“Good.” With a satisfied nod, he moved on. “Now, how are preparations for the trip coming along?”
“I think we’re more or less set, barring a few last-minute things to pack. We are to leave by no later than seven in the morning.”
“Excellent. The only secretary coming with me is you, correct?”
“Correct.”
“I want to establish this from the onset, but if any of you are parents or responsible for another family member, that person is not to go on trips with me unless I direly need them. Raising children is hard enough without throwing lots of business trips into the mix.”
He was so kind, this man, looking out for the people who worked under him. I could see why his business had flourished so quickly and why the people working for him were so completely loyal. At this rate, half the palace staff would be in love with him before the month was out.
“Noted, Your Highness.”
He paused again at the stairs and gave me his Unamused Face. “Can’t you just call me James?”
“That rule I will not bend on, Your Highness,” I said a bit sternly, although I was secretly amused. “You must get used to it.”
His lip stuck out in a pout before he sighed and headed downstairs. “Fine. I’ll deal with it later, I suppose.”
Deal with it…how?
No, truly, I wanted to know.
“I am sorry for yanking everyone around like this so quickly after I came in,” he said, his tone absolutely sincere. “I anticipate future problems, and this seems like the best moment to deal with the demon portal, as we’re sure to get very busy after we get back. There’s many projects I want to do.”
Normally, if one became adopted into a royal family, wouldn’t that person first indulge in the many luxuries they’d just acquired? Why did this man immediately pile on more work?
Such a strange duck. “What projects?”
“For one, I do not like the state of the seawalls.”
The capital sat upon the coastline, having started as a trade city, and while the palace itself sat very high up on the hill, the rest of the city spread out in every direction. To protect the lower levels from the many, many storms we had, seawalls and breakers kept the sea from washing out the homes and businesses in that area. Those walls were also a hundred years old in places, so I could see the reason for concern.
“The council has been talking about the best approach on how to fix them for the past five years,” I said.
“Oh, I’m not going to rely on them and their money to fix the problem.” James rolled his eyes to the heavens. “I’d have to be a lunatic to do so. Those pompous old windbags wouldn’t know a good idea if it bit them on the ass.”
A laugh startled out of me, and I immediately clapped a hand over my mouth to stifle the rest. I would be in so, so much trouble if I laughed and was caught.
Prince James, not at all deterred, gave me an irreverent wink. “We both know I’m right. Anyway, I’ll fund this project personally, if necessary. It’ll be my thank-you gift to the citizensof the city for welcoming me in as a prince. Or that’s my go-to line if anyone asks. In truth, I do not want to lose a whole section of the city due to stupidity and one bad storm. We’ll go through the council to get the necessary permits, and if they want to fund it, more power to us. I won’t rely on them for anything more than the necessary paperwork, though.”
I looked at his profile carefully, but he did seem to be perfectly serious. Personally, I was all for it. About time someone stepped in and actually did something productive. I also felt it fair to warn him, “Crown Prince Victor was spearheading that project…or was supposed to be.”
“He’s had five years. My turn.”
So irreverent, this man. I liked him all the more.
I decided to be honest with him. “My family lives in the lower level.”
He stopped dead at the bottom of the stairs, head canted as he considered me. “All of them?”
“Most of them. Even my house is down there. So, for what it’s worth, Your Highness, you have my full support.”
He put a hand on my shoulder and leaned in, those beautiful green eyes twinkling. “I’ll remind you of those words when we’re burning the midnight oil, going over scintillating things like budgets.”
Not being a touchy-feely person, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with his hand on my shoulder. Also, he was far too handsome for my own good. Still, I rallied. “I won’t complain, I promise.”
“I believe you. You’re too earnest of a person.” Letting go, he turned and headed outside. “To the office. We must get the wheels in motion for our seawalls before we leave tomorrow.”
