“Are you?No more Pratt pressure then?”
“It pains me to say it, but no more Pratt pressure.But you’d be splendid as our logistics executive.And Evan will need you to help steer things when I’m gone.He’s not the leader you are, Mick.”
“Finn will be there for him.I’ll make sure.”
“Finn?”Mum laughed softly and returned to her seat, taking up her fork and knife.“You’ll do well to get him off the pitch for his own wedding.”
He couldn’t be sure, but he felt like Purnell was smiling on him.Even Emmanuel Himself.And in the light bearing against the windows, as Michael listened to the murmur of diners, the spike of laughter, the hum of waiters clearing cutlery and glasses, the haunting sense of not being enough began to fade.
This was a good beginning with Mum.But there was a path still to trek.The irony of it all?Without Scottie, he’d be locked in his unforgiveness.Michael had been changed by her presence, and the question that rested on him now was simple—how could he truly let her go?
Chapter Twenty-one
Scottie
She was alone with Kate at Hadsby again.After three days in the royal wing of The Queen’s Hospital, her physician cleared her to return home.
Yet she had strict orders to rest.A steady train of nurses and physios rotated in and out of Monarch One throughout the day.
This morning Edric trained down to Port Fressa for patronage duties and to retrieve his tux for the Rose Ball.John and Gus, with their families, also returned to the capital city to settle into their apartments, handle the queen’s business, and prepare for the ball.
At the moment, Scottie had a more serious issue on her mind than the ball.The books.The ones she and Michael had carried down the mountain.She was set to tell Kate this morning, but now it was teatime, and as the queen sat across from her at the windowed corner table, Scottie glanced toward the door, waiting for someone to announce Michael.
Would the queen think she was intruding?Or trying to change things that were none of her business?Was the queen strong enough to hear the news?
“You look pensive,” Kate said, setting down her cup of tea.She’d lost more weight, and her skin had a thin, angelic appearance.“Are you nervous about the ball?Did you finish your dance instructions?”
“Yes, last night.”Michael had joined her in the ballroom with Lady Carla Everstone for instruction on the waltz, two quadrilles, and the finer points of the Ildys dance.
Once again, she’d rested her hip against Michael’s, her right arm across his body with her hand firmly settled in his while his left hand secured her waist.
The moment the music started, she was back at the Belly of the Beast, moving through the dance, ending face-to-face with Michael.
Speaking of… Where was he?He was supposed to be here.
“Scottie, can you push the window open?”Kate said.“Breathing in the North Sea air will cure me.”
“Maybe we can walk out to the old portico before dinner,” Scottie said, glancing at her watch.“I can push you in the wheelchair if you’re too tired.”
“And have the spying eyes see me old and broken, being pushed by my nursemaid daughter?Never.I’ll get some rest after tea, and we will walk together.”Kate lifted her chin with determination.“I’ll have you to lean on.”
Scottie started at the knock on the apartment door, listening, waiting, as a maid answered, then entered the living room.
“Mr.Michael Cross to see you, Your Majesty.”
“Bring him in,” Scottie said.
“What’s this about?”Kate glanced over her shoulder as Michael bowed, then approached with the leather books from the chapel under his arm.
“About after I went to see Hamish Fickle,” Scottie said.
“Interesting,” Kate said in a drawn out, inquiring tone.
“He said some things about the Blues and stealing land, so Michael talked to his dad, wondered if there was a way to prove any of it.”
“And?”Kate turned her attention to Michael.“Did he?”
“Yes, ma’am.He found a carefully preserved parchment listing records that had been moved from Perrigwynn Palace to Wenthelen Chapel, August 1643.”Michael covered the edge of the parchment with a white cloth and passed it to the queen.“Dad was surprised to see older, more obscure records and documents had been moved out of the Hall of Records.”
