Chapter 18 #2
Despite what Enzo said or felt, the rest of the country didn't feel the same way.
The Council certainly didn't - or at least not all of them.
As far as she knew, only a couple could be considered to be on her side.
From what Enzo had told her, it sounded like most of Parliament would back her up, but she'd prefer it didn't get that far.
She'd much rather the Council cooperate.
Maybe she should just go back to Southern Santiero.
Was she really needed in Dellisole?
Could she really make a difference to anyone or with anything with the possible exception of providing an heir and a spare?
Victoria doubted it. Even once her seat on the Council was secured, she'd be outvoted and overlooked.
Heaven forbid anything dealing with women's issues would arise.
As the only woman on the Council, she suspected most of them would ignore her.
Despite her privileged upbringing, her time spent away from the palace had given her insight many others raised in the royal world would not have.
Enzo stood and buttoned his suit coat. "This meeting is adjourned." He turned and walked toward Victoria as everyone else stared at him with their mouths ajar.
He extended his arm to Victoria who slipped her hand inside as they walked out of the room in a very controlled manner.
She still didn't understand what exactly had happened.
About the time they reached door leading to their waiting SUV, one of the Council aides caught up with them.
"Sir, the Chairman would like to have a word."
Enzo stared at him for a long moment. "Very well. I will meet him in the Council Room in a few minutes."
Victoria suspected he wanted to exert control by not immediately being at the Chairman's beck and call. By making him wait, Enzo was showing him he couldn't be easily intimidated.
They stood with his aide as the two men discussed nothing of importance. At least, Victoria didn't think the footy championships were more important than Council business. No one else could hear what they were saying. After a few minutes, they returned to the Council chambers.
The Chairman glared at Victoria but spoke to Enzo. "She is not needed here and, in fact, is not cleared for these conversations."
"If you would have done your duty on time, the queen would already be a member of the Council and this conversation would be just as pointless as it is now."
The Chairman's lack of respect for Victoria clearly wasn't lost on her husband. In fact, if she had to guess, Enzo was barely containing his irritation.
"You would hold up the business of the Council for someone who isn't even a citizen of Dellisole?"
As much as Victoria hated to admit it, the Chairman had a point, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of acknowledging it.
"The queen became a citizen upon our marriage and you know that. Just as the rest of you swore your loyalty to the crown, so did the queen."
It seemed a bit awkward to Victoria of him to refer to her as "the queen" so often in such a short period of time, but she suspected that it was, in part, to remind the Chairman of her role - as well as reminding him not to overstep his own.
The Chairman just glared at both of them rather than responding.
The Vice Chairman joined the conversation, giving a glare of his own to the Chairman. “Don’t make me call for a vote of no confidence, because I will.”
Victoria appreciated the unexpected support, but wasn’t certain it would be enough.
The two men stared at each other until the Chairman finally backed down.
“Very well. Call everyone back and we’ll take a vote.” The Chairman turned and went back to his seat, leaving the Vice Chairman to recall the rest of the Council to the chamber.
To everyone in the room, it was clear the Chairman wasn’t happy with what was about to happen. He made the motion to add her to the Council. It was seconded then unanimously approved by a voice vote with one abstention.
One of the council members motioned to end the closed session and recall the observers back into the chamber. Once that was done, the announcement about Victoria was made, she took the oath administered by the Chairman who looked like he’d rather be anywhere else and doing anything else.
As soon as that was completed, she took her spot in front of the vacant seat. When Enzo sat down, the rest of them did as well.
The meeting was called to order. Victoria listened intently to the discussion around her, but offered very little in the way of opinions and declined to vote on the items where a vote was taken.
After the third vote, the Chairman called her out. “Why aren’t you voting, Vicky? What is the point of allowing you on the Council if you’re just going to abstain.”
She had never publicly gone by Vicky as a nickname. Kiki to some of her family, but to everyone else she’d always been Victoria - or called by an honorific. As much as she wanted to respond in kind, she chose to remain silent.
“You don’t even have an answer?”
Again, she chose not to respond. It clearly annoyed the Chairman, but at this point Victoria didn't care.
Before the Chairman tried again, Enzo leaned forward. “I believe the queen has the same question I do.”
With obvious reluctance, the Chairman turned. “What is that, sir?”
”Who you’re speaking to. The queen has not given you leave to call her by her given name, much less a nickname she’s never used, so surely you’re not addressing her.
As Chairman, you know how to address the queen or any other dignitary, visitor, VIP, or fellow council member.
With that in mind, who is Vicky?” Enzo’s voice remained calm, but Victoria could hear the veiled threat underneath and felt certain the Chairman could as well.
Enzo went on. “If you’re seeing people who aren’t here, perhaps that vote of no confidence would be wise after all.”