I held back a laugh as I thought about how their bond had been crystal clear to everyone except for them. Theywere both what the other wanted and, perhaps more importantly, needed.
“Good morning,” a soft voice greeted from my side. I hadn’t even heard her come down the stairs. Adelaide was breathtaking. There wasn’t a day that passed that I didn’t find her beautiful, but this morning she looked particularly stunning, outfitted in a chic sapphire day dress with a matching fascinator that had a peculiar flower on the side.
“Hi.” It was all I could manage as I took her in.
She smiled warmly as she took in my black tuxedo, accented with gold at the cuffs and collar. Across my torso lay a royal blue sash hung with a variety of medals, most of which were more honorary than anything, given my lack of military service. “Are you ready for today?”
I suppressed a snort. “Not even in the slightest.”
“Oliver Courtwright, are you nervous?” Her tone was teasing, but her gaze had softened, a hint of worry behind her eyes.
“Would you think less of me if I said yes?”
She shook her head. “No. I’d think that you understand the weight of the responsibility you are about to take on.”
Damn.
Adelaide always had a way of understanding me. Not Oliver, The Prince or Oliver, The Future King, but just me. Oliver, The Person.
I loved it and hated that I may not get to have that forever.
The hard beat of Gram’s cane against the stone floor sounded from down the hall as she made her way, along with my parents, to the front of the palace.
“Honey, do you have any last-minute questions?” my mother asked as she stopped in front of me, straighteningmy sash and brushing off an invisible speck of lint from my shoulder.
“Isobel, stop fussing. He’s going to be fine,” Gram chided gently, rolling her eyes. “This is my third one of these and they’re all the same. Walk to the dais, put all the old shit on, wave, and leave. You know how to walk, don’t you Oliver?”
Rosie and Birdie snorted as I let out a laugh.
“See? Exactly. Then you have nothing to worry about.” She smiled, patting my arm.
Dad ran his hand over his face as Mum gawked at Gram.
“Gram,” Rosie giggled, “you’re stressing Mum and Dad out.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you all, there is no need to stress out. It’s going to be great.”
“Says the crazy ol’ bird who hasn’t a care in the world and won’t have to deal with the fallout if anything does go wrong.” Knox laughed from the other side of Gram.
“You all should be more like me. Not worrying is the best way to go about life.” She reached up and grabbed Knox’s ear. “And call me ‘ol’ bird’ one more time and I’ll give you something to truly worry about.”
Birdie fell into a fit of laughter as she took Gram’s coat from the doorman and helped her into it.
“You know,” my father said, clearing his voice and looking at each of us in turn, “Xavier has that exact same mindset, and that is what got us into this whole ordeal in the first place. I think it would behoove all of us to worry a little more about the things that happen and are said.”
“Agreed, my dear,” Mum murmured as she smoothed a wrinkle in her gold dress.
Tension immediately settled like a fog over the foyer, silencing us all. While the people of Wexstone generally supported our family, the pressure to manage the transfer ofleadership well and without fault was heavy. Certainly heavy enough to lead me into a fake engagement; it was the driving force behind all my decisions of late. And though my parents’ worry was natural, ultimately the responsibility to successfully navigate our country and family through these next few months fell on me alone.
I cleared my throat. “Is everyone ready?”
Everyone murmured their assent, as if we had any other choice.
We made our way out the door and down the steps to where the carriages sat in a pristine line.
“See you soon, King Oliver,” Knox said as he tapped my arm, then grabbed Birdie’s hand and led her to the first carriage. He helped her climb in, shooting me a quick wink over his shoulder before disappearing inside himself.
The driver of the second carriage helped Rosie inside, while Dad assisted Gram into the third, passing her cane to her once she was settled.
