Page 42 of Pregnant In The King's Palace

‘Service,’ he offered quietly. ‘We live to serve.’ Heavy concepts for a seven-year-old. Parroting the words back at him was only the start of coming to terms with what they meant. ‘And there are very few circumstances where we can decide not to do that and just walk away.’ He held Angelique’s gaze. ‘Even if we fall madly in love with someone and want to do whatever makes them happy, we still can’t walk away from our duty. That’s why only very special people choose to marry us, and even when we rejoice that they want to marry us we worry we’ll break them, because it’s hard to serve this country day after day, year after year, decade after decade, and sometimes the criticisms outweigh the thank-yous. And when that happens and people start saying bad things about us, what do we do?’

‘Cry?’ said Juliana. ‘Because that’s okay, but not in front of people. Only some people, like you or Mama or nanny Chloe.’

‘Maybe,’ he murmured. ‘Maybe we do cry in front of our special people, but then we wash our faces and see if what the people are saying is true and we really can do better next time. And the time after that and the time after that until we’re doing a much better job a lot of the time and people don’t say nearly as many bad things about us any more. But sometimes that takes years.’

‘I have years,’ Angelique promised quietly, and in that moment his heart truly did break for her, because he loved this woman so much, and he really had put her in an untenable position.

‘They’re crucifying you.’

‘I have you,’ she said next, and he wanted to cry on his own behalf now, because he wasn’t enough, he would never be enough to counter all the freedoms she would lose. ‘You’re right here, telling me about the things that drive and inspire you, and I have our babies in my belly, and members of your family to get to know and I will learn how to do what you do, and it won’t always be enough but it will always be my best. This I promise you.’

He cleared his throat of its sudden tightness and reached for the first folder. ‘I’ll read them out and you can say yes, no or maybe. Juliana, this goes for you too. And then we can examine those options you like in depth. Number one. Libraries and literacy for children?’

‘Me!’ said Juliana, and he nodded and placed the folder in front of her.

‘And why might Angelique not want that one also?’

‘Because she’s a grown-up?’

‘Because she can barely read Thallasian?’ Angelique offered. ‘Maybe adult literacy is my jam.’

Valentine nodded his approval. ‘Next. Mobility for the disabled. Including therapy horses and the roles they play in rehabilitation?’

Juliana’s hand was up in the air and she looked fit to burst.

Angelique raised her hand too. ‘Could we both become patrons of this one? Because I have some ideas and I’d like to know more. Horses or not.’

He created a middle pile. ‘Heart Foundation? Rare Cancer Awareness? Alzheimer’s research? The medical ones are always hard to choose from because the need to shine a light on their research goals is always there. But what we can do is make connections. We raised funds for the national college of music by tasking them with performing in small groups for Alzheimer patients and filming those concerts. Charitable donations went up thirty per cent for both causes that year. Performing throughout the elderly community became a permanent outreach programme for the orchestra. Some of the young musicians we showcased still visit those nursing homes to play for old friends, and once a year, Juliana, your mother invites the musicians and carers and doctors and researchers to a big luncheon in the blue ballroom. That’s just one of the things you can do when you decide to lend the might of your royal name to a cause. And the trick, if it’s a trick, is to make people feel good about helping others, and to say “I see what you did there” and “thank you”. It can be about connecting people who can help each other. It’s not always about raising money.’

‘What’s your hardest patronage portfolio? The one you work hardest at but never seem to get anywhere?’ asked Angelique, and he didn’t have to think twice for an answer.

‘Domestic violence.’ Darkness lived there. He’d barely scraped the surface with his own father. It could have been worse. It was worse for so many people.

‘Then I want that one too,’ Angelique said. ‘I’ve never lived it, but I want to share that load with you. Will you let me?’

‘I’ll have it sent to you.’

She shouldn’t smile at him as if he’d given her the world.

‘Would you like to run away with me to your hunting lodge and get married tomorrow?’ she asked. ‘It would solve a lot of internal debate about empire waistlines versus regency ones.’

‘Sorry. We need the spectacle.’

She sighed. ‘What are your thoughts on empire waists versus regency ones?’

‘They’re very convoluted thoughts.’ He had no idea what she was even talking about.

‘Do you have a tiara?’ the little Princess wanted to know.

‘No. But I do have a mantilla,’ Angelique replied. ‘It’s a lace veil that’s been in my family for many years, and it has a special comb that goes with it that makes it sit up just so.’

‘There are tiaras available for—’ he began.

‘No.’ It was a very cool no, even if accompanied by a softening smile. ‘I will not deny my heritage and I will not disappoint. You just need to trust me on this.’ She gave Juliana a wink. ‘I am on the lookout for the perfect pair of earrings, though. Diamonds.’

They both turned to look at him, and he obliged with a theatrical sigh. ‘I suspect I can help you there. What about a necklace?’

Angelique shook her head. ‘No need. The neckline of the dress I’m partial to is too high.’

---