Catherine gave a half-shrug and continued to stare into her drink.
“Very little.” This time the act of resting his hand on her leg was much more intentional. “There is some about some of your actions - like they wish you spent more time with the people, but they also understand you’ve been working hard to make sure you’re well-prepared to take over everything by yourself. They know your father has prepared you well, but also that it has to be an enormous amount of pressure.”
“Are you sure?”
He gave her leg a light squeeze and smiled. “I am. Your people love you. They respect you. You’ve already done an amazing job, and you’ll continue to do so. I promise.”
She visibly relaxed.
“And they’ll back your proposal.” He brought the conversation back to the earlier topic. “You’ll make theright choice for your heir - whether, God forbid, it’s your brother or, someday, our child. Everyone knows you will.”
Catherine tensed again slightly.
Jacob suspected he knew what she was thinking. “I don’t expect it to be me, Kins.” The use of the nickname surprised them both. “Not at this point. Maybe someday, but if - again God forbid - something happened to you in the next few years, your dad would be a much wiser choice.”
This time, her shoulders relaxed completely. “I didn’t even know I was worried about that. Thank you.”
Jacob stood and leaned over to brush a kiss against her forehead. “You’re going to be amazing. You already are.”
6
Once again wearing her work clothes, Catherine left the cottage for the palace and her office. She'd put a warm coat on for the short walk. It was too cold outside not to.
When she reached her office, she set her satchel on the desk and hung her coat up on a rack contoured to help the coat retain its shape. Taking her seat, she logged into her computer and kicked off her shoes underneath the desk.
Checking her agenda for the day, Catherine noted a video conference with leaders of the three other countries of the Sargasso Sea - Northern Santiero, Southern Santiero, and Western Novigradia.
The four leaders of the Quad Countries were in process of planning the Quad Country Games for the next year. Technically, her father should be a part of the conversation, since he was still the regent. Instead, he would listen in from his office, but wouldn't be a part of the meeting unless someone asked him a specific question or he felt the need to clarify something.
The rest of her day was to be spent on paperwork. A message appeared on her screen telling her that her father had requested a meeting as soon as they could get the Prime Minister andlongest serving Council Member together. She sent a note back telling her senior aide to schedule it whenever needed outside of the video conference time frame. That meeting had already been postponed twice because of unexpected conflicts in the other countries, and she didn't want to be the cause of a third delay.
An hour later, her father and Jacob entered from a side door just a minute before the Prime Minister and Councilman came through the main door.
She hadn't been briefed on what the meeting would be about, but given Jacob's presence, she could guess.
They took their seats at the conference table, with Jacob taking a seat next to her again rather than further down where they could see each other better.
The Prime Minister turned to her father. "I have a very busy day today, and I'm sure the Councilman does as well, so let's get right to it."
Her father nodded. "We will provide more details to the appropriate members of government as well as the general public at a later time, but for now, we're advising the two of you as required in Succession Statute 9.2.33.1b. The queen and Jacob Whitfield were married in a small ceremony two days ago. We will be requesting that Prince Jacob be granted his seat on the Council as soon as I step down and the queen is legally able to fill her own seat."
Both of the government officials stared at her father then turned to look at them.
"Excuse me?" The Prime Minister was the first to speak. "There's been a royal wedding, and we weren't informed ahead of time?"
"There is no mandate for you to be told before the event takes place," her father pointed out. "Only that you are informed within forty-eight hours of the event. Under most circumstances, you would have been informed ahead of time, but forreasons the queen and her consort have chosen not to explain at this time, the decision was made to have the ceremony then announce it later."
"Is she pregnant?" The Councilman gave them a very judgmental look then turned back to her father.
Catherine started to reply, indignation rising within her, but her father gave a slight motion with his hand telling her he had it under control.
"That is none of your concern," he told the Councilman. "You will be informed of any other details necessary before the public announcements are made."
She noticed how he worded it. They would be informed before the public, but it could be as little as a few minutes before. It didn't need to be any sooner than that.
Her father stood. "That is the only thing on the agenda today. The notification has been made as required. We'll be in touch if there's anything else we need to discuss before our next meeting."
The Prime Minister and Councilman followed her father’s lead and stood, though neither looked pleased.
