Page 84 of The English Queen

“She’s her mother. I pick my battles. All I can do is ask.”

“I won’t manage her. Your Pa will. I promise.”

“I will try. I don’t mean to poke the bear… especially with the transition.”

Maggie agreed, “Okay, that is fair. I don’t mean to cause you distress.”

Robbie wasn’t worried about his distress. He was worried about his wife but said nothing. Arguing with Maggie on his sister’s wedding day was pointless.

“Ken I cut in?” Keir offered to take Maggie off Robbie’s hands.

“Yes. Where is Natalie?” Robbie asked.

“I suggested we should trade partners, but she called me ‘ridiculous’ and then left,” Keir chuckled.

“Sounds like it’s on-brand,” Robbie turned to leave.

His parents continued as the music picked up.

“Where on Earth are you headed?” he heard.

“What?” Robbie turned and saw Beth standing there, arms crossed.

“Are you not going to take me out at least once, Robbie?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Bethany,” Robbie said.

“For old time’s sake? C’mon. You cannot say no to the bride.”

“Beth, I’m knackered—”

“You took Mum ‘round.”

“Mum was sad.”

“I command you to, then,” Beth declared.

“You’re power hungry. Fine, Your Majesty, I will bend to your iron will. One dance and then I’m retreating to find our brothers and Bruno.”

Robbie took Beth to the dance floor. Beth was a lovely dancer. Robbie had no idea when she got so good. She’d hated dance lessons as a child to the point it ended in screaming fits. However, by the time she attended a state occasion, she’d blossomed from duckling to swan and begged for an invite.

“You had a lovely day?” Robbie asked.

“I did, thank you. I am grateful for it, Robbie. I am sorry you lost hair over it.”

“Not just me—Louis, too. We both were in the thick of it. I have more respect for him. The man often has ice in his veins. He does not care about what other people say.”

“Well, not today. Today, he was panicking. But it is true he does not give a flying fuck what anyone tells him. We’re alike in that—just different in the reasoning. He doesn’t even consider in most cases he should worry about feedback. Me, I don’t care. It’s not because I don’t worry.”

Robbie snickered. “You are a trip.”

“Pray for the people of Belgium,” Beth said.

“Yes, I shall. Oh, Beth, it is so hard to believe you are grown up and married.”

“I know. How did I find someone willing to put up with me?”

“He appreciates you. He loves you for all you are, which is…”

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