Page 131 of Royally Benevolent

We never clearly discussed marriage, so my presumptuous words worried me. A grin spread across Wyatt’s face.

“Do you want to marry me, Odette?”

I blushed.

“Well, I’d like to marry you. And I think that’s the only way we can end up together, right?” Wyatt asked. “That’s what you want… and what I should give you.”

“But what do you want?”

“You. More children. A beautiful life. And if that includes a wonderful wedding on the grounds of our chateau, that soundspicture-perfect. Would you marry me, Odette? I mean, if I had an actual ring? A real proposal?”

“I think I just proposed,” I giggled. “Is that not enough?”

“I want to do it up big. You deserve a big, swoony moment. It will take me a little bit, but I want to do it properly, and maybe with the house, that’s what I need to think seriously about. Would you let me?”

“Propose?” I asked.

Wyatt kissed me. “Yes. I mean, I will marry you, Odette. But there are some loose ends I need to wrap up, and I want it to be a big moment—one straight out of your novels.”

Tears welled again. “If that is what you want, that will be it, Wyatt.”

“Let’s buy a chateau, then. I think that is all that is left.”

“Well, and we must get a pony. Theoneedsa pony.”

“How do you source a pony?”

“Don’t worry about it. There are ways,” I said.

I kissed him again, so grateful to have found the light. I’d fought like hell to make it through to freedom. I’d fought even harder to feel this love for another person and trust their feelings were genuine. I’d never seen Wyatt and Theo coming. I’d never imagined marrying into a family that already was or feeling so close to a child I didn’t grow within me. Now, I was forever changed. I had memories to make and milestones to live. This was a beautiful forever.

EPILOGUE

WYATT

“So everything is ready to go?” I asked.

Odette nodded definitively, “I think so. I am prepared if you are.”

“I am prepared to sit there and look supportive. I am merely a concerned citizen supporting my wife in the big thing she’s about to do.”

Odette smiled, confident. She picked up her portfolio and packed it in her large Birkin Bag. “Well, I’m ready as ever, I guess.”

In the last year, there was nothing wehadn’tdone. We began massive renovations on our chateau, got engaged in winter, married in spring, and planned a life together. Now, it was time to check one of the most important boxes. We’d done a lot, but we had an unresolved issue that had taken one major political scandal, some parliamentary support, and a lot of patience to fix.

“I will be there in a minute!” Mom called down the hall. “I’ll follow you. We’re getting socks on, but don’t wait on us.”

Theo was attending Odette’s big speech—sitting in the audience with Mom and me. It was his first time in public to a presentation like this. Odette sensed my nerves. She squeezed my hand.

“It’s going to be fine, baby,” Odette said. “Heissoexcited.”

“We’ll head out then,” I called back to Mom. “See you there.”

Odette turned to the door, but I pulled her back towards me and gave her a long, sweet kiss. It was more for my benefit than hers. It grounded me.

Odette pulled out her car keys. “I am driving.”

“I can drive.”

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