A Royal Engagement: The Young Royals Book 1 (15 page)

"Who?" I asked.

"That we don't know," Von Bartham said with a sigh, "It was a large hunting party and we are still trying to lock in where everyone was when it happened."

"If this was CSI they would have wrapped it up by now," I said petulantly.

"We have our best investigators working on it," the Chief assured me, somewhat offended.

"So am I in danger?" I asked.

Benjamin sighed and shared look with Meredith, "Possibly," he finally said, "It depends on what their endgame was.
 
If it was just to cause instability in the country, then they have achieved their goal, but if it was to actually take over control, then you may still be in danger."

"Who has the most to gain from my death?" I asked, looking around the room.
 
Meredith wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Frederic," she said, "Or more accurately, my father."

"And were either of them on the hunt?" I asked, chilled.

She shook her head, "No," she replied, "And I don't believe for one minute that they would ever even think of such a thing."

I reached over and laid my hand on hers, "I don't either," I assured her.

"We have run a full investigation into the Duke of Monterey and the Earl of Avonlea and have cleared them of any involvement."

I turned to Meredith, "Did they investigate you too?" I asked and she nodded.
 
This was ridiculous.

Benjamin sighed, "We had to," he said, "Meredith has intimate access to you and she is a highly trained operative."

I could only imagine the look on my face that made Von Bartham jump in.

"But we didn't suspect her in the least," he said, "It was just proper protocol."

"It doesn't make it right," I said.

"Maybe not," Meredith said, "But it was necessary.
 
We wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't look at everyone involved.
 
Both Carlos and Daniel had to be investigated too."

I growled at that, but could see their point.
 
It didn't mean I had to like it.

"So who else is in line to the throne?" I asked.

A tablet was handed to me with a long list of names.
 
I skimmed down the list, noticing both Will and Jordan were on it.

"All of these people have a claim to the throne," Von Bartham went on, "And will more than likely challenge you before your coronation."

I raised my eyebrows, "Really?
 
Is there no clear succession?"

"After the Duke of Monterey, no."

"But if I'm killed, won't he automatically step in?" I ask, confused.

Meredith shook her head, "He has his own Duchy to think of, as does Frederic.
 
Anybody on that list could successfully challenge him on that fact alone."

This was all so confusing.
 
I didn't fully understand how succession worked outside of my own family.

"So pretty much, if I'm gone, the throne is open for a hostile takeover?"

"Yes."
 

Chapter Ten

This dining room was smaller, more intimate than the one they'd used for the ball.
 
It was still over the top with formality, though.
 
At least this time I actually got to sit at the table with my guests, instead of at a different table like a wedding reception.

On my right was Uncle Charles, Lord Bingham, Duke of Monterey and Meredith's father.
 
He wasn't really my uncle, well I did't think so.
 
We were related though, so maybe cousins?
 
Anyway, he was my father's best friend and I called him Uncle because of that.
 
He was also my Godfather.

On my left sat, Jordan's father, Major General Elijah Wicks.
 
He had also been a friend of father's, although not familiar enough to be called Uncle.
 
He had always been, and would always be, The General.
 
He was retired now, of course, but I would never be able to separate him from his rank.

We had made fun of him as a kid, Jordan leading the way.
 
He was an imposing man with a great hulihee beard that was white now, as was his hair.
 
He reminded me of the Major General from Pirates of Penzance and every time I saw him, the song ran through my head on repeat.

Further down the table were Will and Jordan, although I had made sure they weren't seated next to each other.
 
Having them both at the table made me uncomfortable, but for very different reasons.
 
When I looked at Will, I was embarrassed by what I overheard him saying about me and when I looked at Jordan, I couldn't help blushing at the memory of the kisses we'd shared.
 
It meant I spent most of the meal flushed or avoiding their eyes altogether.

Thank God Frederic was also there to rescue me when conversation stalled.
 
Which it did, often.
 
I was the only female in attendance and it was an odd experience, but one I would no doubt have to become accustomed to.
 
This was another one of those situations in which I was to serve as both King and Queen.
 
This afternoon I had spent time with the wives, sisters and daughters of these men, in which I was playing the role of Queen, and now, tonight, I was playing the King role as I entertained them.
 
Maybe I could combine the Garden Parties and these dinners to avoid this very situation.

But that was an issue for another time.
 
Right now, I needed to get through tonight and maybe win some favour.
 
These were my father's supporters and for me to win over Parliament, they needed to be mine too.
 
The problem was, we had so very little in common.
 
These men were old school, well, most of them anyway, and they didn't know how to talk to a young woman like me without coming across as condescending.
 
It didn't help that most of them hadn't lain eyes on me since I was fourteen years old.
 
I'm sure they still thought of me as that little girl.

I was more than happy when the formal dinner came to a close, I may have even rushed through eating the last few dishes in order to speed it up, and we all rose from the table.
 
This was the part where the King would take the men into the drawing room and they would share brandy and cigars.
 
I neither drank brandy nor smoked cigars and my father's drawing room had been a male only dominion all my life.
 
I had never set foot across the threshold.

The men either didn't realise that fact or thought to continue the evening without me, because they all headed in that direction after leaving the table.
 
Like a herd of old cows that made their way to the milking shed without needing the farmers encouragement, the dukes and earls and viscounts all migrated towards, what would colloquially be known as, the man cave.

I hung back, unsure of whether to follow or not.
 
I knew that the real deals went down in that room and that what happened around the table was mere facade.
 
But would they accept me in that room?
 
A room that had been, for generations, a gentleman's club?

"What's wrong Princess?" Frederic whispered in my ear.

"I've never been in there," I admitted to him, "I have no idea how to navigate this."

He chuckled and put a hand on the small of my back, guiding me forward, "Don't let them smell your fear," he said quietly, "You need to treat them like a pack of dogs.
 
Your father was the pack leader, right now there is a void and you need to be the one to fill it.
 
You need to go in there and take charge."

"But I've never done anything like that before. I don't even know the types of things they discuss in there." I knew it was important to garner their respect, but I had no idea how to go about doing it.

"It's like a game of chess," he counselled me, "Everyone is trying to manoeuvre their piece closest to the King and they're all thinking several moves ahead."

"I suck at chess," I whined, "And the only reason they want to get close to the King is to knock him over."

Frederic shook his head, "Not necessarily," he said, "Sometimes they want to get close to protect the King."

"Is that what you're doing?" I asked.

He smiled a brilliant smile, "I got your back Lys," he said.

I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath before crossing the the threshold into my father's world.

The stewards had already begun distributing the brandy and cigars. I took a brandy, but declined the cigar, I would make do with passive smoking.
 
The men had broken off into little groups and I was reminded of a similar scene on a school yard playground.
 
That hadn't worked out well for me either.

Deciding to start small, I headed for Jordan.
 
He was, at least, a friendly face.
 
He was talking to a viscount and an earl and they were discussing, of all things, sports.
 
Another area in which my general knowledge was lacking.

"Who do you fancy for the MFA Cup this season," Jordan asked the earl.

MFA.
 
Merveille Football Association.
 
I knew that, of course.
 
Football was our national sport.
 
The one with the round ball, not to be confused with the other types with odd shaped balls.

"Calanais looks good," the earl replied, "Although, Mersey look to have a strong team this year."

"Yes, but they lost their manager end of last year.
 
The new one doesn't look like much chop."

"What about you, Your Highness," Jordan asked with a sparkle in his eye, "Who do you have your eye on?"

I swirled the brandy in my glass for a moment, trying to remember a name of a team.
 
Jacob had been a massive fan of...Genervé?

"I believe I'll be following the fate of Genervé," I responded, completely unaware of if the team was any good.

The men chuckled.

"A die hard fan like your brother?" Jordan asked with a smile.

I shrugged a shoulder, "I was inspired by his passion."

"Not your father's beloved Royal Guards?" the viscount asked.

I swirled my brandy again.
 
I was reminded of my father's and brother's loud disagreements whenever they watched a match.

"I think my father may have been blinded by loyalty in their regard," I replied, remembering that it was one of Jacob's most touted phrases when arguing the merits of their respective teams.

The earl and discount chuckled and then bowed and moved away leaving Jordan and myself alone.

"You did well," he said.

I huffed out a small laugh, "Are either of the teams I named any good?"

He laughed, "No," he said, "Your brother and your father were both blinded by their loyalty."

I blushed, hoping I hadn't just made a complete fool of myself.

"Do you have plans tomorrow Alyssa?" Jordan asked.

"Church, of course," I replied, "And then I'm going to spend some time in my father's office."

"Oh?" Jordan raised an eyebrow at me, "You haven't done that yet?"

I shook my head, "I haven't been able to face the memories.
 
But I have a Parliamentary meeting coming up and I can avoid my father's business no longer."

"And Jacob's?"

"Next week," I said, "I can't do them both at once, it would be too much for me."

He nodded sagely.
 
"Will you have time for a picnic?" he asked.

I smiled and felt myself relax, "That would be lovely," I said.

He raised my hand to his lips and brushed the skin above my knuckles delicately, "Until tomorrow then," he said before moving off.

I turned around to find another group to talk to and came face to face with Will.
 
He had a mean scowl on his face that he wasn't quick enough to blank before making eye contact with me.

"Lord Darkly," I said haughtily.

He bowed, "Your Highness," he replied.

"I do hope your sister enjoyed herself this afternoon," I said, grasping for small talk.

"Indeed, she did," he replied, his face softening at the mention of his sister.

"I hope she will come and have tea with me sometime soon."

"I'm sure she would be delighted to," he replied.

We stood awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to say next.

"You spend a lot of time with Wicks, do you?" he asked.

I raised an eyebrow at him, "He works in the palace," I replied, "We sometimes have lunch together."

Will sipped his brandy, his eyes darkening.
 
"Not alone, I hope."

"Of course not," I replied, offended, "I always have my security detail with me, they are chaperones enough."

He nodded sharply, "I would caution you to keep it that way."