Page 53 of The Heart of the King

David wanted to keep an eye on Hazel, but he had other jobs to attend to this evening.

As they spoke, the yacht moved away from the dock and started for the open ocean. Fortunately, the seas were relatively calm this evening. Jasmine stayed with Hazel while they spoke with Astrid and Sofia. Hopefully, the girl had inherited her mother’s ability to put people at ease.

Three waiters roamed the room. One had drinks for everyone while the others carried hor d’oeuvres, rotating their trays regularly with different options.

After about half an hour of mingling, David took a sign from Stewart and called for everyone’s attention. “Dinner will be served on the deck behind me in a few moments. Don’t worry. I know it’s still winter but it’s covered and there are plenty of heaters.”

Laughter sounded around the room. He hoped someone, likely Benjamin, was keeping an eye on Edward. After the accident a year before, David was sort of surprised he and Astrid agreed to have this meeting on a yacht in the first place, though it was standard operating procedure for the Games of the Sargasso Sea treaty signing once a decade, going back to the beginning of the games.

This was the first time it was ever held this time of year in the north, though. Mostly because the other three had refused to re-sign the treaty until after the trial ended.

The waiters now opened the sliding glass panels so everyone could exit. With the heaters blowing inward and the area being covered, it really was much cozier than one might expect.

Before seating Jasmine, David held Hazel’s chair for her. Gabe had insisted he be seated next to her as well. Sofia was on the other side. The young princess would already be well-practiced at making small talk when the time called for it. He left Hazel in their capable hands.

When he returned to the head of the table, Benjamin was still standing and talking with Jasmine until David could hold her chair for her then take his own seat.

During the meal, conversation revolved around topics of the day - including the Winter Olympics which would begin shortly. Fortunately, the late signing of the treaty wouldn’t impact the Sargasso Games since they were only held in odd years to start with and only minor changes had been made anyway.

After taking a bite of the main course, Jasmine leaned closer to him. “This is delicious. Remind me later to find the chef and tell him so.”

“It’s the same chef who works at the palace,” he told her. “We don’t use the yacht enough to employ one just for it.”

“I’ll be sure to let him know then, and let him know I’d love to have this in the rotation at home if it’s not horribly difficult to make.”

David shrugged. “I have no idea if it is or not.” Had the chef been re-vetted after his father’s departure? It struck him that they were putting a lot of faith in a man who’d worked in the palace for a long time. How did they know he wasn’t loyal to David’s father or grandfather?

How simple would it be to take out the monarchs of four countries by poisoning their food by the man who should be the most trusted member of the food preparation staff?

He needed to discuss this with Daniel later. And see who else might need to be reinvestigated.

Just to be sure.

Before it was too late.

19

After dinner ended, Jazz wondered if she could join Mrs. Sneedly and the girls for their movie, but she suspected that would be onefaux pastoo far.

Instead, she and the other non-monarchs waited on the other side of the camera set up to take photos of the signing.

Astrid and Katrín stood with her. She didn’t know where Gabriel had gone. Maybe he’d snuck off with his sister like Jazz wanted to.

“How’s it going?” Katrín asked her softly, her hand pressing lightly into the side of her rounded belly. Their second child was on his or her way in the next few months. Or was it their third?

“Contractions?” Astrid asked, sympathy in her voice before Jazz had a chance to answer.

Katrín nodded. “Not bad ones. Just annoying.”

“I’ve got a few months before I have to start dealing with them again.”

Jazz snuck a glance at the princess’s midsection. She wasn’t showing. Turning back to Katrín, she prayed the discussion wouldn’t turn to when she and David were going to have children. She’d feared they hadn’t used protection in Vegas, and they might not have, but there were no permanent reminders either. “Would you like to sit down, Your Majesty?”

“Call me Katrín,” the queen told her. “I would have said something earlier, but you quite effectively introduced us to your sister-in-law before I had a chance.” She glanced around. “A seat would be nice, though.”

“And call me Astrid,” the princess told Jazz as they walked toward a group of chairs nearby. “I’m sure my father would tell you to call him Edward, too.”

“And my husband is Benjamin,” Katrín told her as she carefully sat down.

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