Page 35 of Royal Catch
I wish she was by my side tonight. My father has taken a turn for the worse, and I’m back in that dark place of despair. I know Polly would be a comfort, and I also know she wouldn’t be welcome in his private suite. A doctor is attending to him now, making him more comfortable with pain medicine. I’m not ready to lose him, and I know it will devastate my mother. They’re a team. I fear she’ll lose the will to live without him, just as she has lost the desire to lead without him. All I really want is to make him better.
I arrive at my parents’ suite, and I’m quickly ushered into the sitting room. My mother stands by my father’s bedside, asking the doctor questions.
I pace the room. I never thought I’d actually want the barbaric bridal games to continue, but here it is six days later, and I’m sad that it’s over because I’ll have to say goodbye to Polly. Francesca defaults to my bride in Polly’s absence. I asked Polly to stay the weekend to postpone the inevitable. I’m fooling myself, buying time.
Finally, the doctor leaves and I go to my father. “How are you feeling?”
His smile is more of a grimace. “I’ll be fine once the pain meds kick in.”
My mother squeezes his hand, her expression grim. “Rest, love.” She takes her seat by his side.
I pull a chair over and sit next to her, all of us silent for a few minutes. My siblings arrive tomorrow. For the first time I fear my father might only have hours instead of days or weeks. I shouldn’t have protected my brothers and sisters from this harsh reality. I’ll never forgive myself if they don’t have a chance to say goodbye. Thankfully, his expression relaxes as the medicine kicks in, and he goes right back to his favorite topic.
“It’s down to two candidates,” he says to me. “Your mother and I are in agreement. Francesca is the best choice.”
My mother chimes in. “She was always our first choice, and I’ve made sure the competitions were suited to her. She has the largest wealthiest kingdom, and an alliance with her country will put us in the best position going forward. She’s also right for the role of queen, raised in the proper fashion.”
The unspoken wordsand Polly is not rightare clear as day. Something in me rebels for the first time in my life. I’m indifferent to Francesca, and before I met Polly, that wouldn’t have bothered me in the least. I have only to look at the love my parents share to know I want that in my marriage too.
“So you rigged the games to favor Francesca?” I ask.
My mother replies without an ounce of remorse. “Yes.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why not just choose her and be done with it?”
She gives me a sad smile. “Your father needed something to look forward to.”
“I’ve enjoyed it immensely,” my father says before launching into a coughing fit. My mother helps him with a sip of water.
It’s as simple and twisted as that. A small sliver of joy in his suffering. This was the only reason I went along with the competition in the first place, though I don’t think I would’ve bothered if I’d known it was rigged. But then I wouldn’t have gotten to know Polly. I can’t work up much anger for their rigged game because Polly brought me great happiness, comfort, and, yes, love.
After he’s settled back again, I speak up. “I’m not sure about Francesca. Maybe we can delay, put out some more feelers through royal channels.” I need time to work something out with Polly.
My father’s voice is hoarse. “End the games. Make the right choice, Gabriel.” His eyes drift closed. “Running out of time,” he murmurs before falling asleep.
My mother leans back in her chair and closes her eyes. She probably hasn’t slept much, vigilant on my father’s behalf whenever he’s doing poorly. I give her shoulder a squeeze. She puts her hand on mine and gives me a squeeze back before releasing my hand.
Now is not the time to rebel. I know what I must do—marry the bride they’ve chosen for me, to bring my father peace. I stand, bow my head to them both, and take my leave.
I pace the long halls of the palace, restless energy driving me. I know my duty, my responsibility, but I cannot reconcile myself to it.
An hour later, I find myself at Polly’s room. I try the door and it’s unlocked. I step inside to a quiet room. The light is on, but no Polly. The bathroom door is open. She’s probably the type to leave it open, having no sense of modesty or propriety. It tickles me because it’s so wrong, so the opposite of everything I’ve known. She’s the rebel I could never be.
“Polly?”
I hear a squeak and then she appears from the floor beside her bed, wearing some fantastic workout clothes, a neon blue sports bra and tiny black spandex shorts. “Hi! I was just doing my planks. It clears my head and tones my core.”
My gaze drifts to her flat toned belly, and my mouth goes dry. My fingers tingle with the urge to touch her.
“You’ve got the sexiest bedroom eyes I’ve ever seen.” She closes the distance, hips swaying, mesmerizing me.
I pull her into my arms and kiss her with all the intensity of what I’m feeling. A long while later, I release her, my eyes locked on hers, wishing things could be different, wishing there was another way. “My bride has been chosen for me. Francesca.”
She looks away, her voice quiet. “I figured. She’s the only one left.”
“Besides you.”
She backs away. “Now, we both know that’s a nonstarter. I could never be queen of Villroy. I don’t fit in here.”
