Chapter Twelve

Robert took another drink of his Scotch as he rolled his eyes, not caring that only Nic saw the rude gesture. He figured he deserved a medal for only doing that much as he was going into the second hour of his father lecturing him.

“. . . for the love of country. What in the world is wrong with you?” Heinrich sputtered.

It took several moments for Robert to realize the room had grown oddly quiet. He looked around and noticed Ballisare had started tuning into the conversation as he lifted his gaze from the computer screen he’d been staring at when their father wasn’t looking in his direction.

“Are you going to answer me, boy?” Heinrich demanded.

“Sorry, Sir, to which question?” Robert asked. He kept respect in his tone, although there was no question of the sarcasm that lay just beneath the words.

“Why haven’t you gotten that woman down the aisle yet? Your thirtieth birthday came and went. I could lock you in prison if I so desired,” Heinrich said as he puffed out his chest.

“I wanted to prove a point,” Robert admitted.

Those words stopped his father as he stared at Robert, looking lost. It wasn’t something Robert had ever seen in his father’s expression.

“Explain,” Heinrich demanded.

“Some of these traditions in our country are outdated and ridiculous. We aren’t suffering a lack of people, and therefore we don’t need to force our children into arranged marriages. A commitment between two people should be fulfilled out of love, not obligation,” Robert insisted.

“There is nothing wrong with serving your kingdom,” Heinrich pointed out.

“I agree, and I think I do a good job of serving the people of Rubare Virgina. I also am a man with needs, and I think that should be respected as well,” Robert told him.

“Is this woman not meeting your needs?” Heinrich asked.

“That’s none of your business,” Robert said.

Theo gasped at the rudeness of Robert’s statement. Nic wiped away a smile, and Ballasare went back to his computer, pretending he hadn’t heard such an insolent remark made to the king.

“You cannot speak to your king this way,” Heinrich yelled.

“You’re absolutely right. It’s a good thing I’m speaking to my father,” Robert informed him. Theo gasped again. Robert had pushed boundaries his entire life, but he’d never gone this far. It felt good.

“Maybe I’ll have to take care of the problem of this woman for you,” Heinrich said as he looked over at Theo, who suddenly appeared sick.

Robert felt rage unlike anything he’d ever felt before at those words. He took a threatening step toward his father that had both Nic and Ballasare on their feet. He barely acknowledged their presence.

“You are speaking about the woman I’m in love with. I’d be very careful about what you say next,” Robert said through clenched teeth. He was trembling with anger, and it took several moments for him to realize his father was now grinning.

“I already knew how you felt. Sometimes you have to be pushed to admit the knowledge of your true emotion,” Heinrich told him.

Both Nic and Ballasare let out a breath of relief, and Theo appeared as if he were going to pass out. Robert stumbled back a step as his own words slammed into his chest, making his heart beat out of control.

“When did this happen?” he asked his father, reverting back to a frightened child.

“It happens without our permission,” Heinrich said with sympathy. “It happened to me the night your mother told me she was pregnant with Ballasare. I looked at her and realized her health and safety mattered to me, she wasn’t just a vessel to produce my heirs. I was frightened with each pregnancy as she was so small and fragile, but your mother was also strong, and she reminded me of that quite often. She kept me sane when I would have otherwise fallen apart.”

Robert was in shock, and by the looks on his brothers’ faces, they were as well. This was a vulnerable moment between a father and his sons, and Robert felt bonded to his dad in a way he never before had.

“I love her,” he said in awe.

“Are you going to do something about it?” Heinrich asked.

Robert stopped and gave his father a lopsided grin. “That depends if I’ll be in the dungeon or not,” he said as he held out his hands.

“Believe me, I’m tempted to throw you in for a day or two to show you who has the true power here,” Heinrich muttered. “But I want grandchildren much more than I want power,” he admitted.

Robert did something he hadn’t done since he was a child. He stepped forward and threw his arms around his dad, squeezing him tight before letting go. He would swear there were tears in his father’s eyes, but the man looked away for several moments before returning his gaze to his son. His eyes were clear as he smiled.

“I’m proud of you, Son,” Heinrich told him.

“I love you, Dad,” Robert replied.

Heinrich turned away and Robert heard the slightest of sniffles. This entire evening had been completely surreal. “You’d better give that girl her ring,” Heinrich said as he gazed out a window at the early morning light streaming in.

“I think I might just do that,” Robert said.

“Shouldn’t you have some grand gesture, showing your love?” Nic said with a laugh.

“All we need is one another,” Robert said, incredibly sure of Isabella’s love for him. He’d been distant lately as he tried to sort out his feelings. He had a lot to make up for, but he didn’t doubt she’d forgive him.

Their romance had burned fast and hot, and he hoped it continued to go that way as they shared a life together. He knew that’s how it would always be. His brothers had found the love of their lives, and now he was following in their footsteps. It seemed the entire royal line would be happily married. Heinrich could rest assured his sons continued on for generations to come.

Just then there was an urgent knock on the door and all of them turned as a white-faced servant walked into the room carrying an envelope. He didn’t stop until he was in front of Robert.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt, Your Highness, but this was found in Ms. Izzy’s room, and since she hasn’t been spotted for the past two hours we thought it wise to bring it to you right away.”

Robert’s blood ran cold as he took the envelope from the man’s trembling hands. He didn’t open it as he gazed at him. “What do you mean she hasn’t been spotted for two hours?” Robert wanted to know.

“There was an error in communication, and once we saw the note the staff came together, and we realized it. Normally at this time Ms. Izzy is in the kitchen with Mrs. O’Brian, but today she wasn’t there. Sometimes she does take a stroll, and since she’s had a mild bug lately sometimes she’s in her room longer and doesn’t want to be disturbed. She isn’t consistent in her morning activities, so we didn’t realize she’d slipped away until we found the note. She’d told the guards she wasn’t to be disturbed this morning, and we’ve always respected her wishes.” The words came out quickly as if the man was afraid of being punished.

Robert was ready to lock the man in the dungeon even though it wasn’t his fault. Wouldn’t the world be an easier place if you really could kill the messenger? Instead of taking his temper out on this man, Robert dismissed him as he carefully opened the sealed envelope.

What he read next had his heart thundering as panic invaded his senses.

My Dearest Robert,

I will be long gone by the time you read this letter, but I want you to know this wasn’t an easy decision for me to make. I think our time has come to an end, and maybe you feel the same way and don’t know how to tell me it’s over. As you’re gone more than you’re here, I have no other choice but to believe that. Please know I fell completely in love with you. If I’m being fully honest, I might have to admit I felt something from the very first night. I knew you weren’t an ordinary man even then. Though I was scared and angry that night, I was still drawn to you. My affection grew until it hit me in the face. I had fallen in love with you, and I knew it would kill me to let you go. But I’ve never had a claim on you, and that makes it impossible for me to stay. Please know you were loved in spite of your royal status, not because of it. Please let me go if you have felt any warm feelings toward me. It’s what I need and want. Take care of yourself and your people. And if you think of me every once in a while, I pray it’s with fondness.

I will always love you,

Izzy

The letter slipped from Robert’s fingers and floated to the floor. Nic was there to scoop it up, and he, Ballasare, Heinrich, and Theo all crowded together to read the words that had stabbed Robert through his heart.

“She’s gone,” he said, not knowing what he was going to do about it. She was probably flying across the ocean as he wasted his time in this very room. What if she truly didn’t want to be found, and he had lost her forever? That thought was unbearable.

There was another knock on the double doors, and all of them turned to see the same servant rushing into the room. There was hope in the man’s eyes that gave Robert his first stirring of relief.

“She’s at the airport, Your Highness. Apparently there was a mechanical failure, and her plane has been delayed,” the man said.

Without asking, Heinrich marched over to the desk and picked up a phone. He spoke to someone before being transferred. Soon he hung up, and the room was silent as they all waited.

“The plane is grounded for as long as you need, Son,” Heinrich assured him.

“Go get the girl,” Ballasare said with a wide grin.

“Hell yah!” Nic cried out. “Put that damn ring on her finger and never let her escape again. I hear there’s a dungeon around here you can use.”

Robert didn’t acknowledge his smart-assed brother’s comment. He simply rushed from the room. When he flew past his driver, the man seemed unsure of what was going on.

“Your Highness, don’t you need a ride?” Henry asked.

“No, Henry. I’ve got this covered,” Robert told him.

Though his father had grounded the plane, Robert didn’t trust that something would happen and it would get in the air. Once off the ground of Rubare Virgina, they no longer had control of the situation. He couldn’t allow her to leave him. He had a woman to rescue from her own foolishness. He had a ring to put on her finger. And he had a heart he prayed she wanted.