She felt sick to her stomach just considering it.
She put a hand to her belly in some hope that might still the nausea, but it only reminded her she had another life to concern herself with. Her baby.
“I don’t necessarily mind leaving right now,” Ines told Evelyne. “But I wouldn’t feel right invading Gabriel’s parents’ home. Jonet and I can go—”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Gabriel must stand by Alexandre’s side because they are basically brothers, and he has the knowledge and connections to hopefully stop this in its tracks. So you and I must do the same. Stand by each other. Together. Jonet, too, of course. Anyone you like, really. But we aren’t separating. We are family.”
Family.Fierce and determined. Nothing about the kingdom or titles. “Why doesn’t Alexandre feel that way?” she asked, then wished she hadn’t when Evelyne looked at her with something too close to pity in her eyes.
“This is about more than us leaving, isn’t it?”
Ines nodded. She refused to cry all over Evelyne, but it took effort. “We had the ultrasound this morning. Did he tell you?”
Evelyne’s mouth firmed, clear irritation. “He did not.”
“We are having a girl.”
Evelyne sat with a thump, then wrapped her arms around Ines. “That’swonderful. I can’t wait to buy something frilly and pink.”
Ines wanted to laugh, but she was afraid it would come out like a sob.
“He said he trusted me to name her. As though he didn’t even want a say. As though he doesn’t even…”
Evelyne pulled back and her expression was conflicted. Between the truth and her love for her brother. “He does care, Ines. I know he does.”
“I know he does too, but it is so deep down I do not know how to reach it. And I worry he’ll just keep burying it and our child will only ever know…a king instead of a man. Instead of a father.”
Evelyne took a deep breath and let it out. “He is nothing like—”
“I know, Evelyne. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t know that he’s nothing like your father. He means well. I think that’s what makes it worse. How do you get through to someone who thinks they’re doing the right thing? Who istryingto do the best thing but is just so misguided?” She shook her head. It didn’t matter. This wasn’t about her marriage or even Alexandre right now. “Will they be…in danger if we leave them behind?”
“I hope not. But I think it’s possible if Vinyes is behind this, which of course he is. Father had uprisings when I was little. I don’t remember much of them because I didn’t understand what was going on, but Vinyes always swept through and took care of any protests. So he would certainly know how to whip one up.”
“I cannot understand why anyone would follow Vinyes. Alexandre has done everything he can to undo all your father’s harsh policies. Why wouldn’t he be celebrated?”
“Change is painful. And complicated. And not easy. Violence is an easy promise. At least, that’s what Gabriel tells me. I kind of think these are all problems made up by men.”
Ines snorted. She couldn’t disagree. Though the words landed deeper than the problem of men and revolutions.
Change is painful.Yes, it was. Could she turn her back on Alex because he needed to change and he resisted because of all that pain?
“But leadership comes with risks, and so we must let our husbands take those risks, not because they aremenbut because they are the leaders. We are leaders in our own way, but notthisway.”
Ines studied her sister-in-law. “You are such a good princess, Evelyne.”
Evelyne blinked once, as if surprised by the compliment. But then she shook it away. She reached out, stroked a finger over her son’s cheek.
“You’ll come with us, won’t you? We can keep each other from having nervous breakdowns worrying about our husbands.”
That was the worst part, Ines knew. Even when she was mad at Alexandre, even hurting and despairing and not knowing how to get through to him, she would love him. Worry over him.
So no, she could not run away like she had before. Not that she wouldn’t go. But she deserved something. Her daughter deserved something. Maybe she couldn’t get through to Alexandre, but she was going to keep fighting. She was not giving up.
“Yes, all right. I’ll come. On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
Ines lifted her chin and met Evelyne’s eager gaze. “Alexandre comes and asks me to leave himself.”
