Chapter 26 A Summons from the Queen
A Summons from the Queen
Genevieve Laurent had never been a woman prone to unnecessary sentiment. She had been raised to understand duty, responsibility, and the careful art of positioning oneself exactly where one needed to be.
She had always known she would marry Alexander.
It had never been a question of if—only when.
But as she sat in her elegant Parisian townhouse, turning the Queen’s formal invitation over in her hands, she found herself hesitating.
The wording was polite. Expected.
“Her Majesty cordially invites you to Caledonia for a private audience to discuss the forthcoming engagement,”
But the timing—that was what gave her pause.
Genevieve set the letter down, reaching for the nearest newspaper. The headlines had been impossible to ignore.
“The Prince Warms Up—Is Alexander Finally Embracing ?”
“A New Side of the Crown Prince—What’s Behind the Change?”
She tapped her fingers against the polished mahogany desk, exhaling slowly.
She had known Alexander for years. She knew him well enough to recognize that he was not prone to sudden transformation.
So the question remained—was this newfound lightness in him a sign that he was finally ready to accept their engagement?
Or was there another reason the Queen had summoned her?
One the press hadn’t yet uncovered?
After a long moment, she reached for a pen.
“To Her Majesty, Queen Eleanor—
It would be my honor to accept your invitation.”
She pressed the tip of the pen harder against the paper than necessary.
She had always known she would marry Alexander.
But for the first time, she wondered if he still knew it too.