“End of the month?” James glanced between us as if judging whether this was feasible.
I immediately panicked. “Less than a month?! Are you insane? It’ll take that long to get invitations printed and sent out!”
“James,” Helena rebuked, “do not stress out your new husband. Three months at least.”
Even three months was pushing it. Very much pushing it.
James sighed and acquiesced. “Fine. Three months.”
We fell to planning in rough, broad strokes; we didn’t have time to really get into the details. Good thing I had Helena’s support, which would turn the tide decidedly in my favor, because the workload coming in my direction was absolutely insane. I’d take all the help I could get.
With so very much to do, most of it needing to happen all at once, I chose to go into the office early the next morning. Ineeded a little time alone to think, as well—something I’d not gotten at all yesterday.
I intended to sit at my desk and consult the calendar, try to find the soonest opening to bring my family here and tell them in person what had happened, but the moment I sat down, it all hit me.
This wasn’t my desk anymore.
This might not even be my office anymore?
Would I share offices with James? Share staff? Gods below, no, that was too much work for one group of people. I’d either need to set up my own office or bring in more people. I couldn’t just use this same body of staff and assume they could handle the work of two monarchs.
What would my responsibilities even be? Beatrice had been more of a hostess in function; she did very little with political impact. The office of “queen” wasn’t a robust political power. Would I just step into her shoes and assume what little she did do? No, wait, James had said he wanted me as an equal partner, so that was clearly not what he intended for me. I didn’t like the idea of doing so little, either, not when I knew well the workload of a king.
Still, could I do this? Would I even be good at ruling, as other people had already assumed? Would the people I’d spent over a decade working with be able to accept this change and see me as a king?
How could they, when I didn’t feel like a king at all?
The door opened and I looked up, surprised to see Ramsey walking inside. He gave me a slight smile as he closed the door behind him, then came straight up to the desk before giving me a bow.
“Your Majesty, congratulations on your marriage and your ascension to the throne.”
This man had known me since I’d started as a runner in the palace. He’d watched, in fact, three generations ascend the throne. If this man who had seen it all could so easily and sincerely greet me, then perhaps there was hope after all.
I bowed in return. “Thank you, Ramsey. I admit to having second thoughts.”
“You shouldn’t.” He straightened and gave me a piercing look, the one that made you feel as if he could see every wayward thought. “Word has already spread among the staff. You have no idea how excited they all are, clearly; otherwise, you’d not be sitting there looking like the world has dropped on your shoulders. Theycheered, Edwin. When they heard James had been made king and married you, they cheered. I saw a few people cry in pure relief.”
I couldn’t quite imagine that. “They cheered?”
“They did. Finally, finally, they have a voice. With King James at the helm, with you at his side, they know the people’s voices will be heard.”
Well, fuck, and didn’t that put the whole situation into perspective? They were entirely right. I wouldn’t ignore someone coming to me with a problem, nor would I care what rank the person held. In that regard, wasn’t I already better than the previous monarchs?
Food for thought indeed.
Ramsey wasn’t done. “I came not only to congratulate you but also to relay several offers.”
“I can’t imagine what you’re about to say next,” I managed around a choked laugh. “And somehow, I can. What offers?”
“First, all of Queen Beatrice’sandKing Patrick’s staff from the secretarial side wish to join you and King James.”
I knew all of them, knew how capable they were, and didn’t need to think on the decision. “I’ll accept them, every single one.”
He gave me an approving nod. “Very good. Will you take over the queen’s study, then?”
“Hmm, about that, I’m not sure if I want to. I’d prefer my desk to be side by side with James’s, in fact, so we can confer with each other as needed. None of this back-and-forth, he said, he said nonsense.”
“You’ll be co-ruler and not consort, then?”
