BOUND BY DUTY CLAIMED BY DESIRE

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE COST OF THE THRONE

The windows of the car was tinted,so that although the occupants could see outside,no one could see inside.

“They are used to the car's of the royal family on the roads “, Rafael explained,as the car wound it's slow way through the narrow streets of the city towards the royal palace.

‘Does anyone else know that we are coming here? asked Lizzy .

Rafael shook his head.

‘The pavements would be mobbed with paparazzi if they knew ’, he said.

Eventually there will be an official statement from the palace, confirming both Ben's existence and yours and also officially recognizing him as my brother's son and a member of the royal family.

The car drew to a halt infront of a huge double door at the courtyard. As it stopped the doors were thrown open and two footmen emerged .

Prince Rafael got out first , then turned turn to help lift Ben out and offer his hand to Elena .she managed to step out of the car without taking it.

One of the footmen stood beside them, the other bringing up the rear. Ben was still asking Rafael questions.

This is his home,he must have been doing this everyday of his life.

Her sense of unreality deepened.

A man stepped forward, out of a doorway she hadn't even noticed.

The man was wearing a suit and was clearly not a servant, but one of the royal staff.

The man ,who was quite young, and wearing pale spectacles which obscured his eyes was addressing prince Rafael. His glance had gone briefly to Ben , but not to herself.

What am I ? Invisible?

The caustic thought merely made her unease deepen.

Prince Rafael was frowning, saying something in a sharp voice in Italian to the man. The man's expression did not change, remaining impassive.

Prince Rafael turned to Elena, shutting out the other man.

‘My father and mother would like to meet Ben on his own for the first time,’ he said to her.

‘please do not take offense at this.

Fear flared in her eyes, Then to her astonishment,her hand was taken.

‘It will be alright, you have my word’.

His hands were warm across hers. His eyes ,as he looked into hers, were rich with sympathy.

‘Trust me’, he said in a low voice. ‘Do not be afraid ‘.

He let go of her hand.

‘You will be shown to your apartment,where you can refresh yourself.

I will bring Ben to you. In the meantime,rest and relax, Then when I've brought Ben back,I will show you around.

He glanced down at Ben.

‘we’re going to meet your grandparents now,Be. , and your other uncle.

Your mother is going to have a little rest , and then we'll go exploring.

There's a lot to see in this palace.’ He bent forward conspiratorially. ‘Even a secret passage ‘.

Ben's eyes widened. He slipped his hand into his uncle's, and prince Rafael started to walk off with him, still talking to him.

Elena watched them go.

‘Signorina?’

‘I will show you to your new quarters ‘, he said.

Numbly,Elena followed after him.

Tension netted like a web.

Rafael looked around him and frowned. His parents private sitting room, which he'd just been ushered into with Ben ,was deserted. Yet he'd been told to present Ben immediately. So where was everyone?

‘Rafeal , finally’.

He turned abruptly, Lucian had walked in from one of chambers. He's brother's eyes went swiftly from himself to the small figure holding Rafael's hand. For a moment he said nothing, just looked,then he spoke.

‘We were beginning to think you'd never get him here's, he said.

‘You must be slipping’

‘For a man who can charm any woman he wants into bed in the blink of an eye ,it should have been a piece of cake for you to get the boy's aunt eating out of your hand’.

‘Cut the sniping, Lucian’, said Rafael. ‘Where are our parents?’

‘It's council meeting today, you know our father can never be late for those sessions, and for our fond mother ,she always travels to Rome this time of the year.

Rafael started. Di Binori told me Ben had been summoned immediately’.

‘Well ,of course’, Lucian responded impatiently. At least we've got him now’. Poor Rafael, actually reduced to offering to make the ultimate sacrifice, ‘marriage’.

And to such a bride, I've just checked her out on the security cameras.

Dio ,if I'd known she was that bad even I might have thought twice before I did that number on you.

She must have snapped your hand off the minute you trotted out the marriage of convienence fairytale.

His eyes went to Ben, who had a blank look and confused look on his face at all the incomprehensible Italian being spoken over his head.

For a moment, Rafael thought he saw something in Lucians eyes . Then it was gone .

‘The boy's personal household has been selected, and they're waiting to take him now. He'll have apartments here in the palace to begin with, where security is tighter. Later, he'll be moved out to somewhere more remote,up the hills, probably to keep him out of circulation.

‘I had a feeling’, that the idea of a grandson was not welcomed.

You don't seriously imagine that our parents would ever welcome the News that our brother has disgraced himself and us all by impregnating some two- cent bimbo and then marrying her?’.

What happens to his aunt by the way, Rafael asked?

‘Secure an apartment here,in the North Tower, she's been taken there now,then she'll be deported.

Once outside the borders she can do what she wants,she won't get the boy back.

Even if the press bankroll any counter-Custody claim by her for the public,it will take years.

She's finished. And you my brother, Lucian patted him on the back ‘are finally off duty”. You're free to celebrate a job well done.

‘Not quite’, said Rafael.

His left hand slipped from Ben's and landed on his brother's left cheek, Lucian crumpled, unconscious,to the floor.

Ben gasped , but Rafael took his hand again and started to hurry towards the door.

‘Change of plan, Ben', said Rafael.

His voice was filled with fury.