Francesca’s lips pursed. She stared at both of them and then blinked as she said, “You’re holding hands.”
He took out a seat for Anna and motioned for her to sit while he said, “Wearemarried.” He gently pushed her in and sat beside her. “Let’s begin.”
Anna crossed her legs, brushing his as Francesca reached into her briefcase and took out a piece of paper. “Yes. Let’s.”
Anna folded her hands on the table, in perfect control with a list of prices she’d drawn up for silence. Adoption, abortion, raising the child all had different numbers, ready for all possibilities, as she asked, “Have you thought about your financial price for silence, Francesca?”
Francesca nodded. “Yes. I can’t let anyone know I’m pregnant.”
Anna leaned back like she’d won something and then said, “Good. We’ll require a confidentiality clause on your part in case you change your mind.”
“Why?”
“You’ve come back after cashing my first check.”
“I didn’t know I was pregnant then.” Francesca coughed and pointedly glanced at her paper and said, “That is also a separate number, seven on my list.”
Anna reached for the paper Francesca had as she said, “I see. You’ve written it all out.”
“We’ve both had to work our whole lives, Anna.”
No. Francesca was not his wife’s equal. His body stiffened as he said, “Her Highness, Princess Anna Camila Aussa.”
Anna patted his knee under the table.
Francesca’s face paled and her hands trembled. “Right. Your Highness. You grew up not that far from me, though, so we both understand that we need money to survive.”
Anna reached for the paper again as she said, “I’m not judging. A list is tidy.”
Anna scanned her own numbers in a column that equaled a final amount of ten million. Leo asked, “What do you intend to do with the child?”
Francesca straightened in her seat and smoothed a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “My mother was left at St. Teresa’s. She said she had a fine education.”
Huh. He hadn’t realized that Francesca’s mother had been adopted. He folded his hands beside Anna. “So you don’t want to be a mother to our son or daughter?”
Francesca’s lips pressed together and he had no idea what she’d say. But then she nodded and said, “I don’t want… anyone to know I even delivered. The third on the list of fees, before medical bills, is hotel costs for ten months. I can’t let anyone know I had a child, so I need to disappear.”
He glanced at the paper Anna held as he said, “I understand.”
Anna took out a pen and checked the amount but also wrote different numbers.
Francesca peered across as if to read Anna’s notes while she said, “Check page two for extra possibilities. For instance, if there is a C-section, I’ll need plastic surgery costs to disguise any scars.”
Anna pushed her chair back while holding the list and he quickly jumped up to join her. Anna said, “Please help yourself to the refreshments. I will run these to accounting and we’ll get back to you shortly to discuss every item you have listed.”
He walked with his wife and neither of them said a word until they returned to his office, passing Pierre.
He closed the door so they were totally alone and said, “Pay her.” He wanted the ordeal over.
“We talked about my plan earlier,” she reminded him. “We don’t want her to come at you for more money later.” Anna met his gaze and said, “This list is very well thought out and written clearly.”
Francesca having his child still gutted him and part of him wished he could bring his son or daughter home, though that was impossible. However nuns were out. He’d find a family on his own. He reached out and gently held Anna’s arms. “Don’t haggle for much more than ensuring she’ll stay silent. Pay her and be done.”
She nodded and avoided his gaze by looking at the paper. “About this child though…”
He massaged her arms as they stood by glass windows that overlooked the gardens below. “Yes?”
She swallowed. “If you want to be a part of his or her life, we’ll have to figure out how… and make a contract with the nuns.”
