Page 119 of Royally Benevolent

I retreated to my room to find Grieg asleep in bed. He lay on his side, legs straight. One ear perked as I approached, but he remained in place. I called him after me, going to the family room to get drunk while watchingIsland of Loveand eating sweets all day. I’d never seen Alexandra so carefree and relaxed. Rick dealt with the children while she soaked up freedom.

Eventually, I found myself bored, tired, and drunk. So, I wandered down the hall to my old harp in the music room. Having never played drunk, I realised I should have chosen the piano. It had been ages since I’d bothered to play. It was fun but not easy when your fingers didn’t sync well with your brain. Even Grieg looked unimpressed. I plucked along for a minute until I was interrupted.

“Your Royal Highness?”

I looked towards the doorway. I spied a footman holding a flower vase.

“Oh, God, it’s begun!” I said.

“Ma’am?”

“Just set themsomewhere,” I said.

“There is a card, ma’am.” He held out the card.

I motioned for him to come closer, if only because I was too lazy to bother walking for what was probably a silly card.

I opened it in disbelief. This wasnotwhat I expected.

69

WHAT DID YOU DO?

WYATT

Iwas at the office on a Saturday afternoon playing catch-up. I had meetings in Zurich, Cologne, and Vienna the following week. I had a lot to prep and not a lot of time. It was so compressed because I wanted to get home—three cities in as many days, and back to Theo. I’d leave for Zurich right after the tram opening. If Odette showed, we’d have no time to talk.

So, rather thanenjoymy afternoon, I was heading down on a project proposal for Bentonville, Arkansas. They wanted to modernise their surprisingly busy system. My phone buzzed, distracting me. I picked it up, worried about Theo. It wasn’t.

Odette

Thank you for the flowers. You really don’t have to care. She was a bitch.

I waslesssurprised by the text than by Odette’s use of “bitch.” Why was she texting? And who sent flowers? And who wasshe? Confused, I turned to the news.

Splashed across the news sites were obituaries for Neandia’s beloved Queen Celeste. Odette’s text made sense anddidn’t. I hadn’t sent them. And why was she throwing that word around? Was she a scammer? Was someone impersonating her?

I surmised only one person knew more about this than me.

“Hello, Wyatt,” Stephen answered his phone. “Can I help you?”

“I apologise for bothering you over the weekend, but is there a reason Princess Odette is texting me a thank you message?”

“I may have done something on your behalf.”

“Stephen, what did you do?”

“I did what you should have done but I know you wouldnotdo. I sent her flowers and a sympathy card on your behalf—as any good assistant would, sir.”

It was more than that. He’d wanted to make inroads on my behalf for ages and had kept the lines of communication open with the palace. It made sense from a business standpoint, even if my feelings for Odette muddied the waters.

“But Stephen, did you not send them to the whole household? Was itjustOdette.”

“I could send them to the others, but it felt more personal to address her directly. Wyatt, you still love that woman. Would it not be cruel to ignore her when she’s in pain? If you ever want a chance to make a splash with her again, you cannot just desert her. She still cares deeply about Theo, does she not? She still loves you.”

I wanted to throw the phone at the wall. Stephen’s profound disregard for authority put me in an awkward situation. It came from a good place. Stephen was there through thick and thin—from the birth of Theo to losing Isla. He saw me at my worst and best and knew how much happiness Odette brought. He remained angry over how I reacted following the press involvement. I should have tried harder, but she was gone when I even bothered to send flowers. I should have run and insisted on seeing her. I should have told her that I’d rather have her live in my house every damn day than be so far off—press be damned.

“But now, who knows? She seems upset,” I said. “You don’t understand it. She was not close to this woman. The Queen was cruel and tortured those sisters. It’s… complicated.”

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