Page 117 of Royal Icing
There was silence within, and she popped the doors open. The queen stood by the window, and she sprang back as if Emma had caught her doing something illicit.
“Miss Clark?” she asked, clearly confused. That was fair. Emma had just committed an egregious form of breaking and entering. Hopefully criminal records didn’t transfer between countries. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Feisty words for a hoity-toity queen.
“Hello, Your Majesty,” she said with a small curtsy. She stepped inside and shut the door. They were alone. “Before you call for security, I need to talk to you.”
The queen twitched the thick velvet curtain back for one more look before turning her attention to Emma.
“Is this about my son?”
“It is. I just needed to make sure you know that Leo isn’t doing this out of spite. The protest isn’t a retaliation because you cut him off. It’s not an elaborate ploy to get back on the royal bank accounts. He’s doing this because he cares so deeply about this kingdom that he’s willing to put them ahead of repairing his relationship with his family.”
The queen opened her mouth, but Emma plowed on. “Building a new ski resort will irrevocably damage the people in your own backyard. Leo’s plan is going to be a gift to them. Do you really want to deny the children of the village a new library? And abandon women and children in need?”
The queen’s lips pressed together.
“There’s a difference between doing what’s profitable and doing what’s right. I know you’ve said your hands are tied,” Emma said. “But I know who you are. You are a badass bitch, and the most powerful woman in this country. If anyone can take a stand and stop that ski resort, it’s you. Cancel the lease. Go medieval on their ass and reclaim the land through eminentdomain. Pretend they found a nesting site for an endangered bird species. Just do something. There’s always a way forward.”
Had she just called the queen a badass bitch? Whoops.
The queen paused for a long minute, staring off toward the curtain again. “I’ll take it under advisement.”
“Thank you for considering it,” Emma said. She crossed the room before the queen could call in the guards and paused with a hand on the door. “I see so much of you in Leo, you know? You’re both a little stubborn, a little reactionary, but I know that you care deeply. Even if you’re not able to show it. Leo loves you in spite of and because of everything. I hope that, in time, you’ll be able to see that.”
The queen averted her gaze.
It was time for Emma’s Hail Mary.
“Oh, and one more thing. I sent a video to Beatrice. It’s about my experience in a women’s shelter. I know I’m not your favorite person, but please listen to it. And then reconsider. You’re the only person who can stop this. Do the right thing.”
“You love my son,” the queen accused as Emma turned to leave.
What?
Emma froze. Love? Not this again. They barely knew each other. Love meant many scary things—figuring out how to make their bicontinental relationship work for the long haul, building their lives together, being vulnerable and taking each other into account when they made plans for the future. They couldn’t be there yet. It was impossible.
And yet. She had never felt this strongly for anyone before, not even her last boyfriend of three years. Leo had saved her life. And Cooper’s. If not him, then who? She couldn’t even imagine dating someone else. No one would fill the Leo-sized hole in her heart.
“I know you wouldn’t have come here if you didn’t,” the queen added. “It takes courage—or maybe a great deal of stupidity—to confront a monarch in her own home, especially after that display at the ball. Some might even say it’s an offense that would land you in a very dark, spider-infested dungeon,” she said coolly.
Oh, shit.
“But for what you’ve done for my children, I’ll let it slide. This time.”
Relief flooded her. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
She slipped out the back door and bustled back down the hill to town before the queen could change her mind. Protesters were still scattered about, resting their signs over their shoulders as they drifted toward the holiday extravaganza ramping up downtown.
Had they done enough? Or was the queen really immovable marble? Either way, it was time for the second part of their plan. Getting the land wouldn’t mean anything if they didn’t have money to build.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
LEO
Downtown Hollybrook had transformedinto an explosion of holiday lights and color. It was like the winter carnival on steroids. Garland, holly, mistletoe. The roads were closed, all the storefronts were decorated, booths lined the high street and sat all over the park. A 3D model of the proposed community center site was set up at the lot. Kat had made it herself.
It was the biggest holiday celebration Hollybrook had ever seen. Countless people had volunteered their time and declared all their proceeds would go to the community fund. But would it be enough?
