older brother to her and Julienne. Then their parents had died and they’d left the Larona and the lake country to go live with their uncle, and things had never been the same.
Her eyes clouded as she thought of that and she turned away. “We never touched anything,” she said again. “We were just little girls. Coming here was like coming to an enchanted world. We loved it.”
Mychale sat back in his chair and frowned. “Wasn’t there a guard?”
“Oh, yes. There was that old bearded man who liked to walk the grounds with a shotgun over his shoulder.” She smiled remembering. “He spent most of his time fishing, though, in the river. He was easy to avoid.”
“Elias Karn.” He nodded, remembering the man. “I guess we’d better hire a replacement. You’re lucky we’ve been ignoring the old place since the restoration.”
“I know. I checked that out before…” She stopped dead. She’d almost said, “before bringing the baby here.” She was going to have to be more careful. “Before coming,” she amended quickly.
“Did you?” He gave her a quizzical look. He still couldn’t quite figure her out. “But I guess if old Elias had still been here, it wouldn’t have held you back much. If he weren’t already deceased, I’d dock his pension for inattention to his duties.”
Her smile faded. He meant his threat in jest, but it betrayed a cold streak she didn’t like. “So you’re that type, are you?” she noted, sticking her chin out. “Like to throw your weight around? I suppose you use your royalty to get into dance clubs ahead of the others and go to the front of the line at fast food restaurants.”
Her assumptions were so outrageously off the mark, he had to laugh. “You’re merciless, aren’t you?”
A rebellious look flashed across her pretty face. “I’m not a child,” she said, as though somehow he’d implied she was.
“No,” he agreed, cutting into more of the wonderful breakfast she’d prepared. “But you considered this your childhood haunt. And now you’re back.”
“But I won’t be here long,” she added quickly.
“You got that right,” he muttered, his mouth full of the most delicious frittata he’d ever tasted. “I’ll drive you down to the village as soon as the rain lets up.”
“Oh, I can’t go to the village,” she protested, looking alarmed.
He stared at her. “Why not?”
“They…they know me there.” Suddenly this young woman who had been so forthright was avoiding his gaze. “None of my family is left, but my family home was right in the middle of town. I’d be recognized in no time, and I really don’t want anyone to know I’m here.”
He frowned, remembering what she’d said the night before about being related to Dr. Zaire. “Doesn’t your uncle know where you’ve gone?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No one knows. Except you, of course.” She looked at him intensely. “Swear you won’t tell.”
“I’m not swearing anything.”
He studied her for a moment, not quite sure what to make of her. He’d had women hide in his room before. He’d found women in his bed, had one climb up to a balcony to get to him. At first he’d thought she might be one of that type.
But now he realized this wasn’t that at all. Sitting there, gnawing on her lower lip, she had trouble in her eyes. No, she was definitely not trying to entice him in any way. A faint grin played at the corners of his mouth. He rather liked the novelty.
“Where is it that you’re going?” she asked him earnestly.
“Going?” It seemed an odd question.
She threw a hand out. “Well, I imagine you’re on your way somewhere.”
“No.” He shook his head. She didn’t seem to want to accept that this was still his base, his home. It had been for years while his family engaged in the violent rebellion that had finally taken back their government almost a year before. The mountain lakes area had never really been in the hands of the Acredonnas, the dictatorial regime that had kept this country in its sway for almost fifty years. Mychale and his family had often used it as their refuge throughout their long exile. Of course, in those days the perimeter of the estate was bristling with guards and firepower while the royal family was here. Who knew little girls sneaked right onto the property and violated all security rules whenever the entourage decamped?
Once the rebels had been tossed out and the monarchy had reestablished itself, the base of operations had shifted to the palace in the capital, but that didn’t mean this area wasn’t still important to the family. It was just as much their home as the palace was. Tradition and affection would make sure it always remained so.
“This was my destination,” he told her, flexing his shoulders and looking around the room. “I’m here.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice. “You’re going to stay here?”
“That’s the plan.” He finished his meal and sighed with contentment, then looked at her. “Why do I get the distinct impression that you want me to go?”
She hesitated. “It’s not that, exactly. But…” She took a deep breath and charged ahead. “Well, I was going to ask you if I could stay here. Just for a few days.”
Her dark eyes beseeched him and he had to admit, they were awfully appealing. But the question was ridiculous. The woman wasn’t a complete stranger to him, but it was close. And anyway, he’d come here to accomplish that wasn’t going to be easy. He needed room and focus, not an audience.
He shook his head emphatically. “Sorry. I’m going to be using the place.”
She looked skeptical. “The whole place? All by yourself?” Her face changed. “Oh, maybe you’re having friends join you?”
He groaned. “Oh, I hope not.”
“Then…”
He felt a twinge and squelched it quickly. No, he could not let himself go soft.
“Listen…what was your name again?”
“Abby. Abby Donair.”
“Abby Donair.” His brow furled as he thought about that for a moment. He could remember her pretty face but he couldn’t place the name.
“Listen, Abby,” he went on. “I drove all the way out here in order to be alone. I’ve got some heavy thinking to do, and I can’t do that with you hanging around. I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to go.”
Mychale sat back as though that settled the matter. It was more than obvious that he was used to people falling in line once he handed down the word. She wanted to glare at him but she knew that wouldn’t get her very far. Still, wasn’t that just like a prince? Or any man, for that matter.
She had just licked her upper lip, preparing an answer, when a new thought occurred to her. She looked at him sharply. She’d been thinking about herself, but she ought to be wondering why he would be out here in the middle of nowhere, needing to think things over. She could only think of one thing. It had to be because of the scandal that had been rocking the palace two days before when she’d taken off with her sister’s baby. No wonder he seemed a bit out of sorts. The whole royal family was in an uproar, from what she’d heard. Her main problem was going to be to keep him from connecting the whole affair to her—and Brianna.
“I guess all your family is pretty upset about…things,” she began tentatively.
“Things?”