Page 83 of Daniil
We have to look into this situation in Parliament immediately.
Before we waste any more time on a bill that’s doomed to fail.
Chapter34
Courtney
The invitationto high tea with the queen came in about a week ago but I’ve been so busy I forgot all about it.Between keeping up with Micah, and then spending my evenings with Daniil, there isn’t a lot of time for socializing.However, when I woke up this morning, Daniil and the baby were already gone, a note on the nightstand reminding me about tea.
Sweetheart—havea good time at tea!Micah and I are going to the gym and then we’re going to hang out with Sandor and the twins while you ladies do your thing.See you later.—D
Christ,I don’t even know what I’m supposed to wear to tea with aqueen.Casey is usually very laid back and casual, but I meant to ask Lennox if this is something different and forgot to do that as well.
I quickly send her a text, get the information I need, and decide to wear a casual but pretty calf-length skirt with a fitted vest that laces up the front.It’s the same outfit I wore to Lennox’s bachelorette party, and I’m glad I fit into it again.I’ve actually lost weight since being at the palace, which makes no sense since I’m eating a lot more.
Of course, I also have a lot more time to myself because I have…a partner.Someone who’s involved in Micah’s life full-time.Not just a babysitter, or Uncle Landon coming to town for a few days at a time.And it’s nice.Nicer than I thought it would be.Or maybe I just convinced myself doing it on my own was no big deal because I didn’t want to believe it could be better with Daniil.
Lennox meets me in the hallway at noon and she grins at me.“You look beautiful.”
“So do you!”I respond.
She wrinkles her nose.“I’m a million months pregnant, with twins, and feel as big as a house already.”
“But think of your two beautiful babies,” I say, taking her arm.“I mean, you love the two you have—this will just be more of the same.”
“Two more boys,” she whispers.“No one knows that, and I haven’t told Sandor yet, but the ultrasound tech let it slip.”
“Oh.”I look at her.“Is that bad?”
“It’s not bad but… how the hell am I going to managefourtoddlers, not to mention four boys?It took us months to find a nanny to handle two of them—she’ll run screaming if we saddle her with four!”
“Have you thought about…not working?”I ask quietly.
Her eyes widen.“Not a chance in hell.I am not the one to be a stay-at-home mom.No way, no how.Sandor knew that from the get-go.He’s the one who wants a big family, so finding a nanny is his job.”
“More than four?”I ask dubiously.
She laughs.“He would have me popping out babies until menopause.But I’m done.This is my last pregnancy.If he wants more, there will be a surrogate in our future.Or we’ll adopt.I’m not doing this—” She motions to her stomach.“—again.”
“It’s almost over, though.”
Before I can say anything else, we walk into a private dining room I’ve never been to before and it’s been magically transformed into what I imagine a Victorian tearoom would look like.Ornate decorations, candelabras, delicate lace tablecloths, and breathtaking flower arrangements.
“She really went all out,” I whisper.
“Every time we do it there’s a different theme.She went Victorian this time around.Last time was steampunk—that was a blast.”
There’s no time to talk about it because Casey approaches us with a friendly smile, giving us each a hug and leaning down to whisper something to Lennox’s belly.
“She’s singing rock lyrics to the babies,” Lennox stage whispers.“So that they don’t wind up with Sandor’s musical tastes.He likes fusion jazz.”
I laugh.“Yikes.”
“Exactly.”
“Come sit with me!”Elen calls to us.
I haven’t spent a lot of time with her but if things continue with Daniil and me, she’ll be my sister-in-law, so it makes sense for us to get to know each other.
