Chapter 4 #2
Catherine never went anywhere alone, ever.
She never had. The only places she could go without another person being there were in the palace or one of their other homes and even then not everywhere in those places.
Her private quarters were usually safe, except she'd had up to eight siblings and her parents living in the same "apartment" so there was always someone around.
The last thing she wanted to do was make her parents think she was ungrateful for their help over the years, but sometimes she wondered when she'd be able to have the Monarch's Quarters to herself and the family she'd be creating with someone, someday.
Maybe she should move out like her younger siblings had. Move to one of the other apartments. It had been several years since she went through them to see what they looked like or how they felt or which view she might like best, so that needed to be on her agenda.
Staring out the window, unable to sleep, she decided that would be the best thing for her and her family. She didn't want to kick her parents and four youngest siblings out just because she had a birthday.
And if she was going to be starting a life with Jacob, a place of their own - so to speak - could be a very good plan.
She sat straight up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Going to the window, she looked down at the spot she'd just remembered existed.
"It's perfect," she whispered.
It would take some convincing for her security team to see the wisdom of the decision, but she'd overrule them if she had to.
Her phone buzzed, overriding her do not disturb. When she picked it up, the name didn't surprise her.
"Hi." She answered and sunk back down onto the bed. "You made it home?"
"I did," Jacob told her. "I talked to my grandparents for a little bit or I would have called sooner."
"Did you..." Catherine couldn't finish the question.
"No," he answered quickly. "I didn't tell them anything, just that I'd had dinner at the palace and talked to most members of the family at one point or another today."
They talked about a variety of things for the next half an hour, but didn't broach the elephant in the room.
"I had an idea," she finally blurted out.
"What's that?"
Lying back on the bed, she stared at the ceiling.
"There's a cottage on the grounds. It's situated in such a way that it's virtually inaccessible from outside.
It's on the outer wall, on a cliff next to the water.
To get to it, someone would have to cross the entire property or scale a large wall without being noticed. "
"Okay," he replied slowly.
"It's only about four or five rooms," she went on. "It's been a couple of years since I went through it, but I think there’s a living area, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, half-bathroom, and study. No one is using it right now."
"I'm not sure I'm following." His cautious tone didn't exactly worry Catherine, but didn't really comfort her either.
"We can move in there for a while. It's away from my family, but not too far away. The commute will be a little farther, and outside, but it would give us a bit of privacy to figure out our lives."
He didn't say anything for several seconds. "That sounds like it could be a really good idea," he said slowly. "If you're sure you want to go through with this."
"You're the one who needs to be sure," she countered. "I have to get married to keep my job, as it were, you don't."
"I told you I was committed to making this work. I don't know exactly what we want to do as far as announcing it to the public or what kind of wedding to have, but I'm committed to a marriage with you, to serving you and your people however I'm needed."
He'd said as much several times over dinner, though not always in those words. Catherine knew she'd continue to question him until it had been made official - and probably after as well.
"We'll meet again tomorrow with my parents and whoever else they deem necessary.
" She let her arm flop over her eyes, shutting out the ceiling above.
"Then we can make some decisions, but I think I'm comfortable with the plan to live in the cottage.
I've thought for a while about how I could live with a little less family around but hadn't come up with a good plan yet, not without making my parents feel unnecessarily guilty, but this serves a dual purpose.
It gives us a place to live as we start our lives together, but also gives me a chance to move out without that guilt for them. "
"That's a very good idea." She could hear a hint of admiration in his voice. "This is why you're already a good queen. You've found an unconventional solution that works for everyone. I'm proud to be able to support and assist you however I can."
"Thank you," she whispered. Hearing his affirmation meant more than she would have expected.
She'd heard from everyone, for years, about what a good queen she would be, how her mother would be proud of her.
Maybe this time she actually believed it.
At least a little bit.