She sighed and leaned into his touch. “Do you think Corrado’s upset? I’m not sure he’ll want to go to Ilva with your father.”
He secured the small hook above her zipper, then leaned down and pressed a kiss to her nape. “I think he loves his job, but he’s more than ready to retire. It’s not easy to spend thirty years as the monarch’s chief of staff.”
She sat down at her dressing table and started fixing her hair and makeup. “Are you worried Tavin might not last?”
“Will Mara?” He reached over and picked up the necklace she’d laid out, a simple chain with a small silver heart pendant, something her parents had given her long ago.
She looked for a second as if she wanted to argue, her perfect lips pursed slightly, but seemed to let it go. “She does get anxious easily, it’s true, but she is excellent at her job. Once everything is official, I’ll keep an eye on her. I don’t want her to burn out.”
He put the necklace on her and let his fingers linger on her skin for a few moments. “You’ll need another assistant, maybe even two eventually. I’ve already got two besides Tavin and I’m worried it may not be enough.”
“Maybe we can shift over your parents’ assistants. Their chiefs may go with them, but the others won’t be able to go.”
“I agree. Once it’s announced, we’ll talk to them, see if they’re interested or if they’d prefer to be redeployed to another role in the administration.”
She chuckled.
He moved so he was facing her. “Something amusing you, Mrs. Santoro?”
“What a difference a few hours makes. Earlier today, both of us were freaking out?—”
“I was not ‘freaking out’, darling.”
“—and now we’re calmly discussing us running the whole country.”
He took her hand and began toying with her engagement and wedding rings. “Would you rather stress about it?”
“No, but I wonder if we need to. Maybe if we stress out now, then we won’t stress out later?” She shook her head. “It’s a silly thought, isn’t it?”
“I know what you mean, but I don’t think we can avoid stress. We couldn’t avoid it a few minutes ago. Just because we’re talking calmly now doesn’t mean we always will.”
She stood and moved into his arms. “That’s true.”
He pulled her against him and wrapped his arms tight around her, and she snuggled against him. They stood there entwined together for a few minutes until his phone buzzed in his pocket. They separated and he saw the time and a message from his mother that his father was heading down for dinner too, though he should probably stay in bed longer.
“Papa’s coming to dinner.”
Rebecca’s eyebrows popped up. “Oh, wow. Let’s go, then. We don’t want to keep him waiting.” She rushed through the rest of her preparation and slipped on some heels. She was heading for the door when she frowned. “Oh no, I got some makeup on your jacket.”
He glanced down and tried to brush it off but to no avail. “It doesn’t matter, darling.”
“Please go change it.”
“It’s only the family. Why is it so important?”
“Because we’re announcing the coronation to your family tonight. I want us both to look…I don’t know, as perfect as possible, even if they are family.”
Suddenly, he understood. “All right, darling, but you don’t need to worry. They won’t object to it, or to you becoming queen.” At least, he hoped they wouldn’t.
“Maybe you’re right but I’m still worried about it.”
“Then I’ll change.” He gave her a chaste kiss so as not to ruin her makeup and headed back to his dressing room.
REBECCA
Rebecca’s anxietywas climbing with each step towards the shared family dining room. Her thumb was worrying her rings around her finger, while her other hand went to her stomach, where shestored all her stress.
Alex took the hand from her belly and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “Everything will work out, darling.”
