Chapter 10 – Sebastian #2
“Good, because if you don’t, you’ll be asked to leave.
Bellamy is your new queen, and she will be treated with all the grace and respect she deserves.
” I let my threat hang in the air because mother or not, I’ll kick her ass right out of my palace if she disrespects my wife again.
Not to mention her comfortable lifestyle is in my hands.
One I can take away whenever I so choose.
Before my mother can so much as utter another sound, the door to the parlor springs open, and there is Bellamy’s father wearing only a bathrobe, looking about as lost as a man can be.
My mother makes a choking noise in her throat, but I can’t help but smile in amusement, and Rowan is right there with me.
Bellamy’s father’s gaze shifts about the room, taking each of us in and finally landing on Bellamy.
“Oh, Amy, I’m glad I found you!” he exclaims, and Bellamy’s breath instantly hitches.
He hasn’t recognized her in weeks. “Can you point me in the direction of the shower? And why on earth is there a plastic bag on my arm I can’t remove? ”
Bellamy’s glassy eyes peer up at me, and I lean in and give her a soft kiss. “Go. You don’t want to miss a second of that.”
She gives me a watery smile, excuses herself to my mother, and heads over to her father. “I can help you, Dad. But how on earth did you find yourself all the way over on this side of the palace? Where’s your helper?”
“My helper?” he parrots. “You mean that guy who tried to chase after me? Ha!” He laughs. “I got the better of him.”
Oh, hell. Now I outright laugh, and Bellamy shoots a reprimanding glare at me over her shoulder. My hands fly up in the air, but there’s no hiding the humor on her face as she turns back to him and shuts the door behind her.
“What on earth was that?”
“Bellamy’s father. He has dementia and isn’t well.”
“I can see that,” she scoffs, her gaze shifting to me, examining me with an accusing glare.
“You really shouldn’t just let that man run around unattended.
You both represent our family, and you need to be more mindful of your appearance.
A queen’s image is everything, after all, and so far, I haven’t seen anything regal about her.
Perhaps that is the problem,” she continues, her mouth curving into a cold smile.
“There isn’t an ounce of nobility in her.
So unlike how Nora was. Some things simply cannot be learned with time.
You should divorce her and do it now before she causes a scandal. ”
“Mother, that’s enough!” I bellow, my voice rising as I stand over her, Rowan at my side.
“Bellamy is more than capable of being a great queen, and I have no doubt in my mind that she will continue to prove herself. She has my full support, and I expect you to respect her as my wife and as the queen of our country. And as for scandal and not acting regal, if anyone here is guilty of that, it’s you. ”
“Sebastian, be reasonable about this! She’s the nanny. I see the appeal.” She waves her hand toward the door Bellamy left through. “She’s young and obviously beautiful, but she’s only with you because you’re the king. She’s using you.”
“And you know that from meeting her for all of two minutes and sneering in her face like some sort of hissing cat?” Rowan challenges.
“I’m simply suggesting a quick divorce might be the most advantageous course.”
I smirk. It’s not a kind smirk. “Do not presume to speak on my marriage when you know nothing of it. It’s so very unlike the one you had with our father or even the one I had with Nora.
There will be no divorce. In fact.” Now my smirk curls into a taunting smile.
“Your grandchildren will be born by the end of summer.”
Displeasure twists her features just as the door opens once more and Althea enters, reading both mine and Rowan’s expressions clearly and letting out a resolute sigh.
“Sister, you’re here all of ten minutes, and already my nephews look miserable. Please tell me you haven’t opened your mouth with your unnecessary and unwanted opinions on my new niece?”
My mother twists to face Althea, her face stretched in shock. “Your new niece? You cannot be serious?”
“Actually I am.” Althea waltzes over to us. “You just never listened when I spoke about her. Bellamy is wonderful and I love her as a dear friend, as my new niece, and as my queen.”
My mother scowls, but I don’t give a shit. She needs to know Bellamy is my wife, my queen, and she isn’t going anywhere. I don’t need her approval, nor do I seek it. In fact, the sooner she leaves, the better. The last thing I want her to do is make Bellamy uncomfortable again.
“Now, if we’re past all this, I’d like to get down to business.”
My mother blanches but nods all the same.
She takes a seat on the sofa nearest the fire and proceeds to stare into the flames. Rowan and I exchange a quick look, but then we’re all sitting down, my heart picking up a few extra beats.
“It’s not something I ever wanted anyone to know about,” she starts, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife, her eyes glinting with something I can’t quite place. “I suppose it’s time to let everyone know. Your father had an affair with the woman who took your sister.”