For Duty's Sake Read Online Free PDF Page B

she must have experienced over the years of their pseudoengagement, was not comfortable, but he was not a man to shirk from his responsibilities. “Love is a painful emotion.”
    â€œYou’re telling me?” she asked with disbelief and then the horror came. The color drained from her face as her eyes registered a mortal wound. “You are telling me …that you loved her.”
    For the first time in his life, he was tempted to outright lie. He had learned the art of misdirection and when it was most politic to withhold information at an early age, but he made it a practice never to tell a direct falsehood. Even for the sake of politics.
    His honor would not stand for it.
    â€œIt does not matter. Ms. Bosch and I are finished.”
    â€œBut you loved her, didn’t you?”
    â€œThat is not something I’m ever going to discuss with you.” The past was over. He and Angele had a future to build.
    His youthful feelings embarrassed him and they were over regardless.
    â€œYou don’t need to. The photos show the truth, if you look for it. I didn’t…I don’t think I wanted to believe it was possible. It was painful enough to accept you were so much more relaxed and happy with her.”
    â€œYou gleaned all this from a single photo?”
    â€œNo, but that’s not something I want to discuss right now.”
    No, right now, she wanted reassurances he was more than happy to give. Nevertheless… “We can hardly disappear from my brother’s wedding feast.”
    â€œWhy not? You did.”
    â€œI had business to attend to if my father was to remain free to preside over the festivities.”
    â€œYou often sacrifice for your family.”
    â€œIt is my privilege to do so.”
    â€œI believe you mean that.”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œYou’re an amazing man.”
    â€œAnd you love me.” He had no intention of opening himself to that depth of emotion again, but he would protect hers. It was his duty to do so.
    And he always did his duty.
    â€œThe wedding festivities will last into the wee hours of the morning. Tonight is not the ideal time for us to share our bodies for the first time.”
    â€œWhat do you suggest?”
    â€œYou are in the country for the next three days?”
    â€œYes, we’re staying for the full wedding celebration.”
    Despite Angele’s refusal to play a role in the wedding, her family had been at the palace since the prewedding festivities began. He had seen very little of her because he had been busy with state business. He had believed she was busy with the bridal party, even if she wasn’t an official member of it.
    â€œI will make arrangements for your last night here. There are no official events after the final breakfast that day.”
    He put his arm out. “Now, I believe it is time we returned to the feast.”
    She laid her small hand in the crook of his arm and let him lead her from his study, the stress this discussion had caused her evident in the fine tremors of her delicate fingers against his jacket sleeve.
    Two nights hence, he would show her she had nothing to fear from him in any way.
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    Despite the sun having set an hour before, the tile floor on the balcony off Angele’s room warmed her bare feet. She’d long since discarded the expensive but uncomfortable glittery heels she’d worn for the final celebratory feast of Amir and Grace’s nuptials.
    She still wore the figure hugging silk sheath. By an as yet undiscovered New York designer, its subtle composition made the most of her figure, hinting at bedroom seductions while having no single element that could be pointed to as anything other than proper.
    Her father had been angry she’d foregone the traditional dress the women of the Jawharian royal family had opted to don for the evening feast. Only Angele wasn’t a Jawharian princess, no matter how much her father might wish