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He held her imploring gaze. “The princess came back to Bris with me.”
Darrell could scarcely credit what he’d just told her. “She’s here? At the castle?”
“Yes. She wants to meet Phillip. I think it would be best if she met him before being introduced to you.”
Her hands crushed the toweling. Darrell couldn’t be jealous of the woman he was about to marry. She just couldn’t be! “Of course.”
She knew it was for the best, but it hurt because she could already feel Phillip slipping away from her. It surprised her how possessive of him she was. But then her maternal instincts had never been tested to this degree before.
He was Alex’s son, too. She’d better get used to sharing him. Yet the thought of the two of them enjoying each other’s company in the presence of Isabella left Darrell feeling oddly bereft.
“I’ve arranged for the three of us to dine informally within the hour. I’ll walk you back to the apartment to get him.”
If Darrell were prone to fainting spells, she’d be sprawled across the pool tiles by now.
For Isabella to be willing to meet Phillip meant she was so madly in love with Alex, she’d put up with anything to become his wife, even if she was dying inside. Under the circumstances of their approaching wedding, that was the best news possible for Alex.
“She must be a wonderful person.”
He nodded. “She’s remarkable.”
Of course he would never tell Darrell about the pain and the tears that had gone on behind closed doors before his fiancée had made the decision to face this crisis head-on. Already Isabella was showing a queenly composure Alex could only marvel at.
“I hope Phillip makes a good impression.” Her voice trembled. “Naturally you and I both love him, but you know how unpredictable he can be at times.”
“It’s one of his most endearing qualities,” Alex stated matter-of-factly. “Isabella will find him intriguing.”
Spoken like a proud father who accepted his son without qualification.
It thrilled Darrell that Alex loved him so much. However it would take time for Isabella to develop a relationship with him. The thought of Phillip having a stepmother brought a sharp pain to her heart, one she needed to squelch in a hurry.
By tacit agreement they started walking toward the entrance leading to the Saxony apartment. As the castle loomed before her, the old adage about a man’s home being his castle brought a faint smile to one corner of her mouth.
“What are you thinking about?” He noticed everything. When Darrell told him, he chuckled.
“I’m still having trouble believing all this is real,” she confessed with a sigh. “To think that several days ago I was in line with other tourists outside the castle, trying to imagine your world. Little did I know what lay in store once you recognized the ring,” her voice throbbed.
“Your arrival shook my world, too, Darrell. I’ll never be the same again. You do realize you’ve raised a surprisingly unspoiled child.”
“I don’t know about that, but he is an original thinker. When he realizes Isabella is younger than his friends’mothers, he’ll like that a lot.” She needed to keep her thoughts centered on the princess. “Does she have siblings?”
“Yes. A brother two years her senior.”
“Then she’s been broken in”
A half smile creased the corner of his male mouth. “Most definitely.”
“Knowing that will please Phillip. He’ll want to meet him. You know. Get the inside scoop on what it’s like to live with a princess.”
The low laughter she loved rolled out of Alex. “I can see you’ve never had a dull moment with him.”
She sent him an unguarded smile. “Dull is the one adjective that will never apply to Phillip.”
He opened the door for her. “I envy you all those years with him.”
By the depth of his tone, she knew he meant it. “If you want to know a secret, I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me for not looking for you sooner.”
His eyes darkened with emotion. “Thank God you found a way to get my attention. You were incredibly courageous and resourceful. If my father were alive, he would tell you you’re one of those rare female warriors upon whom future generations depend to raise up worthy sons.”
Darrell half scoffed. She wondered if any woman had ever received such an unusual compliment.
Deep in thought she moved past him, but her shoulder accidentally brushed against his chest. Little sparks of fire crackled through her nervous system. She hurried up the stairs ahead of him so he wouldn’t see how shallow her breathing had become.
Even though it had only been for one night, Alex had been her sister’s lover. Her awareness of that fact intensified her guilt in ways she didn’t want to explore right now.
It was a good thing she wouldn’t be going to dinner with the three of them. The more she was around Alex, the harder it would be to keep her attraction to him a secret, especially from Isabella, who was about to become his wife.
A woman in love sensed when another woman was interested in her man.
Of course the princess had no worry in that regard. Alex was pledged to her. Their future marriage had been decreed and settled years earlier. Darrell was an idiot to go on entertaining forbidden thoughts about him.
“Phillip?” she called out after entering the apartment. “Your father’s back!”
When he didn’t answer, she hurried through the door to the adjoining room where he planned to sleep. “He’s not here!” She turned to Alex. “I don’t know where he’d be.”
Something close to a grin broke out on his rugged features. “Considering it’s our son, we both know the possibilities are endless. But you don’t need to worry. He’s been assigned a bodyguard. I’ll call him.”
While he pulled out his cell phone, Darrell went over to the armoire where one of the maids had hung Phillip’s clothes. She picked out the navy blazer and khaki’s he wore to church. Even if Alex said the dinner would be informal, she wanted Phillip to be on his best behavior in front of Isabella.
After reaching for his white shirt and striped tie, she took everything over to the bed.
Alex spoke in Romanche, preventing her from understanding him. She had to wait until he’d hung up.
“Where did he go?”
“After touring the dungeon, he went to Carl’s office. They’re having an off-the-record chat about what it’s like to work for me.”
“Oh, no—Does Carl know Phill—”
“Yes,” Alex broke in, reading her mind with ease.
“Everyone must know by now. You two look too much alike to deceive anyone.”
One of his expressive brows quirked. “The family resemblance is strong. As you said earlier, the water has spilled over the dam. There’s no putting it back.”
She moaned. “You put on a brave front, but I know deep down you have to be apprehensive about everyone’s reaction.”
“You’re wrong, Darrell. My biggest concern is that when the novelty wears off, Phillip won’t like it here, and he’ll want to go home.”
She couldn’t believe he’d just said that.
“Alex—he has already bonded with you. It’s uncanny how well you get along and understand him.”
“It’s because I see certain traits of my cousin Chaz in him. He’ll never be a conformist.”
“You’re right, but that won’t prevent him from wanting to spend as much time with you as possible.”
Lines marred his features. “You just hit on the problem.”
“I—I don’t understand,” her voice caught.
“I may be his father, but I’m also the king. The two don’t necessarily mesh.”
Her anxious gaze swerved to his. “Weren’t you and your father close?”
“If you mean did we love and respect each other, then yes. But it was never the kind of relationship you’re envisioning. Father was the king. He belonged to every man. I was a typical selfish child who wanted him to myself.
“Phillip’s been deprived of his father all these years. Now that we’ve found each other I’m afraid he’s going to feel cheated in a brand-new way. I would understand if he didn’t want to hang around waiting to spend time with me. That’s what is haunting me.”
Put like that Darrell was haunted too. Not just for Phillip who had been hanging around all day waiting, but for Alex.
He’d just revealed something of his inner struggle as a child. He’d said it with a hunger that bespoke needs as strong in their own right as his son’s. She would never have guessed…
“But he knows you came to get him the second you found out you had a son. You didn’t let your kingly duties stand in the way. You’re one man in a million to have claimed him in front of everyone. He feels loved.”
“I pray to God that’s true,” he murmured.
“It is, and it’s all he ever wanted. Just try to get rid of him now and see what happens,” she teased to cover her emotions.
His expression grew solemn. “Where did you come from, Darrell Collier?”
The pounding of her heart almost suffocated her. “That’s the question I’ve been asking about you since we met aboard your jet. The chance of your world and Melissa’s colliding is so remote as to be almost impossible, yet it happened.”
If she kept the vision of him and her sister wrapped up in his sleeping bag, she might just make it through this painful experience without revealing her inner turmoil.
His chest rose and fell visibly. “I have to be honest and tell you the memory of that night is so vague that without the photos proving the existence of the ring, I wouldn’t have recalled it.”
“So what you told Phillip wasn’t completely true.”
He rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb. “If you mean that I spent as much time as possible with your sister, then no. Nor did I try to get in touch with her again. There was only the one night, but Phillip didn’t need to know that.”
Darrell hugged that piece of information to her heart. “I agree.”
“Chaz and a girl who worked at the ranch fixed me up with your sister. We went to a local bar and began drinking. One thing led to another.
“I’m not proud of my behavior, Darrell. Obviously I’d decided to do a little rebelling against my gilded cage. But the next day as I nursed a hangover all the way back to Switzerland, I vowed never to put myself or another woman in that position again. You have every right to hate me for what I did.”
“Of course I don’t hate you. That rebellion produced a wonderful boy. He’s my life!” her voice shook.
In fact knowing Melissa was simply a girl who happened to be there at the right time and place verified Darrell’s opinion that all the feeling had been on her sister’s part. Otherwise Alex would have come back to Colorado to take up where he’d left off.
The knowledge that Melissa wasn’t the great love of his life gave Darrell a lot to think about. To be betrothed to a princess who was only thirteen at the time meant Isabella hadn’t started out as his great love, either. But that obviously changed when she grew into the woman he adored.
Alex made an odd noise in his throat, jerking her torturous thoughts back to the present. “Phillip has become my life.”
Darrell felt the truth of his declaration to the marrow of her bones. “He already feels the same about you, Alex.”
“Mom?”
Phillip’s voice broke the odd tension between them.
“I’m in your bedroom, sweetheart!”
“I heard Dad was back.” He came running into the room.
“Dad—”
Alex moved to meet him halfway and they hugged.
“Are you free now so we can do something?”
“Not exactly. I brought Isabella with me.” Phillip’s face fell. “She’s waiting to be introduced.”
“Is she upset?”
“I think it’s more a case of her fearing you won’t like her.”
“Sure I do. She’s going to be your wife.”
Phillip had never sounded more mature. He couldn’t have said anything guaranteed to please his father more. The fact that Phillip meant it made all the difference.
“Are you hungry, son?” Alex asked in a thick-toned voice.
“Kind of.”
“That’s good because we’re going to meet Isabella in the small dining room downstairs for dinner in a few minutes.”
“I’ve laid out your clothes on the bed,” Darrell informed him.
“Okay. I’ll hurry.”
Alex followed her out of the bedroom into her room. “I’ve arranged for your dinner to be sent up here.”
She turned to face him. “Thank you.”
“Darrell—I hope you understand why I didn’t include you this evening.”
She bit her lip, hoping she hadn’t let her disappointment show.
“You don’t have to explain. I’m glad I don’t have to be there. Phillip will be much more at ease if he’s not constantly wondering what I’m thinking. He’s his own person and will make his own judgments. I’m sure Isabella will be more comfortable, too. This wouldn’t be easy for any woman.”
He studied her for a minute. “Thank you for being so unselfish.”
Oh, Alex. If you only knew the truth.
“You don’t need to thank me. I—I know how important this first meeting is,” she stammered. “I’ll look forward to getting to know her another time. In fact speaking of time, I’m going to have to get back to my job in Denver pretty soon. So why don’t you and Isabella decide what would be best where Phillip is concerned and let me know tomorrow.
“This summer he’s enrolled in swimming, tennis and baseball. He’ll tell you none of that matters, but I wanted you to know that he has plenty to do if he flies back home with me right away.”
Her tongue was starting to run away with her, but she couldn’t help it. “The important thing here is that you and Isabella work things out so your wedding goes smoothly. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“I’m ready,” Phillip announced, preventing her from hearing Alex’s response.
His gaze seemed reluctant to leave hers before he leveled his attention on his son. “I like that blazer.”
“Thanks. Will you help me with my tie? I hate them.”
“So do I,” Alex muttered.
Normally that job was Darrell’s domain, but he had a father now, one who performed the task with obvious pleasure.
Darrell winked at Phillip. “You’re a sight fit for a king,”
Phillip screwed up his face. “That was corny, Mom.”
“I know, but I couldn’t help it.”
Alex’s broad shoulders shook in silent laughter. Their eyes met in shared amusement before he guided Phillip toward the door.
“I hope everything goes well,” she called to them.
Phillip hung back. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Not this time. I’ve got a phone call to make so I’ll still have a job when I get back to Denver.”
“You’re not going to lose your job, Mom. Jack told me the other day he’s hoping you’ll change your mind and marry him. You’ve got it made.”
“Who’s Jack?” Alex asked. By this time they’d crossed over the threshold.
“Mom’s boss,” came the answer before the door closed.
The click set off a symbolic echo in her heart.
Up to now she’d been focused on Isabella and how hard it was going to be for the princess to have to share Alex with his son.
But watching them walk out of the room just now made Darrell realize she, too, was going to go through a serious adjustment letting Phillip go with his dad.
Darrell had to admit it pained her to be left behind this evening. She was so used to being the center of Phillip’s universe, she was actually jealous of Alex’s power over him.
Her son’s eagerness to go off with his father whether she went with them or not came shouldn’t have come as a shock. It was clear they were both anxious to make up for lost time.
That’s what she wanted for them! But this was only the beginning. Soon Alex was going to be Isabella’s husband…Just imagining it produced excruciating pain of a different kind.
Before Darrell broke down in tears, she showered and changed into a nightgown and robe to have dinner. Once she’d eaten, she realized that too many flying hours had made her desperately tired. Bed called to her.
After brushing her teeth, she doused the lights and turned in, hoping she wouldn’t have more disturbing dreams.
Sometime later she thought she heard a noise.
“Phillip?” she called softly in the darkness, too groggy to turn on a light.
“No,” came that deep, vibrant male voice.
CHAPTER FIVE
“ALEX—” Suddenly Darrell was wide-awake and sat up. “W-what time is it?”
“Midnight. I’m sorry to have disturbed you. Phillip and I needed to talk. He’s asleep now.”
She smoothed the hair away from her face. He stood a few feet away from the bed. Anyone looking in right now would be scandalized to see the king in her bedroom. But everything about their situation was unique. Her heart was beating far too fast to be good for her.
“Tell me what happened—”
She heard him exhale. “Our son was such a perfect gentleman, I hardly recognized him.”
Since Darrell understood exactly what he meant by that, she didn’t misconstrue his words. “He loves you so much, he obviously didn’t dare do anything you could fault.”
“Isabella wasn’t exactly herself, either, though she tried.”
“So all in all the evening turned into a disaster,” Darrell finished for him.
“That’s one way of putting it.” But he said it with a chuckle, which in turn caused her to do the same.
“I know it isn’t a laughing matter,” she said when she’d sobered. “Do you think they liked each other?”
“I think they will once the shock wears off. It’s one thing to have intellectual knowledge of each other, and quite another to sit across a table from each other face-to-face for the first time. Everything became real tonight.”
Darrell could second that!
She sat up a little straighter. “I’m sure you’re thankful this initial meeting is over. Tomorrow it will be easier.”
“She’s leaving first thing in the morning.”
Uh-oh. “Is Phillip upset you’re going back to San Ravino with her? If he is, I’ll have a talk with him.”
“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. She wants to speak to her parents alone, and will send for me when the time is right.”
Alarmed, Darrell said, “They don’t know yet?”
“She thought it would be better to meet Phillip first.”
Darrell put her hands to her face. “It’s going to be horrible, isn’t it.”
“That remains to be seen.”
“I feel terrible for her, Alex.”
“So do I. Her parents are very decent people. But even decent people have their limits.”
Tears trickled out of her eyes. “Do you think Phillip has any idea how important tonight was?”
“Yes.” His voice grated. “That’s why we talked so long. I heard all about Steve and his divorced parents. We discussed what it was like for his friend to live in two different households with two moms. Our son is much more prepared to deal with this situation than I’d given him credit for.”
“He’s devoted a lot of thought to it. Too much,” Darrell murmured.
“Our son is terrific, but you already know that.”
“I do.” She wiped the moisture off her cheeks. “We just have to hope Isabella and her parents will be able to work through their pain. Is there any way of putting off the wedding another week or two? Just to give them a little more time to get used to the idea?”
“We talked about that possibility, among others.”
“What others?”
“Her parents will probably be able to deal with it as long as Phillip is never allowed to succeed me as king.”
“King—” she blurted incredulously. “Phillip?”
Until Alex had brought up the subject just now, the thought had never entered her head. “Did you assure her Phillip is the last person in the world who would want that job one day, let alone be qualified?”
The silence lengthened before he said, “Who knows what’s in store for our son.” Alex sounded so serious, she started to get nervous.
“I can tell you right now it won’t be that!” she cried.
He shifted his weight. “Did I mention his asking me if he was a prince now?”
She made a protesting sound in her throat. “He was just kidding around, Alex. You know how he is. Isabella has nothing to fear from him. When you two have children, they’ll be royals from birth. I hope you explained that to him. After I get him alone I’ll explain to him.”
“Let’s not worry about that right now. How would you like to go horseback riding after breakfast in the morning?”
He’d changed the subject too fast.
“I’m sure Phillip will love it.”
“Surely you realize I’m including you in the invitation,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument.
“Isabella wouldn’t approve of it no matter how hard she’s trying to be brave about this, so—”
“Be ready at nine,” he cut in on her abruptly. “Sleep well.”
Within seconds he’d disappeared from the suite.
Shivering with apprehension because the situation was growing more complicated by the minute, she burrowed under the covers. Five minutes later she was still wide-awake.
Not only their conversation but his presence had given her a serious case of insomnia. The time for gut-wrenching honesty had come.
She hadn’t wanted him to leave just now…
Frightened by her feelings for him, which were intensifying beyond her control, she pounded her pillow in an effort to get more comfortable so sleep would come. This insanity had to stop.
One way to cure it would be to leave Switzerland immediately. But how could she do that when nothing had been resolved regarding visitation arrangements?
Just saying the word “visitation” made her cringe.
The thought of leaving her son for any length of time was unbearable.
Yet he’d feel the same way when he had to leave his father.
She wept into her pillow.
What had she done?
Alex had just seen a sober Isabella off at the helipad when his mother phoned, asking him to come by her apartment.
He grimaced. The castle grapevine was alive and doing well.
“Is it true?” she questioned the moment he entered the day room of her suite.
This morning his mother wore a casual dress in a melon tone that suited her light brunette hair. She appeared ready for her daily walk with the two dogs she’d raised from puppies. Since his father’s death, they’d brought her a lot of comfort.
He studied her for a long moment. One day soon he intended to tell her the whole truth. But for now the preservation of their family’s happiness necessitated his holding back certain information.
“That depends on what you’ve heard.” He kissed her cheek.
“If I could have told you sooner, I would have, but Isabella deserved to hear the news before anyone else. She’s on her way back to San Ravino as we speak.”
Her dark gray eyes looked at him in anguish. “Then it is true.”
“That I have a twelve-year-old son named Phillip?” He met her gaze head-on. “Yes.”
She sank down on the couch, rubbing the dogs’ heads absently. “How long have you known?”
“Three days ago Leo came to me with a story about a woman and a ring.”
She moaned. “I could expect this from almost anyone else in the world, but not my only son.” Her voice shook. “To do this to Isabella…”
Her eyes filled with tears. “How did this happen, Alex? You know what I mean.”
He moved toward her. Though he’d braced himself for this inevitable confrontation, it was still difficult to see his mother in pain.
“Chaz and I went to a bar with a couple of girls while we were on vacation in the States. We all drank too much. I only spent one night with her before Chaz and I got word that Uncle Vittorio was in that accident and we had to fly home.
“I don’t honestly remember giving her the ring Chaz gave me. When we flew out of Colorado Springs, I knew I wouldn’t be back. Nine months later she gave birth to my son, but she had no way of contacting me because she didn’t know who I was.
“Phillip has grown up wanting to know his father, so in desperation she used the ring to try to find me.”