Chapter Ten #2
I start to argue, but then realize this is my chance to get away from my parents. And a nap does sound good. “Don’t think you can boss me around just because you’re about to become a prince.”
He grimaces. I can’t help but smile.
“Sophaya.”
My smile fades as I look up at Mother. She’s watching the two of us, her eyes sharp as she glances between the two of us. An odd emotion crosses her face, one I can’t quite place.
“Don’t you think you should review your notes before the meeting?”
“I’ve reviewed them multiple times, Mother.”
She starts to retort, but Dominic stands, filling the room with his presence. For once, Mother doesn’t have a comeback as she tilts her head back to look up at him. He stares down at her for a long moment before turning his back on her. My jaw drops. Maybe he doesn’t know the insult he just levied.
Except as I glance at him, I see the faintest hint of a smirk playing about his full lips. He holds out his arm. “I’ll escort you up.”
I slide my hand into the crook of his elbow, my fingers wrapping around him tighter than I usually would.
“What did you mean by ‘interesting’?” my father asks. “When you first walked in?”
His voice isn’t as charming now. The mask has slipped, revealing a man who cares more about protocol not being observed than standing up for his daughter.
“Your criticism of your daughter. I find it interesting given both your histories.”
Mother’s mouth drops open as Father’s cheeks go red.
“I beg your pardon?” Father snaps.
“Eleven affairs since your daughter was born. That’s not including any one-night stands I haven’t discovered yet.”
“That’s none of your business!”
Dominic’s smile is sharp, lethal. “It is when you’re insulting my future wife and the mother of my child. Your grandchild, in case you forgot.”
“I wasn’t insulting her!” Father looks at me, his cheeks ruddy and his eyes slightly frantic.
Aside from my mother’s cold insults, I don’t think anyone has called him on his behavior since Grandfather passed.
“Sophaya, surely you understand your situation has implications for the crown. If you were to be discovered—”
“Just as if any of your affairs had led to a child,” Dominic cuts in, “or your affair with the Argentinian ambassador’s wife had leaked to the press.”
“For God’s sake, Roberto,” Mother sighs.
Dominic turns to her. “You have no room to judge, either, Your Majesty.”
Mother’s shoulders stiffen, as if she’s bracing herself to have her own dirty secrets shared.
“Dominic.”
He looks down at me, quiet fury burning in his eyes. He’s not doing this for the baby, I realize, or to put on a show. No, he’s doing this for me. Standing up for me.
My eyes grow hot. It shouldn’t matter. But it matters a lot. I move my hand down, thread my fingers through his and squeeze. Our palms meet, press together. “Let’s go.”
He nods. We walk out of the room and into the hallway. I nearly look back. But my parents chose themselves over me a long time ago.
I guide Dominic through the halls to an elevator. He doesn’t say anything until the doors close.
“I won’t apologize.”
“I don’t expect you to.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Thank you.”
“You don’t deserve that, Sophaya.”
“I know.” A sigh escapes. “Diplomacy has been drilled into me since I can remember. That and a desire to never be like them.”
“Standing up for yourself doesn’t make you like them.”
Suddenly self-conscious and embarrassed at Dominic already witnessing the worst my parents have to offer, I let go of his hand and take a physical step back.
He doesn’t reach for me, doesn’t give any indication that he notices as the elevator shoots up to the top floor of the palace.
He may have stood up for me against my parents.
But I need to be careful not to read too much into that, to think that he’s offering more when he’s not.
I suspect if I let myself care, I’d be giving Dominic far too much power.
The kind of power that could destroy me if I even dare to think something more can come of this forced union.
I clear my throat. “How are the plans coming for your autumn gala?”
He glances at me. “Everything is proceeding according to plan. I’m impressed you remembered.”
I remember every moment about our night in Venice, including the way he spoke about the Hawke Foundation.
He may not be a fan of the luxury and glamour.
But he cares about the foundation, suffers the media exposure to do something good and honor the memory of his adoptive father. “It sounded important to you.”
Surprised silence reigns for the rest of our ride up.
The doors finally open to the private marbled hallway outside my suite, Dominic’s suite and the room that will eventually be turned into the nursery.
When I moved to the south wing in December, I had the austere portraits of my ancestors moved to another hall.
Photos of my grandparents are in their place, from their royal wedding nearly seventy years ago to my grandfather’s retiring from the crown ceremony. There are a few of me with them, too.
Dominic glances at them as we walk down to the double doors at the far end of the hall.
“You have the suite on the south end of the palace. The balcony overlooks the pine forest between us and the capital, Villeluz.”
I reach for one of the door handles, but the door swings inward.
“Oh!” Josephine, the head housekeeper for the southern wing, dips into a quick curtsy. “I apologize, Your Highness, I didn’t realize you would be up here so soon.”
I smile warmly at her. Josephine was one of the maids when my quarters were in the same wing as my parents.
More than once she’d brought me tea or cookies after one of my parents’ fights.
She was always discreet but kind, too. When I moved, I insisted on her being promoted to head housekeeper of the south wing.
“I should have texted.” I lean in. “Remember, you don’t have to use my title when it’s just us.”
She smiles slightly. “I know, I just…” Her gaze slants to Dominic. “I wasn’t sure whether he would prefer—”
“I most definitely would not.” Dominic smiles, and I blink. The smile transforms his entire face, emphasizing his handsomeness as the shadows slip away. “I would prefer to be called by my title as little as possible.”
Josephine nods. “I’ll do my best, sir.”
I ask after her sister, who’s studying at the university on Siravelle’s eastern coast, and her parents. A few minutes later she departs, leaving Dominic and me alone.
“You know her very well.”
“I try to get to know the staff, especially the ones I interact with regularly. They’re like family.” More like family than my parents ever have been. I gesture toward the open door. “After you.”
Dominic walks in. I hesitate on the threshold. I’m not sure how he’s going to react to what I’ve done to his suite. But hopefully he likes it, or at least can live with it.
Slowly, I follow him in. The suite is stunning, done in dark wood and navy accents.
Dominic takes in the custom shelves installed fresh yesterday, the plush rug ordered from Italy, the private bar counter with his favorite whiskey.
I called in some favors on my flight home, scanned articles and pictures of the Hawke Security office and Dominic’s private office in particular to recreate some of his space.