Chapter 9 #2
“Xavier fathered a child with an American actress.” He looked down at his hands.
“He came to me earlier tonight and told me about it. He left Wexstone to go to America to be with her. If I had to guess, that's why he abdicated. So not only did he abdicate and force us into this whole thing,” he waved his hand in the air, “he got someone pregnant and the news is about to break and once again we’ll be facing a series of bad press.”
He shook his head, turning to look at me.
“I don’t care what the media says about my family.
Most of the time, it isn’t true. I’ve grown a thick skin about it because at the end of the day, they don’t truly know us.
But I am worried about what all of this continued bad press will do to our country.
I’m afraid that this could affect trade and our economy and the people who just want to put food on their tables.
“I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks about me. But I do want to protect our people. And I can’t do that if I’m not crowned and I can’t be crowned if I’m not engaged. It’s all so fucked up!”
He stood and started to pace around the living room. Shadow looked at Oliver and back at me. The cat wasn’t often fond of new people, so the fact that he was out at all, much less still sitting on the couch, was a surprise.
Some of my earliest school and playground experiences had cemented the idea that aristocrats were self-centered, caring only about their own interests.
And, for the most part, that had proven true.
But I had grown to learn that Oliver was different.
He had always been different. From our very first tutoring session, he had shown that titles and money didn’t matter to him.
He used his privilege to help others, and he always made sure those around him felt seen.
My personal reservations and our history aside, I trusted that he meant what he was saying.
“You’re going to change the marriage law.” It was a statement, not a question.
He met my eyes, his gaze unflinching. “Yes.”
“And there won’t be any funny business?”
“I mean, there can be some funny business if you want,” he said slyly, winking at me.
“Oliver.” I cocked one eyebrow. We both knew that sex was not our problem.
“Okay, okay. No funny business. The moment I’m crowned, I will begin working to change the law. And then we can go our separate ways.”
“What if six months isn’t enough time?”
“It should be. But,” he continued, taking note of my wary expression, “if it’s not, we will annul the marriage the first moment we can.
Since the marriage won’t be consummated, after all,” he added, giving me a lopsided grin.
“I will accept all fault for the split, and you will be free to find a love match. I know that I’m asking a lot of you right now and how this will affect every aspect of your life—your job, your free time, your privacy.
The very least I can do is keep the spotlight and speculation away from you after this is over. ” He paused, giving me time to think.
I sighed deeply. “I want to set some boundaries.”
He settled on the arm of the couch. “Okay. I expected that. I’m listening.”
“I would be joining you on the coronation tour, correct?” He nodded. I continued, “I want my own room while we’re traveling. You can tell whoever you need to that we’re abstaining until the wedding. The conservatives will eat that up.”
Oliver let out a small laugh. “Yeah, they will. Okay, separate bedrooms. What else?”
“No kissing at public appearances. Holding hands only.”
“Laidie, come on. You know people won’t believe that we’re in love if we’re not showing much affection.”
My heart did a small tumble at the nickname only he called me. I knew he was right, but I also knew that I loved the way he kissed. I was going to have to build my boundary wall higher, brick by brick, until it was impenetrable.
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. We can kiss but keep your tongue in your mouth.” I pointed my finger at him as if he was one of my students who had been caught misbehaving.
He held his hands up in mock surrender. “If I remember correctly, you loved the way I used my tongue.” His eyes sparkled while I just rolled mine again. “But yes, of course. We can keep it PG.”
“And once this is over, we will go our separate ways. We won’t be together in the future.” I swallowed thickly at the words, unwilling to contemplate the alternative.
A flash of what might have been disappointment shone on Oliver’s face. It was gone before I could blink, his expression calm. “Absolutely.”
I nodded. “Do we tell anyone?”
Oliver shook his head. “I don’t think it’s safe to. As much as I don’t want to lie to my family, keeping them in the dark is the only way to protect them. Do you think you can keep it a secret? From your parents, from Tadashi, from Birdie and Mel?”
I swallowed past a lump in my throat. I hated keeping secrets from my people, but Oliver was right. Everyone was better off if we were the only two who knew the truth.
“Yes, I can.” This time I stood and began pacing.
“There’s one thing I need in return for doing this,” I said, rubbing the base of my hand over my tired eyes.
I would have to leave my job in order to sell this, but I was determined to make sure my students benefitted from this arrangement even if I wasn’t there to teach them.
“Name it. Anything you want.”
“As your fiancée, I would have a voice at the Council of Lords meetings, right?”
“We can certainly arrange that, why?”
“Some of the budget cuts they’ve been implementing are affecting the free meal programs at our schools.
So many students rely on those programs. For some, it’s the only way they can reliably get two nutritious, filling meals each day.
” I blinked back tears, thinking back to the nights when my parents would send Dash home from our after-school study sessions with leftovers so that he and his mum would have some extra food in their fridge.
We didn’t have much to spare, but it was more than they had while Ms. Hayakawa was putting herself through nursing school.
“Every year there is chatter about reducing the program, but they have finally said that it’s getting eliminated starting fall term.
I can’t let that happen. I want to talk to the Council about these programs and make them understand what their cuts are doing to the families under their supposed care. ”
Oliver’s eyes were wide. “Of course. I had no idea this was going on—well, at least not to that extent. Yes, I will make sure you are included in meetings and will support you in whatever you need, Adelaide.”
I stopped before him, holding out my hand. “Okay. Then we have a deal.”
He stood, taking my hand in his and shaking it. “Deal. I’ll see you in the morning.”