Page 125 of Duty and Desire

A man could hope, right?

“Let’s take you and your bags back to the palace.”

I chuckled. “The moment you step out of this office, you’re going to be noticed, you know that, don’t you?”

“Then Franz will have to carve a way through the crowd if we’re going to get out of here.”

I picked up my bags, and Franz opened the door for us.

“Itisthem,” a shout went up. All at once we were surrounded by a crowd that swelled in size until no one could move on the platform. People of all ages, all smiling, cheering…

Nick glanced at me, open-mouthed, and I shrugged.

Then I heard what the people were saying, and my heart soared. Franz attempted to push them out of our way, and I stopped him. “Let them speak,” I urged.

Two men pushed their way to the front of the crowd. “Your Majesty,” one of them began, his face flushed. “We walked here today holding hands, a thing we’ve never done before. And I know that sounds like such a stupid thing to tell you, but when we saw the article about you and—” He glanced at me, his eyes bright. “And Mr. Colonna…” He swallowed. “Then we heard the news, that you’re not going to marry the princess… Itistrue?”

Oh God, the hope in his eyes. In all their eyes.

I met Nick’s stunned gaze, and I laced our fingers.He glanced at our joined hands and raised his head, his smile radiant. “Yes, it’s true.”

And then I saw the rainbow pins. They were everywhere, on lapels, on bags, hats, around necks… I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

“God bless His Majesty!” Someone shouted near the back of the crowd, and their call echoed, louder and louder, until it was all I could hear. Flushed faces, beaming smiles, applause, whoops, fists thrust into the air…

Nick’s eyes glistened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Franz tugged at his arm. “We need to get out of here, Your Majesty.” Nick nodded, and Franz gestured to the people around us. “Clear a path, please.”

When they parted, I laughed. “I’m going to call you Moses from now on.”

We hurried to the car, followed by a smaller crowd, still cheering. We got into the back, and Franz pulled away from the curb.

Nick stared at me, his eyes huge. “I would never have believed it. I assumed the people thought as my father did. I expected outrage, not this overwhelming outpouring of?—”

“Support? Solidarity?” I smiled. “I don’t think for a moment your father’s regime was repressive, but your subjects followed his views. And now?” I squeezed his hand. “The tide has turned.”

I had a feeling what we’d witnessed at the station was only the start.

Chapter Forty

June 6

Nick

Icaught my breath as the car drew closer to the palace gates.

“Look at that.”

Our way was barred by people who’d gathered there, but unlike the crowd at the station, some of them held up banners and Pride flags.

Gio chuckled. “News sure gets around fast in this country.” He pointed to one banner, on which was paintedEquality and Freedom. Another readSame-Sex Marriage NOW.

I choked when I saw a rainbow flag with the wordsWeStand With The Kingemblazoned on it. Gio gave my hand another squeeze.

“I think there’s little room for doubt. And I wonder what your ministers are going to make of this.”

We were about to find out.

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