The use of her new title was a constant reminder of her dad. Unlike her seat in Parliament, the title and her father’s money had passed to Scarlett immediately.
She shook Shannen’s hand. “Good morning, Shannen.”
Manon stood. “I’m Lady Heroux’s grandmother. You may call me Manon. I’m here for moral support. I hope that’s all right.”
“That’s perfectly fine,” said Shannen. “I want to offer my condolences, Lady Heroux, on the passing of your father. It’s a huge loss for the country.”
“Thank you for the kind words,” said Scarlett woodenly. Her oft-repeated response was becoming automatic.
They all took their places at the small table.
“I understand you want to file a petition for an exception to the age of inheritance,” said Shannen.
Scarlett straightened in her chair. “Yes. I’ve read there’s precedent for it. Is that right?”
Shannen gave her a small nod. “Yes, in several instances, particularly when the heir in question is over eighteen and the peer has passed away. I’m confident your application will be approved without issue.”
Scarlett let out a relieved sigh. “Good.”
“I’ve brought a few forms for you to fill out.” Shannen placed a small pile of papers in front of Scarlett. “Once we’ve filed these,it’ll take some time to process them. There is a special panel of judges who rule specifically on issues relating to the peers of Parliament, and I believe their next meeting takes place two weeks from today.”
Scarlett’s brow furrowed. Two weeks was ages. She shook her head, forcing herself to relax. She could use the two weeks to meet with her future colleagues and speak to the swing voters. She’d use any goodwill she had as the dead prime minister’s daughter.
“I bet the Ceruleans will be elated to hear you’re filing,” said Shannen, snapping Scarlett out of her thoughts. Shannen handed her a pen.
Scarlett gave her a tired half-smile. At least someone would be happy. Her mind flashed to Brayden’s face when she’d told him she had to stay in Soleil for now to focus on joining Parliament. He hadn’t been able to hide his disappointment, but he’d understood her sense of duty and had been supportive. “I hope so.” She turned her attention to the forms.
“They’ll be over the moon,” said Manon, sounding pleased. “I’m pretty sure there was a twenty-four-hour Cerulean prayer vigil for the rise of Scarlett Heroux. I hope they appreciate her stepping up so soon…”
Shannen smiled politely, but her eyes were on Scarlett as she passed back the first form. “While you’re here, have you considered naming an heir? Now you’re the head of household for House Heroux. I brought this form as well, just in case.” She pulled another sheet of paper out of a folder and slid it toward Scarlett.
“My brother, Beaufort, would be next in line—correct?” asked Scarlett.
“Yes, but if he’s your explicit heir, you can act as his legal guardian. You’d have all the same rights as his mother. With the paperwork filed, it’d be in place should you need it down theline.”
The idea of being Beni’s legal guardian brought lightness to Scarlett’s soul. Being able to protect him from his mother would be huge.
“That sounds prudent. Let’s do it.”
A short while later, the paperwork was filed, and Scarlett and Manon were standing on the breezy steps outside the courts. Their security guards were nowhere in sight, but they were probably close by.
Manon faced Scarlett. “We don’t have to go straight home. Would you like to stop for a pastry somewhere, maybe walk along one of the quieter roads for a while? Then we can come back here and pretend we were inside the courts the whole time, so the guards don’t get in trouble.”
With a scarf over her hair and wearing a nondescript black dress and boots as she was, Scarlett knew she wouldn’t be recognized. “That sounds lovely,” she said. She’d end up regretting the decision if she were spotted, but it was such a beautiful day.
Things were looking up. She was Beni’s legal guardian, Laylani and Moira couldn’t touch her, and when she eventually passed the border legislation, Brayden could come visit. Or she’d visit him during a parliamentary recess. For the first time since her dad’s death, she felt optimistic.
They were heading down a side street with croissants in hand when an arm encased Scarlett’s waist and a large body pressed into her from behind. Scarlett breathed deeply, intending to scream, but a soft cloth was already over her mouth when she inhaled. Something sharp poked her neck as a sweet, medicinal smell flooded her senses. Her struggling ceased as she slipped quickly into unconsciousness.
CHAPTER
SIX
Scarlett awoke in bed, disoriented. She didn’t know where she was. Without the strength to open her eyes, she fell asleep again without fully waking.
Sometime later she edged back into consciousness and opened her eyes. The uneasiness of a half-remembered nightmare lingered in her. As she tried to wake up, she registered she was at home, in her own room. Tubes were in her nose. Something was lodged down the back of her throat, and as she shifted, she gained awareness of something foreign between her legs too. Blinking rapidly, she tried to make sense of the heaviness of her body, but her eyelids were weighed down by the need for sleep, and she gave in.
Sunlight was shining through the open curtains the next time she opened her eyes. Beni sat in a chair next to her bed, but she couldn’t speak to him. The dreamless sleep beckoned her once more.
