Page 27 of Falling for the Widowed Prince

"Thanks for arranging for someone to help me. I'm going to grab a quick bite to eat and go to my office. You can text me or she can get a hold of me there." Madeleine gave him her best smile. They'd talk about it later, but she didn't think the conversation would go the way Anthony expected it to. They'd have to come to a happy medium. Some sort of compromise, because she had no intention of giving up her job completely. "I'll see you a little bit before we leave."

In the kitchen, she found coffee already made so she filled her travel mug. She filled her water bottle, grabbed a snack bar and her satchel, then left the family quarters. Her ID was on a lanyard that went around her neck. She used it to scan into the gallery and then into her office.

Rather than going straight to the book like she wanted to, she started on some paperwork because Madeleine knew that if she started working on the book, she wouldn't want to leave it.

After answering a couple of emails, she ate the snack bar then went back to deal with a few more waiting on the server since she hadn't done anything the day before. Thirty minutes after she arrived, her phone rang.

"Madeleine Woodward," she answered, forgetting she had a new last name.

"Ma'am, this Eileen, the stylist. Can you meet me in the dressing room about half past eight? I have a number of things for you to try on so you can be certain you're dressed appropriately for the official ceremony."

Madeleine blew out a breath. That didn't give her long to finish working, but she had to do what she had to do. "I'll be there."

While he waitedfor Madeleine to join him for the drive to Parliament, Anthony scrolled through the links Maxwell had sent him. He didn't particularly like reading the tabloid material, but he needed to keep abreast of what the more legitimate news sources were saying. The overall reaction to the wedding was cautious optimism.

The vast majority of those polled believed the idea that he needed to marry to preserve his position as regent was absolutely ridiculous. He suspected a push would be made to change the restrictions on the requirement for the widowed spouse to remarry. They had been introduced to Madeleine in a segment on one of the national news programs with the piece also posted online for later viewing. Neither one of them had been interviewed for it, but they had dug up some footage of her in her position as Royal Historian. She'd spoken at a number of events over the years and hosted a special or two of her own on the contents of her beloved archive.

The response to Madeleine was largely favorable among the populace. There were a number of comments, commentaries, and even a fairly legitimate article or two wondering at the sacrifices she made to marry him. Would her step-daughtersomeday make her a member of one of the orders for exceptional duty to the crown? How many events would she attend? Had she been dating someone or did she have long term plans that didn't include staying in the capital? Had she expected to give up her job, because most certainly she would?

Would there be more children?

He hadn't thought of any of those. Not about anything beyond what she would have wanted for her wedding under other circumstances and the short discussion earlier about her job. They should talk about all of them.

They should talk about a lot of things.

Before he could contemplate further, she entered the room where he waited. He noticed the change of clothes and that someone had done something fancier with her hair. He didn't know the details of either thing, but knew they had been changed.

"Ready?" he asked, tucking his phone back in his pocket.

"Not in the slightest." Her nervousness became apparent in her voice and posture.

Anthony chuckled. "I know. I remember my first visit as the prince consort. It's not fun, but you'll be surprised by how well they're likely to treat you. Everyone is still mourning Caroline obviously. With that in mind, they're acutely aware of what you've done to protect their new queen. Almost anything you do would be met with great understanding and compassion, at least for the first few months. Plus, the ones who might be snarky will mostly direct it at me. I've got thick skin."

She gave a slightly crooked smile. "I'm sorry you'll have to deal with that, but I'm glad they'll give me the benefit of the doubt."

He held out a hand. When she took it, he tucked her hand inside his elbow. "We've got to go, but we will potentially be visible to cameras on our way to the auto."

With a nod, she started for the door.

"Let me hold your door for you," he murmured.

Since the door to the portico was now open, this nod would have been nearly imperceptible.

The ride to the Parliament building was silent, but short. When they exited the vehicle, Anthony offered her his arm again, and she readily took it. Maxwell met them and led the way to an ante room where they'd wait to be called by the Prime Minister.

"They won't keep us waiting long," Anthony promised her. "They shouldn't," he corrected. "They would never keep Caroline or her father waiting. They might try to see how much they can push me around." The thought surprised him.

Would they test him for this meeting?

He had no doubt they would eventually, but surely not this meeting where the eyes of the nation would be on them.

In less than ten minutes, he was proven correct. Delays would wait for another day.

Madeleine gave him a smile and squeezed the inside of his arm before Maxwell led her to the gallery where she'd watch the proceedings. At least there wouldn't be a reception afterward. Given the proximity to Christmas and the amount of work Parliament needed to finish before the end of the year, the hours needed for one couldn't be spared.

Anthony was led into the main chamber to stand in a witness box. The top of the ornate wooden railing was smooth against the palms of his hands as he used it to ground himself, just a bit. As much as he'd rather be home with his children, doing Christmas things, and possibly working out until he couldn't keep his eyes open to stave off the grief, he had to do this for his daughter and their country.

The official announcer spoke loudly. "Mr. Prime Minister, members of the Council and Parliament, the Dowager Prince Consort..."

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