Page 84 of The Reluctant Wife

"Hmph." I raise one eyebrow. "I think you did."

Her jaw drops. "No, honestly, I didn’t, I…"

She looks so mortified, I burst out laughing. "Relax, I was kidding with you."

She doesn’t look convinced.

I reach over and squeeze her shoulder. "I know, you don’t have a mean bone in your body, Harper." Which is why I was surprised to find out she was apprenticing to be a chef. It’s not an easy path she’s chosen. But then, none of the four of us are put off by challenges, are we?

"Ryot had arranged for James Hamilton to cook for us. That’s when I was shot at."

"Gosh!" Harper looks stricken. "That’s awful. Not that James cooked for you, but the fact that you were shot at."

I laugh. "No, the food was amazing prior to that."

"I'm glad you escaped unhurt," Grace exclaims.

The girls already know about the note that appeared in my room. They also know that someone tried to break into Arthur’s place while I was there.

"Good thing Ryot was with you." Zoey scans my face. "Speaking of, how has he been coping with—" She waves a hand in the air.

"Honestly, I’m not sure." I reach over to nibble on a carrot stick. I eschewed a bachelorette party for the more mellow afternoon tea with my girlfriends.

"What does that mean?" Grace frowns.

I hesitate, wondering how much to reveal. She notices the expression on my face and holds up her hand. "You don’t have to tell us. Especially not if it means breaking a royal confidence."

"Umm…" I choose my words carefully. I do trust them. And I want to share, since I want to have these women in my life.

"Ryot, he and I, uh… It’s kind of a marriage of convenience."

Grace looks skeptical, but Harper nods. "Of course, it’s common enough in some cultures. Especially among those with a lot of money to protect, and who want to manage who will inherit their wealth." She winces again. "Don’t mean to sound insulting or anything."

I laugh. "You’re not. Our alliance does have money at its heart."

"Oh?" Grace leans forward. "How’s that?" Then her forehead furrows and she adds, "Again, you don’t need to share anything that would put you in a spot. I’m curious because I’m a journalist. I love to get to the bottom of things. Not that I'd report anything you tell me," she adds quickly.

"It’s what makes you a good reporter," I say with admiration. "And yes, it is confidential, but you're my friends, and I trust you."

Grace and Harper exchange glances, then Grace tips her chin in my direction. "We would never speak of this with anyone."

"Whatever you share with us will never leave this group," Harper says solemnly.

Tears burn the backs of my eyes, and I blink them away. "You guys are so good to me. I’m sorry I didn’t make the effort to keep in touch with you."

"It’s understandable. It’s not easy being a princess, especially in today’s world, where everyone wants a piece of those in the public eye," Grace murmurs.

Harper reaches over to take my hand. "We’re here for you, honey, whatever you need."

I sniffle, then brush away the tear that escaped down my cheek. "I don’t know why I’m getting this emotional. Ignore me."

"It’s allowed. You’ve been under so much pressure; it helps to cry it out." Zoey rises from her chair and sits next to me, then puts her arm around my shoulders.

Grace’s gaze is also understanding.

I take in their faces and feel relieved that I don’t have to go through the next few days on my own. Of course, Ryot will be with me, but it’s a different feeling from having girlfriends to lean on. A feeling, I realize, I’ve missed so much. I take a sip of my wine, allowing the tart Chardonnay to roll over my tongue, then place the glass back. "When Gavin decided to get aggressive with me, it's Ryot who came to my rescue."

"I’m so sorry you had to go through that." Zoey’s lips tighten.

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