ball talking about?
Lowering his voice Michael said, “I suppose they didn’t tell you. They do like to keep such a …delicate matter in the family.”
“Tell me what?” He was rapidly losing patience.
“The king and queen don’t want money just to prop up Challoner’s economy, Jack, dear boy, although that is certainly required. They need it to pay Carl’s gambling debts, which amount to many millions of dollars. If word leaked out, the royal family would be finished and a dynasty that has lasted centuries would come crashing down.”
Keeping his face expressionless, Jack casually stretched his long legs toward the fire. “Oh, really,” he said casually. “I wondered why their majesties seemed so concerned on what should be a government matter. So, Lara was aware of her brother’s gambling problems, you say?”
“Of course. That’s why Francesca and Johann were putting pressure on you when they found out you had a bit of money. Luckily for us all, I stepped in and let you off the hook.”
“Indeed. Lucky me. Well, thanks for filling me in. I think I’ll call it a night, if you will excuse me, prince.”
~ * ~
Dear Diary,
The most terrible thing has happened. I don’t know what to do.
Let me start with the sleigh ride. I thought it was going to be awful and Jack would be difficult but, he was wonderful. I’m more in love with him than ever, heaven help me. I was on a knife’s edge but all the time I had this warm glow inside me. Even though Jack was talking to mother and Hubert, I knew he was aware of me. I have made the most dreadful mistake in refusing to marry him and now, dear diary, it’s too late.
Before dinner HM came to see me and told me Carl was in trouble. Over the past five years, he has gambled away millions and now, unless we can pay his huge debt, the news will come out and we will be disgraced and ruined.
Then HM told me Michael had offered a few million more than Jack as long as I promise to marry him. HM says Michael doesn’t care about my affair and any possible pregnancy. I told her then that I couldn’t be pregnant and explained why. I have never been so embarrassed talking to my mother about something like that. But, she was pleased at the news, so I suppose that’s something.
I couldn’t answer her when she said I had to agree to Michael’s proposal. I couldn’t! So, HM has given me until the morning to make up my mind.
I don’t know what to do but deep down I know I will have to say yes. How can I let our family be disgraced? Tonight, Michael was all over me and I hated it. He’s never been like that before and I was aware of Jack watching us. It was agony. I’m so unhappy.
She passed a weary hand over her eyes and closing the diary locked it in the safe. So much for that, she thought. Words aren’t going to get me out of this. I’m trapped. Really trapped.
She prepared for bed and as she lay looking into the darkness, she was sure she would never sleep again. However, she must have dosed because a sound woke her. Startled, she turned on the bedside lamp and checked the time on the clock. It was two thirty in the morning and Jack was standing at the end of her bed.
“I thought you might be pleased to see me,” he said, moving closer. “I mean, I’m making a habit of coming to your bedroom, aren’t I?”
“What are you doing here? Are you drunk?” she hissed, pulling the covers up to her chin.
“No. But I wouldn’t mind getting drunk.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve let me down, Lara.”
Reaching for her robe, she hastily pulled it on and sat on the edge of the bed to face him. He looked disheveled with his dress tie loose around his neck and his shirt halfway undone. Disheveled and angry.
“I don’t understand, Jack.”
“Because, my beautiful princess, you turned down my marriage proposal. I obviously wasn’t good enough to kiss the feet of Your High and Mightiness, so you hung out for a real prince.”
He sat on the bed beside her and leaned forward, his eyes dark and bitter as with a mocking smile, he continued, “You knew you had Michael neatly tied up in a big satin bow, didn’t you? You will now be comfortable in your own little royal circle with all