Ludwig had never had an opportunity to share this important side of his life with a woman before. None of the women he’d met had ever been interested.

He felt like a kid at Christmas. She listened and she cared. He could read the enjoyment on her face and in the questions that she asked about each of the people he had helped. And the light in her eyes grew as her body and face seemed to relax more with each story.

That was the one thing about people with money. The person would sometimes disappear behind all the glamour. Moments like this were rare. Moments where they could see one another, share one another, and simply be.

And he didn’t want the day to end. As Cristina, Garron’s daughter, cleared the plates, he leaned over and took Angelica’s hand. “So, what’s your answer?”

She didn’t have to ask about what. She’d been debating with herself if she should go back or not; if she could neglect her duties for a week; if she could risk exposing her heart to this amazing man for more time than she already had. “I have an important meeting I need to attend.”

“Is there any way you can get out of it?”

She considered it. “For how long?”

How long will be long enough? Ludwig had no trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality. He had met Angelica and felt a perfectly healthy lust, as he did with virtually every attractive woman he saw. With his prodigious sexual appetite, if he lusted for a woman and she was willing, he would slake it and be done with it. He already had it set in his heart that he wanted to spend as much time with her as he possibly could. Would they be able to sustain their spark for longer than a few days? He had felt connections to other women before—but nothing like this—and he wanted to make sure he had exorcised his lust for the princess before she left. If he missed her when she was gone, he wanted to know if it was because he actually missed her company and conversation, or if it was just that he hadn’t gotten his fill of her in bed.

But the question remained. How long? “A week.”

She shook her head at him. “I cannot be away an entire week.”

“You seem to enjoy getting acquainted with my country. There are a few more places I can show you. A few more people you could meet.”

She smiled, tipped her head to the side. “I would enjoy that, but perhaps another time.”

“Then what would make you stay?”

What would make me stay? She was tempted to stay anyway. However, she really did have a series of meetings already scheduled this week.

Couldn’t someone else fill in for me? Just this once. She pulled out her phone and sent her brother a text message.

Her mobile buzzed a second after with an answer.

Ludwig raised an eyebrow at her, flicking his gaze down to her phone.

She turned the screen off and set it back on the table. “I can stay until Thursday. Next Sunday is Magna Carta Day and I have to be up and working on Friday morning to wrap up whatever needs to be finished and help Valantín with his speech.”

“That’s perfect.” It wasn’t, but it was better than nothing.

“And what would we do in those few days?”

He had more than a few ideas, most of which didn’t involve clothing.

She seemed to read his thoughts. Her eyes took on a sultry glow and she leaned in. “Besides that.”

He leaned forward as well, feeling a sudden urge to feel her skin, to smell her hair, to kiss her. “I’m pretty sure I can come up with a few things.”

A small thrill of excitement shot through her. “What, for example?”

Her eyes remained on his lips. He hoped she was imagining his mouth on her body. Her lips parted, and he could almost hear her moan again as she had that morning. “I have a few friends I could ask. We have a vineyard that’s quite lovely.”

“We have several of those.”

“But not like Mattheus and Henriquetta’s vineyard.” He wasn’t going to show her the high society life. She seemed to be almost put off by it. He had a few more ideas up his sleeve. “Hmm. Are you always so challenging?”

“Always.”

“Well, keep in mind that I’m on a vacation of sorts. I don’t feel like working. I’ll match wits with you another time.” He winked at her. “How about we head home to shower and rest?”

“That won’t be a new sight, but it could be exciting.”

He rose, putting his hand on the small of her back. He loved touching her there. It was almost as if he was claiming her.

“Just a moment,” he said, and he went to the counter with an old-fashioned cash register sitting at the end.

She watched him and Garron talking as Ludwig paid the bill and she could see the genuine warm feelings and respect each man had for the other.

That was probably what endeared him to her even more. Most people in his situation would be trying to make themselves out to be the hero in an effort to impress. But not Ludwig.

Most men seemed to think she was only impressed with the finest things. They seemed to think that because she was raised in great luxury, that was the only thing she took stock in. Somehow, Ludwig had discovered she found value in the smaller moments.

He is such an anomaly. A wonderful, wonderful anomaly.

She didn’t know what to think about him. Or what to feel.

But the afternoon spent with Ludwig and seeing all the things he had been able to accomplish in helping others had made one thing clear to her. She was a cynic. Being jilted at the altar had changed her. And while she marveled at the fact that he was the only man who had ever connected with her, she also realized she may not be capable of returning the favor. She could not commit.

And that was a strange thought she hadn’t really considered before. She had always assumed that when the time came, she would be able to combine her life with another. However, that meant more than just living every day with a man. It meant being able to trust him, to believe in him. And while she would be able to have several moments enjoying his company, she doubted she would ever be able to trust Ludwig.

He was, after all, a ladies’ man. He was quite good in bed and he knew how to charm women.

What if the time spent with him was nothing more than him charming her? What if she was nothing more than another conquest?

Then, she needed to remember that she had gone into this on a whim. She had wanted to rebel, to feel a momentary freedom. She wanted to experience what it was to live.

And she had done all of that. She had even cleared her schedule to continue for another couple of days. She would enjoy him while she could for now.

Because in the end—and there would be an end—she would return to her life and he would stay here in his.

He would have conquered his princess. After that, he would have no need for her.

Her hand clenched in a fist, but she kept a placid smile on her face. And really, I would have no need of him.