Well, she had a point. But I had goals to reach, one of them being my Edwin. I had to come into the family again. Although there were times, like now, when I wished it wasn’t so challenging. It seemed no matter what I did, this life would be a series of trials to overcome.
Helena got her thinking face on before asking, “Has anyone even tried to talk to the monarchs of Ascor about this?”
It was a good question I had no answer to. “Not that I know of?”
“Aren’t my parents assuming a lot right now? Victor wasn’t even supposed to escape the naval ship for another year, yet he returned in a month. How do we know Valentina didn’t also escape? She’s only been here a night. Do we know if she’s here with their blessing?”
“I would find it strange if she was.” Edwin tapped the notebook with a finger as he thought aloud. “She barely had any kind of real entourage. This smacks of a clandestine trip. She didn’t even have a letter from her parents to yours explaining anything. She had nothing, which I find very odd.”
He made a good point as well. “You think she eloped?” I asked.
“In essence? Victor’s already proven to be a degenerate who has no problem bedding children, so he likely didn’t blink when she approached him,” Helena said. “It’s just soodd, this whole thing. A marriage between two countries should have a good year of conversation between the parents ahead of time, visits, and courting gifts—not this out-of-nowhere announcement.”
Helena wasn’t wrong. It did suggest Valentina was here on her own agenda and one not backed by her parents. “I have to agree with the assessment. If that’s the case, though, agreeing to even think about me marrying her instead of Victor will further solidify a marriage. We must hijack this idea before it becomes more firmly planted.”
“I say we make a preemptive strike.” Helena’s expression turned shrewd, mouth curled in a wicked manner. “Let’s send an ambassador to Ascor and tell them how their princess showed up with no warning and ask what it means. Our ambassador should be coached to explain Victor’s a waste of space, already disinherited from everything, and the absolutely wrongmatch for their teenage daughter. I think they’ll backpedal immediately.”
“I see no harm in trying. I have dispatched messages to my spies in Ascor, but we may as well go the official route, too.” I glanced at Edwin, wanting his take on this. “Lenville?”
“He’s my first choice,” Edwin agreed. “I know he’s near retirement, but I think that’ll be to our benefit. He knows all the players involved and has the common sense to be direct when the situation calls for it. This situation definitely calls for it.”
“Let’s send him, then. I won’t ask for permission first, we’ll just dispatch him.”
Edwin gave me his speaking look. “Forgiveness easier than permission?”
“It’s a fucking motto in this place. We’ll speak with Lenville right after lunch. I must eat first before my stomach revolts.”
“We’ll join you.” Helena looped arms with me and tugged me toward the door. “While we’re eating, let’s come up with a plan B in case our first one doesn’t work. Also, for my information, are you comfortable sharing everything with Lucien?”
I was rather taken aback by the question. “Do you want me to tell him?”
“He took note of your reaction at the ball, which was hard to explain away, especially since I only had a surface level understanding. You did say he’s a very close friend and reliable, so I thought I should ask.”
He was, and absolutely the type to keep a secret, so I felt we could speak to him. “Let’s arrange for the right time to do so. I want him in the know so he can help offset things as he sees them.”
“I think it wise. Now, where do we get lunch?”
We all had ideas of where to go, of whether to stay in or go out, and while I did respond, my mind wasn’t really present. It was on the possibility of booting Valentina out of this countrybefore she could wreak havoc. Could I really do that? Could I avoid the stress, the heartbreak, the exhaustion of Valentina this time around?
Gods above, please say yes. Honestly, I didn’t think I could survive that woman a second time.
Fifty-eight
James
I spent the rest of the day hiding from work, which was just as well; it took a second nap for my brain to function once more. Letting me anywhere near paperwork or people would have resulted in a disaster. Edwin handled matters while I slept, and I arose feeling more human if not more refreshed.
Protocol said that when a visiting dignitary arrived, we had to have some kind of formal dinner welcoming them, especially if said person was royalty. With the fiasco of how Valentina came in, my parents chose to do said dinner in a more private setting. Meaning family only.
Which meant I had to go.
Edwin walked with me, even though he wasn’t attending, and I suspected it was to make sure I actually made it there. We stopped outside the dining room doors.
“Edwin, I can’t go to the dinner. I’m allergic.”
“To any specific foods…?” He asked this like he knew I was looking for an excuse.
“No, to Valentina.”
