Heirs Book Two: American Lady Read Online Free PDF

Hyacinthe is more
likely to cut you up for breakfast,” he laughed. “By the way, I’m
thinking of inviting Charley Cassidy for a visit next month. Do you
remember, she’s the girl that I was partnered with for the
Valentine Polo Ball? It turns out she’s the daughter of former
President Cassidy and an avid photographer. She and Aurelie got on
really well and she’s interested in photographing Altobello.”
Maixent kept his eyes cemented to his plate as his ears turned
bright red.
    Leigh was amused at his discomfiture and yet
she also felt a heartstring ping with her first jealousy over
Maixent. He had dated many stunning beauties, some of them titled
Europeans, some American. But he’d never asked her permission to
invite a girl to the palace before. If they had visited the palace
it was strictly in secret.
    She had noticed his attention to Charley
Cassidy at the Valentine Polo Ball. The two of them had been
clinched on the dance floor most of the night before she had
claimed him to escort her home for the evening. To see her son
paired with Nikki’s daughter had caused her a momentary jolt that
evening.
    A niggle of uneasiness lodged inside her
stomach. The odds that these two would ever meet were higher than
Aurelie inheriting the Dragonblood Throne because after that
bizarre and terrifying night in Paris nearly thirty years ago, she
and Nikki Cassidy had stringently avoided each other’s social
circles.
    Now it seemed that some spark had been
ignited between Charley and Maixent. She needed time to consider
whether there was any danger in the situation. If she forbade him
to see Charley again, there would be questions. Plus, no one knew
better than she that forbidden fruit was twice as desirable.
    “Why don’t you invite her for Easter then,
when Aurelie will be visiting for the spring break?” Leigh
suggested. “I’ll mention it to Henri if you like.” Relations
between Maixent and Henri had been frosty since Thiérry’s
snowboarding accident which had just confirmed the danger of the
sport in Henri’s eyes.
    The young prince rose from the table to give
her a huge hug of appreciation. “She might have family commitments
herself over Easter though,” Maixent said doubtfully.
    “Just ask her. She’ll let you know if she
can’t make it,” Leigh smiled.
    “Thanks, maman. I’d better dash. I have an
appointment in twenty minutes.”
    Behind her bland exterior her thoughts were
busy. Exactly how well had he and Charley gotten to know each
other? If Maixent was inviting Charley to stay at the palace, then
Leigh was convinced he had serious intentions. How ironical that
her son should be attracted to Nikki’s daughter.
    Leigh drummed her fingers edgily. She had
put that terrifying night so firmly out of her mind that it seemed
no more than a nightmare when she recalled it. She and Nikki had
both been so young and foolhardy. Merde! What would the world think
if it ever found out about that incident? Leigh shuddered. But of
course no one knew. Nikki had never breathed a word and Leigh
certainly wouldn’t. The secret of Jean-Luc’s mysterious
disappearance had to stay buried. Luckily the Marchessini servants
had simply thrown up their hands in disgust and told each other
they’d never expected him to stick the job out.
    Leigh gave herself a mental shake. I should
stop being melodramatic and scaring myself. Still, of all the women
in the world, Leigh would rather that Maixent was inviting anyone
other than Charley Cassidy to stay at the palace.
     
    * * *
     
    Maixent felt his attention drifting.
Dreamily he looked up from the sheaf of papers on his desk which
Anouk had delivered for his next meeting. From his desk he could
see the Mediterranean like a huge blue swimming pool nestled at the
bottom of the hill. There were several yachts anchored in the bay.
The sun was a golden ball in the sky. Spring was in the air.
    He stirred restlessly, then forced his
attention back to proposals for this year’s