Royal Seductions: Diamonds. Michelle Celmer

there, he would have been so proud of her, and that was all that mattered.

      She endured another exhausting evening meal shared with a new blur of names and faces she barely had a hope of remembering, although there was one woman she recognized from earlier in the day. And only because of the way she watched Hannah so intently. She was dark and very beautiful, close to Hannah’s age, if not a year or two older. She had the kind of voluptuous figure that turned men’s heads. Hannah considered going to talk to her, but that would require leaving Phillip’s side, and she wasn’t ready to do that yet. But every time Hannah looked her way, the woman was watching. Shamelessly and blatantly. But just as Hannah began to feel uncomfortable, the woman vanished. She craned her neck, checking every corner of the room, but didn’t see her.

      That was odd. And she couldn’t shake the feeling she had imagined her.

      After another hour of small talk and chatter, the king finally bid the guests good-night and offered to escort Hannah to her suite.

      She was so exhausted, the thought of collapsing into bed made her want to weep with relief.

      Offering his arm, Phillip led her to the private residence at the north end of the palace. Though it may have been used only by the family and limited staff, it was no less luxurious than the common areas. More modern, and not nearly so formal, but dripping in extravagance and style. Her parents’ estate in Seattle was by no means small, but wealth of this magnitude was foreign to her.

      It would take some getting used to.

      The instant they were inside with the door closed, he unfastened the button at the collar of his jacket and, just like that, transformed back into the less intimidating version of himself—the compassionate man who had whisked her up the palace steps and inside to the sanctuary of the library.

      “You did well today,” he told her.

      “To be honest, it’s all a bit of a blur.” And all she could comprehend at the present moment was the pain in her feet. The desperate need to kick out of the pumps the salesgirl had assured her would spare her any discomfort. Like walking on a cloud, my foot.

      “Would it be possible to get a photo and bio of the government officials?” she asked.

      He regarded her curiously. “What for?”

      “So I can learn their names. I met so many people tonight, I have no hope of remembering them all and I don’t want to appear rude. That should include information of their spouses and families as well. I’m assuming you can do that.”

      The king looked surprised and impressed. “Of course. You’ll have it first thing tomorrow.”

      They stopped outside what she assumed was her suite. “I have to apologize for the temporary accommodations,” he said. “This suite is somewhat small.”

      She didn’t care about the size. So long as it had a tub to soak in and a bed to melt into, he wasn’t going to hear her complaining. “I’m sure it will be fine.”

      He opened the door. “You’ll stay here while the permanent suite is being renovated. In fact, I believe you have an appointment with the decorator tomorrow afternoon.”

      She didn’t want to think any further ahead than a hot bubble bath, but as he led her inside, she found herself facing three more new faces. Two were dressed in formal black-and-white maid’s uniforms and the other in a modest, navy-blue pinstripe business suit.

      “Hannah, I’d like to introduce you to your staff. Miss Cross and Miss Swan, your personal maids, and your personal assistant, Miss Pryce.”

      All three curtsied and said in unison, “My lady.”

      She smiled and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

      Miss Pryce stepped forward, a leather-bound folder tucked under one arm. “I have your schedule, my lady, and your agenda for tomorrow.”

      “My fiancée is quite exhausted,” Phillip said. “I think this can wait until morning.”

      She nodded and retreated a step. “My apologies, sir.”

      With little more than a flick of his wrist and tilt of his head, he dismissed her staff. “Your suite includes a sitting room, sleeping chamber and office.”

      “And a bathroom, I hope.”

      He smiled. “Of course. With all the amenities you could possibly need. In your office you’ll see that you’ve been supplied with all the computer equipment you asked for.”

      “Thanks.” She turned in a circle, taking in the decor. The room was decorated in neutral shades of brown and beige and the furniture looked comfortable and inviting. It was more than large enough to suit her. Larger even than her residence on her parents’ estate. She wasn’t sure why they would go through the trouble of decorating a suite especially for her since, after the wedding, she would be sharing a suite with her husband.

      Or maybe they would be moving into the new suite together. In which case it was nice of him to let her do the decorating. To extend that sort of trust to a woman he barely knew. “It’s lovely, and more than adequate.”

      “Excellent.” He removed his jacket and tossed it over the arm of a chair. Underneath he wore a plain, white long-sleeved knit shirt, similar to a mock turtleneck. It clung to the contours of his chest and arms, accentuating what appeared to be toned, defined muscle underneath. Even without the bulk of his jacket, the expansive width of his shoulders was impressive to say the least.

      She wondered how it would feel to put her hands on him. How would his arms feel around her?

      The thought of him touching her, and their almost-kiss in the library, had her blushing from her toes to the ends of her hair.

      Once again they were alone together. Just the two of them, but this time in her suite. Mere steps away from the bedroom. And Hannah seriously doubted that Princess Sophie, who she had seen sneaking off with one of the guests shortly after dinner, would be around to interrupt them this time.

      Is that why he’d sent the staff away? Did he have…plans for them?

      He walked across the room to a cabinet that held a dozen or so decanters of alcohol, chose one and poured them each a drink. He turned to her, looking surprised to see that she was still rooted firmly to the same spot.

      “It’s been a long day,” he said, walking toward her. “Sit down. Relax.”

      Her feet were throbbing, but the idea of taking off her shoes while he was in the room made her feel so…vulnerable. “You’re staying?”

      “Would you prefer I leave?”

      “No, of course not. I just… Is this okay?”

      He set both drinks on the table beside the couch. “Is what okay?”

      “You being in my suite. You know…before the wedding.”

      He shrugged. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

      “It’s not against the rules?”

      “Is there a reason it should be?”

      Why did she get the feeling he was making this up as he went along? “Next you’ll be telling me it’s all right for you to tuck me into bed.”

      His mouth tipped up in a feral smile. “If that’s what you wish.”

      He was teasing her again, and she was a little stunned to realize that she was teasing him right back. It was…empowering. And a little scary.

      “As you pointed out earlier, I’m a king. I make the rules.” He gestured to the couch. “Join me?”

      Her feet were killing her, and God knows it would feel absolutely wonderful to sit down. Maybe just for a little while.

      She took a step forward, then hesitated.

      “Don’t worry. I don’t bite.”