“I’ve told you before that I have other priorities.”
My fleeting hope disappeared. This was Roman Godfrey. The impostor was gone.
He went on, “If you have matters to discuss, have the initiative to bring them to me.”
“I would like to plan a trip to visit New York.”
“The family feels it would be better if we traveled together and visit more cities than New York.”
My heart sank. He knew what I wanted and was ready to change it.
A tour.
I didn’t want a tour. I wanted time to see my family.
“And your thoughts?” I asked. When he didn’t reply, I added, “You said the family feels… What are your feelings, Roman?”
“After the holidays.”
“It is October.”
Roman scoffed. “Always so smart.”
My teeth came together as I stared. “It has been over a year since I’ve seen my parents.”
“They may come to Annabella.”
I nodded. “I will ask.”
I would.
They wouldn’t. Not because they wouldn’t want to visit. I knew this was a busy time of year for them both. The Senate was soon in session, and my mother’s schedule always picked up this time of year. Curtsying, I added, “I will inform Lady Buckingham of our scheduled departure.”
“Shall we go downstairs?”
For a moment, I hoped for his arm, the simple gesture the impostor had made. There wasn’t such a gesture or any form of touch. Roman turned and walked toward the door. Watching the back of his head and shoulders, each step he took infuriated me more than the last.
“I’m not a dog,” I called out.
When he turned back, his expression was perplexed. “You are mad.”
“Mad as in angry.” My volume was raised. “You expect me to follow. You call and I should heel. I am your wife. I should be next to you, not two paces behind.”
“Where is this coming from?”
I shook my head, unwilling to devote more energy to what was irrevocably dead. “Forget it, Roman. Give your family an excuse. Lady Buckingham and I will pack my things, and we will be gone before you return from dinner.”
“Absolutely not. You will eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Your duty—”
“I’ve been doing my duty,” I interrupted. “Not that you notice anything I do.”
Roman charged my direction, stopping millimeters away. His tone was harsh. “Maybe you should notice all that I do.” Yet the characteristic reddening of his neck and face were absent.
I stood my ground. “I don’t see you.”
He shook his head. “Go to Annabella. I’ll tell Papa and Mum you couldn’t wait to get out of here and back to Monovia. I’ll tell them that you have little respect for the monarchy. You’re much more concerned about sulking where no one can see.”
“I respect them.”
“What about me?” His timbre slowed.
“I respect you. Do you respect me?”
To my complete shock, Roman fell to one knee.
“Princess Lucille, so much so, I chose to stay.”
Tears filled my eyes, and my fingertips flew to my lips as I tried to swallow. “You’re…I believed...”
My impostor stood. “I’ve been working diligently. I believed if I could fool you...”
I reached up to his cheek with my trembling palm as I stared into his eyes. “How do you do it? You’re so realistic. And the things you said…”
He took my hand in his. “I hated most of it. Truth be told, I hate most of what he says. I was told you wouldn’t protest the decision regarding the States.”
Gazing down at where we were touching, I savored the warmth of his hand holding mine. When I looked up, I marveled at the likeness while relishing the presence of this other man. “I wouldn’t have,” I confessed, “before you.”
“Me?”
“I’ve relived our night, our conversation, in my thoughts over and over.” I shook my head. “Where is Roman?”
“I haven’t been told.”
“How long…” I had so many questions. “…when did you step in?”
“Yesterday morning.”
I tried to recall. “I was told you were with King Theo yesterday.”
He nodded.
My eyes opened wide. “Does he know?”
“He does. He accepted my vow.”
“Your vow? Why would you give him that?”
This man was still holding my hand. “Because, Princess, without it, I couldn’t continue.”
“No. You were going to escape. You should be back in America.”
He lifted my hand to his lips. “I’ve been told we don’t do this.”
“This?”
His voice was Roman’s, but the timbre was slower, more confident, and his earlier cold expression was gone. The one before me was animated and looking right at me.
“Talk,” he said. “Connect.”
Warmth filled my cheeks. “We don’t.”
“Princess Lucille, I need your assistance to succeed.”
I swallowed. “You’re sending me back to Monovia.”
He nodded. “Because that’s what Roman would do. And…”
“And?” I prompted.
His next phrase was in Norwegian. I recognized the language, not the words.
“Your Highness?” I questioned.
“I’m not to be trusted with you.”
“Did the king—?”
“No, I know you’re not my wife. The problem is that if I’m to become Roman Archibald Godfrey in all senses, I want every part of his life, including you. That can never be.”
I nodded.
He was right. We couldn’t, and at the same time, he wanted me. This man I barely knew wanted me. I was wanted. My heart didn’t seem to mind that this man was an impostor. It was too busy soaring.
“He will be back,” the impostor said. “Roman. Before that happens, my goal is to make you a part of his team. He doesn’t deserve you, but you deserve to be treated as the princess you are.”
“It won’t matter. Once he’s back…”
“When he is, you must not let him know that you know the truth unless he tells you.”
My chin dropped at the thought of my husband’s return.
The impostor squeezed my hand. “I can’t live another man’s life through the eternity of my own.”
“What do I call you?” I asked.
“What do you call Roman?”
“To his face?” I asked with a genuine grin.
A smile curled his lips, bringing life to his dark eyes in a way I didn’t recognize but immediately adored.
Taking a step back, I curtsied. “Your Highness.”
“And I you?”
“The usual titles in public. Lucille in private.”
The man nodded. “Lucille, shall we dine?”
He didn’t offer me his arm, but he did wait for me to be beside him. As he opened the door, I whispered, “What about the queen?”
He shook his head. “That is at the king’s discretion. Currently, no.”