page53 (1/1)

Whatever role she ht have played in your life in London, there is no place for her here on Niroli She herself accepts this and in doing so she shows far more sense and awareness of the importance of your future role than you do Marco I confess that she irasp of your responsibility She fully understands ill entail when you beco’

‘She also fully understands that she is to be the randfather sharply That is why she has left—but I don't expect she told you that, did she?’

‘She is having your child?’

‘Yes’ Marco confirmed unashamedly

The king was frowning i Why did you not say soht back, and at once! What if this child she is carrying should be a son? It is unthinkable that he should be brought up anywhere but here Sons are a precious coitirows up on Niroli knowing his duty and his responsibility to the Crown That knowledge cannot be instilled in him too early When is the birth expected? There is much to do—the royal nursery will have to be prepared, and a suitable household established to take charge of him The mother can stay in London if she wishes, in fact it would be better if she did’ the king continued dismissively

His grandfather was only painting a picture that was similar to the one he hi vindicated Marco could feel a cold heaviness seeping through hihts had been tied to his hands so that he was effectively imprisoned

‘You will order the woman to return, and when you do you will inforainst the law of Niroli for anyone to remove a child of royal blood from the island, on penalty of death’

Marco shook his head 'Don't be ridiculous Grandfather Once in soht have been possible to make such a threat, but I can tell you now that the British courts will take a dihts to want to keep her child with her I would certainly support her in that I want row up here yes but I also want his mother to be here for him as well'

'Ridiculous sentimentality I blame your mother for it And your father He should have insisted that she followed tradition and handed you over to those appointed to be responsible for your care as a future king, instead ofin matters that did not concern her It is thanks to her that you developed this stubborn streak that puts you at odds with your duty’

Marco forced hi Instead he focused on his childhood He could see hi hi looks of the elderly courtiers his grandfather had insisted were to be responsible for his upbringing and formation His mother, had she still been alive, would have supported Eot on well His father had struggled to oppose the king’s insistence that Marco was brought up to be a prince, rather than as a randfather would try to irandchild Marco knew

He frowned, suddenly sharply aware of his own desire to protect his child fro he had known in his own childhood He was not his father, he reh to ensure that his son was not subjected to the misery of his boyhood

'Whilst you are here; his grandfather was continuing ienerators will have to be re too ht, these young dissidents in the ether and challenge the authority of their village elders And the bla against urehead for their rebellion Various infor until you are on the throne to force your hand and ranted If there is any more trouble I shall impose a curfew—that will teach them to respect the law and the Crown’

‘If these youngsters are angry and filled with resentment, who can blame them?’ Marco de, not tightening to the point where there is bound to be increased conflict By i their feelings underground and alienating them further What we need is to establish a forum in which they feel they can be heard and their views properly addressed’