Free MAID FOR A PRINCE: (Book 1) (Point St. Claire, where true love finds a way) by Robyn Grady Page A

her time here was through.
    He hummed an agreement her ear. “I thought the same.”
    Remembering the way they’d made love that morning, understanding the way he held her now… Her chest tightened and her arm slid down. He was gearing up to forget her already?
    But, what had she expected? A proposal of marriage? Still, she had thought he’d at least want to keep her around long enough to be sure he wasn’t going to be a dad.
    Or was that it? Maybe he didn’t want to know.
    Gathering herself, she put a light note in her voice. She wouldn’t let him know that he’d hurt her.
    “So, it’s settled,” she said. “After this week, my extended vacation is over, and it’s back to Maine.”
    “Helene, when I agreed you should leave on a high note, I meant after a stay at the palace.” He rotated her around in the water to face him. “With me.”
    She gaped and then coughed out a laugh. “You’re inviting me…?” To what exactly?
    “To stay longer. A couple of weeks, perhaps. Most days I’ll need to go into the office at some stage. And you’ll need to cope with Tahlia.”
    Helene felt stunned. So happy.
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him thoroughly.
    This adventure wasn’t over yet.
     
    The next morning, their second last on the island, Darius wandered off for another of his solitary walks.
    For the first time since staying at the villa, Helene felt restless. Usually she kept busy. Now as she tidied around, her mind kept wandering back. Doubts kept creeping in.
    Had Darius asked her to stay with him at the palace so he could make sure she hadn’t conceived before they said farewell for good? Of course she would let him know when they were in the clear. Two weeks ought to do it, if she didn’t go crazy thinking about it in the meantime.
    Later, putting the finishing touches to lunch and still feeling restless, she wanted to do something a little different. When she’d gone through the bookshelves in the study earlier in the week, she’d admired a set of goblets in a cabinet. Since watching Darius set the figurine up in an alcove in that room yesterday, just like he’d said he would, those doors had remained closed. Although he hadn’t expressly forbidden her to go in, Helene didn’t feel she should.
    But the cabinet with the goblets was clear on the other side of the room near an old desk. She didn’t need to go anywhere near the figurine. Not a snowball’s chance in hell she could damage it.
    Helene opened the study doors and crossed directly to the cabinet. She’d gotten two goblets out and was walking back when her pace slowed. As her gaze drifted over to where the figurine sat in an alcove, a shiver raced up her spine. Hard to believe that she had actually held that piece of history in her own two hands. When she’d lifted the goddess out of her cave, the figurine had felt so smooth and heavy, but easy to…
    A faint sound echoed into the room, the click of a lock—the front door. A hot rush swept from Helene’s feet to her crown. As she rushed to get out of the room, her grip on one of the goblets slipped. Before she could catch it, it fell and smashed on the floor. 
    As she stared down, she told herself to run, find a broom, disappear. But she couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Through the study doorway, she saw Darius pass by. He paused and, catching sight of her, threw a dubious look her way. Then he saw the shards at her feet. His expression darkened.
    Helene’s heart hammered when he edged forward.
    “You’ve had an accident,” he said.
    “I thought I’d use different glasses for lunch today. I’d noticed these. I, uh, fumbled one.” Taking in the mess again, she felt sick to her stomach. “I’ll pay for it. Just tell me how much.”
    He looked at the figurine, set back safe and sound in her alcove, before crossing over and folding Helene’s free hand in his. “Were those glasses an excuse to come in and see the figurine? You should have just asked. I’d