I looked through the glass. “If he isn’t exactly as I left him, there will be consequences.”

  The man wearing scrubs bowed his head. “Yes, Your Highness.”

  “Roman, sit,” King Theodore demanded, pulling me to the present.

  Releasing a gust of air, I lowered myself onto one of the chairs placed before the king’s desk. “Noah proposed…to her.”

  King Theodore inhaled and leaned back against his chair. “When?”

  “In Oslo.” My response slowed as the earlier adrenaline waned. “It happened during the Eurasia tour. The princess told him she was pregnant.”

  “You’ll need to break it off with her.”

  A new burst of energy. “I don’t fucking know her.” Exasperation seeped from my declaration. “Noah said he hasn’t seen her since Oslo.”

  King Theodore exhaled, his nostrils flaring and his eyes momentarily closing. “If he’s being truthful, that lessens a bit of the complication.”

  “Everything seems pretty damn complicated.”

  “Think about it, son. The girl hasn’t seen you since Oslo. She’ll have no reason to doubt it’s you.”

  “We’ve never met.”

  “She must never know that.” King Theo’s dark eyes focused on only me. “This is a delicate situation. I’m asking you to do what’s right for Molave and for the Godfrey monarchy.”

  I ran my left hand through my hair.

  Doing so was a nervous habit I’d worked to eradicate as it wasn’t something Roman had done in videos. When playing a role, I had the ability to fully take it on. Since, apparently, one hand in a cast didn’t cure me of this habit, I could only surmise that at some point playing a role and living my own new life had merged.

  My gaze met the king’s. “I don’t know what’s right anymore.”

  “You do. You feel it.” He lifted his fist to his chest. “Here. Tell me you don’t.” Before I could speak, he went on, “Lucille is also pregnant.”

  I nodded. “We wanted to tell you together.”

  “News has a way of finding me—I won’t rob her of the pleasure of sharing the news. The two of you may tell Anne and me at dinner tonight. Anne will be overjoyed.” He stood, walked past the large bookcase filling one wall from floor to ceiling, and came to a stop at the ornate polished highboy. Lifting a decanter, he poured two fingers into a crystal tumbler. “I’m elated the procedure worked,” he said before taking a hearty drink.

  The small hairs on the back of my neck stood like lightning rods.

  What if neither of the two pregnancies are truly Godfrey heirs?

  “It seems so,” I mumbled.

  The king lifted another tumbler. “I’ll pour you a glass. Celebration is in order.”

  “It isn’t even noon.”

  “Good scotch knows no restriction of time.”

  The king walked toward me with the second crystal tumbler in his hand. As he extended his hand, I noticed the way the liquid quivered within the glass.

  Is he trembling?

  Taking the glass, I asked, “Are you well?”

  King Theodore filled his chest with air. Instead of answering my question, he held his glass toward the window. “Single malt, the best.” He lifted his glass toward me. “To the continuation of the Godfrey monarchy.”

  Our glasses touched, the clink of crystal echoing within the office.

  My sip wasn’t as hearty as the king’s. While I was a connoisseur of bourbon and whisky, scotch was never my thing. The bitter fluid burned my throat. Yet the numbing sensation was welcome in my right hand. I attempted to flex my fingers in the splint.

  “Your Majesty,” I said, weighing my words. “Noah isn’t Roman.”

  “No. Of course he isn’t. You are.”

  “Inessa’s pregnancy is from Noah. I say I deny that it’s mine. Once the child is born, we demand a DNA test. That test will prove my innocence to the world.”

  He shook his head. “King Aleksander II will be furious.”

  “He’ll be furious when he learns of her whereabouts.”

  “Yes, and he’ll be even more furious believing the child is a Godfrey.” The king took another drink, seemingly contemplating his response. “No, there won’t be a public declaration. We have no reason to make the girl out to be a liar. It won’t matter. That child will not be allowed to return to Borinkia. I’ll forbid it.”

  “You can’t keep the King of Borinkia’s sister in Molave indefinitely.”

  “Of course not. The girl can leave.”

  None of this was making sense. I recalled his earlier claim. “You said you have Inessa. Where is she?”

  “Here, son. She’s being kept in the palace.”

  My stomach twisted. “The rumors are true. We’ve kidnapped her.”

  King Theodore returned to his chair. “It’s not like that. She just recently arrived. We were honest at the Fifteen Eurasia Summit.”

  “Where did you find her?”

  “The positive pregnancy test was found at Forthwith. She was found at Annabella.”

  Annabella.

  “What?” I panicked. The princess was at Lucille’s and my home. “Sir, I confided to you that Isabella asked Lucille if she and the children could go to Annabella. She said she was frightened.”

  He nodded. “I’m glad you did. As for your sister, the ministry guards are bringing her and her children to Molave today. I told them not to disturb the children’s sleep.”

  “Isabella was hiding Inessa at Annabella?” I asked, hardly believing my own assessment.

  “It is how it appears. Of course, your sister will have an opportunity to explain.”

  I shook my head. “Why would there be a pregnancy test at Forthwith? Inessa informed Noah she was pregnant months ago.”

  King Theo leaned back in his chair. “You’re right.”

  I let out a breath. “It was Lucille’s. She took a test at Forthwith.”

  The king hummed. “That doesn’t need to be shared with the ministry. If memory serves me, Anne preferred to keep the news to herself until later.”

  “I agree.”

  Lucille

  “She’s showing,” Queen Anne said.

  My eyes closed. I didn’t need the picture to know that the princess was pregnant. I’d recalled that in my dream last night. I’d been too focused on her presence; her physical appearance hadn’t registered until later. I looked up at the queen. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but it isn’t my husband’s child.”

  “That child she’s carrying is a Godfrey.”

  I stood. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it’s not. I can’t explain—”

  Queen Anne shook her head. “We need to face facts. Your child will of course be heir, but the other one is a Godfrey. You must understand, we cannot allow a Godfrey to be raised in Borinkia. If she were from somewhere else…but she isn’t.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that it’s best for the Crown if Inessa is kept in Molave until the child is born. At that time, the princess may return to Borinkia if she wishes.”

  “She is here?”

  The queen nodded.

  “In the palace?”

  Another nod.

  “What do you mean that she can return to Borinkia if she wishes? What about her child?” I asked.

  “If the child is a male, he will be raised in Molave.”

  I couldn’t fathom what the queen was saying. “You can’t take her child.”

  “We can, my dear. The Firm will find a good and respectable home with parents who can be trusted.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I don’t know the princess, but what you’re suggesting is horrible.”

  Queen Anne inhaled and straightened her posture. “Lucille, please sit. We have much to discuss.”

  It took all my willpower to do as she said. The mere thought of someone taking my child was beyond my comprehension. I couldn’t and wouldn’t play a part in the same thing happening to another person, even if she was a person I had every reason to dislike. Perching myself on the edge of the sofa and moving my crossed ankles beneath the seat, I laid my hands in my lap and looked Queen Anne in the eye. “Please explain.”

  She pressed her lips together for a moment before lifting her chin. “I had hoped this would never be a conversation we needed to have. I’d hoped that by the time you’d been married for five years we would have at least two children from you. I understand your plight better than most. I was in the same position.”

  I nodded.

  Queen Anne was in the position that one day would be mine. I laid my hand on hers. “You’ve had three children.”

  Tears came to her eyes, the liquid emotion teetering on her lower lid. “Losing Teddy was absolutely the most devastating time of our lives. It was a tragedy that no one should have to endure. I was inconsolable.”

  Taking my hand back, I nodded. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Yes, everyone was and is. What kept me going and the reason I couldn’t stop living… I was pregnant with Roman. I hadn’t announced it, not even to Theo.” A smile curled her lips. “I knew. Roman was my secret—until I couldn’t keep him a secret any longer.”

  My cheeks rose as I smiled. “I didn’t realize the timing.”

  A knock tore our attention away from one another as Lady Kornhall entered, curtsied, and carried a tray toward us. Along with a china pitcher displaying the royal crest and matching cups and saucers, there was also a plate of scones. Our conversation remained on hold, silence resting thick as a fog, as Lady Kornhall added hot tea to each cup before offering the cups and saucers to first the queen and then me.

  “Thank you,” Queen Anne said, “That will be all for now.”

  Another curtsy and soon we were again alone.

  I placed my cup and saucer on the table. “I’m sure King Theo was overjoyed—about Roman.”

  After a sip, Queen Anne set her cup and saucer beside mine. “What I said at dinner the other night is accurate. All marriages have difficult patches. Losing Teddy created one such difficult time. I could have chosen to resent my husband for the things he did. And he could have decided to resent me for the way I behaved. Being the king or queen does not make one infallible. We both made mistakes.”

  “I’m not certain why you’re telling me this,” I admitted. “Roman and I are committed to our marriage. Our roughest patch is behind us.”

  “Oh, my dear, we don’t know what tomorrow holds in store. I pray you’re right, but if you’re not and there are rough times ahead, the only way to make it work is by being partners in every way.”

  “And keeping my husband’s mistress in Molave until she gives birth will help—how?”

  Queen Anne shook her head. “The woman isn’t the issue. Never give too much thought to her. The child is the focus.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Did you inform your parents of your condition before they left?”

  I nodded. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you and King Theo first…”

  Queen Anne lifted her hand. “That isn’t important. What is important is that after your first trimester, the Firm will announce the wonderful news to the citizens of Molave and the world. Everyone will know that the Godfrey family is strong and growing.”

  Exhaling, I reached for my tea and peered down into the cup, hoping to find the words to explain that my Roman didn’t father Inessa’s child. When my gaze again met the queen’s, I sighed. “Roman isn’t the father of the Borinkian princess’s child.”

  “That will be confirmed after the child is born.”

  “We can’t hold her, keep her from her family. And we can’t take her child from her. That child did nothing wrong.”

  The queen stood with a smile. “That’s the same thing I told myself. It was what helped me get through the dark days and nights. The child was innocent.” She took a deep breath. “You and Roman will have a child in the next year. Either yours” —she nodded toward my midsection— “or the one who will be born in our care. To the world, the child will be yours.”

  After setting down my tea, I stood. “I will raise my child. Mr. Davies said everything is progressing normally. I’m not setting up a contingency plan for a failed pregnancy.”

  “No one wants disaster. Think of the princess’s child as insurance, for sooner or later.”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, I can’t do that. I can’t go along with replacing one person with another.”

  “You already have.”

  Her words hit like a punch. My circulation dropped to my feet as I staggered and reached for the back of a chair. “Your Majesty?”

  Queen Anne came closer and reached for my hand. “Lucille, you’re pale. My goal isn’t to upset you but to help you see that things happen for a reason. Inessa has confessed that she and Roman had a sexual relationship.”

  “Who did she tell?”

  “She told me.”

  “You spoke with her?”

  Queen Anne nodded. “I needed to see her for myself, to talk to her. She’s younger than I realized. As you can imagine, she’s frightened.”

  I thought of the secret door in the queen’s parlor and the cells beneath the infirmary. “Where is she?”

  “She’s secured here in the palace. Her needs will be met.”

  “I can’t go along with this.”

  “My dear, we aren’t asking your permission.”

  Closing my eyes, I sighed.

  Queen Anne spoke, “Theo likes to protect me. He worries. I suppose there was a time I gave him cause. As I said earlier, I’m much more aware of the happenings in my home and country than I appear.”

  Roman.

  She knows about Roman.

  Yet even if my instinct was correct, I couldn’t articulate the questions running through my head, not without confessing that I too knew my Roman wasn’t the man I married.

  Instead, I questioned, “Does the king know that you know the Borinkian princess is here?”

  Queen Anne nodded with a smile. “Some things must be shared. That said, this subject will never be dinner conversation. You must not tell anyone that you know of her presence. I told you for one reason—the child.”

  “I have to tell Roman,” I said.

  “Only if it becomes necessary, then you’ll both need to embrace what has been presented to you.”

  “Another woman’s child.”

  “Your husband’s child.” She again reached for my hand. “Lucille, you’re a beautiful woman, inside and out. You have shown your compassion for the people of Molave, a country that you accepted as your own. I have no doubt that you have the capacity to love unconditionally. Whether an infant is placed in your arms or one day, a child or even an adult calls you mum, you won’t turn that soul away. You will love because loving is what we as mothers must do. It’s innate and our capacity is infinite. It’s programmed into us.”

  Not in every instance.

  “There are people who have failed,” I said. “Children who are left hurt and abandoned.”

  “Would you do that?”

  I swallowed the tears as I shook my head. “No, I couldn’t.”

  Queen Anne lifted her cool hands to my cheeks. “This is why Roman loves you. Theo and I do too. Never turn that love away.”

  Tears escaped my eyes.

  The queen wiped them with her thumbs. “I’m glad you understand.”

  My eyes opened to her caring expression. “I don’t,” I replied honestly. “I’m trying.”

  “Give yourself time.”

  Roman

  I met Lord Martin outside the king’s offices. He spoke low as we hurried toward my office apartments, passing by people I recognized and others I didn’t. My mind wasn’t on their faces or protocol as they bowed in my presence.

  “Your Highness,” Lord Martin said, “your appointments are waiting.”

  My appointments.

  It felt as if the entire world was imploding—a catastrophic, cataclysmic annihilation—and I had meetings waiting. Meetings to discuss the assignment of representatives from each province to my new council on interior affairs. Then there was the appointment with the engineers who had dismantled the drone from Forthwith. Mrs. Drake left over ten text messages about wanting to speak to me, and she wasn’t yet on my schedule. That list didn’t include the impending mess with Isabella or the other seven to ten appointments.

  I hadn’t been untruthful when I said kidnapping the Borinkian princess didn’t fit into my schedule. It didn’t. Neither did going to speak with her in the far wing of Molave Palace, although that was the mandate King Theo had given me.

  “I’m already late,” I said, glancing at my watch as we entered the grand foyer. My attention went to the large staircase. “I’m going to speak to Lucille. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

  “Sir, they’re waiting for you.”

  “And they can continue to wait. Tell Dame Williamson that my audience with the king lasted longer than expected. She can deal with the appointments.”

  “Yes, I’ll let her know you apologize for the inconvenience.”

  I stopped walking and turned to my assistant, creating an obstacle as people walked around us. My response was more of a growl. “Do not put words in my mouth. I’m not sorry. I’m the prince, and I will see to those people when I’m ready. That you may relay. Their inconvenience isn’t my concern.”

  Lord Martin bowed his neck. “Yes, Your Highness.”

  With an abrupt turn and a nod to the guard at the bottom of the stairs, I headed up the staircase to the second floor. In a few moments, I was in the corridor leading to the princess’s and my apartments. Turning the handle to our connected parlor, I recalled Lady Buckingham saying Lucille had been with the queen. I hadn’t checked to see if she was back.

  Opening the door, I stopped as Lady Buckingham came from Lucille’s apartment, her eyes meeting mine as she dipped into a curtsy.

  “Is the princess present?”

  “Yes, Your Highness. She’s resting.”

  “Resting?” My pulse quickened. “Is she not well?” I opened my eyes wider, all other concerns evaporating as my thoughts focused on Lucille. “Is it the baby?”