Mills and Boon Christmas Joy Collection. Liz Fielding

Becoming emotionally attached would make leaving harder for them all. She had to draw a line in the sand.

      Alex’s face was racked with confusion. ‘And you’re still going to go?’

      She nodded. She had to.

      Everything was too much right now. She didn’t just love Alex. She loved his little girl too. If she didn’t leave now she didn’t know how her heart could ever recover.

      She jammed the last thing into the case and closed it. Picking it up, she turned to face him.

      He was clutching his daughter and shaking his head. ‘How can you? How can you go now?’

      ‘Because I have to. Because this is the right thing to do.’ She stepped up close to him. ‘Because if I stay this will only get worse. You think I didn’t see the panic on your advisors’ faces? You think I don’t know that every single action you take could affect the people in this country—your trade agreements, your business? I’m not so stupid as to want to destroy the country that you’ve built. I’m not that stupid and I’m not that selfish.’

      ‘But what about us?’ He glanced down towards Annabelle, who had cuddled into his chest. ‘How can you leave us now?’ He was getting angry. He was getting frustrated. ‘Don’t you have a heart?’

      She flinched. But it was exactly what she’d needed to hear. It made it so much easier.

      ‘I left my heart in Paris ten years ago, Alex. You should know.’

      And she held up her head and walked out of the room before her shaking legs could stop her.

CHAPTER TWELVE

      IT WAS STRANGE, spending Christmas in France. The weather was unseasonably warm. Ruby was used to Christmases in England, with freezing temperatures and snow.

      Her mother appeared at the door. She had a pale cream envelope in her hand. ‘This came for you. I had to sign for it.’ She turned it over and over in her hands.

      Ruby sighed. ‘Is it from Alex?’

      She stared at her desk. It was already littered with A4 envelopes—some from Alex, and some from his advisors. All full of details on how to deal with ‘the situation’. Pages and pages of plans for dealing with the press.

      A plan for how often she could be seen. A plan for how much time they could spend together. A plan for when Alex could eventually put an arm around her. Followed by detailed protocols and information on the history of Euronia and Leruna. It was like studying for a university degree all over again. But this wasn’t a qualification. This was a plan for a life. Her life.

      And she just didn’t know if she was strong enough.

      In amongst the plans were little handwritten cards from Alex. He’d sent one every day, his pleading words increasing in intensity with each card.

      ‘You’ll have to speak to him sooner or later,’ her mother said. ‘He phones three times a day. I’m beginning to feel like he’s part of the family already.’

      The words twisted inside her. ‘I can’t speak to him, Mum, you know that. I need some time.’

      Her mother sighed and sat down next to her. ‘Why do you need time away from the man and the little girl that you obviously love?’

      Ruby was shocked. She’d never used those words to her mother. She hadn’t said those words out loud to anyone.

      ‘What? You think I didn’t know?’ Her mother waved her hand. ‘It’s been written all over your face from the second you got here. I’ve never seen you so miserable. It was a few lousy newspaper articles. You know what your dad says—today’s news, tomorrow’s chip paper.’ She gave a half-shrug. ‘You only made two lines today in the British press.’

      Ruby gave a half-smile. Her father had been surprisingly good-natured.

      She stared at the letter. ‘I don’t think I can read anything else from Alex.’

      Her mother shook her head. ‘It’s not from Alex. It’s from Leruna. Who would be writing to you from there?’

      Her skin prickled. She couldn’t have—could she?

      She took the heavy envelope in her hand and opened it, sliding the paper out. There was no doubt. The royal mark was in the top corner. Queen Isabelle.

      She blinked. ‘Give me a minute, Mum, will you please?’

      Her mother nodded and disappeared out through the door. Ruby unfolded the letter on her desk. No typing. This letter was full of beautifully crafted handwriting.

       Dear Ruby

       I hope this letter finds you well. It was a pleasure to meet you at the Ball and I was delighted to see your obvious affection for Annabelle and your commitment to her.

       I understand that you are upset over the recent media coverage. Please be assured that this is a cross we all have to bear. I only hope that a little time will give you the strength and courage of your convictions to fight for the love and family that you deserve.

       Alex and Annabelle have blossomed in these last few months. I have no doubt who is responsible for the transformation of their relationship. The press can be cruel to us all, but I hope that you won’t allow others to impact on the life you could have.

       My granddaughter misses you terribly. The sparkle that had returned to her eyes has gone again.

       My beloved Sophia is gone. She was a kind-hearted girl with a much wilder spirit than she was credited for. I believe that she would have wanted both Alex and Annabelle to be loved with the passion that they deserve.

       I want you to know that you will always be welcome as my guest in Leruna. You have our full support.

       Good grace and wishes,

       Her Majesty Isabella DeGrundall, Queen of Leruna

      Ruby’s head was swimming. She could never have expected this. It wasn’t even the words that Queen Isabella had used. It was all the unwritten things in between. She was giving Ruby her blessing. She was acknowledging her presence in Alex and Annabelle’s life. The invitation was clear.

      ‘Ruby?’

      Her mother was hovering around the door again.

      ‘The car that brought the letter...it’s still there. It’s waiting for you.’

      ‘Waiting for me?’ She glanced outside.

      Her mother smiled. ‘It seems there’s a celebration for New Year’s Eve tonight in Euronia.’ There was a rustle and she held up a clothes hanger and a shimmering dress. ‘Apparently your attendance is non-negotiable.’

      * * *

      The flight took less than an hour. The stewardess helped Ruby into the dress and escorted her down to the waiting car.

      Her eyes were squeezed shut for most of the drive as her stomach turned over and over.

      So many thoughts and questions spun around in her brain. Although having some space had served her well, reading over the plans for her gradual romance had been mind-boggling.

      She didn’t want to live her life to a plan. But rational thoughts were starting to creep in. She loved Alex. She loved Annabelle. They weren’t your average family. And if Ruby wanted this life she was going to have to work for it.

      Was it really so unreasonable for her to learn how to handle the press? Would learning about a new country and its customs really be so different from gaining the professional degree and qualifications she already had?

      She knew she had the ability to learn. She knew she