Page 130 of Royally Benevolent

“We loved the grounds, and your face lit up there like none other.”

“But compared across these metrics—the roof needs a ton of work. We need to update the entire kitchen. It needs a new boiler, too.”

“I cannot add Odette’s happiness into a spreadsheet.” Wyatt squeezed my knee. “Odette, is that the house you love most?”

“Yes,” I answered. “I see us enjoying dinner parties in that big dining room. I see Theo running around the halls with Grieg. And Grieg will be so pleased with all that space to run. The walled garden is lovely. And I could have horses. We could get Theo a pony! And buildhim a fort. We should build him a fort. When he has friends over, wouldn’t that be nice?”

“But what doyoulike about it?”

“I can make it my own. I can do whatever I want with the decor—unless you hate that idea. I mean, I have never gotten to do that. I will be happy as long as I have some say. I can pitch in?—”

Wyatt cut me off with a long, sweet kiss. “You don’t need to worry about money or any of that. That is not the point of this. I want this to beourhouse. I don’t care much about interior decorating. I am sure whatever you do will be beautiful.”

“It’s different from Isla’s decor. Not that her style was bad. It was just much more minimalist,” I said, treading carefully.

“I don’t need our house to be stopped in time for Isla’s memory or Theo’s benefit, okay? I’m happy as long as she can live on through stories and pictures.”

“Of course,” I said.

“So, you want the chateau?”

“I don’t…”

I wanted the chateau most of all. It made my heart happy, and I also saw us living there the most.

“Be honest, Odette. What do you want?”

“I love the chateau. I see myself in the library—I could have so many books! I see Theo happy there. That’s the sort of childhood I want him to have. Ingrid and I always played in the stream that runs through the gardens. It was our respite. Children need that. I’d like to have my horses close. But it’s almost in Belgium. And it’s… so expansive. I feel like a bigger family needs it.”

“It’s been on the market for a year. It needs a family—period.”

He tugged my heartstrings.

“We’ve been looking for weeks, Odette. We need to make some tough choices. What would make you feel better? To tell you we could fill it with children and make it feel less roomy and more chaotic?”

I cocked my head. “You want that?”

“I want more children, only if you do, baby.”

My heart melted, and tears rolled. The words hit me hard. I didn’t have a way to respond except through tears. I kissed him slowly,unable to hold back. Everything had changed. Theo was back at his school here in Neandia. We had been together and stronger than ever since the funeral. I loved this man more than words. But something else changed with his statement and on this day.

“So, the chateau?”

“I want the chateau,” I said. “But more… just listen to me for a second.”

“Okay?”

“I have wanted this—for someone to tell me they wanted to build a life with me. But until today, I never could see it. When we were there, I could picture us happy forever. I pictured Theo growing up there, maybe bringing his children someday—we’d need the bedrooms. But until today, that had been some sort of black box. I could visualise other things in my life in ten years, but never a family or a life with someone. Now, I can. That box… it’s illuminated. Theo and you brought that light into my life.”

Wyatt kissed me as I sobbed through happy tears.

“I want to give you everything, Odette. It is all I want. I need us to be happy. Theo does, too. I can give you everything, so why wouldn’t I do that?”

“I don’t know. I need someone to pinch me. I can see it all.”

“What do you see, Odette?” Wyatt asked.

“Sunday mornings making breakfast. More children. And this one is probably silly, but a wedding. A proper wedding on our lawn. One that is meaningful and important. We cannotlegallywed there, but I’d like a ceremony with Theo. And… oh shit!” I panicked.

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