Chapter Three
CHAPTER
THREE
In her father’s office at Parliament, Scarlett listened as Lord Jules Heroux rehearsed his Remembrance Day speech.
“…let us also celebrate the future they gave us.” He turned to Scarlett. “How did I do?”
“You sound great,” she said. Her father was a born orator. “No notes from me.”
“Excellent. We have about twenty minutes. Would you like a drink?”
Her dad kept his whiskey decanter and his crystal glasses inside an ornate globe in his office. He’d told Scarlett more than once that his best political partnerships were forged and fortified over drinks. She hoped booze would help put him in an amenable mood.
“Why not?” she said as her heart rate sped up. “While we’re imbibing, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Oh?” He handed her a glass filled with two fingers of amber liquid, and they sat in the leather armchairs on either side of the globe.
Scarlett forced herself to breathe. “I know you were hoping I’d join your staff now that I’ve finished university, but I’ve decided to spend a year abroad touring the embassies.
It’ll be great for me to build some political alliances, and if you think about it, now’s the perfect time for me to go.
It’ll take some time to gear up for the border opening once your legislation passes, and I’ll be back before the most intense work begins.
” She bit her lip and waited for his reaction.
Her father couldn’t stop her, exactly, but his disapproval would settle in her stomach like a stone, dragging her under the surface until she drowned.
Trying to please him by being like him was ingrained in her.
If her dad put his foot down about her leaving, her relationship with him would be at risk.
Jules sighed as his demeanor changed from bright to resigned.
“I had a feeling you’d go. Your ideas were too detailed to be theoretical.
Are you still planning to begin in Sigur Vieur?
” When she nodded, he shook his head. “I wish you’d reconsider beginning your travels in a country we have such poor relations with.
You don’t know a soul there, and you have no idea how to live in a magic-using country. ”
She had more of an idea than he knew, from Brayden and her grandmother, but she couldn’t tell him that.
Scarlett moved to the edge of her seat and turned to face her father, determined to make him understand how badly she wanted this. She looked directly into his eyes as she spoke. “I want to see more of the world before you retire and I take your seat.”
Her father’s brow furrowed as he took a long sip of his drink. “Is there no chance of you reconciling with Alastair and him going along with you?”
And there it was—what he really wanted for her. To get back with Alastair.
Scarlett took a deep breath, trying to rid herself of the desire to scream. Her father meant well and didn’t know her relationship with Alastair had fit like a dress half a size too small. Her need for his approval had never been more at odds with her own desire. She had to be honest.
“No.”
He frowned and cocked his head to one side. “I’m still not clear on what changed. You two seemed so solid. What made you change your mind about him?”
“It was time to admit the relationship had run its course. We weren’t solid at all, and we definitely weren’t well-suited for the long term.”
Jules shook his head and held up a hand. “Tell me the truth, not the press release.”
She continued eagerly. “I fell in love with him because the timing was right, not because he was right. He doesn’t love me.
He loves that I’m from a powerful family.
I want real love, not an alliance.” Scarlett took a couple more deep breaths and forced herself to pause.
“I need to go have an experience alone—any experience that isn’t this one. I’m dying to get out of Soleil.”
Her father held up his hands like he was surrendering.
“I had no idea. You need to see more of the world. Point made. I felt the same way when I was your age, actually, but I met your mother here, and she helped me settle. You do want to come back after your travels, though, right? I’m counting on you to join my staff eventually.
” His green eyes were warm with fondness.
Her chest tightened. The truth was, deep down, Scarlett dreaded joining Parliament, but that was a truth she’d never reveal to her father. If she gave up her place as his heir, their only tie to each other would be gone, as would his love for her.
So she lied.
“Of course I want to work with you. Eventually. But I need to do this first.”
“We’ll make it happen, then. If you agree to let me hire a bodyguard to accompany you, I’ll fully support your decision.”
The corner of Scarlett’s mouth twitched. It was just like her father to make her feel like she’d won and then make it conditional. Still, relief overrode her other feelings.
“I can agree to that.”
“Then cheers to you and your adventures abroad.” His smile was uncertain as he raised his glass, and she clinked hers against it. Excitement coursed through her anyway. He’d agreed.
Scarlett took a sip, grimaced as she swallowed the nasty drink, and beamed at him.
“I’ll have my chief of staff make a few calls and start to flesh out your itinerary. You should meet with the Soleil ambassador in Zahara. She has a daughter near your age.” His voice was brighter again.
Scarlett’s world was considerably lighter now that her father had given his blessing. One year of freedom. One beautiful year to be away and be me. And six weeks to be with Brayden.
“How do I look?” asked her father. “Camera-ready?”
A man in his fifties, Jules was handsome, with thick salt-and-pepper hair, crow’s feet around his eyes, and angular cheekbones. Not a hair on his head was out of place.
“Let me just straighten your tie a little.” Scarlett loosened and resecured the knot. “There. Now you’re perfect.”
He smiled at her. “Thank you, darling.”
After they’d finished their whiskey, Scarlett and her father made their way to the parliamentary chambers.
She stood behind him while he gave his speech to the two hundred peers of Soleil’s parliament, which included one hundred hereditary seats like the one she would take one day, as well as one hundred elected seats.
She listened to Jules’s well-rehearsed speech, clapping and smiling at the correct moments, but inside she was mentally packing for her trip.
Sigur Vieur would be freezing, so she’d need her warmest coat.
Zahara was mediterranean—would she be able to surf while she was there?
She should research surfboard rentals. Her phone wouldn’t work outside of Soleil right away, because the rest of the world used magic to power their technology, but someone at the Sigur Vieur Embassy would help her set it up to work on their magical network, surely.
Whatever that entailed. It had to be like joining a new phone network.
Should she bring Brayden a gift? Would he like a new phone? Was that too much?
Her father’s voice grew louder, drawing Scarlett’s attention back to the speech. Lord Jules Heroux’s voice rang with passion, and his words echoed throughout the chamber.
“The time has come to put the prejudices and fears of the past behind us as we open the borders of Soleil to magic-wielding countries. On this Remembrance Day, we honor the people who gave their lives in the Great War that ended nearly two hundred years ago, but let us also celebrate the future they gave us.”
More than half the lords and ladies stood and broke out into thunderous applause. Even some of the Goldenrod Party clapped. Her dad was well-loved.
While reporters jostled each other in the standing room near the podium, each of them eager to snap a picture for tomorrow’s papers, Scarlett struggled to hold her most photogenic smile and not blink at the flashing cameras.
As relieved as she was to have revealed her plans to her father, she was also tired from the past twenty-four hours.
The breakup with Alastair had taken it out of her.
As soon as the press feeding frenzy died down, Scarlett and Jules joined the stream of people heading to the back entrance of Parliament to prepare for the departure of the Remembrance Day motorcade, which would circle the drivable part of Soleil’s downtown.
They were walking the marble-filled hallways when a voice called out.
“Scarlett! Jules!” Lady Elestine Spencer, Jules’s closest colleague, rushed to catch up with them.
Scarlett’s stomach lurched at the sight of her ex-boyfriend’s mother. With her golden-blonde hair and fine-boned features, she was a feminine version of her son and the second-to-last person Scarlett wanted to see today.
“Wonderful speech, Jules.”
Her father beamed. “Thank you.” He leaned in to kiss Elestine’s cheek.
“Scarlett, good to see you,” said Elestine, her tone overly bright.
Scarlett forced a smile as she wondered what version of the truth Alastair had told his mother about their breakup. “You too, Elestine,” she lied. “Who are you riding with for the motorcade?” Please not us.
Elestine didn’t respond. She had her phone out and scanned it as she walked.
“Is something wrong?” asked her father.
She sighed as her eyes darted to Scarlett. “Oh, it’s Alastair. He says he regrets not coming to the parade. I’m worried about him.”