The Royal House of Niroli: Innocent Mistresses: Expecting His Royal Baby / The Prince's Forbidden Virgin. Robyn Donald

I would go down on bended knee the next morning and propose marriage to you?’ His eyes, his voice couldn’t have been harder.

      ‘Please, Nico—’

      ‘Don’t touch me!’ He shook her off. ‘You wanted sex every bit as much as I did and we both knew what we were doing. You hadn’t been drinking; I’d been watching you, so don’t go down that road. Sex that night had nothing to do with love, or long-term commitment, and I never let you think that once, did I?’

      She couldn’t argue with him. She was too stunned, too sick inside to know how to answer him.

      ‘I’ll write you a cheque now if that’s what it takes to get you off my back.’

      Nico’s cruel words forced Carrie to face the truth. Her child had been conceived in a ferment of lust, and her baby’s father couldn’t stand the sight of her. But she loved him. She still loved him. She always would.

      ‘Let’s stop playing games, Carrie.’

      Something was nagging at her, something wasn’t right. Nico was so sure of himself, so very sure …

      ‘I don’t know who you’ve been with, or why he won’t support you, but if you’ve come here out of desperation just tell me how much you want.’

      Carrie was stunned. She couldn’t believe what Nico was thinking. ‘I don’t want your money.’

      ‘Then, what do you want?’

      ‘I want nothing for myself. All I ask is that you acknowledge our child—’

      ‘Our child? I don’t have a child! And as for you?’ His stare lingered on her still-flat stomach. ‘How do I know you’re even pregnant?’ His gaze flashed up, demanding an answer.

      ‘Do you think I’d lie about something like this?’

      ‘How do I know what to think? You sneak into the palace like a thief—’

      ‘Don’t turn this into something squalid!’

      ‘Don’t you!’ Nico warned softly. ‘The Carrie Evans I knew wouldn’t use a child as a bargaining counter.’

      ‘And I’m not doing that now. Nico, how can you be so sure you’re not the father of my child?’

      ‘I know I’m not.’ His mouth flattened, telling her that was his final answer.

      ‘But there’s been no one else,’ Carrie said in confusion. ‘The baby is yours—’

      ‘No one else?’ Nico cut across her.

      His silence now reminded Carrie of the frivolous underwear she had bought on the market, the underwear she had helped him to remove. Surely, he didn’t think …’Nico, please believe me, I was a virgin that night—’

      ‘A virgin?’ He shook his head grimly. ‘This lie of yours has gone far enough.’ Taking hold of her, he tried to lead her from the room, but she had more strength than he knew.

      ‘I suggest you leave before I do something I might regret, Carrie.’

      ‘Like what?’ She refused to move another inch. ‘What would you do, Nico? Would you hit me? Would you force me out of here? Would you strike a pregnant woman?’

      The blood drained from his face. ‘I wouldn’t touch anyone in mindless anger.’

      ‘Just as I wouldn’t lie to you,’ she assured him, holding his gaze, willing him to believe her.

      ‘You’ve just proved that you would,’ Nico said. Walking to the door, he opened it wide. ‘Now, please leave.’

      ‘Nico—’

      He turned his face away from her as if he couldn’t bear the sight of her a moment longer and his voice when he spoke next was the voice of a stranger. ‘I feel as if I’ve been with a very different woman to the sweet girl I employed. You’re a better actress than I thought, Carrie Evans, and a crueller one, but don’t think you can lay your mistakes at my door.’

      ‘My baby isn’t a mistake,’ she assured him tensely. ‘The only mistake I made was getting involved with you.’

      ‘It’s time to accept I’m not the father of your baby.’

      ‘Nico, you must believe—’

      ‘I can assure you I’m not. Your plan has badly misfired.’

      ‘My plan?’ She looked at him in bewilderment, but there was no chance to press him because in her worst nightmare come true Princess Anastasia was bearing down on them.

      Wearing a slinky black dress with earrings so long the diamonds glittered on her shoulders like drops of sweat, the princess came straight to Nico’s side and linked arms with him.

      ‘Darling, what’s taking you so long?’ she purred into his ear.

      ‘Forgive me, Anastasia,’ he said smoothly, moving away. Thrusting Carrie behind him, Nico planted himself in front of her.

      Carrie blenched as she viewed her rival through the small space left between Nico and the door frame. She might as well retire gracefully now. She was nothing but a little drab compared to the princess.

      ‘I heard raised voices, darling.’ Peering round Nico, Anastasia tried to get a better view of Carrie. ‘You don’t have a problem, I hope?’

      ‘No problem,’ Nico said evenly.

      For a moment Carrie was surprised that Nico was troubling to protect her, but then she realised he was protecting his flawless reputation. Nico was used to sailing above the trivial embarrassments that afflicted the rest of mankind, and she guessed finding himself on the back foot was something new for him.

      ‘Is there a problem, Nico?’ Anastasia pressed. ‘They told me you had been detained.’ She gave a pretty pout. ‘But they also promised me that you would be joining us for coffee. Is this girl bothering you?’ Craning her elegant neck, she stared down her perfect ski-slope nose at Carrie.

      Nico stood to one side, leaving the two women in full sight of each other. ‘Carrie Evans used to work for me.’

      ‘I see …’ Finely plucked eyebrows soared at an acute angle as the princess evaluated her opponent.

      ‘Carrie’s in Niroli on holiday, aren’t you, Carrie?’

      Nico was prompting her? Carrie chose to remain silent.

      ‘Carrie, may I present Princess Anastasia….’

      As Nico introduced her to the princess she stood stiffly, hoping Anastasia didn’t expect her to curtsy; the princess’s haughty gaze had instantly labelled her an inferior.

      ‘Why, Anastasia … nothing to say?’ Nico pressed. ‘Is there a reason Ms Evans shouldn’t visit the palace while she’s holidaying in Niroli?’ His voice was like a velvet threat, and as he spoke a quiver of response ran across Carrie’s shoulders.

      ‘No reason at all,’ Princess Anastasia said quickly, opening her eyes very wide to signal her absolute agreement with anything Nico chose to say about the matter.

      He was playing them off against each other, Carrie realised. This might be providing Nico with an amusing interlude, but she wasn’t going to play. On the other hand, who knew what lengths Anastasia would go to in order to ingratiate herself with Nico? Any and all, Carrie concluded, watching the princess moisten her lips with the tip of her tongue.

      ‘I hope you will accept my apologies, Principessa?’

      As Nico spoke Carrie had to hide her feelings, for, overriding the desire to scratch out Anastasia’s eyes was the desire to laugh. The role of penitent was completely beyond Nico’s acting capabilities. The princess didn’t seem to realise this and her soft exhalation of breath assured Carrie that Anastasia would take Nico on any terms.

      ‘I