Princess's Secret Baby(56)

                ‘Can a princess ever be overdressed?’

                He looked at her body; her breasts were bigger and he ached to touch them. Her stomach at sixteen weeks was just becoming noticeable to others but they were both extraordinarily excited by the tiny swell.

                Badly he wanted to touch her.

                Badly she wanted him too.

                ‘Come on,’ James said. ‘We can’t be late.’

                His driver dropped them at the Lincoln Center and still Leila did not have a clue. They walked past a lit-up fountain along with others to Avery Fisher Hall and still Leila did not know what was happening.

                They had drinks and she smiled at his boredom with water when he asked the bartender for several slices of lime.

                ‘Only for you would I do this.’

                ‘Do what?’

                ‘Give up drinking and come here...’

                ‘James, what are we doing here standing drinking with all these people?’

                He loved that all this was so alien to her, and it was alien to him too, for he had never been a part of a couple.

                ‘You’re going to see the New York Philharmonic Orchestra,’ James said. ‘And I suspect you’re going to love it.’

                Oh, she did.

                It could not have been better. Leila made music, but to have it made for her, to sit and listen, to hear instruments that she had never heard before, sent shivers right through her body.

                Who knew music could be so sexy, James thought.

                It turned out it was though. He could feel her enjoyment building beside him; now and then her hand would find his and her fingers would press into his in anticipation. Their calves met, their energy met; it was all in all the best and the most happily received surprise he had ever delivered.

                ‘I loved it,’ Leila said as they stepped outside all giddy and high from a night sitting side by side. ‘Every minute of it.’

                ‘Well, there will be many, many more.’ He took out an envelope and Leila opened it.

                ‘It’s a season ticket,’ James said. ‘You can go to as many concerts as you like, but you can also go along to hear them rehearse.’ As she opened her mouth he got there first. ‘You can’t join in,’ James said.

                ‘One day, maybe.’

                ‘I don’t know,’ James said. ‘I’ve never heard you play.’

                He might just have to rectify that!

                ‘Why are you so nice to me?’ Leila asked as they got into bed that night.

                ‘Because I am nice,’ James said. ‘And so are you.’

                ‘I’m mean to the maids.’

                ‘But you’re getting better.’

                They were getting better.

                With each passing day they drew closer, and at night it was getting harder to hold back her heart. To not give in to the love she had for him. To not plead with him for seven decades, rather than seven years.