This man was trustworthy. There were things in his background she didn’t understand. There were shadows-real shadows-and they must be linked to his revulsion at taking on the Prince Regent role, but the sensation that he was solid, that he was a man of his word, was growing rather than receding.

His disinclination to take on the Prince Regency did him no disservice in her eyes. How could anyone want such a job?

How could she return to that lifestyle?

‘It’s an awful thing you’re asking me to do,’ she whispered. ‘To go back and be part of royalty again. But you’ve brought the only enticement that could ever get me there-my son. I have to be deeply, profoundly grateful, and I am. But not enough to do this on my own, Rafael. I need you there.’

‘You don’t need me.’

‘Well, maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t need anyone,’ she conceded. ‘I’ve made sure of that over these last five years. But this is different. It’s not you personally. I need your presence. I need there to be a sovereign to take the limelight from Matty. Maybe you made a mistake bringing him here, offering what you’ve offered. But you have offered it. And…and I made a call this afternoon. I phoned immigration.’

‘You what?’

‘I can keep him right here, whether you say so or not, and under my terms,’ she said, jutting her chin forward in a dumb gesture of defiance. ‘A contract signed in Alp de Ciel holds no weight here when it comes to child custody rights. I’m Matty’s mother and he has no father. Matty is in Australia. You brought him to me-his Australian mother-for which I’m profoundly thankful but now…you can’t change your mind and take him back. The laws of this country will support me.’

He stared down at her, baffled. Whatever route he’d planned this conversation to take, it clearly wasn’t this one.