Strictly Taboo(156)

“I just don’t understand how after everything Dad did, you could be so willing to believe that a relationship can work, and be trusting.” I said and shook my head. “It didn’t even happen to me, but I saw what it did to you, to our family. It was painful.”

“Yes, it was. I knew when I married your father he was a womanizer. I just thought I could change him. Rupert isn’t a womanizer despite what everyone says about him. You have been with him for weeks and you should know better by now. He may have had his share of women, but he is honorable and the kind of man who once he makes his mind up about something, he will stick with it. Like his father.” Her mother smiled softly at the mention of her husband, the King. “We could do a lot worse for partners in life, Lara. You need to appreciate what he offers you. He’s a good man, with a good heart and he will treat you well.”

“I know he will mom, but I just… I am just afraid, I guess. I wish I knew how to be brave and just push through it. He keeps asking me to marry him, and part of me wants to say yes more than anything. The other part of me is terrified. What if he changes his mind down the road? What if he finds someone he likes more? What if…?”

“Stop, right there, Lara.” My mother interrupted me, stopping her by putting her hand up. “No more what if games. You need to make a decision. Either, put your heart on the line, or let Rupert go so he can find someone who deserves his heart the way he’s offering it to you.”

“Well, when you put it like that,” I muttered. I was a selfish person. I most definitely did not want any other woman to have him. Realizing her mother was right, I needed to make a commitment to him and give their relationship a real chance.

“You know I’m right,” Her mother chuckled and patted her leg. “Now tell Rupert you’ll marry him. Finally put us all out of our misery of sitting on the edges of our seat, waiting to see if you finally give in.”

“I promised him an answer. I guess I’ll give him the one he wants, and hope for the best.” I gave a half smile, and then looked out the window for the rest of the drive home. I had a lot to think about. If I married him, I would be a princess. I had never wanted to be royalty, but that came with the territory if she wanted to be Rupert’s wife.

Which came to the second question, why did I have to marry him? Why was marriage so important to this man? I decided that was a question I needed him to answer before I walked down the aisle in that white dress, in front of everyone.

When I got back to the palace, I found Rupert in his office with his father. I nodded at him from the doorway, and then left him alone to finish up his business.. I went back to our room and picked up the phone to call the doctors office. I asked what kind of test they were doing and if they had completed a pregnancy test.

They had not, but she was informed they could do it with the samples that they already had. The office told her that she would get the results of the pregnancy test along with her other results. Hanging up the phone I sprawled across the bed thinking about the conversation that I needed to have with Rupert.

I didn't mean to fall asleep waiting for him, but I fell asleep. I woke up to Rupert coming into the room.

“Hi,” I said sleepily, smiling at him thinking he looked gorgeous in my half-sleep state.

“An afternoon nap is unusual for you; did I keep you up too late last night?” He asked me curiously.

“No, I just sat down to shut my eyes for a minute, then you were waking me up.” I sat up and yawned, stretching my arms out. “I should hear back from my doctors tomorrow about the labs, but so far there’s nothing wrong with me. Looks like I’m healthy as a horse.”

“Well, that’s good.” Rupert said, chuckling. “I like healthy horses. I have a barn full of them.”

“I bet you do.” I said and sat up and then looked at him. “Why is marriage so important to you Rupert?”

I blurted it out, it was bad timing, but he just blinked for a moment and considered his answer. Another reason to add why I loved him to the list. He never got too upset by whatever came out of my mouth, even if the timing wasn't always perfect.

“Why?” Rupert furrowed his brows together as he considered her question. “That’s a different question to ask. I suppose because I believe that a man and woman should be united for life, and marriage is the ultimate commitment for me.”

“But why the commitment to me? You have women all over that would love to marry you.” I wished I had his faith in humanity.

“Because I love you, isn’t that enough?” Rupert looked genuinely confused at this point. “Lara, I want to spend my life with you. I don’t know how to even express the magnitude of what I feel half the time. Marrying you, waking up to you each morning, and going to bed with you each night. That’s what I want.”