Later, he would tell her about his own feelings, but not now. She wouldn’t believe him. He put his hands in his pockets and gave her a curt nod. “Anna… let me know what you find out.”
Her heels clicked on the floor as she marched past him and said, “Let me finish getting ready and then I’m on it, Sire.”
The door closed—it didn’t slam, she was a lady no matter her birth—and he collapsed on the sofa. Perhaps he hadn’t told her how he felt because Anna was strong and in the end they’d do whatever she decided.
She fit into his mother’s mold. She would get along with his sisters.
He’d easily depended on her to fix everything, and he must have subconsciously recognized his perfect match as she’d worked for him in the office for the past year. They’d worked together.
And this was why he’d been so determined to fix his own mess and be responsible now.
His eyes were closed and he heard the wind brushing against the glass window.
Fatherhood meant he needed to grow up, but this wasn’t how he’d intended to start a family. A child deserved love and care.
If Francesca agreed, he’d find this boy or girl a family. There were plenty of people in Avce wanting a baby that they couldn’t have. Surely.
He had no idea how long he lay on the couch, but his phone rang.
He reached for it, hoping for news. He stared at the caller ID for a split second and then answered, “Mom.”
“Leo.” His mother spoke with cool efficiency. “Why didn’t you let my team know earlier that Francesca was pregnant?”
Because he was no longer reckless and wanted to fix this himself. He sat up and refused to let his future son know his father was this controlled. “I wanted to be sure before we went into crisis mode.”
His mother huffed and spoke like this was just another business deal for Avce, “Well, Francesca wants a spotlight and cash. You picked a dangerous one to impregnate.”
His face was hot. Francesca was beautiful with those blue eyes of hers, but that was all she had. His heart skipped as he thought about Anna and how she’d turned so cold the moment she found out. “I had Pierre direct her toward Lord Pascal.”
His mother hummed like she agreed but didn’t want to be bothered. “I’ll ensure the press believes there is a romance between the two and that there is no child. She’ll marry Lord Pascal before the year is done. I’ll make sure that happens.”
His life was run by everyone else. He straightened his collar and watched the last golden orange of the sun fade beyond the horizon. “I don’t want my unborn son or daughter to be punished because of the mother.”
The queen said, “If Francesca chooses to have this baby, then your son will never want for anything.”
“Except parents.” He tried to imagine his son growing up not knowing anything about his heritage. Would his son grow to be like his father’s half-brother, jealous that he wasn’t legitimate? “I need us to find good ones.”
“Just to be clear…” His mother asked, “Do you want to claim this boy as your own, marry Francesca, and divorce Anna?”
“No,” he said firmly. “I won’t ruin the family honor.”
Somehow he needed to get back in Anna’s good graces. Perhaps he’d find a way. The sun passed into late afternoon still making the air warm. “I want to find this baby a family who wants him or her and will ensure the baby is provided for. We can’t do more than that.”
Once he spoke to Anna, perhaps they might, as a team, figure out what was best for this baby and for them.
Hopefully she’d forgive him for not telling her.
“I’ll have my team start the search for a noble family for you to approve.”
He prayed for a chance at happiness for all of them. “Let me talk to Anna and get back to you.”
His mother, the perfect queen, spoke like her words were a decree. “Very well. She’ll understand.”
He wasn’t so sure. He hung up and left his phone on the table.
No one else needed to speak to him about anything urgent.
Except for Anna.
He returned to the dining area where the makeup and hair people were cleaning up. He nodded at her with her hair now up, like she was a proper princess. Leo crossed his arms and cast a shadow near the door. “Anna, we need to talk.”
She turned and he saw her headset in her left ear as she said, “I’m on the phone with Pierre.”
He was done being bossed around—they had to work this out, together. “Weneed to make a decision… together. Call him back and meet me in the sitting room.”
She nodded like she worked for him still. “On my way.”
In the future, they needed a better relationship than boss and secretary. He wanted her as his wife, which meant a true partner. Leo didn’t want to have a son out there who never knew his father. That sounded too cruel.
