Which was ridiculous! Amilee was a beautiful, confident twelve year old. She was more poised than any twelve year old should be! Hell, she should be out doing…what the hell did twelve year old girls do? He had no clue, but he was positive that normal twelve year olds shouldn’t have to handle a formal betrothal to a man she barely knew. And yet, Amilee had gone through the betrothal ceremony as if she’d been born to the role.

  So, what would Amilee be doing if she weren’t here? Or out sitting in the darkness, all alone, staring up at the stars? Even when he’d been twelve years old, he hadn’t understood what girls his age were up to. He still didn’t know, even now. In all honesty, he didn’t have time to wonder what women normally did.

  So what was it about Amilee that worried him so much? She’d obviously been trained for today’s betrothal ceremony and, besides that stupid pink dress, she’d done a stellar job. Everyone commented about what a beautiful little girl she was, how poised and “ready to take on the challenges she’d face in the future”. And yet, Rian had sensed a vulnerability within her. There was strength too. And tenacity! He’d felt the tremble when he’d touched her shoulder during the ceremony. He’d seen the fear and confusion in her eyes. And yet, when she’d needed her glasses, she’d ignored the horrified gasp from her mother and donned them anyway.

  Rian glanced at the doorway, wondering if anyone would know if he walked out and went back to Amilee. Just to check on her. Just to see her and get her to smile one more time.

  “Rian!” his father called out.

  Rian turned back to the group. They were staring at him, obviously waiting for him to issue commands that would resolve the infrastructure problem. With a sigh, he moved towards his father’s massive desk where a map of the northern territories was spread out. Bracing his hands on the desk, he mentally shook himself, forcing himself to focus on the present problem and not on the lonely, little girl sitting out on the bench.

  “We could…” and he explained a plan, his agile mind shifting priorities.

  An hour later, all four men nodded in agreement, the crisis averted. “That sounds like an excellent plan,” his father stated, slapping Rian’s shoulder with approval. “Thank you!”

  The other men also nodded in agreement, smiling with relief that the situation wouldn’t spiral into a crisis.

  “I need to go,” Rian announced, ignoring the startled glances as his father began pouring whiskey. The other men were all sitting in the worn, leather chairs, eager to relax and enjoy a spot of whiskey and bask in their own importance and the masculine décor, far away from superfluous pillows and dainty champagne flutes.

  Stepping out of the office, he hurried down the hallway towards the door that would lead to the courtyard. But as soon as he stepped out into the chilly night air, Rian knew that Amilee was gone. The girl who would eventually become his wife was no longer sitting on the bench and…oddly, Rian felt a stab of disappointment.

  Ridiculous, he told himself as he walked over to the bench. It wasn’t as if…as if what? Amilee was going to be a great beauty. From their kitchen pilfering and conversation, he also knew that she was intelligent and lively. She didn’t need him, a boring, tedious guy she barely knew, to worry about her. She could take care of herself, he thought and leaned back, gazing up at the stars. He’d lived all of his life knowing that his future was mapped out for him. Centuries of traditions allowed Rian to anticipate where he would attend boarding school and college, what he would study, what he would eventually do as an adult. Even his hobbies had been anticipated. He learned languages and horseback riding, fencing and self-defense. He knew how to dance a waltz, charm diplomats, and understand world politics.

  Did Amilee truly understand what she had signed today? That her life would be a predictable series of events and activities?

  Even as he thought about how much her life would change once they were married, Rian tried to figure out ways to protect Amilee, to provide as much freedom as possible. Even if that was a pointless exercise in frustration.

  Chapter 2

  Two Years Later…

  “Happy birthday, Amilee,” Rian announced with a formal bow as he handed her a small, beautifully wrapped package. “Do you feel different now that you’re officially fourteen?”

  Startled, Amilee looked up from the cold, hard bench. She’d come out here to be alone, to escape the superficial smiles of the guests, all of whom had superficially come to celebrate her birthday. There was a table full of beautifully wrapped presents for her and there had been a lavish dinner, with grand toasts for her health and future, to which Amilee had drunk the lemonade while everyone around her toasted with cheers and champagne. Amilee had been seated in between her mother and father, neither of whom had spoken a word to her during dinner, preferring to converse with the others seated at their table instead.

  “How did you know I’d be out here?” she asked, scooting over to make room for him on their bench. He sat down and she felt a warmth invade her. This felt special. He was a nice man and she was finally fourteen! Granted, he hadn’t contacted her much over the past two years, even though she’d sent him letters and gifts for his birthday. Okay, perhaps she’d been ordered to write him letters. And Amilee acknowledged that the letters had been a bit…stiffly worded. But still, her mother demanded that she write him a letter every month, updating him on her studies.

  In return, Amilee received a politely worded missive from Rian every few months.

  This, she thought as he smiled down at her…this made her feel better about all of those stupid letters!

  He smiled at her as he handed her a small box with a pink bow on top. “I saw you sneaking out of the party and suspected you’d be out here.” He nodded at the box. “Go ahead and open it.”

  She looked down, toying with the pretty bow. “I like to savor the anticipation of a present.” She tilted her head slightly. “Holding it for a few moments, wondering what is underneath the pretty paper and bow, adds to the excitement, don’t you think?”

  His soft chuckle was deep and genuine. “Fair enough. How is boarding school? Are you making new friends?”

  She didn’t mention all of those stupid letters she’d written to him, detailing her friends and the various adventures they had, sneaking out late at night to talk and laugh, or studying late into the night for exams. “It’s cold,” she admitted, turning to look at the guests mingling in the warm light of the ballroom. “I’m not a huge fan of Switzerland.”

  He laughed. “What’s not to love? The mixed languages? The massive mountains? The beauty of the trees?”

  “The freezing temperatures,” she corrected with a sardonic look up at him. “The mean headmistress who prefers to start the day with profound quotes from famous people that we are required to memorize each day. The lack of cell phones. The grey uniforms. Endless chores, boring food, intense classes, and seemingly endless homework?”

  She noticed his dark eyebrows lift in mock surprise. “Yikes! No cell phones? How do you communicate with your friends at home?”

  She snorted. “I know you’re teasing me, but why don’t you try living without a cell phone for just twenty-four hours and then mock me.”

  He chuckled, nodding his head. “Fair enough. I like being connected to the world, so I could see that being a problem. Especially for teenage girls who want to gossip without a teacher or headmistress overhearing.”

  “Exactly,” she replied, smiling to show him that she wasn’t bothered by his stereotyping of her needing to gossip with her friends. A moment later, she lowered her head, pulling at the pretty, pink ribbon wrapped around the small present. “What is it?” she asked.

  Rian shrugged with a challenging smile. “Open it and see.”

  Amilee debated opening the box versus savoring the anticipation a little longer. In the end, she wanted to see what he’d chosen for her. She remembered how thoughtful he’d been at their betrothal ceremony. Several times over the past two years, she’d thought about their kitchen raid and how much fun it had been to sit with him and talk. Perhaps it had only been her imagination, or maybe Amilee was resentful of the way no one listened to her now, but those memories of being with him, talking with him and really being “heard” had helped her through the cold, lonely years at boarding school.

  “Okay, I’ll open it,” she told him, trying to tamp down on her excitement. She wanted him to perceive her as sophisticated and womanly, but she suspected that some of her childish eagerness seeped through.

  “Are you even going to give me a hint?” she asked as she tugged at the lovely ribbon.

  “Not a chance,” he replied with a soft laugh. “You’ll see it in a moment.”

  Amilee ripped the paper and pulled out the box. She glanced at him, realized that he was peering over her shoulder and her heart thudded painfully against her ribs, although she didn’t fully understand why.

  Focusing on the box, Amilee carefully lifted the lid, staring down at a beautiful silver locket. “Oh, how lovely!” she gasped, lifting it up to examine it in the reflected moonlight. “How did…?” she started, only to stop at the odd look in his eyes.

  Amilee realized he was seeing the locket for the first time as well, and the fact that he hadn’t chosen the present significantly dimmed her pleasure.

  Lowering the necklace to her lap, she carefully tucked it back into the wooden box. “Thank you,” she finally replied, wishing that her voice wasn’t so stiffly formal, but the pain ricocheting around inside of her was hard to suppress. “It’s lovely.” She tried desperately not to let the disappointment show on her features, forcing her lips into a polite smile, just as her mother had taught her.

  Perhaps she wasn’t as good at her hiding her emotions as she should be, because Amilee saw something flash in his eyes. But the emotion was quickly hidden. “Would you like help putting it on?” he offered.

  Amilee shrugged and set the package off to the side. “That would be nice.” Their conversation was suddenly so formal!

  “Here,” he said, taking up the necklace. “Turn around.”

  Amilee turned, giving him her back. While he fiddled with the clasp, Amilee peeked over her shoulder at him, trying to find a conversational topic that would allow her to hide her pain.

  “So, you finished college?”

  “Yes,” he replied, obviously distracted. He lifted the necklace over her head. “But I’ll continue with graduate school next year.”

  Amilee smiled and, for a brief moment, his arms surrounded her. For that instant, Amilee pretended that this man was truly hers. The feeling of his arms around her warmed her right down to her toes. She closed her eyes and pretended, savoring this moment for the future when she might allow herself to believe that…that…that she was important to him. That she mattered.

  Then his arms disappeared. He adjusted the clasp, and she turned around, facing him once again.

  Rian rested one arm against the back of the bench now as he asked casually, “Are you dating anyone at school?”

  That certainly dashed her schoolgirl fantasies! A guy who cared about a girl definitely didn’t encourage her to see other men!

  She schooled her features into a placid expression. “No. I’m definitely not seeing anyone special.”

  A night bird trilled as the cicadas sang their usual song. “Why not?” he asked, turning slightly to face the courtyard again.

  She laughed self-consciously and gazed out at the white flowers reaching up into the moonlight. “Because everyone at school knows that I’m betrothed.” She shot him a sideways look. “You’re kind of a rock star among my classmates.”

  He chuckled and, for some strange reason, a shiver of awareness drifted through her. “Is that so?”

  “Absolutely,” she teased. “There are posters of you. And some of my classmates put on lipstick and kiss your picture.”

  His eyes flashed back to her, a horrified look on his ruggedly handsome features. “Are you kidding?”

  “Yes!” she replied, laughing.

  He heaved a sigh of relief and she laughed again, leaning back against the bench. “But they are jealous that I’m betrothed to you. They ask me all sorts of questions about you.”

  “What kinds of questions?”

  She pretended to think about it, when in reality, she knew all of the questions by heart because she’d had to make up answers so she didn’t appear pathetic. It was seriously embarrassing to be betrothed to a man and not even know his favorite color.

  “Well, they ask me what you like to eat, how tall you are, what your favorite color is, what you do in your spare time.” She shrugged.

  “What do you tell them?” he asked, resting his arm against the back of the bench.

  “I tell them that you don’t eat meat. That you’re about five feet, two inches tall, but you look taller because the reporters are usually in the audience so the angle of their pictures supports my answer.” She ignored his grunt of horror. “Your favorite colors are shell pink and baby blue and your favorite pastime is spanking women.”

  Amilee shifted slightly, fighting not to laugh at his horrified expression.

  “Where did you…I don’t…!” he sputtered.

  She giggled, then slapped her hand over her mouth.

  Rian looked at her, realized that she was teasing him and groaned. “You’re a brat,” he blurted, laughing at her outrageousness. “The only woman I’m going to spank is you!”

  Amilee laughed again, delighted that he felt comfortable enough to tease her back.

  “I guess I should apologize, shouldn’t I?” Amilee smoothed a hand down over the royal blue material of her dress. It wasn’t quite a sheath dress, but it was about as close to one as a fourteen year old without discernable boobs could manage. This dress wasn’t as ridiculous as the last one he’d seen her in. That ruffled monstrosity had been stuffed into the back of her closet after that betrothal event, never to be seen again.

  “Don’t bother. I won’t believe you,” he grumbled. He paused for a moment, chuckled, then changed the subject. “How are your classes?” he asked.

  She shrugged, pretending that she hadn’t mailed him detailed descriptions of her classes, teachers, and the regimen of homework every month. Letters he obviously hadn’t read. “They are fine. I’m learning French and German this year. I enjoy languages.”

  A scuffling echoed through the peace of the courtyard. With sadness and aching disappointment, Amilee watched as the group of friends he’d introduced her to two years ago, laughed as they pulled out cigarettes, lighting up and taking their first, deep drag before blowing the smoke up into the air above them. They hadn’t been at her birthday dinner, so when had they arrived?

  Pain and disappointment washed over her as the laughing, gregarious, and ultra-sophisticated group moved down the long pathway opposite the ballroom. At the moment, none had noticed she and Rian were out here, watching them. “Your friends are looking for you,” she murmured as one of the women pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number. A moment later, Rian’s cell phone rang.

  “They can wait.”

  Amilee closed the wooden box and smiled at him, again, hiding her emotions behind the polite smile that hurt her cheeks. “You know they won’t stop.”

  He groaned as the phone rang again. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and frowned down at the screen, rubbing a hand over his face. In frustration?

  “I’ll just go tell them that we’ll head out later.”

  He started to stand up, but Amilee put a hand on his and he froze. “Go ahead,” she stated firmly. “I’m fourteen years old and you don’t have to hang out with me.”

  He shook his head, gesturing to the threesome stepping through the glass doors, heading towards the library. They knew where the good booze was kept and made a beeline for the liquor cabinet. “Amilee, I just…”

  She smiled up at him. “Go ahead, Your Highness. I’m heading back inside.” Her dimples appeared and she laughed softly. “It’s probably past my bed time.”

  He laughed as well, just as she’d hoped he would, and then he bent down and kissed her forehead. “Until the next time we meet, then.”

  A moment later, he was gone and she watched from the courtyard as he greeted his friends. But he must have known that she was still out here because Rian hurried them away from the windows, closing the doors to the library, so their antics couldn’t be observed. What he didn’t realize was that he then herded them into the billiards room, which was just off the library. With the lights on, she could still see everything.

  Rian leaned a shoulder against the wall, wishing that he’d followed his instincts and gotten Amilee the book on women’s history for her birthday. The locket his father’s assistant had selected was pretty, but it seemed so impersonal. Amilee deserved better.

  Roger walked up, sipping a glass of whatever he’d found behind the bar. “How’s your little fiancée? Is she in bed now?” he asked with a snort of derisive laughter.

  Rian looked down at the shorter man, disgusted with him all of a sudden. “If you are referring to Amilee, then I’d appreciate it if you’d show her a little respect.”

  Roger understood the angry tone and lifted his hands in mock surrender, although he clearly wasn’t repentant. “Sorry. I didn’t know that you were so protective of the child.”

  Even those words rankled, because Amilee might be only fourteen, but she was smart and funny and insightful. Hell, she was a whole lot more observant than all of these idiots put together.

  Which begged the question, why had he invited them here tonight? He looked around, wondering why he was friends with these people. But was he really friends with them? Or were they here simply because they had nothing better to do? They had no goals in life, no purpose other than to find the next activity that may or may not amuse them.

  Now that he was really seeing them, really understanding their personalities, it sickened him that he was one of them. What was he doing? He had about a million things to do, vital contracts to review and important decisions to make. His father was dying, and it was time for Rian to start to take on more of the leadership responsibilities. The cancer was slowly eating away at his father’s pancreas. They’d hidden it from the world thus far, but soon they wouldn’t be able to hide the ravages the disease was making on the man’s body.