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After hearing him speak so passionately about his country and his people If Marco had a duty to his people, then she too had duties to hi thereat need was to fulfil his duty and he could not do that with her in his life A shost of her drea it Marco frowned

‘I’ you: he announced curtly

‘No’ E about your plans I just wish that you had told me who you e first met’ Had he done so she would have been so ainst her vulnerability to hi they could have a perether

‘It wasn't a deliberate deceit on my part’ Marco defended himself coolly

‘Maybe not but you could have said so her head, not wanting to admit her own folly where he was concerned

‘In order to live the kind of life I wanted, to prove myself on my own terms, it was necessary for s of royalty I grew up here as a renegade in randfathers eyes I was his heir, but I refused to conform or let him turn on me and bully me the way he did my father’

Marco's expression changed, and Emily ached to reach out and comfort him when she saw that look in his eyes

‘My father was too gentle to stand up tothat As a forrandfather’s authority and I swore that I would prove to him and to the world, that I had the capability to succeed as myself’

‘But while you were proving yourself, you uessed tenderly

Marco opened his mouth to reject her words and then admitted huskily ‘Yes It was such a shock when he was killed in a freak accident off the islands coast Sonever considered’

And along with his natural grief at the loss of his father Marco had had to deal with the irreversible changes in his own circued silently Itcontrol of every aspect of his personal life, to have to coe part of his life would now be beyond his control Just listening to hi her angry bitterness and pain into co and acceptance

It altered everything for her Did he recognise how very alone he was emotionally? Was that a deliberate choice, or an accidental one? If he knew about it did he care, or did he simply accept it as part of the price he paid for his royal status?

‘I would hate to be in your shoes’ The words had slipped out before she could stop them

Marco looked searchingly at her

‘What do you mean?’ he demanded

‘I can hear how ily you feel about helping them but’ She paused and shook her head ‘I couldn't pay the price you’re about to pay for being Niroli’s king On the one hand yes you will have enormous wealth and power, but on the other you wont have any personal freedo will have to be weighed against how it affects your people That is such a treh ‘I suppose its different if you’re born to it I' to see why princes marry princesses,' she added ruefully You really do have to be born royal to understand’

‘Not necessarily You’re doing a pretty good job of showing you have a strong grasp of what's involved’ Marco told her dryly They had rarely spoken so openly to one another and it surprised him how much he valued what she had said to hiiving it a small squeeze that caused her to look at hiesture was so very unlike him

‘I’lad you're here with me Emily’

Her heart was thu through her Marco brought the car briefly to a halt and leaned across and kissed her—a hard, swift kiss that contained a e to decipher, but which sent a physical craving for hih her body She had never, ever known him exhibit such extraordinarily un-Marco behaviour before Her heart felt as though it had wings, her own happiness dizzying her