But here…here she was truly in her element. She was easy with her people, her kindness and warmth genuine. All day people had lit up when they met her. If there had been unrest in this part of the island, the people seemed to be able to separate their desire for autonomy from their adoration of their queen. Everyone who spoke to her left with broad smiles and easier hearts. He could see her doing exactly what Grantham had wished: easing the tension.
That was Giabella’s gift. And he had been fortunate enough to help her share it for over a decade. To watch her up close as she worked her magic on everyone in her life. And it was one of his greatest regrets that he wouldn’t be at her side as she did the same in her future.
He would see her, of course. The palace would remain the official residence of the new leader of the country, at least for the first few years, and Giabella was so beloved that he had to believe she would be allowed to remain there the rest of her days.
But it wouldn’t be the same.
Not that anything would be the same after this trip and what they’d done together.
She glanced toward him, and he jolted. There was her signal, the slight flutter of her lashes that told him she had talked too long to the same enthusiastic person and was ready to be kindly moved along.
He darted forward to her elbow and leaned in. Normally he whispered gibberish, but today he murmured, “Ready to be alone again?”
She glanced up at him, her dark eyes snaring his with a message that was perfectly clear and powerfully erotic. Then she returned her attention to the ladies who had been attending her. “I’m afraid my secretary has reminded me of my next engagement. But I have enjoyed myself immensely and am so impressed by all of you and your dedication to the children of this nation.”
The ladies all murmured and tittered with pleasure, and the leader of their society, Miss Bernard, stepped up. “Let me see you out, Your Majesty,” she said.
Dash stepped away, trailing behind as the two women moved toward the foyer of the assembly hall and the royal carriage that awaited them there. He could hear Miss Bernard speaking to Giabella as they walked. “I want you to know, Your Majesty, that all of us are in complete support of King Grantham and his future as…what do they call it again?”
“Prime minister,” Giabella supplied.
“Indeed. That all of us in the country, no matter race or creed or sex, are allowed to have a voice and a vote is…” Tears filled Miss Bernard’s eyes. “Well, I know everyone is very excited to have a part in our island’s next chapter. I hope you will pass those sentiments on to the king and his advisors.”
Giabella turned toward her and caught both her hands. “I will, my dear. And I hope that I, as well as my son, will be welcome to call here again in the future. And that you will prepare reports on the orphanage and how we can further support your efforts.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” the woman said, curtsying low as Dash opened the carriage door for Giabella and took her hand to help her in.
“Good afternoon, Miss Bernard,” he said with an incline of his head.
“Mr. Talbot,” she returned.
He climbed into the carriage beside Giabella and settled in. The queen waved as they pulled away, smiling at the rapidly shrinking figure of Miss Bernard.
“I think that went well,” she said.
He nodded. “Very well. But I never worry about that. You know exactly what you need to do every time.”
She shook her head. “That is not true, but I appreciate the never wavering support you always provide.”
Dash held her gaze for a moment, then reached forward and closed the curtain. Late afternoon light still crept in around the edges of the curtain, but the carriage was dim now.
She smiled slightly. “Ready for darkness, are you?”
He slowly eased to her side of the carriage and settled in next to her on the narrow bench. “I’m ready to do something I shouldn’t with the entire village able to see.”
She rested her hand on his chest and lifted into him as he lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss began as gentle, just the brush of his lips on hers. But now he knew how powerful they could be together and he couldn’t ignore what he wanted. What she wanted as she fisted his lapels in her hands and let out a soft sigh of pleasure into his mouth.
He deepened the kiss, still going slowly, and sank into the flavor of her. The way her tongue brushed his own. The way the act of kissing her worked through his veins like a drug and woke all the nerves in his body.
“Dash,” she murmured as she dragged her mouth from his and along his jawline.
“Hmmm?” He tried to find some way to focus, to come up for air.
She shivered as she rested her head against his shoulder. “I still can’t believe we’re doing this.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple lightly. “Because of our disparate positions?”
She glanced up at him. “No. It’s just that this has been in the realm of dream for me for so long. Fantasy. I keep waiting to wake up every time you kiss me.”
He smiled. “It’s the same for me. I think neither of us could deny the tension has existed between us for a very long time.”
“The first time I met you,” she admitted softly, and her cheeks brightened. “My heart made this flutter it had never made before and I knew nothing could be the same.”
He wrinkled his brow. “You’d never felt something like that before?”
“No.” She laughed, but it was hollow. “Alistair was my arranged marriage. I was never allowed to even consider another man. I dutifully did as I was told. And I wanted to care for him, I truly did. But I never felt anything for him…except regret. And ultimately, contempt.”
Dash nodded slowly. “I only knew you after years of your marriage to Alistair,” he said carefully, not wanting to push where he could hurt her. “And I know your relationship was complicated.”
She sighed. “It always was. He made it clear from the first day of our marriage that it would never be a love match. I was there to create his heirs and spares, as well as complete my duties as queen and faithful wife. All while he kept his mistresses, sometimes right under my nose.”
Dash flinched. “I did not know that happened from the start.”
“Yes. I grew to hate him at first. And then to feel…nothing at all. I’m not sure which was worse.” She touched his face. “You were like a ray of sunshine through the darkness when you came into my life.”
The carriage slowed as they turned into the drive for the residence and she sighed as he kissed her one more time and then slid back to his proper place. “We’ll have time before supper,” she said, dark eyes dancing.
He nodded. “We will. What did you have in mind?”
“Come to my chamber?” she asked, her voice trembling a fraction, as if she weren’t certain of his response.
He drew in a long breath. “I would very much like that, Gia.”
The carriage stopped and he exited first to help her out. Together they moved into the house, with her greeting the servants gathered there and collecting a few pieces of correspondence waiting there.
“Supper will be at eight, Your Majesty,” Livingston said.
She smiled back at Dash. “Good, that will give Mr. Talbot and I time to go over some affairs before I ready myself. Thank you, Livingston.”