Page 111 of My Five Daddies

“Likewise, dear. Anybody willing to marry my son is a saint in mybook.”

I laugh and Nolan makes a face. “No need for that,mother.”

She smiles at him. “Oh, calm down, dear. We all know you’redifficult.”

“He’s not so bad,” I say. “You just have to get used tohim.”

She laughs and motions for us to sit. I take a seat next to her on a couch while Nolan sits on an adjacent chair. He gets to work pouring tea foreveryone.

We’re sitting in the queen’s private office, which is about the size of my apartment’s living room. It’s huge and richly decorated. Pictures from the queen’s trips around the world line the walls, and I bet each picture comes with a hundred incrediblestories.

“Tell me, dear,” she says to me. “Are your intentions with my sonhonorable?”

I hesitate. “Uh, I don’t know,” Iadmit.

“Mother,” Nolan says. “Be nice. She’snervous.”

Maggie raises her eyebrows. “You’renervous?”

“I’ve never met royaltybefore.”

“You’ve met me,” Nolan grumbles, and his mother smacks hisknee.

“It’s okay, dear, you don’t have to worry. You’re one of usnow.”

“Thank you,” I say to her. “I wasn’t sure… I mean, I barely know anything about all this.” I gesture around, feeling like anidiot.

“You come from a different world,” she says. “You don’t speak our language yet,correct?”

“Correct,” I admit. “My German is pretty good,though.”

“That can only get you so far here.” She takes out her phone and starts to tap at it. “I’m messaging my steward, he’ll get you a Polovian tutor. Is that okay,dear?”

“Yes, please,” I say. “Thank you somuch.”

“Not at all. It’ll help you a lot in the coming days.” She puts her phone away and smiles at me. “How is being married to my son sofar?”

“It’s perfect,” Nolan says. He hands his mother a cup of tea and then pours me one. I accept it and sip itgratefully.

“Things are going well,” I say. “I met some of his friends from when he was akid.”

She laughs softly. “You met thosedegenerates?”

“They’re nobles,” Nolan points out. “Hardlydegenerates.”

“They’re friends with you,” she teases. “Although I am fond of that Jessie woman. Very bright. She’s goingplaces.”

“I like her too,” I say quickly. “She was very kind tome.”

“That speaks well of her. It’s not easy to befriend someone new, especially when you are from two different places.” Maggie looks like she’s musing slightly, and Nolan gives me alook.

“She does this sometimes, just ignoreher.”

“I do get philosophical at times, but what’s the point if you’re not always thinking?” She gives her son another smack on the knee. “This one could use some more thinking, if you askme.”

“I completely agree,” I say, trying to win points with themother.

He rolls his eyes at me. “Suckup.”

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