Page 82 of A Royal Arrangement
Rosalie grabbed a tissue from the coffee table and blew her nose. “You really think so?”
“Yeah, it sounds like he has only been pushing you away recently because he feels like you deserve more, and he wants to protect you from what he thinks he can’t give you.”
“But that’s bologna!” Rosalie threw her free hand into the air and fell back into the couch cushion with an exasperated sigh.
“I know it is, girl. This isn’t about whatweknow, though. This is about what Colin believes to be true. From everything you’ve told me and what I learned about him during the week we visited, I think Colin is scared of telling you he loves you because he doesn’t want to lose the person he loves again. That doesn’t mean hedoesn’tlove you… I think he’s just scared that once he admits his true feelings, there’s no turning back. It’s like going bungee jumping. He might know the cord is attached to him and the odds of not getting hurt are in his favor, but he’s still nervous there’s a small chance the cord might snap and he’ll get hurt—especially since he’s already lost his first wife and both of his parents.”
The more Rosalie thought about it, she realized Charlotte was probably right. Colin hadn’t brought up the idea ofannulment or letting her go because he didn’t like her. He’d said those things out of care for her—because he wanted more for her than what he thought he could give her. And if that didn’t sound like loving someone, she didn’t know what did.
“Okay, so let’s say he feels the same way I do about him. How do you get a man who is reserved when it comes to his feelings to share that?”
“I don’t know how to say it to a man who is private. You know Liam is the complete opposite in that regard.” Charlotte’s laugh fluttered through the phone. “When Liam and I need to have a hard or deep conversation, it takes one of us being courageous enough to bring it up. It’s hard to deal with conflict and have tough conversations, but it’s worth it in the end.”
Rosalie wrapped her free arm around her stomach as nerves swelled inside her. “So, you think I should be the one to take that leap and tell him I love him first?”
“Sometimes it takes you being the brave one and putting everything out on the table first. Relationships are all about sacrifice. Maybe this is your moment to put your cards on the table to get the ending you want. To get the happily-ever-after youdeserve.”
The idea of putting her heart and feelings on full display for Colin scared her. But the thought of losing him forever was even more terrifying.
“If you forget everything else I’ve said, remember this. Relationships aren’t perfect. People aren’t perfect. But your marriage is worth fighting for.”
Charlotte’s words struck Rosalie right to her core.
Her mind ran back through all her memories with Colin. She remembered the hurtful things he’d said to her, but allof it was overshadowed by all the kind, loving things he had done for her. His actions had slowly proven how much he cared for her.
“You’re right,” Rosalie responded. She knew what she needed to do next. “Thank you for being the best friend a girl could ask for and for giving me the hard, honest truth when I need it.”
“Anytime.” Charlotte cleared her throat and then said, “Now, I said it to you a few days ago, and I’ll say it again, hopefully for the final time…go get your man!”
Rosalie said goodbye to her friend and then pushed herself up off the couch and hurried to her closet. She needed to figure out what outfit best saidI love you, and I hope you love me too.
After flipping her way through her wardrobe, she decided on a pleated, blush blouse with balloon sleeves tucked into a pair of dark wash jeans and black pointed-toe flats.
There was no time to call for the royal hairstylist, so she quickly sprayed some texture spray into her hair and added in a few curls, leaving her hair long and flowing over her shoulders. Rosalie put on a few swipes of mascara before looking at herself in a full-length mirror. Her outfit was giving every vibe she wanted it to—fun, flirty, and feminine. The perfect look to go tell her husband how deeply in love with him she was.
Rosalie took one final deep breath before she pulled out her phone and called Colin. After it rang for what felt like an eternity, it went to his voicemail. She hung up and pressed her lips together. If she didn’t find him soon, she would lose her courage.
She jogged out of her room and down to the first floor, looking for him everywhere she thought he might be, butevery place turned up empty. When she passed the door leading to the servants’ quarters, Rosalie finally spotted someone who might be able to help.
“Hector,” she said his name between gasps. “Where’s Colin?”
The butler pulled out his phone and clicked through a few things on the screen. “Ah, it appears he’s in the middle of a meeting with the Royal Board right now down in the large conference room.”
“Thank you,” she called out over her shoulder, already moving toward the stairwell. When she reached the second floor, she paused for a moment, leaning over and pressing her hands to her knees while she caught her breath.
As she took the last few steps to the palace’s largest conference room, her hands shook. She pressed them into fists, and before she could change her mind, she knocked on the door and then opened it without waiting for a response.
The eyes of all eight board members turned to her as she walked into the room, and she immediately began to regret her decision. She didn’t recognize any of them, apart from Lord Marston, the oldest man on the board who had danced with her at the ball, and Wes, who leaned back in his chair, smiling smugly at her like he had been waiting for this to happen the whole meeting. And of course, there was Colin, who sat at the head of the table with his mouth slightly agape as he took her in.
Rosalie willed her voice not to wobble as she spoke, hoping to appear more confident than she felt. Looking directly at her husband, focusing only on him and blocking out the rest of the room, she said, “You told me I could talk to you any time I was ready, and I am…” she stuttered. “I’m ready, that is. I’ve—”
Colin held up a hand, and she stopped mid-sentence. “I need to speak with you…privately.” He added the last word in a whisper. Colin snapped his fingers and looked around the room with a commanding glance. “Everyone out. Meeting’s over.”
Rosalie’s cheeks reddened at the reminder that the entire Royal Board was in the room. One by one, each of the men hurried out of the room until only she, Colin, and Wes remained. When Wes passed them, he pumped his fist into the air and mouthed, “Yeah!”
With a wink and kissy face, his towering figure moved through the door frame, and he shut the door behind him.
“Please, go on,” Colin said as he leaned against the solid oak table.
