the water’s edge, she spotted a tall, shadowy form. Aleks. Back turned, facing out to sea, he stood with his hands in his pockets, a forlorn figure. He looked as though he carried the weight of the world—and in a way he did. At least the world as Carvainians knew it. He had great power, but with that power came great responsibility. She’d never thought of that before.
Aleks would take responsibility very seriously.
She set her coffee cup aside and watched him for a long time, her heart calling out to him. Though tempted to slip out into the soft morning and stand beside him, she refrained. She could do nothing for the father. But the son was a different matter.
Five minutes later, she reached the medical floor. The dimmorning light battled with the pale night lamps illuminating the corridors. No security was posted at Nico’s door, a concession to his recovery and the time of day, she supposed, though definitely a change of protocol.
The elevator slid quietly closed behind her. As she started toward Nico’s room, a woman appeared from the staircase on the left. Something in her hurried, furtive movements gave Sara pause. She stepped back into the shadows.
Curious, Sara watched the woman glance around before quickly entering Nico’s room. In the dim light, Sara could not make out the woman’s face, but she was tall and moved with an almost haughty grace. Queen Irena? The nurse, Maria? She was tall, but so were many of the Carvainian
Relenting, she said, “I’m not a good sailor, Nico.” A lie. “Perhaps you and your father should take the picnic alone.”
“No!” The little prince was growing agitated. “I want you.”
Those simple words meant more than the child could ever know. He was growing attached to her. She was both glad and afraid. How would he react when Aleks decided her time in Carvainia was over and she had to leave? Worse, what would he think of her someday in the future when he discovered the name of his birth mother, because as sure as his father had the power to adopt him, the son would have the power to ferret out the truth of his birth.
“I want Sara, Papa. And you and me.”
Aleksandre’s mouth flattened into a tight line. He glared at Sara as he placed a hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Do not upset yourself. I’ll see what I can arrange.”
With that, he spun on his heel and left.
Bright and early the next morning as the first members of the castle staff began to stir, Sara slipped from her bed to shower and dress. While she showered, someone—Antonia, no doubt—had delivered a silver coffee carafe, pastry and fruit. Hair still damp, Sara poured a cup of the fragrant French brew and stepped out on the balcony.
Greeted by the sound of the rushing sea and the pale pinks and grays of dawn, she sipped at her coffee and breathed in the peaceful morning. Last night, she’d talked to Penny by telephone for over an hour. Her friend thought she was crazy to remain in Carvainia in the company of powerful peoplewho clearly despised her. And yet, Penny had also understood. The son she’d mourned for was here.
“What about Aleks?” Penny had asked.
“What about him?”
“Do you still feel—you know—attracted to him?”
“I’d be lying if I said no.”
“Oh, girl. I feel so bad that I talked you into this trip.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“You’re going to get hurt.”
“Nothing could hurt more than four years of not knowing where my son was.”
But this morning, Sara realized the statement hadn’t been true. Losing him a second time was going to be worse. Before, she hadn’t known him. This time, she did. She knew what made him giggle in that cute little boy way, with his head tilted back and his eyes scrunched shut. She knew how bright he was and his favorite color and the sound of voice and the smell of his hair. She knew too much.
In another ten minutes, the sun would pop over the horizon. Down below, along the water’s edge, she spotted a tall, shadowy form. Aleks. Back turned, facing out to sea, he stood with his hands in his pockets, a forlorn figure. He looked as though he carried the weight of the world—and in a way he did. At least the world as Carvainians knew it. He had great power, but with that power came great responsibility. She’d never thought of that before.
Aleks would take responsibility very seriously.
She set her coffee cup aside and watched him for a long time, her heart calling out to him. Though tempted to slip out into the soft morning and stand beside him, she refrained. She could do nothing for the father. But the son was a different matter.
Five minutes later, she reached the medical floor. The dimmorning light battled with the pale night lamps illuminating the corridors. No security was posted at Nico’s door, a concession to his recovery and the time of day, she supposed, though definitely a change of protocol.
The elevator slid quietly closed behind her. As she started toward Nico’s room, a woman appeared from the staircase on the left. Something in her hurried, furtive movements gave Sara pause. She stepped back into the shadows.
Curious, Sara watched the woman glance around before quickly entering Nico’s room. In the dim light, Sara could not make out the woman’s face, but she was tall and moved with an almost haughty grace. Queen Irena? The nurse, Maria? She was tall, but so were many of the Carvainian
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