Michael caught the six o’clock train with Scottie back to Hadsby.The queen remained at Perrigwynn to rest.
In the royal car, Scottie drifted to sleep on the luxury seat wrapped in plush royal blue velvet at the first whine and rumble of leaving the station.
He ensured the car’s safety, then took the seat behind her, vigilant of his duty, all the while longing to take her into his arms and hold her to his chest.Instead, he mentally reviewed the events of the day while sorting texts and emails on his phone.
Once they’d left the Audience Room, Scottie had joined Princesses Gemma and Daffodil in the White Salon to preview the haute couture and prêt-à-porter fall fashions.Eloise Ltd.was one of the designers on hand.
Michael had taken lunch with Dad, then met Piers at the Cross PF Youth Football League facility.In fact, he was reading a message from the man now.
“What did Piers want?”Scottie said, stretching awake, looking back at him.
Why did it feel so right to be with her?As if she belonged next to him and he to her.
“The usual.Join the league.Be the leader.It’s not being run well.Piers is doing what he can, but he has other responsibilities.Besides, he’s not a Cross man, so why should he be heading it up?He argues that if I take the helm, the Cross league will dominate, thus making all the other leagues up their ante.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“I don’t know.Maybe.In theory.I love the game and fancy myself a coach and teacher but—” Her face was inches from his.All he had to do was lean forward to taste her lips.“You were amazing in that room today.You brought Wenthelen from the shadows.”
“When everyone was talking about her, I felt so defensive of her.In some way, it was like they were talking about me.Is that crazy?”
He moved a loose curl away from her eye.“Not at all.You defended her and thus yourself.”
“I was lucky.My father gave me his name.That means something, Michael.A father’s name.Royal rejection didn’t keep me from my father’s name and legacy, but it did for Wenthelen.”
“I’m going to miss you,” he whispered, setting his forehead against hers.“I’m not trying to start up anything, but I wanted—”
“I think I love you, Michael.Today made me realize—”
“W-what?”He bent to see her face, touching her chin with his fingertips, making her look at him.
“I love you.”She twisted around to face forward.Michael jumped over the back of the seat, dropping down next to her.“I just wanted you to know.But Michael, it changes nothing.I have a job, no, a duty to my family at home, to the company, our history and employees, the shareholders and the board.”
“Yes, of course, but what if I came with you?Maybe my indecision about my future is for this very reason.”
“You’d give up everything for me?You’d leave your home, your name, your legacy, all you’ve known, to go to some small, strange town in the American south?Wh-what would you do with yourself?”
“Love you with all my being.Be your protector.Heart, mind, soul, and body.”He traced his finger along the curve of her neck.“I love you, Scottie.Perhaps from the moment I saw you.”
Scottie stood, hands gripped together.“This feels so…strange.Wild yet…” She rubbed her hand down her arm.“I have goosebumps.”She turned to Michael.“When I said all that stuff about Wenthelen, I knew I wanted the love of a man like Caspas.But I don’t know, maybe her life is in our imaginations.King Magnus could’ve paid Caspas to marry her with the promise of land and a title.Yet right here”—she patted her middle—“my gut tells me they were a great love story.”She returned to the seat.“For the first time in my life, I want to be one part of a great love story.I want children.Maybe not as many as the Fickles, but—”
He snatched her up for a kiss, sealing every word and confession in his heart.Scottie lengthened the kiss as the train zipped around a corner into the long dark tunnel.
“It’s a sign,” she whispered, her lips against his.“The tunnel of love.”
He laughed softly.“You’re not afraid of the dark?”
“Of course not.It’s easy to be vulnerable in the dark.”
Michael settled her against him, his arms linked around her waist, and kissed her until the train emerged into the light.
Chapter Twenty-two
Hamish
If this was his day of reckoning, he needed a Lauchtenland storm brewing over Perrigwynn Palace.The kind producing lightning that knifed through the Darth Vader clouds gathering over the tempestuous North Sea.
He’d been summoned by the queen, and it didn’t take rocket science to know why.Lady Royal informed her of their conversation.Well now, he’d inform Her Majesty on how her family destroyed his.
