Page 4 of The Heart of the King

“I’m not sitting here waiting for one of your stooges to walk in and try to make polite conversation with your latest conquest.I’mgoing to take a shower. When I’m done, then you can. As long as the food is already here. And coffee. Strong and black. Got it?”

When was the last time anyone spoke to him like that?

Charles-or-whatever-name-he-was-going-to-use simply nodded.

He tried to give her a bit of dignity by not watching as she tugged on the hem of the t-shirt that hung to her mid-thigh already or as she searched for and found her clothes from the night before.

That was new. Not that he typically went out of his way to stare, but he’d never much cared about feelings before.

This wasn’t his first one-night stand, not even close, but it was his first one that could possibly turn into more by virtue of the paperwork between them.

As the water started to run behind the closed bathroom door, a knock sounded on the double doors leading to the sitting area of the suite.

“Come,” he called as he picked up a frame off the floor. Apparently, the chapel had given them a copy of their vows.

Stewart walked in pushing a silver cart, the carefully neutral look on his face a familiar sight. “Good morning, sir. There’s a light breakfast and strong coffee for you and the lady.”

“Thank you.” He expected Stewart to leave, but instead the man stood with his hands behind his back as though he expected NotCharles to ask him about something else.

“What is it?” Now that he’d decided not to use the name Charles, he’d even started thinking himself of as NotCharles.

“The press release you requested has been sent out.”

He blinked. “The what has been what now?”

“The press release has been sent out along with one of the photos.” The neutral look slipped for just a second to show disapproval then came back.

“What press release?”

“The one announcing your marriage to Ms. Roberts.”

Fan-tast-ic. “You’re saying I sent you a message asking you to put out a press release that I got married last night?” He needed to clarify.

“Yes, sir. Complete with ring selfie.”

“I’m not sure what a ring selfie is.” NotCharles closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Do we look completely inebriated?”

“Not at all, sir. I’m sure the photo is on your phone. Is there anything else, sir?”

“Not at the moment.”

Stewart exited, closing the doors behind him.

NotCharles opened his phone and pulled up the press office’s website.

Crown Prince Steven Charles David Chauncey has married Ms. Jasmine Roberts of the United States. Their union took place in a small, private ceremony before they travel to Auverignon for the coronation next week.

The photo wasn’t half bad, with Jasmine showing off a diamond wedding band that definitely didn’t come from the family vault. Her face was mostly obscured by her hand. He was kissing her temple as he took the selfie. As pictures went, it could have been so much worse.

His personal PR team wouldn’t have put out a statement with a bad photo.

Of course, he also would have thought that they would have waited until they received sober instructions from him to put it out at all.

He flopped back onto the bed, wincing at the pain the sudden movement caused. It had been a long time since he’d been drunk enough they needed to worry about waiting for sober instructions, so it probably wasn’t their fault.

Whatever the reasons for going ahead without double checking with him before doing it, the announcement had been made.

It was too late now.

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