Chapter 16
Divorce? Anna had blindsided him.
He’d paced the suite they were sharing that still smelled like her rosewater shampoo.
Outside toward the setting sun, he remembered her sitting beside him with a glass of wine. When he turned and headed into the bedroom, more memories assaulted him. His lips tingled and he pressed his fingers to his mouth.
A second later, her words were so clear that it sounded like she’d yelled at him again as she said she was leaving him.
Because he wouldn’t allow her to raise his baby at court? He would trust her to raise any child but Francesca’s child at court would tear the country apart. His people believed they were blessed by God as the Aussas were good rulers, who built the church for them where Mary dictated. Even if it was rubbish, a child out of wedlock went against what his family stood for.
And the more religious people of the country would never accept a young child. He knew this in his gut.
Anna did too, but he needed to find a good family for his son or daughter, away from judgement.
If he didn’t get answers soon, he’d be too late.
Leo had to know what Francesca intended so he could make his own plans.
He couldn’t force a woman to give birth and Anna acted like his plan was to steal the baby the second he or she was born. He hadn’t asked Francesca what she’d do. Maybe he should have, but he hadn’t expected to see her.
His heart thumped that Anna’s assumption of him was wrong.
He’d never hurt his own child.
All of this was because he hadn’t made his own decisions—and that was something he could change. He picked up his phone and spoke to his assistant the second Pierre answered. After a quick greeting, Leo stood taller. “Pierre, I need to be apprised of everything going on so I handle all negotiations with Francesca.”
Pierre’s voice was still high when he said, “I was told Queen Anastasia and Princess Anna were-”
“I want them out of this,” he interrupted. He would take full control of this situation. If he was to be king one day, then he needed to ensure his word was final. “You tell me the price, Francesca’s decisions, and no one else. I’ll decide without anyone’s interference.”
“Yes, Sire.” Pierre said.
After a few more instructions, Leo hung up.
At least his secretary understood that no one else gave orders. There was to be no gossip. Now it was time to deal with the bigger issues.
His parents might have chosen Anna for him, but they didn’t need to run everything.
As he called the palace in Avce for them, the staff placed him on hold like he was still a child.
He paced until finally his parents said, “Hello.”
“Good evening, Mother, Father.” He kept his tone formal.
His father asked in a pleasant but distant voice, “Leo, we didn’t expect to hear from you. How’s Anna?”
His heart slowed and he widened his stance—he knew his mother was there listening on speaker phone. “Upset. She is no longer negotiating anything for me.”
“We don’t need Anna upset,” his mother said. “I need her help.”
“No. No you don’t.” In the distance another storm began to surface on the water. He shook his head as he said, “And you’re out too, Mother.”
His mother coughed in surprise, as she was used to ordering everyone around. “I’m not upset-”
“No,” he interrupted and ignored how his hair stood on end. From this second on, he would make his own choices. Right or wrong, he was in charge of his own mistakes. “I’ll handle my own affairs without your opinions or interference.”
His mother’s voice sounded uncertain rather than her usual no-nonsense commands as she said, “We’re only trying to make your life better.”
