Chapter 63 #2
“Again, we don’t know the situation with Ascor, as they haven’t said boo to us,” I said calmly.
“But when they do say something, we can answer them honestly that Victor has paid for his actions by being thrown into exile. Valentina is a child, but she’s not innocent.
She’s responsible for this mess too. I think we can use that to our advantage.
If they really insist upon her marriage to restore her honor, then she can marry Victor.
Frankly, they’re two peas in a pod. They shouldn’t have authority over other people anyway. It’ll lead to disastrous results.”
“I’ll handle Ascor,” James swore. “And it won’t end in a war. But if you want me to take the throne, you must leave it to me to manage. You must also leave Victor to me to manage. Either that or go into exile with him.”
Patrick seemed to realize this was the best offer he was going to get. “Then—”
Beatrice slapped her fan into her hand. “I refuse to go off into retirement with you! I won’t take Victor with me, either!”
Funny how they were perfectly willing to sacrifice someone else to protect their son but they wouldn’t do it themselves. They might love him, but they didn’t like him. That was almost worse, in a way, to be loved but not wanted. No wonder Victor was so screwed up.
“Then go somewhere else,” Patrick countered, wholly unbothered by this. “We can get divorced, if you wish.”
That made her pause, a thoughtful look stealing over her face. Almost as if the idea tempted her. “You mean that?”
“I do. All obligations on your end will cease the second you cede power to James. Victor can go back into exile where he should be. James might be right—putting him into exile might be enough to appease Ascor. No harm in trying, anyway. Either way, the fallout will not be our problem.” Patrick held her eyes like he knew he had her.
She licked her lips, the temptation obvious on her face.
Gods and goddesses above and below, had he really tipped the scales in our favor with divorce? I knew these two didn’t like each other, but I didn’t know the hatred ran so deep.
“Fine,” Beatrice finally acquiesced. She snapped her fan open, giving it a little victory wave. “Agreed. But I set the standard for my living arrangements after this.”
James quirked a brow like she amused him on some level. “Kentillie Castle, fully staffed, with a fifty thousand gold budget per month for the rest of your natural life.”
That must have been what she’d demanded in her last life, because it didn’t even take her two seconds to think it over. She thrust a hand at James. “Done.”
He shook upon it, sealing the deal. “As for you, Patrick—Catterborough Hold, also fully staffed, also with the same budget.”
“Ha!” He grimaced, but he also extended a hand. “Done. You do know us well.”
James gave a rueful huff. “Yes. That I do. Call for Gideon Galbraith.”
“Done.”
James seized my elbow and hauled me directly to the terrace, through the doors, then closed them hastily behind us. Privacy, of a sort, and very necessary.
I started apologizing before the doors even fully closed. “James, I’m so, so sorry—”
His hands, those large hands I loved, framed my face, stilling me. “Do not apologize. You struck precisely the right deal with them. Precisely the right compromise to meet all of our goals without sacrificing what’s truly important in the process.”
“I just feel bad that I didn’t run it past you first.”
“You judged every word that came out of your mouth by my expression. I knew what you were doing. I would have stopped you otherwise.”
I breathed easier. “Then this is truly fine?”
“I have faith it will be. In fact, it might well turn the tide. They are partially what made my reign so unbearable the first round, having to argue with them constantly. It was only after I’d married that I was able to get rid of them.
Which did help, but Valentina took their place, so I’d only traded one trouble for another.
This? Where all four troublemakers are gone?
This makes all the difference in the world.
Under these circumstances, I’m willing to be king.
Or, I should say, I’d rather be king under these circumstances than be thrust into exile, losing everything.
Still, I think this is doable, and clearly Vuheia prompted you for a reason. ”
He smacked a kiss on my mouth before leaning back, that unholy light of cunning in his eyes.
“But it means I need to move several things up in the timeline. Frankly, I still don’t trust them to keep their word.
I want to act and have things locked in before they second-guess themselves or try to maneuver around what they’ve promised.
Beloved, this was not how I wanted to ask—in fact, I was going to propose at the ball—but will you marry me? ”
I sucked in a startled breath, not sure I’d heard him right. Then I realized he was perfectly serious. Oh. Oh Nimus, I knew he wanted to marry me, but right now?
“Yes,” I said, helpless to say anything else. I loved him too much to say no. “But are you—mmph.”
I sank into the kiss, powerless to think when his lips moved across mine, lost in the wave of need and love. A short eternity later, while I scrambled to remember how to breathe, he finally lifted his head and grinned at me.
“Thank you,” he breathed across my mouth. “For trusting and loving me as you do. I truly wouldn’t make it without you. And I promise you a proper wedding ceremony later.”
Later meaning…oh. Oh. “Wait. You’re planning on us marrying now now? As in, right this second?”
“The second Galbraith transfers all powers over to me, I’m marrying you on the spot.”
For the second time today, I was speechless. I still had no idea how he loved me so much, what I’d done to earn this unwavering loyalty, but I hoped I always proved worthy. “I love you. In fact, I must be crazy in love with you to agree to all this.”
Grinning, he leaned in for another kiss. “I love you more than life itself.”
I knew he did with every fiber of my being. I never doubted it.
“We need rings,” I managed.
“I’ve got them in my room.”
“Of course you do.” Was there anything at all, in regard to us, that he left to chance? “Where? I’ll fetch them.”
“No, we’re sending someone else to fetch them. I want you right with me.” He abruptly opened the door and called, “Captain Rowan, I need you to send a runner to my room to fetch something.”
I listened to him detail precisely where the rings were and tried to mentally brace myself for the fact that I’d be the king’s consort in about fifteen minutes. Nimus preserve me, that sounded insane even in my own head. I was not ready in any way or form.
But I refused to leave this man’s side. So, apparently, I was ready.
I opened the balcony doors again as the obvious hit. “We need to get Helena and Royce up here, if at all possible. As witnesses.”
“Ah, good thought.”
Royce might well be in the city at this time of the day, but maybe not; it was early enough he could still be in the palace. I crossed my fingers and hoped even as I snagged two runners and sent them out immediately.
James used the time while waiting on people to arrive to draft out several agreements.
The first being a transfer of all power and responsibilities from the established monarchs.
Patrick looked it over as James next drafted an agreement to give the specific castles to each monarch, with the living expenses.
Beatrice was quick to snatch up the document and review it.
She only tacked on two requests, which were easy to add, both of them for personal assets to be transferred with her.
Apparently, she’d brought a villa and a vineyard with her into the marriage and she wanted to keep them. Fair enough.
The runner Rowan had sent out returned with the rings, and I gave Ruffy a high five for managing it so quickly. He grinned before returning to the hallway, on standby once more.
By the time we had the contracts written, I’d gotten word back Helena was out in the country for a lunch party, and wouldn’t be back until much later this afternoon. I hated her missing our vows, but we couldn’t afford to stand around waiting on her, either. I’d apologize to her later.
At least Royce had arrived on scene. I was relieved to see him and hastily drew him to the side, filling him in on all that had happened and what the agreement was.
Royce’s jaw dangled as he spluttered out, “You are marrying James? Right now?”
“As soon as he’s king, yes.”
“Gods above,” Royce breathed, seeming so shocked a single puff of air could blow him over.
“For now, let’s get through this. I want a promise from you that you’ll ride herd on your parents until they have safely left this city. I don’t trust them to not try to find some kind of loophole.”
“I certainly wouldn’t,” Royce agreed bluntly. “I’ll do my best. Oh, I think—yes, Galbraith’s here.”
I turned to see for myself, and sure enough, the man of the hour had arrived.
Judge Galbraith was the only one with the power to confer titles and land.
He’d been in position since the previous monarch and should have retired five years ago by anyone’s reckoning, but the man was completely untouchable.
No one could bribe or maneuver him, and it was hard to find his replacement, so he kept lingering in the position.
I’d never been more thankful to see him in my life.
At his age, his knees and hips were bad, so he moved slowly. There was nothing slow about his mind, however, and I could see the sharp appraisal in those grey eyes as he came closer to James.
“Your Highness. It’s my understanding you’ll be given the monarch’s seat today.”
“You’re correct, Supreme Judge,” James said with utmost respect. “All rights, authorities, and responsibilities will be immediately transferred to me. Patrick and Beatrice will keep nothing for themselves and will retire to their individual territories by the end of next week.”