“Don’t have much time,” he said, refilling his glass immediately. “But felt I should have lunch.”
Royce was a good person, truly, he just had a very narrow focus. The fact that he’d still heed a lunch invitation from me was proof. “Thank you for coming. I wanted to get to know you better since we’re now siblings. Also, a reassurance: I do not want the throne. But I do want our country to flourish, so I’m here to help with the administration and projects to enrich the country.”
Both of them looked at me askance, like they weren’t sure if they could believe me.
“That said, if there’s anything I can do to help you meet your own personal goals, I’ll be happy to lend a hand.”
Royce stared me dead in the eye for a long second before challenging, “So you’re not going to argue with me about my research?”
“How can I,” I countered easily, “if I don’t know what you’re researching?”
He spluttered, staring at me longer, like he couldn’t believe me. “So you want me to tell you?”
“Well, yes. I don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I’m trying to find a cure for salence.”
A horrible disease, literally strangling people to death, that unfortunately cropped up during the winter months. In the future, it would kill nearly half the population before we could stop it. I knew Royce would indeed find the cure, and I wasn’t about to dissuade him.
“An excellent thing to focus on. What progress have you made?”
He lit up like I’d asked him the key question to winning the kingdom. “I’ve isolated the main cause.”
Oh? He’d been hard at work. “Can you outline preventative measures for avoiding the disease, then?”
“A basic measure, yes.”
“Any measure is better than none. Let’s spread the word as best we can to people. Prevention is often the best cure. But I dowant to support your work, if I may? I heartily believe this is a cure we need.”
“I, uh”—Royce was definitely overwhelmed by my show of support, but a smile stretched from ear to ear—“yes, of course. I’m honestly low on funding for what I need to test next, and I’d resigned myself to waiting until next quarter’s budget. I don’t know if you can help?”
“For this, I’ll either find money or pull money out of my own budget.” I meant every word. The faster he found the cure, the more lives saved. Plus, it automatically put me in better standing with him. “Can you come by my office tomorrow? We can talk about what preventative measures to coach people on and how much you need. All the nitty-gritty details.”
“Yes, of course!”
“Good. I’ll tell my people to expect you.” Maids approached with trays so I added, “Ah, excellent, lunch has arrived. Let’s dig in. I’m quite famished.”
Conversation paused there as we were served. I bit into a very scrumptious salad with fresh salmon, my mouth happy.
“James.” Helena moved lettuce about with her fork, her attention clearly not on the food. “You really intend on being a brother to us?”
“Well, yes. I grew up an only child. I’m actually quite excited to finally have siblings.”
Helena was clearly judging every word coming out of my mouth. Whatever she decided, she acted upon it immediately. “If you’re sincere, I would like some help on an issue.”
“Name it.” I didn’t know what she’d ask for, although I could hazard a guess.
“Our parents seem to listen to you. Help me break my engagement.”
Ah-ha, I’d guessed correctly. “Helena, I have to tell you, I’m so glad you brought that up.”
She blinked, her clear blue eyes puzzled. “You are?”
“Yes. I’ve already heard rumors about Lord Gillespie and they’re…alarming. I think alarming is the right word. I’m told this man doesn’t have the mental capacity to even dress himself.”
Royce snorted as he put a bite on his fork. “He doesn’t.”
“He also has the temper of a three-year-old denied a treat. I’m both appalled on your behalf, because you certainly deserve a better spouse, and afraid of what would happen if you twodidmarry.” Afraid because I knew precisely what would happen. “A man with his stupidity shouldn’t have power to wield over people.”
