CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – FINN #2
“What my wife means is that Jasmine has been raised since her preteen years believing she was going to become the Crown Princess according to the agreement you made with my late wife,” William says smoothly.
“Due to her disappearance, Harriet has had no such upbringing. She’s barely spoken about the time she was away from us.
We have no information about her education, if any at all.
We’re merely concerned that she may bring the Royal House into disrepute. ”
“I do not know if you are bold or stupid.” My mother sits up straight, keeping her steely gaze fixed on him. “Perhaps it’s both, given that you continue speaking when you should shut up.”
He opens his mouth, but this time, he wisely holds his tongue.
“I had an inkling that you think little of your eldest daughter, but I’m astounded to see that it’s even less than I could have imagined.
Do you know her at all, William?” She tilts her head to the side.
“Of course, she hasn’t spoken to you about what she went through when she was missing.
You replaced her and her mother as soon as you could, and ever since she returned home, you’ve had her living under a fake name to hide her identity.
Tell me, if you were her, would you say a word about what you went through?
Would you feel safe enough to recount a terrible time of your life? ”
He says nothing, merely pressing his lips together.
“As for her being, what was it? Suitable? That was what you said, yes?” She raises her eyebrows at Rosalyn, then continues.
“There’s only one person qualified to decide who’s ‘suitable’ to be his wife, and that is Finley himself.
You know full well that despite the agreement we made, Francesca and I were very much of the opinion that both Harriet and Finley would be allowed to marry whoever they wished.
“The arrangement between our families was little more than two best friends wishing their children might find happiness together. If that wasn’t in the cards for them, then so be it.
I’m certainly not archaic enough to force my son into a marriage that doesn’t bring him peace or happiness.
If that’s the impression my people have of their queen, then I’m doing a terrible job at carrying our country through this rapidly changing society. ”
“Of course not, Your Majesty,” Rosalyn says quickly. “It’s just that—”
“I chose Harriet.”
Everyone’s gazes fall on me, each of them with a different emotion fixated my way. Pride, anger, frustration, jealousy.
“Nothing else matters,” I continue, ensuring my tone leaves no room for anyone to argue. “Other than my choice, and I chose Harriet. I choose Harriet. And let me be very clear—no matter what happens, I will always choose her.”
A slow smile teases the corners of my mother’s lips, and she sits back in her armchair, her tense features finally settling. The same can’t be said for the Sinclairs.
William’s expression is one of disbelief—and I know it’s not because he thinks I’m lying, but because he can’t quite believe what he’s hearing. Rosalyn’s is a thinly veiled anger, culminating in the clench of her jaw, and Jasmine’s is outright despair.
As if I’m shattering whatever little bit of hope she had left.
Good.
I hope she cuts herself on the pieces of her broken dreams.
I turn to her and incline my head. “I do apologise if I have ever given you the wrong impression about our relationship. That wasn’t my intention, and I acknowledge that I take full responsibility for any misunderstanding.
I should have made my position regarding the marriage arrangements much clearer, much sooner, so please allow me to right that wrong. ”
She swallows, bobbing her head.
“I do not have, nor have I ever had, any desire to marry you.”
Her eyes widen, and for the briefest of moments, I see it.
The real her, the one she keeps hidden behind her sweet-as-sugar persona. The vicious, manipulative edge that runs through her veins, ready to strike at any point.
The bitter, jealous vine of hatred she keeps reserved for Hattie.
It’s gone as quickly as it flared to life, and I must give her kudos. The woman is an incredible actress to keep such vehement emotions hidden.
“Nor will I ever wish to,” I finish. “The only woman I’ll marry in this lifetime is Harriet.”
Jasmine’s cheeks flame, but again, she says nothing. This is the quietest I’ve ever heard her, and that’s just how angry she is. I’ve just driven the final nail into her coffin, confirming her worst nightmare, and now she must do the thing she’s feared most.
The thing Harriet wants more than anything.
Jasmine must watch as Harriet lives the life she thought she’d have.
As my fiancée. As my wife. As the crown princess. As the future mother of this nation, as its queen. As she takes a place in history so few ever have or ever will.
And there isn’t a fucking thing she can do about it.
“Harriet’s official residence from this day forwards will be the Royal Palace,” my mother says, barely looking at Jasmine. “For their private lodgings, I am gifting them Markham Hall.”
I look at her.
That’s her favourite place in the world.
“Mother—”
“It is my hope that after a torrid time being ripped away from those who love her at such a young age, Harriet may find peace at Markham Hall. And, of course, within the walls of the palace.” She pauses, her gaze flitting between William and Rosalyn.
“She will return to the Sinclair household when she is ready to collect her belongings—accompanied by some staff, of course. Needless to say, I expect her things to remain intact and untouched until she comes to collect them.”
William’s jaw clenches. “What are you insinuating, Your Majesty?”
“Do you need me to spell it out for you?” she replies dryly.
When he doesn’t reply, she continues, “I thought not. Now, normally in a situation like this, I would be looking to discuss some form of compensation with you. Although one could argue that the official agreement between the Royal House and the Sinclair Family has been upheld given that the eldest Sinclair daughter is marrying the crown prince, it has come at a cost to your youngest daughter, which I fully acknowledge. As Finley said, he bears responsibility for that, and thus, so do I.”
Rosalyn’s eyes brighten at that. “Compensation? Well, yes. Jasmine is very upset, as you can see. She barely slept all night for crying, and the damage to her public image is quite considerable.”
“Of course, I understand entirely,” my mother says, sitting upright.
She smiles. “It is regrettable that she’s a topic of conversation right now.
Hopefully, as the rollout of the engagement fills the newspaper columns, there will be less talk about her and much more about the upcoming royal wedding. ”
I eye her. What is she up to, referencing compensation? There’s nothing to compensate them for.
“Then what are you considering, Your Majesty?” Rosalyn continues. “William and I would be amenable to a discussion regarding a suitor for Jasmine, if you would be so kind.”
Wow.
“Oh, I’m not considering a thing.” My mother’s smile turns cold. “You must have missed the part where I said ‘normally.’”
The chill that runs through the air licks at my skin, icy and venomous, enough to stop even the hardiest of cold weather animals in their tracks.
“You see, any goodwill I may have had for your situation was exhausted the moment I learnt of Harriet’s real name.
You’ve lied to me for two years. You’ve led me to believe that Harriet was still missing, if not dead, when the truth was living under your roof the entire time.
” She clasps her hands in her lap and focuses on William.
“You hid one daughter to further the ambitions of another with little thought or care for the consequences. The only ‘compensation’ your family shall be receiving from the Royal Family is a promise that we will not make it known how horrifically you’ve treated the poor girl. ”
Rosalyn opens her mouth, but William silences her with a raise of his hand.
“I understand, Your Majesty.” He bows his head. “I apologise greatly for my deception. I should have told you that Harriet had returned to us. I handled everything incorrectly, and I will forever regret the way she’s been treated.”
“Again, I am not the one who is in need of an apology from you, William. Nor do I care for it. We’ve known each other long enough that we need not partake in these unnecessary niceties.
” She sighs wearily. “There will also be a discussion about ensuring Harriet’s full access to her trust—” She pauses as someone knocks at the door.
“Rowan, did I not insist that we are not to be disturbed?”
He slides out of the corner of the room. “You did, Your Majesty. Please allow me to handle this.”
Has he been here the whole time?
Smart.
“Please do,” Mum says. “Now, as I was saying, we will be discuss—”
Rowan rushes over to me and leans over the back of the sofa. “You need to return to your bedroom. Miss Harriet has woken up and is having a panic attack,” he whispers.
“Shit.” I push off the sofa and run to the door, ignoring my mother asking what the hell is going on, because I don’t care.
I care about nothing other than Hattie.
She needs me.