The Making of a Princess by Teresa Carpenter Page B

princess.” She sniffed her disdain. “I was supposed to tell a child who mooned over every fairy tale and Disney princess that she was the daughter of a prince who didn’t know she existed? Not likely.”
    “I was eleven. I outgrew the fascination. You could have told when I got older.”
    “Stop this now.” Grandmother clearly disliked being questioned. “This emotional outburst is unbecoming on you. We did our duty. We raised you as our own, provided a good education for you. You should be grateful.”
    “Grateful?” Amanda asked appalled. “Family shouldn’t have to be grateful for supporting each other. I love you and Grandfather. Do you love me?”
    She didn’t know where the question came from except when she stopped and thought about it, she couldn’t remember the last time she heard either of her grandparents actually voice their affection for her.
    “Now you’re being silly.” Grandmother stood and smoothed her camp shirt over her linen pants. “You’re not going, so this discussion is over. We won’t speak of this again. It would distress your grandfather.”
    “I am going.”
    Grandmother froze, turned slowly to face Amanda. “You’re just saying that to be contrary.” Her icy tone made Xavier’s coolness seem warm and toasty. “I won’t succumb to emotional blackmail.”
    Amanda jumped to her feet.
    “Emotional blackmail? I simply asked you to admit you love me. Something you couldn’t do.” She paused. And still nothing. “Emotional blackmail is telling me by boarding the plane I’m cutting all ties with you and grandfather.”
    “It’s for the best.”
    “You would cut me out of your lives?”
    “You’re not going, so it’s not an issue.”
    “Oh, I’m going.”
    “I said no.” Grandmother’s tone held steel.
    “But you don’t make my decisions for me anymore. You kept the information about my father from me. Now he’s found me, and I choose to act on the invitation he’s issued.”
    Ingrid lifted her chin. “Then you’ve made your choice.”
    “Yes.”
    Amanda came here to find comfort and reassurance. Instead she received a large dose of truth she’d been unprepared to handle. But she wouldn’t accept the blame for the deterioration of her family. Not when she was simply trying to find her way. She grabbed her keys.
    “But remember this, you forced it.”
    * * *
    Xavier shifted gears allowing the tension to drain from his shoulders. He recognized the streets and realized Amanda was headed home.
    She’d been so upset earlier he’d felt compelled to follow her to ensure her safety. He knew from his report on her that the address she’d gone to belonged to her grandparents.
    If she’d hoped for sympathy, clearly she hadn’t found what she sought. From the body language he observed through the front window, her visit had been more confrontational than comforting.
    She looked paler and even more distressed after talking to her grandmother than she had when she left him.
    He wouldn’t have thought it possible.
    She found a parking spot on the street and he pulled into a loading zone to watch until he saw her safely inside and her lights go on. It took remarkable restraint not to go up and make sure she’d properly locked her door.
    And not because of any sense of duty.
    He felt disjointed, out of sync, at odds with himself when it came to Amanda. Her safety was the most important thing in the world to him, but not because his Prince had ordered it.
    He’d hurt her. It killed him knowing all the misery she’d borne today zeroed back on him. He’d never forgive himself for putting his desires before her welfare.
    Drawing his mobile phone out, he quickly dialed a number.
    “Yes,” Amanda answered, her tone cool as the night air on the other side of his window.
    “Are you okay?” he asked. “You had much information to process today,” he added to keep her from guessing he’d been following her across the city. “Do you have any questions for