"First, you might want to check your pockets." Byron raised an eyebrow. "Or do you already know how many phone numbers you were slipped?"
"Phone numbers?" Jake didn't understand until he reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a business card. Even before he fully comprehended what the words on it said, it repulsed him enough to shove it at Byron. He pulled several more out then checked the pockets of his pants, finding a couple more. "What's thatall about?"
"As a member of the royal family, women are likely to come on to you. They're not so crass as to do it in public, especially in front of your wife or the rest of Eastern Novigradian high society. However, they most definitely will slip notes in your pockets while dancing or conversing or even just brushing past you in a crowd." Byron shook his head. "I don't know why any of them think it will work. To my knowledge, it never has in Eastern Novigradia. When you find them, give them to me or a member of your security team, and we'll take care of it."
Jake checked his pockets again, just to be on the safe side. "Take care of it how?"
"Find out who they're from. If possible, they'll never be invited to a function at the palace or where you're going to be. If that's not possible because of who they are..."
"Like the wife of the Prime Minister?" He had a feeling the one he'd seen was from her.
"Exactly. They will have a much closer watch kept on them while they're here or when they're around you."
The glint of light off of his new wedding band caught Jake’s eye. He was married. Why did that suddenly mean he was more appealing?
He just didn't get it.
This all feltridiculous to Catherine. She changed out of her evening gown and into a pair of slacks and blouse to go under her coat while she walked through the garden with Jacob to the cottage. Why couldn't she just change into something comfortable, even if it wasn't her pyjamas?
She stifled a sigh. At least it was only for a few minutes, and she didn't have to wear heels since no one would actually see her.
"Thank you," she told her various assistants who'd been helping her as needed throughout the day. "I appreciate all of your help."
"It's our pleasure, ma'am." Her stylist spoke for all of them.
Her senior aide held the door open for her to exit. Those in the room were among her very innermost circle, even closer than her family at times, but she still felt the need to be "on" while with them, at least somewhat.
The only time she didn't need to be at least partly on was by herself.
Maybe, someday, she'd be able to be the same with Jacob. Completely let her hair down - or pull it up in a sloppy ponytail-bun thing and wear her most comfortable clothes, complete with a few holes from years of wear, with fuzzy socks then settle into a big chair with a favorite blanket and a pint of her favorite ice cream.
No one else had seen her do that. She'd never even done so in the monarch's apartment. Too many siblings who could randomly walk in without knocking, even though they knew they weren't supposed to.
Instead, she'd taken one of the rarely-used staff rooms, hidden deep in the second basement. They'd never been fully updated with modern conveniences and were really only used when there were a substantial number of guests with staff who needed places to stay. She'd managed to have a chair and lighting delivered there. Some had no windows, but this one did, which was partially why she'd chosen it - that and the fact it wasn't on any of the palace tours.
As her mind wandered, Catherine walked through the corridor toward the outer door, Jacob appeared at her side.
They didn't talk as they walked out the door and through the garden. Jacob held the cottage door for her. Catherine went straight to her dressing room and changed into her pyjamas before going back into the living area.Jacob stood to the side as she passed, giving her the same tired smile she gave him.
A few minutes later, they were both in the chair they shared for a little while almost every night.
"How are you feeling?" Jacob asked with his cheek resting against the top of her hair.
"Exhausted. It's been a long day." She pulled the quilt up a bit closer to her chin. "A very long day."
Jacob pulled the quilt down a bit and lifted her left hand out from underneath it. "I do like the way those rings look together. I think the people appreciated that we did the exchange in public." His thumb rubbed the back of her hand near the knuckle.
"I think they did, too." His wedding band was clearly visible on the hand that held hers. "Everyone seemed to wish Mum had been here. I do, too, and I understand their rationale. I'd give up being queen for an extra fifteen years in a heartbeat for her to be here." She hesitated.
"But...?" Jacob prompted softly.
"But if she was still here, Mumeleine and the youngers wouldn't be. I wouldn't wish them away either." If she wasn't careful, she'd start crying.
"I understand that. No one would fault that logic. You love Mumeleine and your younger siblings."
His reassurance helped her feel a somewhat better. "Thank you for that. I feel like most people would understand, but it's the ones who wouldn't that would be the loudest. It never fails."
"No, it doesn't. The naysayers and critics are always loudest." They sat in silence for a moment. "I do have something to tell you. You may already be aware that it happens, but I didn't know about it until after the ball this evening when Byron told me."
