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Lunch, say? Thing is, you ll have to come here. I can t actually go anywhere just
now without causing an international incident.
Tomorrow lunch is fine, she said, registering neither enthusiasm nor interest at the
prospect.
James hesitated. Good& um, well, I guess I ll see you tomorrow then& . He
knew there was something more he should say, but could not think what it might be.
Good night, Jenny.
She rang off without saying good-bye, and James sat looking at the phone for a
while, wondering why that had gone so badly. What could he have said that would
have made a difference?
She arrived the next day and was conducted straightaway to James apartment. He
had taken over the old Duke s rooms on the upper floor a sitting room, small
dining room, and a massive bedroom. The table in the dining room was set for two,
and there was chilled white wine on the sideboard.
Good to see you, Jenny, he said, welcoming her in with a circumspect kiss on the
cheek. Thanks for coming. He helped her from her coat. I thought we d eat up
here the dining room is so big and formal and all. Would you like something to
drink? I ve got He started towards the sideboard.
Why didn t you tell me you were going to be King? She stood in the center of the
room facing him.
Well, it all happened pretty fast, he said lightly. It wasn t anything I planned,
exactly.
You could have told me at least.
I suppose I should have said something. But, truth is, I didn t believe it myself at
first.
He looked at her, uncertain what to say next. God, how I ve missed her, he thought,
drinking in the sight of her.
What? she asked, growing suspicious. Have I got mud on me?
He grinned. Mud was the occupational hazard of a potter, and she was always
asking that. But her long brown sleeveless knitted tunic, deep burgundy skirt, and
creamy silk blouse were spotless for a change. Fresh from the winter cold outside,
she looked radiant.
No, he told her. You re perfect. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a thick
braid; a few loose strands at the sides and forehead fell forward, framing her face
like the feathers of a raven s wing. Better than perfect.
He poured two glasses of wine, and handed her one. She took it and sipped,
watching him over the rim. He took a sip of wine to steady himself. Marry me,
Jenny, he said, and watched the fire flare up in her eyes.
Marry you! she snapped. She put her wineglass down with a thump. Oh, that s
just great! Is this why you wanted to see me?
Really, it just came to me. I wasn t plan he began, but she wasn t listening.
What am I supposed to do? Jenny demanded. Am I supposed to go all aflutter
and melt into a pool of warm goo because you want to marry me? Oh, yes, Your
Royal Highness, of course I ll marry you! Is that what you think?
Her anger took him aback. Well, I hadn t actually
Forgive me if I seem slightly underwhelmed, she continued. But I waited years
for you, James Stuart. And now this just when I ve made up my mind to get on
with my life.
You mean the pottery business? I m not asking you to give up anything. You can
still
You don t get it, do you? It s not just the pottery, it s you, it s Charles and me
it s everything!
Do you love this Charles?
Livid, she faced him, eyes blazing. That s beside the point.
I thought it was the point. Do you love him?
Don t start, she warned. Glaring at him, she crossed her arms over her breasts. He
could feel the heat of her anger at ten paces.
You know, I always thought we would be together. I always thought we were meant
for each other, and I thought you felt that way, too. But you decided to be a soldier,
and went off and did your soldier bit. Meanwhile, I sat around and waited. I waited
for you to come home and do the honorable thing, and when at last you did come
home, I watched you get all wrapped up in this damned estate of yours.
He stared at her as if at a stranger. I couldn t ask you before. I had nothing.
Everything depended on saving what I could of the estate it was all I had to offer
you. Don t you see? If I d lost that I d have had nothing.
You think I cared about that? she said. I didn t give a damn about what you had
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