Free Her Royal Baby by Marion Lennox

back to him. Heaven knows whether she said it, but that was the impression she gave. She acted distraught at the thought of her grandchild being orphaned. So I thought…I thought that he’d be best staying with his grandmother. I had to take urgent steps to ensure that I took control until Henry came of age so I put Henry’sarrival down as something that could wait until the last minute. I had no worries about him—until I got the call from your country’s Social Services.’
    Passion gave way to anger, just like that. Isobelle had made herself an enemy of this man, and the tone of his voice made Tammy shudder.
    â€˜What the hell was she thinking of?’ he demanded.
    The answer to that was easy. ‘Herself.’
    Marc’s eyes flew to hers again. ‘You don’t sound surprised.’
    â€˜Isobelle suits herself. She always has. Sitting around waiting for Henry to grow up so she can be a loving grandmother to a twenty-five-year-old prince is hardly her style. She’ll be off with her next millionaire now.’
    â€˜You’re not in contact with her?’
    â€˜I’ll speak to her about this.’ Tammy glanced down at the letter and Marc’s anger was reflected in hers. ‘Oh, yes. I’ll speak to her.’
    â€˜But meanwhile…’
    â€˜Meanwhile you still need to take him?’
    He nodded, anger fading to be replaced by determination. ‘I’m sorry, but, yes.’
    â€˜And I’m sorry, but, no. I can’t let you.’
    â€˜You must.’
    â€˜It’s a dilemma, isn’t it?’ she told him. ‘Broitenburg needs Henry, but Henry doesn’t need Broitenburg. You might be prepared to sacrifice one little boy for the greater good, but I can’t.’ She bit her lip. ‘Marc, I don’t need to be a psychologist to see that he’s damaged already. It’s so hard to make him react. Lara knew what was happening. In her letter she’s frightened; not for herself but for Henry. She asks me to help. She commits him to my care.’
    â€˜But…’
    â€˜But now I’m all he’s got,’ she said softly. ‘I can’t give him a crown or a country, and I can’t save your politicalideals. All I can do is care for one little boy, and that’s what I’ll do.’ Her voice softened into compassion and she rose, pushing her chair back from the table. Decision made. ‘I’m sorry, Marc. I’d like to help you but I can’t. Unless I know he’ll be loved, I just…can’t.’
    He rose, too. He stood staring down at her for a long, long moment, reading the resolution in her face. She wouldn’t relent. Her face was grim and set. Implacable.
    He’d never met a woman like this, he thought. She stood barefoot and bereft of any make-up. Her shirt and jeans were worn and faded. They were clean, but that was all that could be said for them. Her still-damp curls were trailing across her shoulders and he had the most impossible urge to reach out and touch one. Just one.
    Impossible.
    The whole set-up was impossible.
    â€˜I think we’ve come to an impasse,’ she was saying. ‘I think…maybe you have to leave.’
    â€˜There’s one way out of this mess.’
    â€˜Yes?’ She raised her eyebrows in polite disbelief.
    He thought about it for a long minute, and the more he thought about it the more it seemed the only solution possible.
    â€˜You could come to Broitenburg with Henry.’

CHAPTER FIVE
    I T WAS just as well she’d finished her fries. Tammy might well have choked. She stared at the man across the table as if he was out of his mind.
    â€˜Why would I want to come to Broitenburg?’ she said at last.
    He smiled.
    There it was again. Just as she had herself under control—almost—that smile flashed out and it was enough to sidetrack her completely. But she had to concentrate. What he was saying was