I had to bite my tongue because, honestly, I didn’t think Patrick a good parent in the slightest. Seemingly he didn’t expect an answer from me, as he kept speaking. “I treated him as I did my other children. I did raise all three children the same, but only my eldest turned out reprehensible. Helena and Royce are more dependable, certainly more trustworthy. I wonder why Victor is so different from them?”
I couldn’t say anything about his parenting skills, but this was truth. “Victor’s an adult now, Father. He’s responsible for his own decisions. He can’t blame his upbringing for how his life is now. Do not carry his sins upon you. You didn’t make them,after all. All you can do is protect your country and let your child straighten his own life out.”
King Patrick looked wistful for a moment. “Do you think his year at sea will teach him how to be a better man?”
I’d sooner bet on the tides reversing.
Note that I didn’t say that.
“Time will tell. For now, I’m off. There’s things to set in motion to clean up the rest of this mess. I’ll make sure to keep your office updated as we progress with Aurora.”
He nodded but just sat there. I had a feeling he’d be sitting there a while, playing a mental game of what-if. No good would come of it. I’d played the game far too many times.
If you wanted to change the future, you couldn’t fixate on the past. Putting all your efforts forward was the only way.
In the safety of the hallway, I let out a long, relieved breath. Well, one problem down. Victor being banished from the royal family solved so, so many potential headaches before they could even form. Now all I had to do was navigate the wake of his leaving and the other problems still looming in the future.
But it was all doable, right?
Thirty-seven
Edwin
My excitement ran so high, I felt giddy. I struggled to keep my face from revealing it, however. I’d worked very, very hard on this surprise, and I refused to let my face spoil it.
I’d discovered that if I offered James my hand, he’d take it, and I could lead him practically anywhere. This time was no exception. After breakfast, I offered my hand, and he slid his fingers into mine with nothing more than a questioning look.
“Some of the knights’ horses are aging,” I said, leading him toward the stables in the back of the palace grounds. “I’ve had some brought in for inspection so the knights can pick new mounts.”
“Oh, splendid, we do want to keep them well equipped. What of the retiring horses?”
“Stud and pasture, as per the norm. They’ve worked hard for us and deserve a good retirement. I also thought you might want to reward your knights, after all that’s happened—”
James let out a deep-felt sigh. “That’ll take more than a horse.”
Snickering, I said, “Well, yes, but the horse is a good start. I contacted the breeder who normally supplies the royal family’s horses and explained what I wanted to do, and he’s brought the very best destriers.”
James canted his head to the side. “If they’re very expensive horseflesh, maybe I’m wrong. The horses ridden by the royal family are worth a prince’s ransom.”
“Trust me, I know. The bill when it hit my desk almost induced a heart attack. I’m thankful your military budget for your knights covered it.”
What we didn’t say was the true fear the knights would need to be this well equipped. James was doing everything in his power to avoid the events of his first life, to nip them in the bud before they could even form, but things had already happened out of order several times. It was best to prepare for the worst, just in case.
We left through a side door of the palace, cutting through one of the formal gardens open to the public. Very few places on palace grounds were public, but these gardens were used as a sort of waiting area for anyone wishing to speak with the royal family. It wasn’t unusual to see twenty or thirty people milling about, biding their time.
What was unusual was seeing Prince Royce surrounded by several young lords. In fact, his back was right up against one of the ornamental trees, a book of some sort clutched to his chest and a smile of growing unease and panic pinned to his face.
Oh dear. We might have to rescue him.
“Shit,” James murmured, even as he let go of my hand and beelined for the prince.
I followed, not because James needed me for this but because I wanted to know what was going on.
I recognized Lewis Heaton first by his flaming red hair and the freckles to match. He spoke earnestly, his whole bodyleaning forward to emphasize whatever point he was making. “—Your Highness will be a much better fit for the throne than Prince Victor ever was, to be sure.”
“Anyone can surpass that mark,” James stated as he moved to join them.
All four men turned, taking in his approach. The lords’ expressions closed off, while Prince Royce melted with obvious relief. I knew the lords were apprehensive about James stepping into the vacancy Victor’s departure had created. I wished James would seize the opportunity but knew he wouldn’t.
