Marion Lennox - The Prince’s Outback Bride

2007

WE HAVE no choice. Princess Charlotte de Gautier watched her son in concern from where she rested on her day-bed. Max was pacing the sitting room overlooking the Champs-Elyses. Hed been pacing for hours.

We must, Charlotte added bleakly. Its our responsibility.

Its not our responsibility. The royal family of Alp dEstella has been rotten to the core for generations. Were well rid of them.

Theyve been corrupt, Charlotte agreed. But now we have the chance to make amends.

Amends? Until Crown Prince Bernards death I thought I had nothing to do with them. Our connection was finished. After all theyve done to you

Were not making amends to the royal family. Were making amends to the people of Alp dEstella.

Alp dEstellas none of our business.

Thats not true, Max. Im telling you. Its your birthright.

Its not my birthright, he snapped. Regardless of what you say now. It should have been Thirrys birthright, but their corruption killed Thirry as it came close to killing you. As far as anyone knows Im the illegitimate son of the ex-wife of a dead prince. I can walk away. We both can.

Charlotte flinched. She should have braced herself earlier for this. Shed hoped so much that Crown Prince Bernard would have a son, but now hed died, leavingMax.

Since he was fifteen Max had shouldered almost the entire burden of caring for her, and hed done it brilliantly. But nowShed tried her hardest to keep her second son out of the royal spot-light-out of the succession-but now it seemed there was no choice but to land at least the regency squarely on Maxs shoulders.

Max did a few more turns. Finally he paused and stared down into the bustling Paris street. How could his mother ask this of him-or of herself for that matter? He had no doubt as to what this would mean to their lives. To put Charlotte in the limelight again, as the mother of the Prince Regent

I do have a responsibility, Max said heavily. Its to you. To no one else.

You know thats not true. You have the fate of a country in your hands.

Thats not fair.

No, Charlotte whispered. Lifes not.

He turned then. Im sorry. Hell, Mama, I didnt mean

I know you didnt. But this has to be faced.

But youve given up so much to keep me out of the succession, and to calmly give in now

Im not giving in. I admit nothing. Ill take the secret of your birth to the grave. I shouldnt have told you, but it seemsso needful that you take on the regency. And it may yet not happen at all. If this child cant become the new Crown Prince

Then what? Will you want to tell the truth then?

No, she said bluntly. I will not let you take the Crown.

But youd let an unknown child take it.

Thats what I mean, she said, almost eagerly. Hes an unknown. With no history of hatred weighing him downmaybe its the only chance for our country.

Our country?

I still think of it as ours, she said heavily. I might have been a child bride, but I learned early to love it as my own. I love the people. I love the language. I love everything about it. Except its rulers. Thats whyThats why I need you to accept the regency. You can help this little prince. I know the politicians. I know the dangers and through you we can protect him. Max, all I know is that we must help him. If you dont take on the regency then the politicians will take over. Things will get worse rather than better, and thats surely saying something. She hesitated, but it had to be said. The way I see it we have two choices. You accept the regency and we do our best to protect this child and protect the people of Alp dEstella. Or we walk away and let the country self-destruct.

And the third alternative? he asked harshly. The truth?

No. After all Ive been throughYou dont want it and I couldnt bear it.

No, he agreed. Im sorry. Of course not.

Thank you, she whispered. But what to do now? You tell me this boys an orphan? That doesnt mean that hes friendless. Whos to say whoevers caring for him will let him take it on?

Ive made initial enquiries. His registered guardian is a family friend-no relation at all. Shes twenty-eight and seems to have been landed with the boy when his parents were killed. This solution provides well for him. She may be delighted to get back to her own life.

I guess its to provide well for him-to let him take on the Crown at such an age. With you beside him

In the background, Mama. From a distance. I cant take anything else on, regardless of what you ask. Max shoved his hands deep in the pockets of his chinos and, turning, stared once more into the street. Accepting what hed been thinking for the last hour. Maybe hell be the first decent ruler the countrys had for centuries. He can hardly be worse than whats come before. But youre right. We cant let him do it alone. Ill remain caretaker ruler until this child turns twenty-one.

You wont live there?

No. If there wasnt this family connection stipulation to the regency then Id never have been approached. But Charles Mevailles been here this morning-Charles must have been the last non-corrupt politician in the country before the Levouts made it impossible for him to stay. Hes shown me what desperately needs to be done to get the country working. The laws convoluted but it seems, no matter who my father was, as half-brother to the last heir I can take on the regency. As Prince Regent I can put those steps into place from here.

And the child

Well employ a great nanny. Ill work hard on that, Mama. Hell be brought up in the castle with everything he could wish for.

But Charlotte hugged Hannibal-her part poodle, part mongrel, all friend-as if she needed the comfort of Hannibals soft coat. As indeed she did. This is dreadful, she whispered. To put a child in this position

Hes an orphan, Mama, Max said heavily. I have no idea what his circumstances are in Australia, but youre right. Once Alp dEstellas run well then this may well be a glorious opportunity for him.

To be wealthy? Charlotte whispered. To be famous? Max, I thought Id raised you better than that.

He turned back to face her then, contrite. Of course you did. But as far as I can see, this child has no family-only a woman who probably doesnt want to be doing the caring anyway. If she wants to stay with him then we can make it worth her while to come. If she doesnt, then well scour the land for the worlds best nanny.

But you will stay here?

I cant stay in Alp dEstella. Neither of us can.

Neither of us have the courage?

Mama

Youre right, she said bleakly. We dont have the courage, or I surely dont. Lets hope this little one can be what we cant be.

Well care for him, Max assured her.

From a distance.

Itll be okay.

But you will take on the role as Prince Regent? She sighed. Im so sorry, Max. Thats thirteen years of responsibility.

As you say, we dont have a choice. And it could have been much, much worse.

If I hadnt liedBut I wont go back on it, Max. I wont.

No ones asking you to, he told her, crossing to her day-bed and stooping to kiss her. Itll be fine.

As long as this woman lets the child come.

Why wouldnt she?

Maybe she has more sense than I did forty years ago.

You were young, he told her. Far too young to marry.

So how old is old enough to marry? she demanded, momentarily distracted.

Eighty maybe? He smiled, but the smile didnt reach his eyes. Or never. Marriage has never seemed anything but a frightful risk. How the hell would you ever know you werent being married for your money or your title? He shrugged. Enough. Lets get things moving. We have three short weeks to get things finalised.