Page 16 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
In the interest of maintaining stability and securing the future of the kingdom, the reigning monarch reserves the authority to require members of the royal family, particularly heirs to the throne, to enter into marriage when deemed necessary for the welfare and prosperity of Joyce Isles. Such unions shall be conducted with careful consideration for diplomatic relations, alliance-building, and the preservation of the royal lineage.
“I could renounce my title,” Harriet said to the room as she started gathering her things. “It’s not like I’m going to have any kids.”
“But then you’d also have to give up everything being Princess Harriet entails.” Alex’s voice made her jump.
“What the heck, Alex?” Harriet seethed. “How did you get in here?”
“I have a keycard.” Alex held up the card. “I knocked, but there was no answer, and the front desk told me that you were in.”
“I forgot I gave you that,” Harriet muttered.
“Are you going somewhere?” Alex leaned against the doorframe, watching Harriet take clothes from the closet and dump them into suitcases.
“I’m leaving,” Harriet told him. “It’s time.”
“And you’re renouncing your title because…” Alex gave her a sideways look.
“I was just talking nonsense to myself,” Harriet told him.
“Harry!” Alex pushed himself off the doorframe and walked over to her, stopping her from wearing a hole in the carpet. “Stop what you’re doing for a minute, and let’s talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” Harriet shrugged and snorted. “You know nearly every little girl has some dream of being a princess.”
“But Harry always dreamed of being a normal little girl,” Alex said.
“They don’t really know what it means to be a princess,” Harriet sneered. “One minute, you’re sailing along, happy because you’re not the one that’s going to be responsible for taking over the throne.” She raised her hands in a mock happy move. “Yay.” She drew in a breath. “Then suddenly, thekingdecides that joining two influential families will be a good move for the kingdom, and he has a single niece who can make that happen.”
“Your father messaged me,” Alex told her. “He asked me to help you and ensure that his quote,insane egomaniacof a brother, doesn’t get his way at Harriet’s expense.”
“My father and uncle had a fight,” Harriet explained. “This should be about my brother. Gray is the one in line for the throne, not me.”
“Gray is spoken for, apparently,” Alex said. “Who knew he was dating freakin’ Trinity Woodrow.”
“It’s amazing how Gray always gets away with things like that.” Harriet sighed resignedly. “But not me. I’m always the one who gets the backlash.”
“Did you not hear when I said Gray’s dating Trinity Woodrow?” Alex asked her.
“I already know that,” Harriet told him. “Good for him.”
“I don’t like Trinity.” Alex groaned.
“But Gray does,” Harriet pointed out. “So we have to support that, and if it keeps my brother from the clutches of Lady Estelle Psycho, I don’t care who he’s dating.”
“Funny, Gray said the same thing about you,” Alex told her. “He won’t be happy knowing that you’re running away.”
“I’m not running away,” Harriet told him. “I’m merely packing and leaving gracefully in a flourish.”
“You’re running,” Alex insisted. “And that’s just being selfish.”
“How is me going back to New York being selfish?” Harriet gaped at him.
“Because I’ve just got my best friend back, Dawn needs you, Ethan needs you, and what’s Brad going to do when you’re gone?” Alex asked her. “We can’t live without you in our lives, Harry, even if it means you hate me again. I’d rather have you here every day glaring at me or pushing me off a boat than not have you here at all.”
“That’s selfish!” Harriet pointed with her index finger. “All I’ve heard in that statement of yours is how everyone needsme!”She pointed her hand at herself. “But what about whatIneed?”
“That’s an excellent question, Harry.” Alex walked to her suitcase and started taking items out of it and dumping them back in the closet. “What do you need? Because for as long as I’ve known you, you’ve never asked for help or told anyone what you need.”
Harriet took the clothes Alex had put back on the shelf and dumped them back in the suitcase. Alex picked up the pile and took it back to the closet.
