She laughed, covering up the way her heart pounded from the thought of what they were about to do. From his proximity.
Vasili chuckled. A look of surprise flashed across his face. ‘Come, Your Majesty, your adoring public awaits.’
She saw straight through Vasili’s attempt at levity. There was an intensity about him that was entirely at odds with his words. He hated this, but he needed to play his part just as she was.
They walked through the palace in silence, making their way to the second floor, where they stopped before a set of closed double doors. He unlinked their arms as he turned to face her, placing his hands on her shoulders. It was as if he was bidding her to look only at him.
As if she could look anywhere else.
‘Once we go out there, every person in the world will know who you are. Your privacy will be non-existent. Do you need a minute?’
She had been more apprehensive about this part than any of the others, because now she would be on show as Queen of the land. Every other part of the ceremony had been behind closed doors. It had felt controlled. But now she had to face the people and put on an act that Andreas would approve of. One that would reflect well on Vasili. All the while feeling like a fraud.
‘I’m fine,’ she said with a smile.
‘And I’m going to remind you to be honest,’ he said.
She glanced out through the doors, made up of numerous panes of glass, at the crowd beyond. ‘I’m nervous—of course I am—but delaying helps no one.’
‘If you’re sure?’
‘Doyouneed a minute?’
‘More like several years. Let’s get this over with.’
She nodded as he laced their fingers together, her heart jolting at the touch, and then, as one, they opened the doors and stepped out onto the balcony to face the crowd gathered just beyond the gates.
They might have clapped or cheered or waved flags. Vasili couldn’t tell. All he felt was the weight of his new role. The consequences if he should fail. It wouldn’t be he who suffered, but the ocean of people he now looked upon. Helia was waving. With the ever-present Andreas and Carissa at their backs, she didn’t put a foot wrong—but he would not perform.
They were meant to share a kiss on this balcony. It was what every media outlet was waiting for. The perfect picture to splash on every news site and newspaper in Thalonia and beyond.
Vasili clamped his jaw shut. There was no way he would be kissing Helia in front of all these people. Not when the risk was getting sucked into that space where it was just him and her and this maddening attraction that he didn’t want.
As soon as they were back inside and the doors had closed, Vasili handed his mantle to Andreas before helping Helia out of hers. Without another word to his private secretary, he escorted her to the King’s quarters.
It was an enormous suite, with a luxurious sitting room. Beyond that was a pair of double doors, and the largest and grandest sleeping quarters in the palace. A second door off the sitting room led to the adjoining Queen’s rooms, but Vasili wouldn’t take Helia there.
‘Make yourself comfortable. This is where you will sleep.’
‘Where are you going?’
As much as he felt like a cad for doing so, Vasili didn’t answer her. Her presence was a constant current, zapping over his skin. He could still feel her lips on his. And, heaven help him, he wanted to kiss her again. But there were too many warring emotions in him. Too many thoughts. He needed some space to re-centre.
‘You can call for anything you need.’
He took her in one more time, standing there in her wedding dress with a look of confusion that quickly morphed into a blank slate.
‘Vasili, we have a role to play here.’
He knew that.
‘We have both made sacrifices today.’
Something else he was well aware of. But he couldn’t be in this room with Helia a second longer without her affecting his judgement.
‘You’re right—we have. And it will make no difference to what happens tomorrow or the day after once I’m out through that door.’
‘I can understand you needing to escape. I sympathise. But I have given up a great deal, and with Andreas watching my every step I can’t afford to put a foot wrong. I’ve done everything expected of me today. I can support you, but I need you to do the same.’
