Royal Seductions: Diamonds: The King's Convenient Bride. Michelle Celmer

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      He wasn’t sure what surprised him more, that she would want to share a suite, or that it upset her that they wouldn’t. Honestly, it had never crossed his mind. His parents had been married, yet they never shared living quarters. Maybe in her world, that was what married couples did.

      But this was not going to be a typical marriage. She knew that going in and he wasn’t about to change his ways. “Hannah—”

      “It’s okay. Really.”

      Obviously it was not okay. He could see that she was trying to be tough, but her voice had that wobbly sound she got just before she cried. He was sorry she was hurt, but this was not negotiable. “This is the way things are. My parents conducted their marriage the same way and I intend to follow those rules.”

      “I understand,” she said. But he could see that she didn’t. She was hurt and confused.

      “I thought you knew coming into this that it was an arrangement. I’m sorry if this upsets you or you were misled about my intentions.” Hadn’t they determined, on more than one occasion, that he was the king, and he made the rules?

      But that had been in jest. There was nothing funny about this.

      She sniffled softly and swiped at her cheek. “I’m well aware of our arrangements. Just forget I said anything.”

      It pained him to see her so distraught, and trying so hard to hide it. He wanted to say something, anything, to make her feel better, but the words escaped him. How did she manage, without even trying, to make him feel so helpless?

      So…inadequate?

      She took a deep breath and blew it out. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired.” She flashed him a smile that almost looked genuine. “I’m up way past my bedtime. Not to mention that it’s been a really crazy week.”

      That it had. Both of their lives had been changed dramatically, but he had to remind himself that hers bore the brunt of it. It was just going to take time for them to adjust. And would it kill him to spare her just a little bit more of his time? At least until she settled in.

      “Do you have plans for lunch tomorrow?” he asked.

      “Nothing I can’t change.”

      He had a ridiculously busy schedule, but he could spare some time if it kept the peace. “We could eat, then take a walk in the garden.”

      Her smile grew. “I would love to.”

      Though he felt ridiculous for it, the happiness that filled her eyes warmed his heart. “One o’clock?”

      She nodded vigorously.

      “It’s a date then.” He pressed one last lingering kiss to her lips, then opened the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      “See you tomorrow,” she said, before she closed the door behind him.

      And as he walked to his own suite, he considered the events of the past week, since the minute she stepped out of that car and into his life. He knew she had prepared for her position as his wife, and it was clear she took it very seriously. It was her motivation that had him puzzled. Until she moved to Morgan Isle, he had been sure she’d done it for the title. For the security of her family. Yet she seemed to have every intention of making this marriage work.

      She seemed to want the real thing.

      But that was more than he was willing, or capable, of giving.

      Friday came faster than Hannah could have imagined. Faster than she was ready for. She’d spent the past eight years preparing for this, and suddenly everything was happening so fast, she barely had time to catch her breath. And though she vowed not to let the living arrangements upset her, it had been in the back of her mind.

      She was beginning to suspect that her ideas about her perfect life with Phillip, all her carefully mapped plans, were silly and immature. And for the most part, totally unrealistic.

      She of all people should understand that life didn’t follow a plan. If it did, she never would have lost her father, and her mother wouldn’t be trying to replace him. She couldn’t expect Phillip to fall into line and live his life, one she knew virtually nothing about, by her preconceived notion of what a marriage was supposed to be.

      But even if things didn’t go exactly as she planned, that didn’t mean she and Phillip wouldn’t be happy. It was just going to take time to figure things out, to get them running smoothly, and a lot of compromise. She would have to be patient with him.

      Honestly, what did it say about his childhood that he’d never considered sharing a living space with his own wife? A person didn’t grow up like that without collecting scars along the way. She would have to be pretty coldhearted not to cut him some slack.

      The more she thought about it over the course of the week, when she took the time to consider his feelings, more than being hurt, she felt sad. For him, because of the loving environment he deserved, and obviously never had. She would show him how unconditional love and dedication felt. No matter what it took.

      Everything was going to work out all right.

      She kept telling herself that all week as last-minute preparations were being made, and when her bridesmaids and mother arrived for the rehearsal luncheon Thursday afternoon.

      She chanted it over and over during the final dress fittings, and later at the impromptu bridal dinner Sophie hosted at her residence. While everyone sipped champagne and shared stories of love and relationships, Hannah pasted on a smile to hide the fact that, for the first time since she made the decision to do this, she was questioning herself.

      She even pretended, when her mother mentioned her own impending wedding, that she wasn’t horrified by the idea. And when everyone gushed over the palace and asked her if royal life was everything she had dreamed of, she told them yes. Because it was, or, it would be. At least she hoped so.

      It was after midnight when everyone retired to their rooms, and Hannah was finally alone, with nothing but time to think about what she was doing. It wasn’t as if she could back out at this point. Not that she would even want to. She was just confused and scared.

      What if she was making a mistake?

      What she needed was a sign. She needed something to happen that would assure her she was doing the right thing.

      She’d barely completed the thought when someone knocked on her door. Then she heard Phillip’s voice.

      “Hannah, it’s me.”

      She rushed to the door before he could open it. As desperately as she wanted to see him, with the wedding less than twenty-four hours away, she couldn’t. It would be bad luck and, honestly, she didn’t need another black cloud hanging over her head.

      She opened the door a crack, and stood behind it, so she wouldn’t be tempted to look. “We can’t see each other.”

      “I know,” he said, his tone hushed. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m back from the States. I didn’t want you to worry that I might be late for our wedding.”

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