He nods, looking relaxed. “Very well. Your brother is doing a job the king will be proud of. May I get you another drink?”
I hate the fact he’s mentioned my father. “I’m good with this at the moment, but thank you.”
He nods, touches my arm and lets it linger there for a little too long.
* * *
Other guests come over as I circulate through the room, asking after my father, complimenting Lennox, throwing other pieces of inane conversation around. I do my job, Ben never too far away and a second pair of eyes. Watching us both.
Isaac keeps his distance. I see him talking to Lennox, smiling and laughing, looking relaxed. Then his eyes will focus back on me, not diverting when I catch him. Or he looks at Ben.
At the meal, I’m seated between Ben and Goldsmith, clearly my brother’s planning. I don’t blame Lennox. My heart softens when I think of what he’s trying to do, because it’s what he believes is for the best of everyone. His dream.
And we’re all just the other pieces on the board.
“What are you planning to do tomorrow?” Goldsmith asks. “Will you listen to the speeches or are you spending the day shopping?”
My wrath grows a little. I won’t deny that I like shopping but to assume - I breathe. Count. He’s ignorant, not harmful.
Ben touches my thigh under the table and I still myself. This isn’t the beginning and end of my world. I have to manage Goldsmith, nothing more.
“I’m hoping to listen to the speeches.”
He nods, smiles. “I suppose you learned a lot from your father and your brother.”
“And my mother.”
He stills. “Of course. I hear Maigread is key to your father’s success.”
My spine is rigid. A warm hand touches my back, digs its fingers into the flesh.
“My mother is key to a lot of things. She and my father work as a team.” Then it hit me. A bus crashes into my chest. My father’s illness. My mother’s resilience. The show always goes on but I don’t know how I will not fall apart when he loses his final battle.
I feel my eyes start to fill and I look at Ben because I need protecting at this point. My father is dying and I don’t know how to solve this.
“You mother is highly thought of. Do you want children…”
His words dim as reality shines a spotlight on what’s going to happen.
“Blair, do you…”
The look I give Goldsmith is probably enough to kill most men.
“When I find the right man, I’ll consider a family.” My words are almost curt. The waiting staff clear the table. One more course and I can move.
“Of course.” Goldsmith beams. “I’ve always thought I’d be a family man…”
I let him prattle on, nodding and smiling, aware of Ben’s hand somewhere on me, discreet as always. It isn’t asking, it’s telling me that I’m okay; that he’s here. My trampoline for me to bounce back from.
Dessert arrives, then coffee and petit fours. I nibble enough to stop the speculation that I’m dieting, managing to switch plates with Ben while Isaac’s eyes latch onto us from across the room.
We’re all sitting around a large banqueting table, oblong and metres in length. It’s reminiscent of previous monarchs and my father should be here to head it up, not my brother.
I look at Lennox and catch his eye. He doesn’t apply his mask for me. His eyes lower and he drops his chin and I know he’s feeling the same.
Ben doesn’t move when I leave my seat, walking around the table to my brother. Lennox stands, moves away, innately understanding why I’m here.
“Dad.”
