Crowned: The Palace Nanny (7 page)

No, she wanted to scream. No!

Instead she took a deep breath. She tried a tug on her hand but it wasn't released.

‘Sweetheart, maybe we could work things out so you could go,' she whispered. ‘I need to work.'

Zoe's face fell. ‘I can't go without you,' she said, her bottom lip wobbling. ‘I'd be scared.'

So would I, Elsa thought, but once again she held her tongue.

‘I need you both to come,' Stefanos said. He was watching the two of them, focusing as much on Elsa as he was on Zoe. The pressure on her hand remained. Was he trying to warn her? she wondered. It didn't feel like that. It simply felt as if he was feeding her…strength. It was a crazy concept but it seemed the only one that would fit.

‘That's why I've brought two suitcases,' he told them. Finally he released her hand. He'd set the suitcases on the floor and he flipped one open.

From the top he lifted a shiny new laptop computer. She'd seen these advertised. They were worth…a tenth of Zoe's next operation?

‘This is for you,' he told her, setting it on the table. ‘Whether you decide to come or not. You work from home. Why can't that home be on Khryseis?'

Because…

There was no because. She couldn't think of one, apart from the fact that the thought left her terrified.

She glanced at the mantel. Mathew's face smiled at her. Steadied her.

There must be a because.

Because my husband is buried here? Because this is where my grief is?

That wasn't a good because.

Because this guy in front of me makes my body react as I don't believe it's ever reacted?

Well, that was something she needed to dismiss. How weak a because was that?

Because I'd have no control over Zoe's life? Because people would stare at her scars? Because, as a royal, she'd be on display, and it could well destroy her?

Here at last were valid reasons, but before she could voice them Stefanos had lifted parcels onto the table.

‘These are for you,' he said softly to Zoe. ‘Because you're one of the bravest young women I've met. Because I know how much your body's hurt over the last four years, and I know how beautiful you are, inside and out. I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you when your parents died but I am now. These are to make you even more beautiful than you already are.'

Zoe looked uncertainly at Elsa—and then tentatively unwrapped the top parcel.

It was a pink blouse. It had tiny buttons shaped like butterflies. It had soft puffed sleeves designed to reach Zoe's elbows. A tiny white mandarin collar was designed so the top buttons could stay open, but the collar itself would stay high. Just high enough to hide the scars.

And there was more.

Elsa had searched for clothes like these, as far as her budget could afford it. She'd even tried making them. That was a joke, trying to learn dressmaking from an instruction manual. To say her attempts had failed was an understatement.

But after one night Stefanos had found these. There were three pairs of trousers, capri style, like long shorts, one red and white, one a lovely soft blue and one a deeper shade of pink. There were four more blouses, each with the same soft high collar. There were hair ribbons to match, and pretty sandals
and a couple of dainty bracelets. There was an exquisite lilac party dress with white lace and a vast bow at the back. It came with a lilac choker with stars embroidered in white.

Within minutes Zoe was surrounded by a sea of clothes. She looked up at Elsa and her eyes were shining.

‘They're beautiful,' she breathed. ‘Can I keep them?'

What sort of question was that? There was no way she could refuse this gift. She just wished, so badly it hurt, that she'd been in a position to give these to her herself.

‘They might not fit,' Stefanos warned, casting Elsa a thoughtful glance and then directing his attention back to Zoe. ‘I had to guess sizes, but I've organised a dressmaker to visit you this evening and let them out or take them in as you need. We can change anything too—she has my authority.'

‘And my authority?' Elsa whispered.

‘I hope you'll agree,' Stefanos said gravely and met her gaze and held.

What was she thinking? ‘Of course I agree,' she said shakily. She hugged Zoe and managed a smile. ‘They're lovely. Your cousin has been wonderfully generous.' She bit her lip. ‘But you're not my cousin, Stefanos. I can't take the laptop.'

‘It's part of a debt,' he said softly. ‘I owe you so much.'

‘You owe me nothing.'

‘I loved Christos.'

‘He was my friend too.'

‘No,' he said, and suddenly he was almost stern. ‘You don't understand. Christos was my family. That I didn't know he was dead…that Zoe has been alone for so long…it touches my honour. I'm asking you to take this and it doesn't begin to repay the debt I owe you.'

It touches my honour
…It was a quaint phrase. Old-fashioned.

He meant it—absolutely.

‘I…' She took a deep breath. If they were going to talk about old-fashioned…‘Then it's my honour to care for Zoe,' she said, and she tilted her chin. ‘Zoe is not related to
me by blood, but I'm her godmother and her guardian. I won't let that go.'

‘I'm not asking you to,' he said evenly. ‘I'm asking for you to give Khryseis a chance. I'm asking you to come with Zoe—as her nanny as well as her guardian—and if you do this then you
will
be paid. I want you to help me introduce her to her birthright.'

‘And then come home without her?'

‘No,' Zoe said. She'd been examining her pile of clothes with joy, but this wasn't a child who could be bought. She looked at the clothes with longing and then pushed them away. Suddenly panicking. ‘I don't want them if I can't have Elsa.'

‘You can have Elsa,' Stefanos said evenly. ‘I'm asking you both to come.' He smiled at Elsa, ignoring her obvious panic, simply smiling at her as if he understood what she was thinking; she was being slightly foolish but he wasn't about to threaten her.

His smile lied, she thought desperately. This man was a prince, about as far from her world as it was possible to be. He was accustomed to having his charm work for him. He thought now that he simply had to smile and shower gifts and he'd get what he wanted.

‘Do you know what a royal nanny earns?' he asked, and she caught her breath.

‘I don't want to know.'

‘Now that's just dumb,' he said. ‘Knocking back a fabulous job because you haven't heard the terms? I rang a couple of friends last night. They have nannies in Europe and they kindly rang a couple of the top agencies and asked. What's the going rate for the best nanny in the world? they asked.'

And he gave her a figure.

She gasped. She stared across the table at him and he smiled back at her. ‘That's what I'm offering,' he said softly. ‘Starting today.'

She could be paid for doing what she loved? Caring for Zoe?

But this…This could never be about money. Because she did what she did for Zoe for love; for nothing else.

‘Elsa, Zoe needs to come home anyway,' he said gently. ‘I'm sorry, but it's not negotiable. I've also talked to people here in Social Services and to lawyers from your Family Court. I have more chance at success in gaining custody than you might think. The court would look at what Zoe stands to inherit. They'd look at the home I'm prepared to give her. The consensus is that she should have the right to learn about Khryseis. It's her heritage.'

He turned to Zoe and spread his hands. ‘Zoe, your father was the Crown Prince of Khryseis and you're now the Crown Princess. If you agree, I'd like to show you the place where your papa grew up. I'd like to introduce you to an island that I know you'll love, to live in a palace that's exciting, to see what your father's life could have been if he'd lived. I'm asking Elsa to come as well, and I'd like you both to consider Khryseis as a place to live.' He glanced at Elsa and then glanced away. Her emotions were written on her face, she thought.

‘I'll sign legal documents with international legal authorities,' he said, and now he was speaking directly to Elsa. ‘We need Zoe for at least three months a year.'

‘For ever?' Elsa whispered.

‘Until Zoe's old enough to know whether she wishes to accept the Crown,' he said and suddenly he sounded stern. ‘It's her birthright, Elsa, and neither of us have the right to take that away from her.'

She was close to tears—but she would not cry. Not in front of Zoe. Zoe was taking her cues from her—to disintegrate on her own behalf would be cruel.

And he knew what she was thinking.

‘Hey, it's not so bad. You could think of it as a holiday.' He took her hands again. Strong and warm and sure. ‘You've been on your own for so long, Elsa. Will you let me share?'

She would not cry.
But the feel of his hands…

You've been on your own for so long
…

That was what it felt like. Four long years of fighting to get Zoe the medical treatment she needed, fighting to keep her own career viable enough to put food on the table, fighting to forget the ache in her hip and to stop the grey fog of depression and loneliness taking her over.

A holiday in Khryseis. Three months a year?

If she said yes, she'd lose Zoe.

‘You won't lose her,' Stefanos said, strongly and surely. ‘I promise you that. I've spent the last eighteen hours finding out exactly what you've done for Zoe. The money you've spent. Your own money.'

Her eyes flew to his. Distress gave way to indignation. ‘How did you find that out? Who are you to…?'

‘To enquire? I have friends in high places, Elsa. So does Zoe now. In future she'll have the best medical treatment money can buy.'

Anger, fear, anguish…They were a kaleidoscope of her emotions. But they should be her emotions. Not Zoe's. This was Zoe's future and she must not deny her.

Her own terror had to be put aside.

‘What do you think, Zoe?' she asked, feeling inordinately pleased when she got her voice right. ‘Stefanos is offering us an initial three-month holiday on his island while we see what it's like. It's been…it's been a shock, but I don't think it's something we should be scared of. His island looks really beautiful on the Internet.'

‘It's
your
island, Zoe,' Stefanos said, gently but firmly.

‘So let me get this right,' Elsa said, opening the laptop to give her something to look at rather than Stefanos's face. He saw too much, she thought. He knew how scared she was and he was sympathetic. But still he was determined.

She couldn't afford to be seduced into doing what was wrong for Zoe.

Seduced? It was the wrong word but it was the one that popped into her head. Because…because…

Because he was too big and too male and too sexy and she'd
been alone for far too long. It felt dangerous to even be in the same room as him.

Maybe
he
should be worried, she thought dryly. If he knew what this scary, ridiculous part of her was thinking…

Nanny jumps prince…

Whoa.

Well, at least that pulled her out of the fog, she decided, fighting an almost hysterical desire to laugh. Maybe she ought to focus on slightly more…realistic issues.

‘Let me get this straight,' she said again, and watched him smile. How much of what she was thinking was obvious? To her fury she felt a blush start, from the toes up.

‘Christos…Zoe's papa…should have been Crown Prince of Khryseis,' she managed, staring fiercely down at the laptop as if she was totally absorbed in its keyboard. ‘How come the King wasn't his father?'

Stefanos nodded, still serious. ‘Potted history? The Diamond Isles were principalities for hundreds of years,' he told her. ‘Then the Prince of Sappheiros invaded the other islands and declared himself King. Subsequent armies kept the islanders under iron rule, and his line continued as long as there was a direct male heir. Six generations later, King Giorgos died without a son. The islands have continued supporting their own royal families, even though they haven't been able to publicly acknowledge them, and now they can take their rightful place. Giorgos's death meant Christos was heir to the throne of Khryseis. Under the old rule, men and women inherited equally. Therefore Zoe inherits after Christos. As her closest adult relative I'm Prince Regent until she can take the throne at twenty-five. Currently the island's being run by a council set up by Giorgos. They're corrupt and useless. The only way for us to unseat them is for Zoe to come home and for us to take over.'

‘Us?'

‘I was thinking me,' he said, suddenly converting from history lesson to the personal. ‘But in the long-term…' He
smiled at her, considering. ‘Maybe you can find a way to be useful as well.'