Page 19 of Learning to Rule

“All right.” I sigh and allow him to lead me to the table where Elodie is to be seated during the banquet.

“Do you recognize any of the names here?” Hinchbootie points to the name cards laid out on the table.

“Yes. Mr. Johnson is one of the leading advocates for business in Janastria. He’s a member of the guild of advisors to Clement Woodrow. Mrs. Adelaide is an active supporter of the children’s charities. She’s trying to ensure all our younger generation have access to food, education, and a warm bed at night. These are people I consider to be pivotal to the future of the country. But they’ve been seated together in a corner because my father doesn’t agree with their policies. In fact, I think he would be happier if they were shot as traitors.” I snort with annoyance.

“Exactly!” Hinchbootie exclaims like he’s had a moment of enlightenment.

I gesture to him, silently requesting him to fill me in on whatever is going on in his head.

“Miss Nash is in the perfect position to form an accord with two people your father believes are inconsequential, yet you consider are pivotal to the future of this country. I’ve no doubt she’ll listen carefully to their views, and she’ll strive to learn more about the country where one day you’ll be king. It’s her nature, which I’ve witnessed while I’ve been teaching her. She’ll end up making the alliances you need. Your father in his disgust for a commoner has made a big mistake. There is no insult to Miss Nash here, there is only opportunity.”

I look down at the name cards on the table again, Hinchbootie’s words resonating in my head. A sly smile crosses my face.

“Any chance we can get me moved, so I can sit here with her?” My personal secretary raises an eyebrow at me, telling me hell would have to freeze over first. “Damn it.”

“What’s wrong?” Elodie’s voice comes from the doorway, a look of worry on her face. “Has something happened?”

I make my way over to her, taking in her stunning appearance. She’s dressed in a full-length teal dress, studded with thousands of crystals on her bodice. She’s wearing long silk gloves, and her hair is pulled off her face and hangs in a series of ringlets. She looks more beautiful than I’ve seen her before. The hint of red in her cheeks, from our sojourn in the sun and snow in the mountains, gives her the fresh appearance of a truly healthy and happy woman.

When I reach her, I take both of her gloved hands in mine and pull her to me.

“You look amazing.” I press a kiss to her lips. “You will be the belle of the banquet.”

“Don’t.” Elodie flushes with embarrassment. “You seemed stressed a moment ago, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. My father is just up to his usual tricks. You’ve been seated away from me at the banquet. A far distance away.”

I point to where I’ll be sitting at the top table close to my father and then to where Elodie will be sitting. I suspect by the time she’s served her first course of food, my father will be preparing to start his main.

“It really doesn’t matter.” Elodie smiles at me. Her hand sliding from mine and reaching up to stroke the back of my neck. “If your father arranged for me to be seated at a table on my own and given no food at all, I would still behave with all the decorum of a lady because that’s what I am. I may not have the royal blood that flows through your veins, but I have a good heart and that gives me power. I’ve realized that’s probably why your father hates me so much. He sees the humanity in me. A quality he doesn’t possess and therefore doesn’t value.” She stands up on her tiptoes and presses a kiss to my lips.

“And this is why I love you,” I respond and deepen the kiss until a cough comes from beside us. “I swear you love spoiling my fun, Hinchbootie.” I pretend to growl angrily at him, but it doesn’t work, and we all descend into laughter until the fanfare sounds through the palace to signify that commencement of the evening’s events.

“I better go and join the greeting line.” I reluctantly let go of Elodie’s hand, but then an idea crosses my mind. I grab her gloved hand back again. “My father may have seated you in the corner, but he’s not going to stop you standing in the line as my partner.”

“Dalton.” Elodie refuses to move. “Please, I don’t want to antagonize him.”

“You’re not.” I laugh, excited with my devious plan. “I’m the one who’s going to be doing that by giving you a personal introduction to the Janastrian dignitaries and bestowing my favor on someone my father considers insignificant.”

Elodie sighs, knowing this is going to cause trouble. When I look at Hinchbootie, he is shaking his head in his hands.

“Stop worrying, the pair of you. Elodie is more dignified and respectable than the majority of the people in the greeting line and all those who’ll be sitting at the top table. I intend to show her off.”

We make our way to where my father, mother, and a couple of other royals will be standing to greet all this evening’s guests. My parents haven’t arrived yet, so I take my place, third in line, leaving two places for them to my left, and I position Elodie on my right between me and my cousin Princess Alexandra.

“Elodie, if they’re wearing a sash like my mother’s or Alexandra’s, then curtsy to them when you greet them. If they don’t, simply shake their hands. Hinchbootie, stay behind Elodie and help her if she needs it.”

“Dalton.” Elodie tries to protest again. “I’m standing in line above a princess. I can’t be here.”

“You are the partner of the future king. I don’t care what anyone says. You’re to stay exactly where you are.”

“I would say it’s probably unwise to protest at this point, Miss Nash,” Hinchbootie backs me up.

“Please stay exactly where you are,” Alexandra joins in as well, winking at me. “I want to see the fireworks.”

“Don’t tease.” I scowl at her, but I know she’ll have my back with Elodie. She has as much hatred for all the old fashioned rules as I do.

“What’s she doing here?” My father’s voice booms out as he enters the room. Everyone freezes. I take Elodie’s hand in mine, and pulling myself up to my full height, I face my father.

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