Page 34 of The Prince of New York

“Not for greed and power, like them,” I murmured.

“Precisely. For better or worse, I don’t think they’ll act today. They’re getting a feel for us, and the fact youhavean attentive detail is likely throwing a kink in their plans. And they are likely operating under the assumption the RPS agents will cooperate if they feel like it will be better for your wellbeing. They aren’t wrong. However, they forget that RPS agentswillkill any royal who has turned coat. And they have. New York is your sister’s kingdom now—and yours. But they don’t understand that New York has won the support of the people because you and your sister are the best people for the job. The people have no fear of the succession. Should something happen to your sister, they have you—and their faith in you is strong.”

“I don’t see why that might be.”

“You had a chance to become the King of New York, and you handed the reins over to your sister without hesitation or question, at the request of the people. You have put them above power, and they know it. If youdohave need to take the crown, they know it is not a want but a responsibility and a duty, just like your sister reigns for the same reason. And should your parents act, the world will know what they have done—and every talent, no matter how minor, that New Yorkers can bring to arms, will be used. Your parents have forgotten the power of a spark. I have not.” Terry glanced at Madelyn. “And for you, Madelyn is a spark that could spawn a firestorm of the likes your parents can’t even imagine. That’s a double-edged sword, though. They can control you with her if they use her correctly. But they will not. They don’t understand matters of the heart, and the instant your parents do something that hurts the heart, and Madelyn is the one who suffers, I believe you will not have any problems with hesitation. You will reduce them both to less than even ash.”

“I’m already there,” I confessed, joining him in watching the woman marvel at the world around her, playing with the RPS camera. “Get me a good camera with an exchangeable battery and a bunch of spare batteries. I will pretend it’s for a research project of some sort. In reality, I’ll just hand it to Madelyn when we go somewhere so she can take pictures. Or hand it off to an RPS agent to hand off to her.”

Terry lifted his hand to his ear and relayed my request, and to my amusement, he listed a brand, specified the number of batteries, and suggested that two cameras be purchased, one to be kept with me and one for the RPS to have available so they wouldn’t have to hand out their work cameras in the future. “I’ll have the bill be sent to you for them. I get the feeling that’s something you want to handle yourself.”

I nodded. “Thank you. I guess I should get a personal camera for myself as well and take photography up as one of my hobbies. Then I can justify a bag to carry hers around with me. Don’t photographers take numerous cameras around?”

“They do.” After a moment of thought, Terry issued an order for another camera of a different brand, and he specified several lenses, along with a set of extra batteries and memory chips. “And if she ends up using your camera because she wiped hers out of batteries, no harm will be done.”

“Precisely. Do you know anyone who can teach me how to use the camera so I don’t look like a complete idiot?”

“Easily. I know how to use most cameras, as royals often have an interest in photography. It’s a calming, artistic activity that doesn’t have any additional responsibilities.”

Interesting. I’d never tried photography, mostly because my parents hadn’t approved of the activity. It hadn’t seemed princely enough. My sisters had been encouraged to play with cameras, but my brothers and I had been barred from the hobby outside of what our phones could do. “Don’t the pictures need to be edited?”

“Some photographers like editing their photos in search of perfection, but it isn’t necessary.”

“Can you ask someone to get a laptop and load it up with photo editing software? And get everything I need to put the pictures on to the system. That way, if Madelyn does want to edit her pictures, I can just hand over the machine without having to sacrifice my work computer.”

Chuckling, Terry did as requested. “And if she asks why you have two laptops, I recommend that you tell her you’re trying to separate work and play.”

I played? Rather than dig myself into a hole with the RPS agent, I nodded. “I’m going to need clues on how to get through this, Terry.”

“If you’re anything like your sister, you’re going to need guidance on how to have fun. I’m confident we can handle this issue. You might even like it.”

“How many times have you told my sister she might like something?”

“More than she prefers,” he admitted. “Unfortunately for us all, she decided her version of fun is that wretched mud course.”

Unable to help myself, I laughed. “It was fun right up until I earned a concussion. It alarms me that I would not protest much if I were forced to go through it again.”

“Please don’t tell your sister or my wife this, but it was rather enjoyable.”

As RPS agents loved putting their skills to the test in competitive fashions, I had no doubt the man had delighted in pushing his limits despite the muck. “It beats having to deal with lobster.”

Terry sighed. “Olivia wanted to go to the grocery store recently, and she discovered some of them have lobsters in tanks and she could take home live lobster for dinner. I’ve had to deal with crustaceans in the house twice so far this week. Then she made the mistake of looking them in the eyes, so I had to put them in the boiling water.”

“It looks like you survived without incident.”

“Somehow.”

I grinned at his exasperated tone. “Did she at least remove its legs for you once it was cooked?”

“Fortunately for my sanity, she did. I might regret this, but I have made arrangements for our reading room.”

“What sort of arrangement?”

“There will be an aquarium installed with numerous small freshwater lobster in them. It will be a shallow five hundred gallon, and each lobster will have its own habitat. There will also be fish in it. I’m hiring someone to maintain it, as there is no way I’m sticking my hand in that tank.” Terry shuddered.

“How large do these lobsters get?”

“Roughly six inches, so I’m confident they won’t kill me even if they escape their tank.”

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