She took in the familiar building with fresh interest as they made their way to her father’s old office. Soleil’s parliament building was hundreds of years old, having served as a courthouse in Hadrian’s time, before it was repurposed by theSoleil government after the dissolution of the empire. It was ten times bigger than Clair de Lune’s. The marble floors and the dark wood paneling were comfortable in their familiarity, and it smelled old, though not in an unpleasant way, like the University of Soleil’s library. It was all bittersweet: the reminders of her father paired with the relief that she was here to solidify his legacy.
They arrived at Jules’s office. Scarlett had been here countless times, but she’d thought it wouldn’t be hers for years. It still said her father’s name on the nameplate. Scarlett pulled out the large key the receptionist had given her and unlocked the door.
She sucked in a sharp breath. A part of her expected to find her dad at his desk. Being in his office was like being with an echo of him. She set her purse down on the desk, opened the globe where Jules kept his whiskey, and stared down at the decanter. The globe blurred as her eyes watered.
Brayden put his arms around her shoulders. “Are you all right?”
His comforting touch meant everything. She breathed in his smell, still like a forest in the rain even though he’d been in Soleil for two days.
“We were in here the last time I spoke to him in private, right before he gave his last speech. We were debating whether or not I should go abroad.” Her voice broke. “I had no idea it would be the last private moment I’d ever have with him.” She leaned into Brayden and pressed her face into his crisp button-down shirt. His warmth soothed her as he held her, reminding her that while Jules was gone, the present wasn’t all bad.
“He’d be so proud of you for all you’ve overcome the past few weeks,” said Brayden into her hair.
“He would be, and he’d also tell me to keep going.” She could have stood there for hours, with his body against hers, but Brayden pulled away, taking a step back.
Scarlett sighed, forcing her thoughts to practical matters. “I need to check in with Elestine Spencer. Are you going straight to the gym?”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? I’m here to protect you,” he said in a low voice.
The corners of her mouth quirked up. His overprotectiveness was equal parts frustrating and a turn-on. “The security here is excellent. You can’t stay with me twenty-four hours a day, and I know what you’re like if you don’t get enough gym time.” She smiled, remembering when he was the grumpiest she’d ever seen him through the mirror. He’d been sitting exams and gone a few days without working out, and it had made him so disgruntled.
“All right. The gym it is, then.” Brayden cocked his head to one side as he looked down at her, still caged in his arms. “Would you want to work out together sometime? I’d love to teach you some self-defense. Weight training is also surprisingly fun if you have a good teacher.” He winked.
Scarlett bit her lip. “I’d love that.” Brayden lifting heavy weights and touching her while she lifted heavy weights? Yes, please. “Maybe in a couple of days, once I’ve settled in.”
He squeezed her briefly before letting her go and taking a step back. “Sounds good. Oh, and before I work out, I’ll give Cass a call.”
Lachlan had managed to get her contact details before they’d left Clair de Lune, but it was still unclear if Cassidy from Zahara and Scarlett’s Cass were one and the same. She hoped they were.
“Fingers crossed she’s open to meeting. Will you come here afterward?” she asked. “There’s a canteen, and you can use my computer if you want to get on the internet.”
“Actually, if you’re really sure you don’t need me, I thought I’d head down to the military headquarters. Lachlan gave me the name of a Soleil general he’s friendly with and wrote me a letterof introduction.” He patted his pocket. “If Cass doesn’t work out, maybe he’ll know of some muscle for hire.”
“That’s great. Thank you. I should be fine here. I promise not to leave the building until you’re back.”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Good luck with your first day. I can’t wait to hear about it later.”
Scarlett knocked on Elestine’s door.
“Come in.”
As soon as Scarlett appeared, Elestine rose from her seat behind a large wooden desk, strode toward her, and wrapped her in a tight hug. After a moment of holding her, she pulled back to look at Scarlett’s face.
“My dear, I’m so deeply happy to see you.” Elestine’s eyes gleamed with emotion. “I’ve been soworried.” She pulled Scarlett close again, and Scarlett closed her eyes and breathed Elestine in.
Through Jules, Elestine had been in Scarlett’s life since she was a little girl, and for some of the years she’d been with Alastair, she’d imagined the woman might become her mother-in-law. The comfort of being with her again was poignant yet complicated.
“I’m so happy to see you too.” Scarlett’s brow furrowed as she tried to keep her face from crumpling. “Congratulations on being named prime minister.”
Elestine pulled back a bit but still held Scarlett’s arms. “That’s very kind, Scarlett. I can’t imagine a worse way to come into the role. I want you to know, I sent Alastair over several times during the weeks you were ill—or being kept asleep, rather. I visited once, but your stepmother insisted you weren’t well enough for visitors.”
The reminder the Spencers had visited her caused a wave ofsomething bittersweet to rise in Scarlett’s chest. “My brother told me. Thank you for coming even if you weren’t admitted. I wasn’t conscious anyway, so a visit probably wouldn’t have helped, unless you’d pulled out my IV while you were there. That’s how Beni woke me up.”
“Good heavens,” said Elestine. “How’d he know to do that?”
“Lucky guess.” It was still ingrained in her not to reveal the mirror. “Thank you for trying to visit. I do appreciate it.”
“I feelterriblethat I didn’t do more, especially given the truth. Your letter shocked me to my core.” Her gaze bore into Scarlett’s.
