Page 103 of Royal Reluctance

“You staying at the castle, I hear.”

“I am now.”

“You and the prince?”

“I don’t know. I married him,” I blurt out. It’s not the right way to say it, but I have no clue what the best way would be. My father has always been straight to the point, so maybe it’s rubbed off on me.

“Thanks for the invitation,” he says in a sour voice.

“This was eight years ago. I married him without telling anyone, and then the queen died. And then I left.”

He turns to give the pot another stir. “I’m guessing there’s more to it than that.”

“There is, but that’s the gist of it. No one knew. I had a baby.”

He makes a noise in his throat. “Maybe you should have led with that.”

“Maybe.” I pull out a chair at the table, surprised to find a cat sleeping on the seat. “You have a cat. I didn’t know you had a cat.”

“You have a husband and a child, so I guesswe’re even.”

“Fair.” I give the cat a pet and pick another chair.

“Where is this kid?” he asks.

“Her name is Tema and she’s seven. She’s with her father. Bo is her father. I never told him I was pregnant until I came back here with her.”

“Sounds like a lot more is going on. This kid—she’s a princess.” I can’t tell what my father thinks of that, whether he’s happy or disgusted with the idea.

“And I think she’s handling it a lot better than I am.” I give a huff of laughter. I’ve never had a conversation this long with my father, even with the fits and starts.

“Are you still married to the prince?” Just as Dad asks the question, I hear footsteps on the stairs and Reggie appears.

His hair sticks up and he’s wearing sweat pants and a ripped T-shirt. I never noticed how thin he was last night.

Earl is right behind him. “What are you talking about?” he demands.

“Did I hear that right?” Reggie blusters. “You’remarried?” At my nod, he scoffs. “Didn’t want to share that with me last night?”

“You were drunk and it’s not common knowledge,” I snap. “I came back to get a divorce but now I’m… I don’t think I will.”

It’s the first time I said it out loud and my cheeks warm at the words.

I have a future with Bo. I don’t know what that will look like yet, but it’s there, looming before me, waiting for me to take the first step.

Telling my family is that step.

“You sure about that?” Dad demands. “Castle life wouldn’t be easy.”

“She’d be aprincess,” Reggie protests. “That sounds plenty easy. What does that make me?”

“Nothing,” Dad barks. “You should stay away from her. We all should.”

“No.” All three of them stare down at me. My father. My brothers. My family. “I don’t want that,” I admit. “You’re my family.”

“Not much of one.”

“But it can be. It doesn’t have to be like… like it was. If I stay, you can get to know Tema. She’s your granddaughter. And me. You could get to know me.”

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