Page 41 of Royally Scr*wed

“Shit. No. I didn’t mean it likethat.” I fumble over my words. Leave it to me to put my foot right in my mouth.

“Well, don’t look now but I think your sister has found a new friend too.”

Sure enough Willow is also dancing with a boy, who can’t seem to keep his eyes from wandering.

“Excuse me for a minute,” I start to step away, but Charlie pulls me back.

“Not so fast. You leave both of those girls alone. There are plenty of chaperones here and you’re the only one overreacting.”

“Because I know how boys think. Always up to no good.”

“I don’t see either of those boys stealing anyone’s virtue tonight – unlike a certain king who cannot seem to keep his hands to himself.”

She’s got a point there. Not that I’m willing to admit it.

“Now, how about you give me a kiss instead of worrying about Willow and Ottiline.”

Who am I to deny her? Doing as my queen has asked, I kiss her like my life depends on it.

“Pst. Your Majesties. Keep it PG will you both? There are children here,” Oscar literally waltzes by with Agnes in his arms.

Charlie snorts very un-proper like and buries her head in my chest.

“You’re a royal pain, Oscar.”

“Takes one to know one, Your Majesty,” he jests.

“Come on,” Charlie takes as step back. “I think there’s a little girl who needs a formal dance with you.”

I seek out Ottiline as the song changes and ask for the next dance while Charlie offers to dance with Jermaine.

The boy blushes and bows slightly. “Yes, Your Majesty. I would be honored.”

Smart kid.

The rest of the evening is filled with more smiles and laughter than we’ve all seen in a while and by the time it’s all over – Ottiline is exhausted.

Together Charlie and I tuck her in for the night and retire to our own bedroom feeling lighter than we have in weeks, and thankful too.

Who knew that what started out as a little lie would turn into everything I had been missing out on in my life? Except this time it was thequeenwho charmed the king.

EPILOGUE

JUDE

Charlie sits up against the headboard in our bed, feeding our baby girl.

Poppy Taylor Rexford fists the fabric of her mum’s robe as she suckles on her breast.

It’s a sight I’ll never grow tired of. Who thought in less than a year I’d marry a woman who quickly stole my heart and became my best friend, become king and become a father to two amazing girls?

My wife feels me watching and looks up with a smile on her face. “How was your meeting with the Prime Minister?”

“It went well,” I answer, moving over to sit down on her side of the bed.

At the sound of my voice Poppy unlatches and begins to squirm.

“Every time,” Charlie laughs and hands Poppy to me, “this little girl sure loves her Daddy.”

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