“I can see that,” she scoffs, her gaze shifting to me, examining me with an accusing glare. “You really shouldn’t just let that man run around unattended. You both represent our family, and you need to be more mindful of your appearance. Aqueen’s image is everything, after all, and so far, I haven’t seen anything regal about her. Perhaps that is the problem,” she continues, her mouth curving into a cold smile. “There isn’t an ounce of nobility in her. So unlike how Nora was. Some things simply cannot be learned with time. You should divorce her and do it now before she causes a scandal.”
“Mother, that’s enough!” I bellow, my voice rising as I stand over her, Rowan at my side. “Bellamy is more than capable of being a great queen, and I have no doubt in my mind that she will continue to prove herself. She has my full support, and I expect you to respect her as my wife and as the queen of our country. And as for scandal and not acting regal, if anyone here is guilty of that, it’s you.”
“Sebastian, be reasonable about this! She’s the nanny. I see the appeal.” She waves her hand toward the door Bellamy left through. “She’s young and obviously beautiful, but she’s only with you because you’re the king. She’s using you.”
“And you know that from meeting her for all of two minutes and sneering in her face like some sort of hissing cat?” Rowan challenges.
“I’m simply suggesting a quick divorce might be the most advantageous course.”
I smirk. It’s not a kind smirk. “Do not presume to speak on my marriage when you know nothing of it. It’s so very unlike the one you had with our father or even the one I had with Nora. There will be no divorce. In fact.” Now my smirk curls into a taunting smile. “Your grandchildren will be born by the end of summer.”
Displeasure twists her features just as the door opens once more and Althea enters, reading both mine and Rowan’s expressions clearly and letting out a resolute sigh.
“Sister, you’re here all of ten minutes, and already my nephews look miserable. Please tell me you haven’t openedyour mouth with your unnecessary and unwanted opinions on my new niece?”
My mother twists to face Althea, her face stretched in shock. “Your new niece? You cannot be serious?”
“Actually I am.” Althea waltzes over to us. “You just never listened when I spoke about her. Bellamy is wonderful and I love her as a dear friend, as my new niece, and as my queen.”
My mother scowls, but I don’t give a shit. She needs to know Bellamy is my wife, my queen, and she isn’t going anywhere. I don’t need her approval, nor do I seek it. In fact, the sooner she leaves, the better. The last thing I want her to do is make Bellamy uncomfortable again.
“Now, if we’re past all this, I’d like to get down to business.”
My mother blanches but nods all the same.
She takes a seat on the sofa nearest the fire and proceeds to stare into the flames. Rowan and I exchange a quick look, but then we’re all sitting down, my heart picking up a few extra beats.
“It’s not something I ever wanted anyone to know about,” she starts, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife, her eyes glinting with something I can’t quite place. “I suppose it’s time to let everyone know. Your father had an affair with the woman who took your sister.”
11
SEBASTIAN
The air leaves my lungs in a rush as I struggle to comprehend her words. My gaze flickers to Rowan, who has gone pale with shock. “What are you talking about?” I manage to choke out, feeling the ground beneath me shift.
“Her name was Elara,” my mother continues, her voice sharp with derision. “She was quite the seductress. She…ensnared your father, and when he ended it, she kidnapped Desta as revenge.”
The room goes deathly still, this news the ultimate sucker punch. Althea looks as if she’s been slapped, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“You knew?” the words slip past Rowan’s lips, and I find myself shooting out of my seat and marching over to the bar. I pour a round of drinks without bothering to check what anyone wants or even acknowledging that it’s not even noon.
“Yes, I knew. She was one of the house servants and she certainly wasn’t the first. Just the one who grew the most attached.”
I bring over the tray of drinks and Rowan and Althea immediately go for theirs.
“Mother, how could you have known all this time and never said or done anything about it?” Rowan demands, his voice shaky with anger.
“Who says I didn’t do anything about it?” she snaps, her eyes narrowing. “I am the only one who kept this family going. I am the one who protected it. This is what happens when you allow yourself to become entangled with someone of lower stature.” She raises her eyebrow at me.
Ah, so that’s what this bullshit with Bellamy is really about.
“Enough!” I shout, my anger boiling, fists clenched at my sides. “You’ve said enough about Bellamy. She is not some random woman I’m having an affair with. I am not my father and Bellamy is not that woman. Now, tell us what happened to Desta.”
“The woman became demanding. She told your father he had to divorce me, which he wouldn’t. She started threatening us. Threatening me. Threatening all of you. We fired her, obviously, and made sure the guards knew she was never allowed back on the palace grounds.”
The air in the room is thick with unease, heavy with the weight of the revelation as we struggle to comprehend what we’ve just heard. Althea’s hand is over her mouth, her heart visibly aching, whereas I see the betrayal etched onto Rowan’s face.
“That’s why Father told me to alert the guards when I woke him,” he says. “He knew it was that woman.”
