Page 28 of Falling for the Widowed Prince

Was that the title they were going with?

"... has come before this body today to certify his selection as regent for Queen Catherine until such a time as he is deemed unfit or she comes of age."

"It is so noted," the Prime Minister responded. "We can do this with a simple voice vote. All in favor?"

A chorus of ayes sounded throughout the chamber.

A wave of relief he hadn't expected washed over Anthony. Glancing at the gallery, he could see Madeleine with her eyes on him.

"All opposed?"

"Nay." Several voices rang out. He knew there would be a couple, but hadn't expected quite so many.

"We call for a debate followed by a second vote," the eldest member of the Council stated from his seat behind the Prime Minister.

Anthony knew the Prime Minister well enough to know he was furious, but was impressed at how he kept his reactions under control.

"Very well. All opposed, please rise and state your objections."

About fifteen members of Parliament stood up, plus three of the nine Council members. Except for one already seated at the front, they all filed down to one of two microphones set up for just such occasions.

"Is there someone who would speak for the prince?" Anthony suspected the Prime Minister wanted to do it himself, but protocol precluded it. Three others approached, one man and two women - one of whom he recognized as the second in her party.

The Prime Minister turned. "Councilman, would you care to lead us off?"

The councilman stood. "We all know the sole reason for Anthony's..."

"Prince Anthony," the Prime Minster reprimanded.

It earned him a glare. "For Prince Anthony's marriage to Ms. Woodward is to take on the role as regent, thereby preventing these two bodies from choosing the most qualified person for the job."

"You mean to keep you from getting the job," someone yelled from the floor.

The councilman bowed his head. "I would be honored to take on the role of regent for our young queen, but I have not been given due consideration. Neither has anyone else."

One of the women who had come to defend him spoke. "If Prince Anthony were an unacceptable option, we would have the opportunity to prevent him from taking the office. However, the body as a whole clearly has no objection, and were we able to ask the late queen, very few of us could honestly say we believe she would have wanted anyone else. The law is clear on the matter. The statutes strongly discouraging the prince from taking office are superseded by the Letters Patent. A document those who have seen it and the relevant chapters and other documents believe the Queen Mother of the first King Gilead was forced to sign by her late husband's brother to ensure his position on the throne after killing her son." The woman's eyes narrowed. "Are you suggesting that Mrs. Anderson is attempting to gain the throne for herself and therefore the queen must be protected from her machinations?"

Anthony looked up at Madeleine and willed her to remain calm. They’d be fine.

10

By the time she met up with Anthony back at the SUV, Madeleine felt like she'd run a marathon.

And been beat up in the process.

The debate had been heated at times, but it was clear from the outset that those objecting had no real reason. They simply didn't like the fact that Anthony would be regent, and there wasn’t really anything they could do about it. She suspected the councilman wanted the job for himself to give his family and friends contracts or other lucrative deals or somehow set himself up to take power permanently. She'd heard of it happening in other places, like Southern Santiero a couple of generations earlier, but never would have thought it could happen in Eastern Novigradia.

Of course, she hadn't expected Caroline to die so suddenly and neither had anyone else. She hadn't dared ask Anthony about it, not wanting to force him to relive memories he'd rather bury until further notice, but she suspected he hadn't known much longer than the rest of the population.

There had been whispers about something going on for a couple of days before her passing, but no longer than that.

The drive back to the palace passed just as quickly and quietly as the drive there. Sitting in the back while someone else drove was a new experience for Madeleine. She had rarely taken a cab or ride share service, much less anything fancier.

Once the door from the portico closed behind them, obscuring them from the view of the outside world, Anthony's shoulders slumped. He tugged off his tie and went through a door Madeleine hadn't noticed. Likely, he needed time to process what had happened. She'd see him later. They were supposed to have dinner with the children this evening. He wouldn't leave her alone for that, would he?

She didn't think so.

More like he wouldn't skip dinner with his children the day after he married another woman and three days before Christmas. It had nothing to do with her specifically.

---