“The monarch’s suite has been made ready for your arrival.”
With a blink, Catherine knew it made sense, but it still felt weird. That was her parents’ space.
Though, as she thought about it, her father and Mumeleine had never used it.
“Thank you,” she murmured, uncertain of what she should do next.
“Dinner will be served in an hour, unless you specify otherwise. Would you prefer to be served in the family dining hall or the sitting room of your suite?”
A slight nod of her head sent a thank you to the steward. “The sitting room, I think?” A look toward Jacob saw him agree with a nod of his own.
The steward bowed his head before leaving through a side door. Catherine thought it led to the kitchen but it had been many years since she’d gone exploring in the “behind closed doors” portions of the house. She’d been restricted to the non-working areas since her mum’s passing.
Rather than dwelling on it for the moment, she directed Jacob toward the grand staircase.
As they walked, he asked about a couple of pieces of artwork hanging on the walls. She told the little she knew about them.
It only took a moment to reach the imposing doors to her new quarters. Suite was a bit of a misnomer. It had five bedrooms - all with en suite baths - multiple washrooms, two sitting rooms, an office, and a library -andthe actual Monarch’s Suite.
As she gave Jacob the tour, she did realize only the Monarch’s Suite had been fully prepared for their arrival.
“You can stay in here with me,” she blurted out before she could change her mind.
Jacob gave her a smile, but didn’t agree or disagree. “Do you want to get a bit of rest before dinner?”
The idea held significant appeal. Catherine nodded and slipped her shoes off. “I do think I’ll lay down until it’s time to eat. You?” She purposely left the statement vague, allowing him to infer whatever he chose.
“I’m not opposed to takinga bit of a nap.”
In just a few minutes, they were both stretched out on the bed.
Pulling the sheet up over her shoulders, Catherine settled into a light sleep, but the entire time, every inch of her being felt an awareness she never had before.
Jacob, her husband, lay so close it would only take the slightest movement to bring them into contact.
As she drifted off to sleep, Catherine wondered what might happen if one of them bridged the gap.
And wondered when one of them would be brave enough to try.
When Jake awokefrom the nap, the first thing he realized was that he wasn't on the couch in their cottage.
The second thing was that he wasn't alone.
He'd rolled onto his side. That wasn't unusual, but that his arm wrapped around Catherine was.
Somehow, while they dozed, she'd moved toward him and he toward her, because they definitely weren't overly close in the large bed when he closed his eyes.
Carefully, he rolled away from Catherine, doing his best not to wake her up.
"I'm awake." Her sleep-filled voice stopped him mid-role.
"You don't sound like it." His voice wasn't much different than hers.
"What time is it?"
With the question, he rolled onto his back and sat up before reaching for his phone on the side table. "We've been asleep about an hour."
"So it's dinner time?" she asked with a yawn, as she reached for her own phone. Scanning the screen, she sat up and swungher legs over the side of the bed. "It will be here in a couple of minutes."
