The head of security had kept tabs on her in the years she'd traveled. From a distance, to be sure, but Cap always knew. He'd probably known about the marriage the day it happened, maybe the day after. He likely knew she'd met a crown prince before they finished dinner the first night.
Maybe not, but he was very good at his job, and Victoria had no doubt Cap knew. She also had no doubt he wouldn't say a word unless it was absolutely necessary.
"I have reason to believe Cap has met him," she said carefully, knowing her mum would pay attention to her wording. "I don't know how well Cap knows him, though."
Her mum nodded but didn't say anything else for a moment. Finally she nodded again. "I can live with that for now."
Victoria knew her mum would be on the phone with Cap or even go see him in person in the next couple of hours.
She stood and kissed her mum's cheek. "It'll be okay. Promise."
Then she left the suite of rooms her mum used at the palace and went back to her hotel to try to get some sleep.
And to wait for Enzo to let her know what was going on.
Walkinginto his mum's suite, Enzo felt sadness begin to overwhelm him. He'd known for several months that her time was limited. She had a conversation with him, they'd talked to the rest of his siblings. The public still hadn't been told, and wouldn’t be until after the family had time to come to grips with it all.
He wouldn't be ready to be in charge. Ever. Even if his mum followed in the metaphorical footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II and lived to be nearly a hundred. If he didn't become monarch until 73, like King Charles, he wouldn't feel prepared.
In the sitting area, his mum waited for him. She looked weaker than the last time he'd seen her eight days earlier. That was why he'd been called home, but it still shocked him.
After bowing her direction, he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek before taking a seat. "How are you feeling, Mum?"
"Better this morning than last night." She covered his hand with hers. "I'm sorry you had to come back earlier than planned."
"There's nowhere I'd rather be." That was both accurate and not at the same time. He'd rather be with Victoria, but he also wouldn't want to be anywhere but at his mother's side.
"Tell me about your trip." Her voice sounded stronger than it had a moment earlier.
"I went to a resort in Northern Santiero, just to sit. To be." He wouldn't have a chance to do that for a long time.
"All by yourself?"
"I had my team with me, but I also ran into someone I'd met a few times before. We had dinner, and I spent most of the rest of the time with her."
A twinkle came into his mum's eye. "Her?"
Enzo felt his face heat. "Yes. Her."
This could be his opening. He stared at her hand where it still rested on his. "She was going to come back here with me in a couple of days, but when I had to return suddenly, she wasn't able to come right away."
"You like her." It wasn't a question.
"I do," he confirmed. He sucked in a breath. "I more than like her."
His mum raised an eyebrow. "Are you in love with her?"
"I wouldn't go quite that far." Not yet.
"You know what will happen if you haven't found your person before it's my time." She wrapped her fingers around the side of his hand and squeezed lightly.
Enzo nodded. "And that's why we made a decision."
"You're engaged?" If that thought surprised her, the next bit might send her over the edge.
After a second's hesitation, he told her the truth. "We were married a few days ago."
She blinked a couple of times. "Married?"
