He had no reason to feel guilty.
And it should be a matter of indifference to him that his Head of Security clearly suspected that he had something to do with Holly’s current level of distress. ‘You are responsible for her physical well-being, not her emotional health.’ His tone cool, Casper closed the file on his desk. ‘It isn’t your concern.’
‘The princess was extremely kind to me when Tomasso was ill.’ Emilio stood there, looking as though a hurricane wouldn’t dislodge him. ‘I want to make sure nothing is wrong. Two days ago when she opened the new primary school she just picked at her food, and yesterday when lunch was sent up to the apartment it came back untouched. Shall I ask her staff to call the doctor?’
‘She doesn’t need the doctor.’ Casper pushed back his chair violently and stood up. ‘I’ll talk to her.’
‘I think she needs a doctor.’ In response to the sardonic lift of Casper’s eyebrows, Emilio coloured. ‘It’s just that, if there is something upsetting her, she might need to talk to someone.’
‘Talk to someone?’ Casper looked at him with naked incredulity. ‘Emilio, since when did a hardened ex-special forces soldier advocate talking therapy?’
Emilio didn’t back down. ‘Holly likes to talk, Your Highness.’
‘I had noticed.’
But he wasn’t talking to her, was he? Casper lifted a hand and rubbed his fingers over his forehead. ‘I’ll talk to her, Emilio. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.’
Still Emilio didn’t move. ‘She might prefer to talk to someone outside. Someone who isn’t close to her.’
‘You think she won’t want to talk to me?’
‘You can be intimidating, sir. And you’re very—blunt. Holly is very optimistic and romantic.’
Not any more. He was fairly sure he’d killed both those traits.
Reflecting on that fact, Casper sucked in a breath. ‘I can’t promise romantic, but I will make sure I’m approachable.’
‘May I say one more thing, sir?’
‘Can I stop you?’
Ignoring the irony in the prince’s tone, Emilio ploughed on. ‘I have been by your side since you were thirteen years old. Holly—Her Royal Highness,’ he corrected himself hastily, ‘Isn’t like any of the women you’ve been with before. She’s genuine.’
Genuine? Casper shook his head, not sure whether to be relieved that she’d done such a good PR job on his staff, or exasperated that everyone just took her at face value. They saw nothing beyond the pretty smile and the chatty personality. Apparently it hadn’t occurred to a single other person that this baby might not be his. That genuine, kind Holly Phillips might have another side to her.
That people and relationships were not always the way they appeared.
He wondered whether his loyal Head of Security had known Antonia had been sleeping with his brother.
‘Thank you, Emilio. I’ll deal with it.’
‘Will you still be attending the fundraising dinner, sir?’
Casper frowned. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘The car will be ready at seven-thirty, sir.’
‘One question, Emilio.’ Casper lifted a hand and the bodyguard stopped. ‘Which engagement did she cancel?’
Emilio met his gaze. ‘The opening of a new family centre for children from split families, sir. It was an initiative designed to give lone parents support and children the opportunity to spend time with male role-models.’ He hesitated and then bowed. ‘I’ll arrange the car for later.’
Casper stood still for a moment.
Then he cursed long and fluently, cast a frustrated glance at the volume of work on his desk, and turned his back on it and strode through the private apartments looking for Holly.
Holly lay on the bed with her head under the pillow.
She had to get up.
She had things to do. Responsibilities.
But her mind was so exhausted with thinking and worrying that she couldn’t move.
‘Holly.’
The sound of Casper’s voice made her curl the pillow over her head. She didn’t want him to see that she’d been crying. She didn’t want to see him at all. ‘Go away. I’m tired. I’m having a sleep.’
‘We have to talk.’
She curled up like a foetus. ‘I’m still trying to get over the last talk we had.’
She heard the strong tread of his footsteps, and then the pillow was firmly prised from the tight ball of her fists. ‘You’re going to suffocate yourself.’
Holly kept her face turned away from him. ‘I think better under the pillow.’
The pillow landed on the floor with a soft thud, and then she felt his hands curve around her and he lifted her into a sitting position. ‘I want to look at you when I talk to you.’ His fingers lifted her chin and his eyes narrowed. ‘Dio, have you been crying?’