Free Her Royal Baby by Marion Lennox Page A

stupid.
    â€˜Why shouldn’t you come to Broitenburg?’
    â€˜Because I don’t want to.’
    â€˜Have you ever been?’
    â€˜No. How can I have been? I’m not even sure where it is. And…’
    â€˜There you are, then. It’s the most wonderful country. Mountains. Lakes. Castles. It’s like the Dordogne region of France, only better. Fairytale country. Tourists love us. You’ll love us.’
    She was still staring at him. ‘I wouldn’t.’
    â€˜How do you know if you haven’t tried?’
    â€˜I live in Australia,’ she said carefully. ‘My career is in Australia.’
    â€˜When I first met you,’ he said thoughtfully, ‘you thought I was offering you a job.’
    â€˜I would never have taken it.’
    â€˜You’d had other overseas job offers?’
    â€˜I’m a tree surgeon,’ she told him, not without a hint of pride. ‘I’m highly qualified.’
    â€˜Despite leaving school at fifteen?’ He was watching her across the table, his eyes thoughtful. ‘I had a phone call this evening from the man I employed to find you. He’s come up with a lot more detail. I know more about you now.’
    She flushed, unnerved. ‘S…so?’
    â€˜So you’re probably the most knowledgeable tree surgeon in this country. You’ve done university courses by correspondence so you have book-learning and practical experience. You’ve even worked in Europe.’
    â€˜I…’
    â€˜In the famous gardens of France and England. You worked with the best man available. Lance Hilliard’s reputation is second to none. You talked him into taking you on for three years and at the end of it you could name your price as an international expert. Yet you came back here.’ His calm eyes were probing, questioning. ‘But why?’
    This was so none of his business. ‘I love it.’
    â€˜I can see that you do. But why bury yourself…?’
    â€˜I’m not a people person.’
    â€˜I can see that, too.’ He nodded, taking her objection for granted. ‘But I can offer you as much isolation as you want. And as much work. If you’re prepared to use your skills at the castle…’
    â€˜The castle?’
    â€˜The Broitenburg palace sits in hundreds of acres of cultivated woodland,’ he said softly. ‘It’s very beautiful. The head groundsman would be delighted to have you work with him.’
    She shook her head in disbelief. The situation was absurd. It was as absurd as this man was unsettling. ‘This is ridiculous.’
    â€˜Why is it ridiculous?’
    â€˜Because I’m staying here.’ She flashed a look at the sleeping baby and then glared back at Marc. ‘I’m staying with Henry.’
    â€˜You can hardly take Henry back with you into the wilderness,’ he said in a voice that was oh so reasonable. Oh so persuasive… ‘Set him up in a tent at the foot of the tree you’re working on? I hardly think so.’
    â€˜I’ll take a break.’
    â€˜For a few months,’ he agreed. ‘Sure. Until your money runs out. And then?’
    â€˜Then…’ She bit her lip. ‘I can get a city job in one of the botanic gardens. I can put Henry in a crèche…’
    â€˜I’ll fight you on that one. The heir to the Broitenburg throne will not be placed in a crèche.’
    Anger flashed out at that. How dared he? ‘It’s no different to being left with a nanny in Broitenburg.’
    â€˜No. But if he was left with you in Broitenburg? Wouldn’t that be much better for all of us?’
    â€˜I don’t know what you mean.’
    â€˜Think about it.’ Before she knew what he intended he’d taken her hands tightly within his. His hold was urgent. His eyes met hers and held, and the warmth and strength and urgency of his hold were compelling all by