Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

Du Lac and Crowne joint propaganda.

“We had a deal.” I ran my finger across the ink before slowly lifting my eyes to his. “Are you trying to start a war?”

“You’re smarter than this, Grayson.” He exhaled. “Let me spell it out for you: she’s a liability. To us, to the du Lacs. It isn’t just a throne on the line; it’s a fucking kingdom. Neither of us plan to lose it over Helen of Troy.”

“You fucked up, Grandpa. I probably would have lived my entire life as your puppet if you’d left her alone.”

“We used to be kings, Grayson, but do you know what my father left me? A tourist trap and a whore to look after. Do you know what your father left you? Debt, another whore, and three bastards. I spent my life rebuilding our kingdom, spent years grooming you to be a king. Years wasted because of another fucking whore. We’re owed a dynasty. Our names should be written in stone.”

I headed for the door. Somewhere, Snitch was having tea with the du Lacs. After this kind of article, she would not be safe. My muscles ached with tension to go to her.

“You have no idea what I gave up for your spoiled asses,” he said. “So you could live pampered. Protected. You don’t think I’ve loved? You don’t know how quickly you can lose it all.”

“Yeah,” I gritted, turning around. “I do.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I know a bluff when I see it. You’ll never let that little piece of paper see the light. You’ve lived like royalty your entire life.”

I worked my jaw as rage rose hot up my spine. “Maybe.”

“We’re close, you know. I’ve enjoyed working with you, Grayson. We don’t have to be at odds. That girl will be what she was always meant to be: expendable. There is nothing you can do to stop it. Do you want to be the playboy virgin prince for the rest of your life, or do you want to join me? Do you want to rule?”

Thirty-Eight

STORY

* * *

At least thirty Crowne women sat at tables all around the elegant tearoom. Servants circled us like sharks. Whenever a scone was eaten, another one magically appeared, and there was never a dirty plate.

Outside, a mob had formed. I couldn’t see their signs, but the mob was big enough that the street had been blocked, and dividers had been put up to keep the crowd sectioned off.

“No vintage Chanel today,” Tansy remarked.

“Your outfit is lovely,” Mrs. du Lac said. “Is it new?”

Their comments drew me away from the window, and I fingered the hem of my brown jacket. Beneath it I’d worn the camel dress I’d picked out for me, some kind of flimsy armor against this day.

“Yes, Mrs.—” I cut myself off. It was still so hard to get used to looking everyone in the eyes and calling them by their names.

A plate of fluffy minicakes in pastel of greens and pinks and blues, dotted with candy pearls, were stacked in the middle of the table in tiers. And I wanted to vomit. I was starting to get “morning” sickness just about any time of the day.

“Is everything all right, dear?” Tansy asked.

For a moment, I thought I’d stumbled into an alternate universe where someone gave a shit about me.

But they were talking to Lottie, who stared at the cakes with a green look on her face.

She swallowed and lifted her warm eyes. “Fine, I was just wondering if I smelled lemon.”

“Lemon?” Mrs. du Lac practically tore the paint off with her voice. “There better not be any lemon in these.”

The cakes were swept off the table as quickly as they came, to be replaced with something chocolate. Chocolate I could do. Chocolate smelled divine.

The trill of tinkling porcelain and soft laughter became our melody. It didn’t matter I was drinking tea with them. I was surrounded by women who wouldn’t hesitate to ask me to warm theirs. Mrs. du Lac, Tansy, Gemma, Lottie, and Lottie’s friends, Aundi and Pipa.

Though Josephine St. Germaine sat next to Tansy, Tansy made no motions to include her in the conversation. Josephine may as well have been eating at a separate table. I realized, I hadn’t seen her children yet. Her triplets should have joined her for the holidays by now.

My eyes connected with her jewel-toned ones. I think I was the first one all day to acknowledge her presence. She smiled softly and I smiled back.