Divorce.
To continue this role without Lucille was not in my plans. However, as Lord Taylor droned on endlessly about alliances and the importance of appearance, I came to the realization that my vow was never to Lucille but to the crown and Molave.
I couldn’t fathom one without the other.
“Your Highness?” Lord Taylor asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I’m bored.” It wasn’t meant to be in character, just an honest moment in a foreign voice.
Lord Taylor sat back and smiled.
“Is that amusing?” I asked, standing and walking to the windows. Despite it only being near five o’clock, the storm brought an earlier-than-usual darkness with the continued accumulation.
“I was concerned, Your Highness.”
“Are you questioning my health, sir, or my ability?”
“Neither,” he said with a shake of his head. “We can resume this review tomorrow.” He nodded toward the window. “I’m afraid returning to Molave City won’t be prudent for a day or two.”
“Papa thinks I’m incapable.” It was the excuse bestowed upon Lord Taylor for the reason I was in need of this advanced information on the fifteen country states that would be present at the upcoming summit.
“I believe, sir, the king wants to be certain you understand Molave’s historic stance.”
“Why would I not?”
“The last summit, sir, as well as the recent tour…”
He wasn’t saying that they went poorly, but from what I’d gleaned, those public events had gone horribly. Of course, I wasn’t Roman Godfrey during those times, not that Lord Taylor was privy to that information.
I waved the foreign-affairs minister away. “Tomorrow.”
Lord Taylor bowed. “Your Highness.”
After he was gone, the door opened with a knock.
“Yes, yes,” I said, staring out the window, expecting Lord Martin.
“Your Highness.”
I spun around to the most stunning blue stare. “Princess.”
She curtsied. “I came to apologize for my outburst this afternoon.”
“It is I…” My words trailed away at the sight of her widening eyes and shaking head. “Close the door,” I said with more force.
After she did as I instructed, we both stood for a moment in silence. The bodice of her jumper stretched with each of her breaths as her breasts pushed against the fabric. As her pink lips curled, I moved toward her. Meeting in the middle of the room, I reached for her hands and kept my volume low. “What is it?”
“A feeling. I’ll explain tonight.”
“About?” I prompted.
“Lady Buckingham has confided in me that deputies from the ministry have been here at Annabella Castle twice recently, both times while I was called away.”
My pulse increased. “Deputies? In what capacity?”
“Searching is all she’s been told. I assume it has to do with you.”
“I’ve never been here before.”
“No, Your Highness, Roman.” She turned toward one of the bookcases. Moving closer, she ran the tips of her fingers over the spines. “King Theo asked me if you kept journals, saying that some rulers think themselves self-important and therefore have a need to record their daily activities.”
Going closer, I laid my hand on her slender shoulder. Lucille’s beautiful blue orbs looked up at me. “Did I?” I asked.
“Not to my knowledge.” She exhaled. “I should go.”
“We will dine alone in our parlor.”
“Please, Roman, don’t trust the parlor. Our bedchambers are the only places we can talk freely. I’ve never worried about this before, but now…” She nodded. “I feel a shift. Things are different.”
Things were different because I’d involved Lucille in the deception. Her unease was my doing, causing my insides to stir with concern. Focusing only on her, I nodded.
“Again, Your Highness, I am sorry.”
My volume rose. “As long as you know your duty…” Yes, it was a speech I knew and detested at the same time. “And inform Lady Buckingham that after dinner and your bath, you are to come to my suite.”
Lucille curtsied, keeping her gorgeous blue gaze veiled. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Lucille
“The royal physician advised…” Lady Buckingham said, turning toward me as she poured bath oils into the filling tub.
“I am aware of what Mr. Davies said. He also said the prince was told. Do you suggest I refuse my husband’s summons?” I never had, nor had my mistress encouraged such behavior in the past.
“No, Your Highness. Perhaps you can remind him.”
Wrapped only in a dressing gown with my long hair piled upon my head, I turned away from my mistress as the remodeled bathroom filled with lilac-scented humidity, and the clawfoot tub reached its proper depth. “I’m certain Roman knows of the physician’s orders. He would not appreciate me reminding him.” That was true of the old Roman.
“Ma’am?”
Turning back, I stepped closer and untied the sash. The soft material slid from my shoulders leaving me naked as I reached for Lady Buckingham’s hand and stepped into the tub. Lowering myself to the depths, the warm water sloshed and my skin pinkened. My mistress gently ran a loofah over my shoulders and back.
“The weather report is cautioning that up to two meters of snow could fall in the higher elevations…” Lady Buckingham continued speaking as my thoughts circled back to this evening.
I’d felt the urge to warn Roman about the searches. I planned to learn more myself from the house staff. Roman wouldn’t be the one to question the maids. That would be me. I’d hoped that making an apology outside of our private apartments would further this Roman’s believability. Or to those in the know, it would perpetuate my lack of knowledge. With each passing encounter, it was becoming more difficult for me to separate the two men.
Perhaps I didn’t want them separated.
I wanted the combination, the man I married and the man this Roman was.
After I was dried and again covered by my dressing gown, Lady Buckingham brushed my dark hair until it fell in soft ringlets she formed around her fingers. I was without makeup, but as I stared at my reflection, I didn’t feel the need to enhance my appearance as I might have done for my husband. There was a comfort in this Roman’s approval.
It wasn’t superficial or expected.
He could easily carry on the behavior of the man he pretended to be, and yet he hadn’t.
“No,” I said as my mistress reached for the powder. When her gaze came to me, I grinned. “I’m tired from our drive. Let the prince see that.”
“A little pink for your lips?”
I shook my head.
“Perhaps he too is tired,” she suggested.
“One can only hope.”
Lady Buckingham held up two nightgowns. Both were floor-length satin and lace. One was white and the other black. It would under normal circumstances be one of my few choices of the night.
“Black with black bloomers,” I said.
Although she didn’t protest, I was aware that bloomers weren’t always worn when I was summoned. That said, the black nightgown was less transparent, and bloomers were…well, appropriate, considering I didn’t truly know the man staying on the other side of our private apartments.