Chapter 6
Once again wearing her work clothes, Catherine left the cottage for the palace and her office. She'd put a warm coat on for the short walk. It was too cold outside not to.
When she reached her office, she set her satchel on the desk and hung her coat up on a rack contoured to help the coat retain its shape. Taking her seat, she logged into her computer and kicked off her shoes underneath the desk.
Checking her agenda for the day, Catherine noted a video conference with leaders of the three other countries of the Sargasso Sea - Northern Santiero, Southern Santiero, and Western Novigradia.
The four leaders of the Quad Countries were in process of planning the Quad Country Games for the next year.
Technically, her father should be a part of the conversation, since he was still the regent.
Instead, he would listen in from his office, but wouldn't be a part of the meeting unless someone asked him a specific question or he felt the need to clarify something.
The rest of her day was to be spent on paperwork.
A message appeared on her screen telling her that her father had requested a meeting as soon as they could get the Prime Minister and longest serving Council Member together.
She sent a note back telling her senior aide to schedule it whenever needed outside of the video conference time frame.
That meeting had already been postponed twice because of unexpected conflicts in the other countries, and she didn't want to be the cause of a third delay.
An hour later, her father and Jacob entered from a side door just a minute before the Prime Minister and Councilman came through the main door.
She hadn't been briefed on what the meeting would be about, but given Jacob's presence, she could guess.
They took their seats at the conference table, with Jacob taking a seat next to her again rather than further down where they could see each other better.
The Prime Minister turned to her father. "I have a very busy day today, and I'm sure the Councilman does as well, so let's get right to it."
Her father nodded. "We will provide more details to the appropriate members of government as well as the general public at a later time, but for now, we're advising the two of you as required in Succession Statute 9.
2.33.1b. The queen and Jacob Whitfield were married in a small ceremony two days ago.
We will be requesting that Prince Jacob be granted his seat on the Council as soon as I step down and the queen is legally able to fill her own seat. "
Both of the government officials stared at her father then turned to look at them.
"Excuse me?" The Prime Minister was the first to speak. "There's been a royal wedding, and we weren't informed ahead of time?"
"There is no mandate for you to be told before the event takes place," her father pointed out.
"Only that you are informed within forty-eight hours of the event.
Under most circumstances, you would have been informed ahead of time, but for reasons the queen and her consort have chosen not to explain at this time, the decision was made to have the ceremony then announce it later. "
"Is she pregnant?" The Councilman gave them a very judgmental look then turned back to her father.
Catherine started to reply, indignation rising within her, but her father gave a slight motion with his hand telling her he had it under control.
"That is none of your concern," he told the Councilman. "You will be informed of any other details necessary before the public announcements are made."
She noticed how he worded it. They would be informed before the public, but it could be as little as a few minutes before. It didn't need to be any sooner than that.
Her father stood. "That is the only thing on the agenda today. The notification has been made as required. We'll be in touch if there's anything else we need to discuss before our next meeting."
The Prime Minister and Councilman followed her father’s lead and stood, though neither looked pleased.
"Who is Mr. Whitfield?" the Councilman demanded. "How do we know he's worthy of our queen?"
Catherine knew the translation for that question was something closer to “how do we know he's someone we'd approve of and possibly be able to use to control the queen?"
“His father was Royal Historian for a number of years before moving to Northern Santiero for personal reasons.
The queen and Jacob met while his father worked at the palace.
" An absolutely true statement. "Jacob recently returned to Eastern Novigradia.
He and the queen ran into each other on his first day at the palace when he interviewed for an internship with Madeleine. The rest is between them."
The Councilman didn't look pleased but had no choice but to accept the answer. After exchanging a few pleasantries that Catherine didn't feel were pleasant at all, the two men left.
At least they hadn't pressed for an answer about consummation. What happened, or didn't, in their cottage was none of anyone else's business.
"Why didn't we tell them about the discovery?" Jacob asked. "I'm not questioning the decision, just wondering about the rationale."
Her father motioned them toward the sitting area near the window. Once they'd all taken their seats, he spoke.
"Simple answer? Politics." He sighed. "There have been worse Prime Ministers, but there have also been much better ones.
This Councilman has served for a long time and likely won't be here much longer.
Giving them all of the information they think they're entitled to whether they are or not, would give them the impression that you'll do whatever they want without resistance.
As soon as they begin to think that, they'll try to walk all over you. "
Her father leaned back in his chair. "Is there a good reason not to give them this information?
Not really, except the more people that know the more likely leaks are to happen, but at the same time, there's no good reason we have to give it to them either.
I'm certain you'll both learn far more about playing politics than you ever wanted to know.
" He gave a heavy sigh. "Unfortunately, it's a part of this life. "
Catherine let out a sigh of her own. "I don't like that."
They'd had this conversation many times over the last few years. It always played out the same way. Now, they would add Jacob into it.
"Neither do I, KatieKins, but it's the way life is. Your mother wasn't a fan and neither was your grandfather, but we often have to deal with things we'd prefer not to."
Her father hadn't used the nickname for her in years, probably since not long after her mother’s passing. Did the fact that she was now a married woman, a clear sign she was growing up, have anything to do with it?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
With another sigh, her father stood. "I do have some work to do before the meeting about the the coronation this afternoon." He leaned over and gave Catherine a kiss on the cheek. "Love you, Kinsey."
"I love you, too, Papa." As he walked away, she found tears filling her eyes quite unexpectedly. Why? Because it was another sign that this part of her life, working closely with her father on a daily basis, was about to come to an end?
"Are you all right?" Jacob asked softly after the door closed behind her father.
She gave him a small smile. "I'll be fine."
He held out a hand. She slid hers into it as their fingers linked together.
"If you need anything from me, you only need to ask. I don't know you well enough yet to determine that on my own."
Catherine nodded. No matter what the first night held, and despite spending the day before doing nothing but watching movies together, they were still very new at getting to know each other.
Before falling asleep the first night, they'd promised to talk and be honest with each other, a good idea for any relationship.
She glanced at her watch and stood. "I hate to do this, but I have to get some work done before lunch. I'll see you then?" Hopefully, lunch together would become a new daily thing.
Jacob leaned toward her and, for a second, she wondered if he was going to kiss her.
Instead, he brushed a kiss against her cheek. "I'll see you in a little while."
Catherine watched him leave then went back to her desk. Now she just needed to focus on work.
Easier said than done.
Waking up married to a queen was a bit of a surreal experience for Jacob. He’d even forgotten his etiquette and how to greet a queen the first time you see her each day.
He forgot again when he walked into her office with his father-in-law. The other man hadn’t bowed either, which made Jake thing he’d already seen his daughter.
Or maybe because Anthony was her father, and she’d become queen at such a young age, it had been dispensed with in private.
Regardless, unless and until he had permission to do so, Jake needed to do better.
He wouldn't ask either. Catherine would have to offer.
He'd ordered his lunch to be sent to Catherine's office, so it should be waiting for him when he arrived.
Though he'd gone in the side way with Anthony earlier, Jake did as he believed appropriate unless invited and went through the front, waiting for the queen's aide to announce him before entering.
When the door closed behind him, Catherine glanced up from her desk. "Hey. Lunch is here." She tilted her head toward the conference table. "I've got to finish up a couple of things. I'll be right there."
He bowed his head as he should have done a couple of times already during the day.